Common Marathi proverbs and figurative idioms with their meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Marathi idiom. Back: English meaning and usage note.
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- आंधळं दळतं, कुत्रं पीठ खातं (andhala dalta, kutra pith khata)
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The blind one grinds, the dog eats the flour: one person works while another benefits unfairly- उंटावरून शेळ्या हाकणे (untavarun shelya hakane)
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Herding goats from atop a camel: to manage something carelessly from a safe distance- नाकाने कांदे सोलणे (nakane kande solane)
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To peel onions with the nose: to do something the hard, roundabout way through needless effort- एका हाताने टाळी वाजत नाही (eka hataane tali vajat nahi)
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One hand cannot clap alone: it takes two sides for a quarrel or agreement to happen- गाढवाला गुळाची चव काय (gadhavala gulachi chav kay)
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What does a donkey know of jaggery's taste: said of someone who cannot appreciate something fine- कावळ्याच्या शापाने गाय मरत नाही (kavalyachya shapane gay marat nahi)
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A cow does not die from a crow's curse: a powerless person's ill wishes cannot truly harm you- तोंड दाबून बुक्क्यांचा मार (tond dabun bukkyancha mar)
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Being beaten with fists while your mouth is held shut: suffering silently, unable to protest- नाव मोठं लक्षण खोटं (nav motha lakshan khota)
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Big name, false qualities: someone whose reputation exceeds their real worth- कोल्हा काकडीला राजी (kolha kakadila raji)
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A fox is content with a cucumber: a person of little means is satisfied with little- दुष्काळात तेरावा महिना (dushkalat terava mahina)
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A thirteenth month during a famine: an extra misfortune piled on top of an existing one- हातचं सोडून पळत्याच्या मागे (hatcha sodun palatyachya mage)
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Letting go of what's in hand to chase what's running away: abandoning a sure thing for an uncertain gain- वरातीमागून घोडे (varatimagun ghode)
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Bringing the horses after the wedding procession: doing something useful only after it is too late- आगीतून फुफाट्यात (aagitun phuphatyat)
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Out of the fire into the embers: going from one bad situation into a worse one- उंबरठ्यावरचं भांडण (umbarthyavarcha bhandan)
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A quarrel at the doorstep: a fight that is loud but ultimately trivial- चार दिवस सासूचे चार दिवस सुनेचे (char divas sasuche char divas suneche)
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Four days for the mother-in-law, four days for the daughter-in-law: everyone gets their turn in time
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