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Food has always been a fun way to relate to life and words of food strung together in a witty way always manage to tickle the imagination and bring to life an otherwise dull life lesson.
It’s interesting how most of the idioms revolve around food considered premium and valuable—at least to the ordinary class of bygone days. Foods we take for granted today, like salt, milk, and ginger, are featured, as are those esteemed and associated with purity, like ghee. Here are compiled such desi remarks that are sure to make people appreciate life (and food) more deeply.
Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai
Translation: “There is something dark amidst the lentils”
Lentils have always been a staple in India. Women nearly every day would come together to bond over during afternoons sifting through the dals for impurities and adulterations and it would be the perfect moment to share juicy gossip where something fishy would crop up about each other’s personal lives needing further discrete inspection. That’s some rat-smelling Indian version of Sherlock!
Doodh ka Doodh, Paani ka Paani
Translation: “Milk to Milk, Water to Water”
Inspired by the myth of a swan’s ability to separate milk from water, this idiom is used in matters where truth and lies were previously mixed up and reality feels shrouded in mystery but in a climactic judgement, truth has been successfully sorted from the lies and the clarity of the argument becomes apparent to everyone.
Seedhi Ungli Se Ghee Nahi Nikalti
Translation: “Straight fingers cannot scoop out the clarified butter”
One cannot get away with being too straight in this world. One will have to cup their fingers or bend them a little to scoop out ghee from a jar. Ghee is a premium substance, evoking imagery of all that is desirable in this greedy world. The idiom hints at unfair bureaucratic tactics that are probably employed by those in power to get what they want in a crooked way.
Maine Aapka Namak Khaya Hain
Translation: “I have partaken of your salt”
It seems to have originated during the British era, when salt was a precious item that could not be procured unless you were worthy enough, had money, and the right status. Here the speaker confesses one’s gratitude and dependence on a person whom he sees as his provider and supporter, apparently reminding the latter of his monetary and societal influence on which the speaker depends.
Bandar Kya Jaane Adrak Ka Swaad
Translation: “What does a monkey know about the taste of ginger?”
A monkey is an animal that lives on trees and feeds on the produce of trees, an animal completely unaware of the many invaluable things that grow underground, like ginger, a spice that was undoubtedly sought after as a valuable commodity, especially during the era of spice trades. Humans, on the other hand, due to necessity and experience, have learned to recognise value in things. An animal—the monkey—is being compared to an ignoramus, who has absolutely no cognizance about the true, deeper value inherent in things.
Jale Par Namak Chidakna
Translation: “Sprinkling salt where it burns”
The saying speaks of salt being rubbed on the open wound, which stings and doubles up the pain immediately. So, according to the saying, when one is already hurt, inflicting more hurt and aggravating an increased amount of pain on them might feel like the sting and pain that one might experience when salt is sprinkled on a fresh wound.
Ek Anaar Sau Bimar
Translation: “One fruit (pomegranate), a hundred illnesses (problems)”
The demand-supply scenario comes to mind. Here, the speaker raises the issue of one precious item being available in the face of a hundred people who are desiring it. Pomegranates are a relatively exotic fruit and are known to be high in antioxidants, which could fight arthritis, heart disease, and even cancer.
Dudh Ka Jala Chach Bhi Phoonk Ke Peeta Hain
Translation: “Those who burned their tongue from sipping on hot milk blow even on buttermilk before drinking.”
This saying points at someone with an overtly cautious approach to life by pointing out that such behaviour is common among those who have been badly betrayed, whose trust was violated or who had to learn a lesson the hard way due to one’s prior carelessness or innocence.
Unchi Dukaan, Phiike Pakwaan
Translation: “Grand shop, languid savouries”
Someone who brags a lot about his riches but doesn't really have anything to show for real. Sometimes there is a lot of glamour in how things appear on the surface of someone’s persona and accomplishments, but upon further inspection, it seems to be just a mere show-off.
Doodh Ki Nadiyaa Bahana
Translation: “Rivers of Milk being made to flow”
Money here is compared to milk, a valuable commodity, no doubt, and the expenses themselves are compared to the flow of a river. It refers to someone who is very rich and a spendthrift, perhaps with plenty of liquid cash, and hence spends the money like one would waste water or milk by simply letting it flow away.
