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The Plain English Meanings of Turkish Idioms 'B' Related Pages: The Turkish Idioms A-Z, Index Turkish Acronyms/Abbreviations The Idiomatic M-Doublets Idioms Origin Stories, Index Idioms Illustrated by Cartoons #1 We know you've seen reference books written for English speakers about English and American Idioms. And you may have seen books for Turkish speakers on the same subject. You may even have seen books for Turkish speakers about Turkish Idioms -- all in Turkish. But have you ever seen a reference for English speakers about Turkish Idioms? Well, when we couldn't find one after looking for seven years, we decided to do-it-ourselves. Observe our sampling just for Turkish idioms that begin with the letter B. Site visitors may navigate to other Turkish Idioms pages using the House-Favorite Idioms Page Index. Turkish Idioms beginning with the letter B The Turkish The Literal English Meaning The 'Plain' English Meaning Comments and Examples Ba baba adam father man old, mature, good hearted, pleasant appearance Çetin Bey baba adamdır; elinden geldiğince herkese iyilik eder, yardımını esirgemez. Çetin Bey is a fine old fella, when it's within his power he'll do you a favor, he never withholds his help. baba ocağı father hearth home family home home place Baba ocağını bırakıp gitsen iyi olur. You had better leave and go from your home. babasının oğlu (he is his) father's son same Her hali babası gibi. Elbette, babasının oğlu. He is like his father in every situation. Of course, he's his father's son. bacak kadar as much as a leg tiny, small child, very short person a woman sitting revealingly with crossed legs O bacak kadar çocuk kamyonu sürüyor! That tiny kid drives a truck! babasının oğlu father's son same Her hali babası gibi. Elbette, babasının oğlu. He is like his father in every situation. Of course, he's his father's son. bacak kadar as much as a leg tiny, small child, very short person a woman sitting revealingly with crossed legs O bacak kadar çocuk kamyonu sürüyor! That tiny kid drives a truck! bahar havası palavra spring air palaver overly-optimistic palaver intended to mislead or deceive Giyim Sanayicileri Derneği Başkan Umut Oran, 'İktidarın bahar havası palavra' dedi. The Clothing Industries Association's President Umut Oran said that what Government officials are saying is "empty talk intended to mislead" (the public). Gözcü Gazetesi, 11 July 2003 Bakalım, çingene götü ellemiş misin? This slightly off-color idiom is only used for very specific occasions, but it's a good one nonetheless. Let's see...do you touch a gypsy's ass? Let's see...are you any good at lighting up a fire? May be used as shown -- said just before someone tries to light up a fire, say, in a fireplace. Baki kalan kubbede hoş bir seda imiş. "It is said that... the thing that survives is a pleasant sound in the dome." It's better to be remembered by the good words you've spoken, than the bad... May be used as is -- in a situation where someone has just uttered an angry or hateful oath... Click following for: The Rest of the Idiom Story! baklayı ağzından çıkarmak Also see ağzından baklayı çıkarmak. to remove the broad bean from the mouth to lose patience and start saying things that one previously kept to oneself to be taken unawares and to say quickly what one had intended to keep secret to "let the cat out of the bag" to "spill the beans" to "come clean" Alman liderler baklayı ağızlarından çıkardı: "Dürüst olalım, sizi tam üye yapamayız." German leaders let the cat out of the bag: "Let's be honest, we're not going to make you [i.e. Turkey] a full [European Union] member." Gözcü Gazetesi, 11 September 2003 Bırak muamma konuşmayı. Çıkar ağzından baklayı. Bahtımız aydınlanıversin. C.S Tarancı108 Quit beating around the bush. Spill the beans. Tell us about our good fortune quickly. (Note that in the 'imperative' form of this idiom, the verb çıkar moves to the front of the expression.) Israrla sorunca baklayı ağızından çıkardı; gerçeği öğrendik. Under intense questioning, he finally came clean, so we learned the truth. bal gibi Also see