Turkish Idioms

Sakla samanı gelir zamanı

Save things for later use; everything has its time

Damlaya damlaya göl olur

Little by little, small efforts accumulate into something big

Gözü yükseklerde

Someone who is ambitious or has high standards

Kulağına küpe olsun

Let this be a lesson; remember this advice

Eli ayağı tutmak

To be physically capable / able-bodied; to have one's strength and health

Burnunu sürtmek

To humble someone, teach them a lesson, make them face consequences of their actions

Canı sıkılmak

To be bored or upset

Ağzından bal damlıyor

Someone who speaks very sweetly or eloquently

Eli açık

Generous person

Eli sıkı

Stingy person

Yüzü gülmek

To be happy, to have good fortune

Gözü tok

Content with what one has; not greedy

Pabucu dama atılmak

To be considered insignificant or outdated

Ağzı kulaklarında

Smiling from ear to ear

Kulağı kirişte

To be alert, listening carefully

Şamar oğlanı

Scapegoat; someone blamed for everything

Boynuna abanmak

To become someone's burden or responsibility

Ateş pahası

Very expensive

Ateşten gömlek

Unbearable situation or burden

Baldan tatlı

Very pleasant or enjoyable

Başına bela açmak

To cause trouble for oneself

Dili uzun

Someone who speaks rudely or gossips

Gözü yaşlı

Sad, sorrowful

Kafa tutmak

To argue or stand up against someone

Kafası karışık

Confused, uncertain

Yüzüne gözüne bulaştırmak

To make a mess of something; to embarrass someone

Zıvanadan çıkmak

To lose control, to go crazy

Boş vermek

To not care, to ignore

Suyu çıkmak

To overdo something until it becomes boring or loses value

Taş çatlasa

At most, at best

Yol vermek

To let someone pass; to yield

Hava atmak

To brag, to show off

Dert etmek

To worry about something

Gözünü açmak

To become aware, to enlighten someone

Kafa kafaya vermek

To discuss or brainstorm together

Çantada keklik

Something already secured or certain

Düşünceye dalmak

To be lost in thought; to be deep in contemplation

Kağıt üzerinde

In theory; not in practice

Kılı kırk yarmak

To be overly meticulous or nitpicky

Lafı dolandırmak

To beat around the bush

Boynu bükük

Sad, dejected, ashamed

Can kulağıyla dinlemek

To listen very carefully

Demir atmak

To settle down in a place

Gözü yememek

To be unable to bring oneself to do something (usually negative)

İşin aslı

The truth is, actually, the real story

Kan ter içinde

Working very hard

Kulak kabartmak

To eavesdrop, to listen carefully

Şaka maka

Joking aside, seriously speaking

Yüreği ağzına gelmek

To be frightened or shocked

Aklı başında

Sensible, level-headed

Ayak altında olmak

To be in the way, constantly around

Gözü dönmek

To be blinded by rage or greed

Havada kalmak

To be left unfinished or undecided

İçi yanmak

To feel deep sadness or regret

Kaş göz olmak

To signal with facial expressions

Rüzgar gibi

Very fast, quick as the wind

Toz pembe

Overly optimistic, seeing everything through rose-colored glasses

Yüzü kızarmak

To be embarrassed or ashamed

Ağzının payını vermek

To tell someone off, to give someone a piece of your mind

Kolları sıvamak

To get ready to work hard