뜻
Covering up a mistake
문화적 배경
In villages, 'Meḻukutal' is still a ritual during festivals. The floor is cleaned and smeared with cow dung to welcome deities. The idiom reminds people that while the floor looks clean, the heart must also be clean. Political satire movies like 'Amaidhi Padai' often use this phrase to mock politicians who give vague promises during elections. In modern Chennai tech hubs, 'Pūci meḻukutal' is used to describe 'PR Spin' or 'Marketing Fluff' that hides product bugs. Modern Tamil writers use this idiom to describe the 'middle-class morality' of hiding family problems to maintain social status.
Use it for Sarcasm
If someone is giving a very obvious excuse, say 'Nalla pūci meḻukuṟa!' (You are glossing it over well!) with a smile to show you don't believe them.
Don't use for serious lies
If someone committed a crime, 'Pūci meḻukutal' is too 'soft'. Use 'Kuṟṟattai maṟaittal' (Concealing a crime) instead.
뜻
Covering up a mistake
Use it for Sarcasm
If someone is giving a very obvious excuse, say 'Nalla pūci meḻukuṟa!' (You are glossing it over well!) with a smile to show you don't believe them.
Don't use for serious lies
If someone committed a crime, 'Pūci meḻukutal' is too 'soft'. Use 'Kuṟṟattai maṟaittal' (Concealing a crime) instead.
The 'Maḻuppal' variant
In Chennai, people use 'Maḻuppātē' more often than the full idiom. It's shorter and punchier.
셀프 테스트
Fill in the blank with the correct form of the idiom.
அரசியல்வாதி தன் ஊழலைப் பற்றி ______ பேசினார்.
We need the adverbial form 'Pūci meḻuki' to describe *how* he spoke.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'Pūci meḻukutal'?
Which of these is 'Pūci meḻukutal'?
This involves using a vague/false explanation to cover up a personal blunder.
Complete the dialogue.
A: ஏன் என் போனை எடுக்கவில்லை? B: அது... வந்து... சார்ஜ் இல்லை... A: சும்மா ______!
The speaker is telling the other person *not* to gloss over the truth.
Match the idiom variation to its context.
Match: 1. Veḷḷai Aṭittal, 2. Pūci Maḻuppal
Veḷḷai Aṭittal is more formal/political; Pūci Maḻuppal is more common in daily speech.
🎉 점수: /4
시각 학습 자료
연습 문제 은행
4 연습 문제அரசியல்வாதி தன் ஊழலைப் பற்றி ______ பேசினார்.
We need the adverbial form 'Pūci meḻuki' to describe *how* he spoke.
Which of these is 'Pūci meḻukutal'?
This involves using a vague/false explanation to cover up a personal blunder.
A: ஏன் என் போனை எடுக்கவில்லை? B: அது... வந்து... சார்ஜ் இல்லை... A: சும்மா ______!
The speaker is telling the other person *not* to gloss over the truth.
Match: 1. Veḷḷai Aṭittal, 2. Pūci Maḻuppal
Veḷḷai Aṭittal is more formal/political; Pūci Maḻuppal is more common in daily speech.
🎉 점수: /4
자주 묻는 질문
4 질문90% of the time, yes. It implies deception. However, sometimes it's used to describe 'polite' behavior to avoid hurting someone's feelings.
Technically yes, but people will think you are being old-fashioned or making a joke. Use 'Suttham ceytal' for cleaning.
They are almost identical. 'Whitewashing' (Veḷḷai aṭittal) is more about making something look 'pure,' while 'Pūci meḻukutal' is about making it look 'smooth and finished.'
Pūci meḻukātē (பூசி மெழுகாதே).
관련 표현
மழுப்புதல்
similarTo be evasive or vague.
வெள்ளை அடித்தல்
synonymWhitewashing.
கணக்கு காட்டுதல்
specialized formTo fake results or accounts.
உண்மையை மறைத்தல்
builds onHiding the truth.