pek ala. like honey like honey, very sweet very well, without a hitch, smoothly, easily Bu, bal gibi goldü, hakem saymadı. It was easily a goal, but the referee didn't count it. bal mumu yapıştırmak to stick beeswax to mark so you won't forget to notice and remember Unutmamak için balmumu yapıştırdım. I didn't want to forget so I stuck some beeswax on it. balık ağaca/kavağa çıkınca when fish climb [poplar] trees It's impossible for the thing in question to happen. Similar to the Americanism, When pigs fly! Balık kavağa çıkarsa onun da dedikleri olur. What he says will never happen (unless fish climb poplar trees). Click following for: The Rest of the Idiom Story! An illustrative cartoon of the idiom (above)... Right click or use 'Print Preview' to view image enlargement... Editor's background note: The cartoon must be viewed in light of the fact that Turkish Prime Minister Ecevit's popularity at the moment (May 2001) is at an all time low. The Lout's female companion: What will happen if [Prime Minister] Ecevit runs for office in the next election, and his DSP political party comes in first? Do you know? The Lout: Why don't you tell me? The Lout's female companion (very sarcastically): Ecevit will become Prime Minister again... The Lout's female companion (continuing in the third panel): ...and, of course, fish will climb poplar trees... [Tabii balık da kavağa çıkmış olur.] Thanks to: Gözcu/Asabi Gazetesi, Gerçek Yayıncılık A. Ş. (Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ, Owner) and Volkan Atalay, creator of  'Maganda, The Lout'. Ankara 7 May 2001 Balık baştan kokar. Note: Serves both as an idiom and a proverb. Fish smells from the head. Corruption starts at the top. Used as is... balık etinde in fish meat a nicely proportioned (neither thin nor fat) woman body with nice measurements AA adds: "An English-speaking western person might consider balık etinde to be a tad (a trifle, a mite) on the plump side, though not at all fat. You know, most Turks (mostly *male* Turks, that is) consider only 'fish meaty' women to be physically perfect. The western ideal female figure is a few centimeters on the skinny side of  'balik etinde', if you know what I mean..." Balık etinde biridir; giysileri pek yakışıyor. She's got a nice body; her clothes look good on her. bam teline basmak to press the low string on the lute to vex or annoy to upset someone by what you do or say on a sensitive subject to touch/press a sore spot to press a (raw) nerve Gençlerin giyimini beğendiğimi söylemekle meğer kadının bam teline basmışım! It seems that by saying I like young people's fashion, I'm touching that woman's sore spot. bana göre, hava hoş according to me, the weather's fine I'm agreeable. Whatever happens, it doesn't matter to me. I don't care. İstediğin gibi davran, sen bilirsin; bana göre hava hoş. Do what you want to do, as you wish, I don't care. bardağı taşırmak to overflow the glass to cause (someone) to run out of patience Son sözü bardağı taşırdı. The last remark made me lose my patience. barut fıçısı gunpowder barrel powder keg where strife and trouble can break out Tarafların hızla silahlanması Balkanları barut fıçısı yaptı. Arming the sides with weapons made the Balkans a powder-keg. Also see Geopolitical page. baston yutmuş gibi like (a person who) swallowed a walking cane standing or walking very erect as stiff as a poker Korse takmış adam baston yutmuş gibi yürüyor. The man wearing the corset walks as stiff as a poker. baş aşağı head down upside down Senin teknenin alemi baş aşağı olmuştu. Ben yine kaldırıp yerine diktim. Your flag became upside down. I got up and put it back in place again. baş göz etmek to do head eye to marry off Komşumuz kızlarını baş göz etti. Our neighbors married off their daughter. baş tacı etmek to do head crown to treat someone with great respect and affection Biz büyüklerimizi baş tacı ederiz. We respect and love our elders. başı bağlı olmak (for) head (oneself) to be connected to be tied down to be dependent to be engaged Bir yere gidemiyor; başı bağlıdır. He doesn't go anywhere, he's tied down. başı dara düşmek (for) head (oneself) to