Idioms - மரபுத்தொடர்கள் (சொலவடை)
உள்ளடங்கிய தனிச்சொற்களின் பொருள்களிருந்து வேறுபட்ட பொருளுடைய தொடர் மரபுத்தொடர் (சொலவடை) எனப்படும்.
Idiom is an expression whose meaning is different from the meanings of the individual words in it.
Examples:
Grass is greener on the other side - இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரைப் பச்சை.
Meaning: Never being satisfied with what one gets
Example: For her, grass is always greener on the other side.
Every dog has its day - யானைக்கு ஒரு காலம் வந்தால் பூனைக்கு ஒரு காலம் வரும்.
Meaning: Everyone gets a chance
Example: Do not worry about it. Every dog has his day. Today, it is his.
It is always the darkest before dawn - புயலுக்குப் பின் அமைதி
Meaning: Something good is coming / Things will get better
Example: Do not be worried about what is going on in your life right now; it is always the darkest before dawn.
Blame one’s tools - ஆடத்தெரியாதவள் தெருக்கோணல் என்றாளாம்.
Meaning: Blaming something on someone else
Example: When he understood he had no way out of the problem, he blamed his tools.
No pain no gain - முயற்சி இல்லாமல் எதுவுமில்லை.
Meaning: Suffering or making efforts is required
Example: to achieve somethingIt is better you start learning now. It will be difficult but no pain, no gain.
A piece of cake - அல்வா சாப்பிடுற மாதிரி (தூசு மாதிரி ஊதித் தள்ளிருவா)
Meaning: Extremely easy and straightforward.
Example: Unclogging my sink was a piece of cake for Manvi. She’s a plumber.
Judge a book by its cover - ஆளைப் பார்த்து எடை போடாதே
Meaning: You shouldn’t make judgements based on appearance.
Example: I know he looks scary, but my dog is really gentle. You can’t judge a book by its cover.
I could eat a horse - யானைப் பசி
Meaning: I feel extremely hungry.
Example: I’m so glad I ordered an extra large pizza. I could eat a horse!
Beat around the bush - சுத்தி வளைத்துப் பேசாதே.
Meaning: Avoiding a subject by talking about irrelevant things.
Example: I wish my boss would stop beating around the bush and tell me what he really thinks of my product idea.
Once in a blue moon - அத்தி பூத்தார்ப் போல
Meaning: Very rarely.
Example: Hari only cooks at home once in a blue moon.
Have butterflies in your stomach - வயித்தைக் கலக்குது
Meaning: Was excited and nervous.
Example: Jamal had butterflies in his stomach as he waited for his date outside the restaurant.
Put something on ice - ஆறப் போடு
Meaning: To hold off something.
Example: We decided to put the case on ice until we had some clue of what had happened.
Cannot have a cake and eat it too - கூலுக்கும் ஆசை மீசைக்கும் ஆசை
Meaning: Cannot have everything for yourself
Example: It is not at all that you have the cake and eat it too.
Adding fuel to the fire - எரியிற நெருப்பில எண்ணையை ஊத்தாதே.
Meaning: Aggravating the problem
Example: She was just adding fuel to the fire telling Tom’s mom about his health.
Every cloud has a silver lining - கெட்டதிலும் ஒரு நன்மை போல
Meaning: There is always some good in every thing that happens / Something good will happen after something bad
Example: Do not be worried about your current situation; after all, every cloud has a silver lining.