Meaning
To cope or handle a difficult situation or person.
Cultural Background
In a bazaar, you often have to 'sar o kalle zadan' with the shopkeeper to get a discount. It is seen as a social dance. Iranians often use this phrase to describe the 'Haft Khan' (Seven Labors) of getting paperwork done in government offices. Grandparents often use this phrase affectionately to describe the energy needed to keep up with grandchildren.
Use it to complain
This is the best phrase to use when you want to sound like a local complaining about a long day.
Don't use with 'to'
Always use 'ba' (with), never 'be' (to).
Meaning
To cope or handle a difficult situation or person.
Use it to complain
This is the best phrase to use when you want to sound like a local complaining about a long day.
Don't use with 'to'
Always use 'ba' (with), never 'be' (to).
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing verb part.
من دیروز با این کامپیوتر سر و کله ______.
The idiom always uses the verb 'Zadan'.
Which sentence is more natural for a parent complaining about a stubborn child?
Complaining about a child:
The first sentence implies the struggle of making a child eat.
Match the situation to the phrase.
You spent 4 hours trying to fix a leaky pipe.
Fixing something difficult is a classic use case.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا اینقدر خستهای؟ B: چون تمام روز با مشتریهای عصبانی ______.
Dealing with angry customers is exhausting work.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Things you 'Sar o Kalle' with
People
- • Stubborn kids
- • Angry bosses
- • Bureaucrats
Objects
- • Broken cars
- • Slow computers
- • Math problems
Practice Bank
4 exercisesمن دیروز با این کامپیوتر سر و کله ______.
The idiom always uses the verb 'Zadan'.
Complaining about a child:
The first sentence implies the struggle of making a child eat.
You spent 4 hours trying to fix a leaky pipe.
Fixing something difficult is a classic use case.
A: چرا اینقدر خستهای؟ B: چون تمام روز با مشتریهای عصبانی ______.
Dealing with angry customers is exhausting work.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
2 questionsNot necessarily, but it shows you are frustrated. Don't say it to the person you are 'dealing with' unless you want to offend them.
Yes, if the game is very tough and involves a lot of physical/mental struggle.
Related Phrases
کلکل کردن
similarTo bicker or argue
دست و پنجه نرم کردن
synonymTo grapple with a problem
مدارا کردن
contrastTo tolerate or be patient
