Meaning
To feel a sudden wave of fear, anxiety, or apprehension.
Cultural Background
In Iran, it is very common to describe emotions through the 'Del'. If someone says 'Teh delam ro khāli nakon', they are asking you not to discourage them or make them lose hope/fearful. Classical poetry often uses the heart (Del) as a vessel. An 'empty heart' in modern slang is fear, but in ancient poetry, it could sometimes mean a heart free of worldly desires. Context is key! When watching a horror movie with Iranian friends, you will hear this phrase constantly. It's the standard way to react to 'jump scares'.
The 'Whoosh' Rule
If you feel a 'whoosh' in your body, use this phrase. It's very physical!
Don't use for Sadness
If your pet dies, you are 'Ghamgin' (sad), you don't usually say 'Teh delam khāli shod' unless it was a sudden shock.
Meaning
To feel a sudden wave of fear, anxiety, or apprehension.
The 'Whoosh' Rule
If you feel a 'whoosh' in your body, use this phrase. It's very physical!
Don't use for Sadness
If your pet dies, you are 'Ghamgin' (sad), you don't usually say 'Teh delam khāli shod' unless it was a sudden shock.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct possessive suffix for 'I'.
وقتی سگ پارس کرد، ته دل... خالی شد.
The suffix '-am' (shortened to 'm' after a vowel/consonant) indicates 'my'.
Which verb completes the idiom for 'feeling' scared?
ته دلم خالی ____.
'Shodan' is used for the passive experience of feeling the emotion.
Match the situation to the feeling.
You are on a roller coaster and it suddenly drops.
The physical drop of a roller coaster is the perfect literal/figurative match.
Complete the dialogue.
A: چرا رنگت پریده؟ B: یه ماشین داشت بهم میزد، واقعاً ____.
A near-miss accident causes a sudden drop in the stomach.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesوقتی سگ پارس کرد، ته دل... خالی شد.
The suffix '-am' (shortened to 'm' after a vowel/consonant) indicates 'my'.
ته دلم خالی ____.
'Shodan' is used for the passive experience of feeling the emotion.
You are on a roller coaster and it suddenly drops.
The physical drop of a roller coaster is the perfect literal/figurative match.
A: چرا رنگت پریده؟ B: یه ماشین داشت بهم میزد، واقعاً ____.
A near-miss accident causes a sudden drop in the stomach.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
3 questionsUsually no. It's almost always for fear or negative anxiety. For a good surprise, use 'Zogh kardan'.
It's a bit informal. Better to say 'Negarān shodam' (I became worried) in a very formal meeting.
'Tarsidam' means 'I got scared'. 'Teh delam khāli shod' describes the *feeling* of the scare.
Related Phrases
دلشوره داشتن
similarTo have butterflies/anxiety
زهرترک شدن
specialized formTo be scared to death
دلگرمی
contrastEncouragement/Heart-warming