fall narrow to get into trouble find oneself in a difficult situation to be without money Başımız dara düşünce akrabalarımız yardımımıza koşar. When we got into trouble our relatives ran to help us. başı dinç olmak (for) head (oneself) to be energetic and vigorous to be without trouble, at ease, peaceful to be carefree, free of grief, tranquil İşlerimi düzene koydum; başım dinçtir. I put my work in order and I don't have a care in the world! başı göğe ermek (for) head (oneself) to attain heaven to be overjoyed to find happiness Olağanüstü başarısından dolayı başı göğe erdi. Because of her extraordinary success, she was overjoyed. başı için for the head for the sake of (used when imploring) Sevdiklerinin başı için bu işimi yapıver. Do this business quickly for the sake of your loved ones. başı kazan olmak (for) head to be cauldron to have one's head throb from noise or confusion Sınıftaki gürültüden başım kazan oldu. Because of the noise in the class my head throbbed. başın(ız) sağ olsun Lit. let your head be healthy may your life be spared "Please accept my condolences." (said to a grieving person upon the death of loved one) This is the first thing you say to a grieving survivor when a member of his/her family (or a close friend) passes away. And, no more than this is necessary. başına çorap örmek to knit a sock for the head to plot against someone to prepare a plan to trap someone get someone into trouble Bu adam onun başına çorap örebilir; dikkatli olmalısın. This man can make trouble for him/her; he/she must be careful. başına devlet kuşu konmak (for) the state bird to land on your head to have a stroke of luck to attain happiness to win a prize or the lotto Ahmet Ağabey'in başına devlet kuşu kondu. Older brother Ahmet had a stroke of good luck. başına dünyayı dar etmek to make the world narrow on somone's head to make life miserable for someone Seninle buluşup Hayreddin'in başına dünyayı dar edelim. Let's get together and make Hayreddin's life miserable. başına ekşimek to turn sour on the head to be a burden (to) to be a permanent and unwelcome nuisance Bu işi bitiriverelim; ikide bir gelip başımıza ekşimesin. Let's finish this work quickly then he/she/it won't constantly come back and burden us. başına gelenler things coming to your head unpleasant things (that happen to you) Başına gelenleri anlattı. He explained the bad things that had happened to him. başına gelmek to come to your head (for sth unpleasant) to happen (to) Ünlü sanatçı Gülben Ergen'in başına gelenler, aslında herkesin başına gelebilir. The unpleasant things that happened to famous performer Gülben Ergen, can actually happen to anyone. Gözcü Gazetesi, 13 September 2003 başına iş açmak (getirmek) to open (bring) a job on your head to cause trouble to Durup dururken başımıza iş açtık. Suddenly we got into trouble. başına vur, lokmasını ağzından al hit his/her mouth, take his/her food he/she is a "pushover" he/she is so agreeable that anyone can walk right over them he/she is simple-minded Kendi halinde biridir; başına vur, lokmasını ağzından al. He's quite simple-minded, anyone can take advantage of him. (...; [you] can bop him on the head and take the food right out of his mouth.) başında kavak yeli esmek (for) the wind to blow a poplar tree on one's head to live a problem-less carefree life to be day-daydreaming Gençliğinde başında kavak yelleri esiyormuş. When she was young, she lived a carefree life. Başında kavak yellerin estiği yıllardı, ne iş düşünürdü, ne güç! For years he lived a carefree life, never thinking of work, or difficulty! başından kaynar sular dokülmek (for) boiling water to pour from your head (in an embarrassing or tiresome situation) to sweat hotly to be shocked about something Onu görünce başımdan kaynar sular döküldü. When I saw him, I broke into a hot sweat. Yalanımı yakalayınca başımdan kaynar sular dökülüyor gibi oldu. When she/he caught me in my lie, it was like boiling water pored from my head. batağa saplanmak to be stuck to the swamp to get oneself trapped in a blind alley to get oneself into a situation from which one can not extricate oneself to be up the creek