Significado
To be overly careful with money or food.
Contexto cultural
Hospitality is a pillar of Turkish identity. Offering food is a way of showing love and respect. Counting bites is seen as a 'shame' (ayıp) that can ruin a person's reputation. In villages, there is a concept called 'Halil İbrahim Sofrası.' It means a table where everyone is welcome. In this culture, 'lokma saymak' is considered a sin. With rising inflation, people use this idiom more frequently to complain about high prices in restaurants or friends who have become 'calculating.' In the Ottoman palace, the 'Kiler-i Amire' (Royal Larder) was responsible for feeding thousands. The idea of counting portions was only for accounting, but doing it to a guest was beneath the Sultan's dignity.
Don't use it for yourself
You wouldn't say 'I am counting my own bites' unless you are being very sarcastic about your diet.
The 'Ayıp' Factor
Calling someone a 'lokma sayan' is a serious accusation of being a bad person in Turkish culture. Use it carefully!
Significado
To be overly careful with money or food.
Don't use it for yourself
You wouldn't say 'I am counting my own bites' unless you are being very sarcastic about your diet.
The 'Ayıp' Factor
Calling someone a 'lokma sayan' is a serious accusation of being a bad person in Turkish culture. Use it carefully!
Ponte a prueba
Fill in the blanks with the correct forms of 'ağız' and 'lokma'.
O kadar cimri ki, misafirlerin ______ ______ sayıyor.
The idiom requires the locative 'ağzında' and the accusative possessive 'lokmasını'.
Which situation best fits the idiom 'ağzında lokmasını saymak'?
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
The idiom describes a host who begrudges the food they give to a guest.
Complete the dialogue.
Ayşe: Akşam yemeği nasıldı? Fatma: Kötüydü, ev sahibi çok pintiydi. Resmen ______.
'Ağzımızda lokmamızı saydı' fits the context of a stingy host.
Match the person to the behavior.
Cimri bir patron ne yapar?
A stingy boss would monitor every small expense, including what employees consume.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Ayudas visuales
Banco de ejercicios
4 ejerciciosO kadar cimri ki, misafirlerin ______ ______ sayıyor.
The idiom requires the locative 'ağzında' and the accusative possessive 'lokmasını'.
Hangi durumda bu deyimi kullanırız?
The idiom describes a host who begrudges the food they give to a guest.
Ayşe: Akşam yemeği nasıldı? Fatma: Kötüydü, ev sahibi çok pintiydi. Resmen ______.
'Ağzımızda lokmamızı saydı' fits the context of a stingy host.
Cimri bir patron ne yapar?
A stingy boss would monitor every small expense, including what employees consume.
🎉 Puntuación: /4
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasPrimarily yes, but it can be used metaphorically for any situation where someone is being extremely stingy with resources.
Yes, if the portions are tiny and the staff is hovering, you can say 'Resmen ağzımızda lokmamızı sayıyorlar.'
There isn't a single idiom, but 'eli açık' (open-handed) or 'gönlü zengin' (rich-hearted) are the opposite personality traits.
Yes, it is very confrontational. It is usually said about someone, not to them.
Yes, it literally means a bite or morsel of food.
You change the possessive: 'Ağzımızda lokmamızı saydı.'
It is moderately common, especially in emotional or descriptive storytelling.
Technically yes, but 'lokma' implies solid food. For water, people just say 'suyumuzu saydı' (counted our water).
Only informally to complain about a very cheap company policy.
It is considered B1 because it requires understanding of figurative language and specific Turkish grammar.
Frases relacionadas
eli sıkı
synonymTight-fisted; stingy.
kesenin ağzını açmak
contrastTo open the mouth of the purse; to start spending generously.
lokma dökmek
similarTo distribute fried dough balls for charity.
boğazından kesmek
builds onTo cut back on food to save money.
