Meaning
To illegally take money that one has been entrusted to manage.
Cultural Background
In rural North India, 'Dakār' is often associated with the 'Lala' (merchant) or 'Zamindar' (landlord) stereotypes who were seen as parasites on the poor. Hindi films often use this phrase in 'angry young man' dialogues to confront corrupt villains. It resonates with the audience's frustration with the system. In modern startups, this might be used jokingly about a co-founder who spends too much on 'office perks' while the company is in debt. There is a strong moral taboo against 'eating' someone else's money. This idiom is a way of shaming the perpetrator by comparing them to a glutton.
The 'Ne' Rule
Never use 'ne' with this idiom in the past tense. Say 'Vah paise dakār gayā', not 'Usne paise dakār gaye'.
Don't use for food
If you say 'Vah pizza dakār gayā', people will think you mean he stole the money for the pizza, not that he ate it quickly.
Meaning
To illegally take money that one has been entrusted to manage.
The 'Ne' Rule
Never use 'ne' with this idiom in the past tense. Say 'Vah paise dakār gayā', not 'Usne paise dakār gaye'.
Don't use for food
If you say 'Vah pizza dakār gayā', people will think you mean he stole the money for the pizza, not that he ate it quickly.
Sarcasm Alert
This phrase is often used sarcastically. If someone takes a small thing, like your pen, saying 'Mera pen dakār gaye?' is a funny way to call them a thief.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'डकार जाना'.
बेईमान ठेकेदार मजदूरों की पगार (wages) _________।
The subject 'ठेकेदार' is masculine singular, so 'डकार गया' is correct.
Which sentence uses the idiom correctly in a figurative sense?
Select the correct usage:
The idiom 'डकार जाना' is used for embezzling money, not for literal food or water.
Match the situation to the phrase.
A friend borrows your bike and sells it without telling you.
Since he sold it and kept the money/asset, 'डकार जाना' fits the betrayal.
Complete the dialogue.
अमित: क्या तुम्हें तुम्हारे पैसे वापस मिले? सुमित: नहीं यार, वह तो पैसे _________।
'डकार गया' is the most idiomatic way to express that the money is gone forever due to greed.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesबेईमान ठेकेदार मजदूरों की पगार (wages) _________।
The subject 'ठेकेदार' is masculine singular, so 'डकार गया' is correct.
Select the correct usage:
The idiom 'डकार जाना' is used for embezzling money, not for literal food or water.
A friend borrows your bike and sells it without telling you.
Since he sold it and kept the money/asset, 'डकार जाना' fits the betrayal.
अमित: क्या तुम्हें तुम्हारे पैसे वापस मिले? सुमित: नहीं यार, वह तो पैसे _________।
'डकार गया' is the most idiomatic way to express that the money is gone forever due to greed.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, it is an accusation of theft and greed. Use it only when you are sure or in informal gossip.
Absolutely. It's very common to say someone 'swallowed' a plot of land (zameen dakār li).
'Khā jānā' is just 'to eat up'. 'Dakār jānā' adds the 'burp', implying the person is satisfied and shameless about the theft.
Rarely. In news headlines, yes (for impact), but in official reports, no.
No, you can't 'swallow' a person unless you are a monster in a fairy tale. It's for assets.
Never. It always implies illegal or immoral gain.
Vah paise dakār rahā hai. (वह पैसे डकार रहा है।)
'Jānā' indicates a change of state or completion. The money 'went' into his stomach.
No, for time we use 'khā jānā' or 'barbād karnā'.
It's more of a general idiom used by all ages, but youth might use 'paisa hajam' more often.
Related Phrases
हजम करना
synonymTo digest.
चूना लगाना
similarTo swindle or deceive.
हाथ साफ करना
similarTo clean one's hands (to steal).
गबन करना
specialized formTo embezzle (formal).