in a big way to be caught in a quagmire for a project to come a cropper, fail Amerikan Newsweek Dergisi'nin yaptığı kamuoyu yoklamasına göre, ABD halkının yüzde 70'i, "Irak'taki ABD işgal ordusunun batağa saplanacağı" görüşünü taşıyor. According to a public opinion poll conducted by American Newsweek Magazine, 70 percent of the American people hold the view that, "the American occupation army (which is) in Irak will be caught in a quagmire." Gözcü Gazetesi, 25 August 2003 battı balık yan gider the fish has sunk and now swims sideways the situation is in such a mess that there's no use trying to do anything about it İşin sonundan umutsuzum; battı balık yan gider. I'm hopeless that you'll complete your job, it's in such a mess it can't be fixed. bayram değil (seyran değil enişte beni niye öptü?) it's not festival time, it's not a pleasure trip, [so] why did my brother-in-law kiss me? there must be something behind this... What does Sec. of State Rice want from PM Erdoğan? Click to find out. Bayram değil, seyran değil; Avrupalılar bize durup dururken çok anlayışlı davrandılar. There must be something behind this -- suddenly the Europeans are treating us with intelligence. ~~~ That'll be the day, Mabel. I know, I know... Be bedava sirke baldan tatlıdır free vinegar is sweeter than honey anything you can get for free is better than something you have to pay for... May be used as shown... bela okumak to read trouble to curse Marianne Miranda'ya bela okumaya başladı. Marianne began cursing Miranda. ben sana hayran, sen cama tırman I admire you, you climb glass this is a one-sided love love should not be one-sided Note: Depending on the way this expression is used, it can also have a sexually suggestive meaning because 'cama tırmanmak' (to climb glass) may also be used to describe 'uncontrolled sexual desire'. Onu çok seviyor; ama sevgisine karşılık bulamıyor; ben sana hayran, sen cama tırman. She loves him a lot, but she doesn't get a loving response. It's a one-sided love. ben seninle çok ekmek yedim. I've eaten a lot of bread with you. We've been through a lot together. Ben seninle çok ekmek yedim. Öldürürsem senin gibi nankör olurum. We've been through a lot together. If I have you killed (now) I'll be just as bad as you. bende o göz var mı? is there that eye on me? am I so innocent looking that I should believe that? Beni kandırmaya çalışıyorlar bende o göz var mı? They're trying to fool me; do I look so innocent that I'd believe them? benden günah gitti sin went from me don't blame me Gereken uyarıyı yaptım; kendisi bilir; benden günah gitti. I gave the necessary warning; he himself knows it; so don't blame me. benimkinin dağarcığındaki in the leather bag that is mine to my knowledge; to my mind; in my opinion Ne 'Canım' ne 'Aşkım' ne 'Yavrum' ne 'Güzelim' ne 'Fıstık'. Benimkinin dağarcığındaki en sıcak ve romantik kelime "Dingil'. It's not 'My dear' nor 'My love' nor 'My darling' nor 'My beauty' nor 'My shapely one'. To my mind, the most passionate and romantic [slang] word is 'Axle'. Gözcü Gazetesi, 'Secret Box' column, 15 May 2003 bereket versin (also see Allah bereket versin...) bereketini gör 1) may God give abundance, plenty 1) may God give you increase 2) may you see the increase The figurative meaning usually carries directly over from the literal. But, in some cases, there is the additional meaning of, "Thank God that all is well". The phrase may be said by you to someone who has given you a payment, tip, or bonus... ...in which case their response is, usually, bereketini gör. Bereket versin arabamız sigortalıydı; yoksa perişan olmuştuk. Thank God that our car was insured; otherwise we'd be in a pickle! Besle kargayı, oysun gözünü. Note: Serves both as an idiom and a proverb. Feed the crow, it will cut your eye. Feed the crow and it will pick out your eyes (said when someone returns evil for good).135 Soru: Size çok sık sorulan bir soru olmalı: Richard Coyle (Jeff) niçin şovdan ayrıldı? Hiçbir gerekçe göstermediğini duyduk. Bize biraz bilgi verir misiniz? İleriki bölümlerde dönme ihtimali var mı? Cevap: Richard dönmek ya da bir veda bölümü çekmek istemdi; aslında benimle konuşmak bile istemedi. Yaralayıcı bir tutumdu bu, ama şov dünyasındayız ve böyle şeyler olabiliyor. Size ben de bir açıklama yapamayacağım; sadece bir söz hatırlatmak istiyorum: Besle kargayı, oysun gözünü. Question: One of the most asked questions (of you) must be: Why did Richard Coyle (who played Jeff) leave the [TV] show? We're aware of no reason whatsoever that explains [it]. (We have heard not any reason that has shown [it].) Will you give us a little information? Is there a possibility that he'll return in an upcoming episode? Answer: Richard didn't want to shoot a farewell episode nor to return; actually, he didn't even want to talk to me about it. It was the action (behaviour) of a person with hurt feelings -- but we are in the show-business world and things like this can happen. I too can't give you an explanation; I just want to remind you [of] the adage: Feed the crow and it will pluck out your eye. Attributed to Steven Moffat (creator of the popular British TV comedy series, Coupling) by CNBC-E Magazine, September 2004 issue beş aşağı beş yukarı five lower five upper after some bargaining [between two people] See Category 3, Turkish doublets. beş on five ten a few beş on kuruş çıkarmak, to earn a little money See Category 1 and 5, Turkish doublets. beş para etmez five money doesn't do [something that is] utterly worthless   beş paralık etmek to do five money's worth to expose one's shameful secrets   beş paralık olmak to be five money's worth to have one's shameful secrets exposed   beş parasız five money-less penniless   beterin beteri worse of worse the very worst possible thing Beterin beteri var; Allah beterinden saklasın. This is the very worst possible situation; may God hide you from [even] worse. Bı bıçak altına yatmak to lie down under the knife to have an operation Ilk kez bıçak altına yattığı için çok zayıf düşmüş. He lost a lot of weight due to his first operation. bıçak kemiğe dayanmak to lean on a knife to the bone to get to be unendurable Bıçak kemiğe dayandı, artık söylenmesi gerekeni söyleriz! It's getting to be unendurable, from now on we're going to say what needs to be said! Attibuted to Mehmet Ağar (DYP) by Gözcü Gazetesi, 27 May 2004 bıyığı terlemek for the mustache to sweat (for a boy) to have peach fuzz beginning to grow on the upper lip Uzun boylu, güzel yüzlü, bıyıkları yeni terlemiş bir gençti. He was a young fella with peach fuzz on his upper lip -- tall, with a handsome face. bıyık burmak to twist the mustache to try to make others believe in one's bravery and manliness Daha dünkü çocuk, karşımıza geçmiş, bıyık buruyor. Since yesterday, the kid has been confronting us, trying to convince us of his manliness (...twisting his mustache). Bi bildiğiniz (gibi) yapmak to do what you know, to do as you know to (ignore advice or interference and to) follow your own inclinations to do something one's own way Ocağımızın Midilli'de tütmesini isterdim. Anlıyorum ki sizin talihiniz denizlerde yazılmış. Bildiğiniz gibi yapın. I had wanted you to take over my pottery business in Midilli. But I now understand that your fate is written on the seas. Follow your own dream. The Illustrated Story of Barbarossa bilginler bilgini the scholar of scholars the very most scholarly See Category 1 and 6, Turkish doublets. bin dereden su getirmek to bring water from a thousand brooks See kırk dereden, etc. See example sentence at kırk dereden, etc. bindiği dalı kesmek to cut the branch on which you are mounted "to cut the branch you're sitting on" to be responsible for creating your own problems İnsanlar çevreyi kirleterek bindikleri dalı kesiyorlar. People who foul the environment are creating problems for everyone, themselves included (...cutting the branch they are sitting on). bir an evvel an instant before as soon as possible immediately   bir an önce an instant before as soon as possible immediately See example sentence at paçaları tutuşmak. bir ayağı çukurda (olmak) to be one foot in the hole to have one foot in the grave to be at the age of dying Bizim bir ayağımız çukurda artık, oğul -- inşallah sen aileye büyük olur, benim yerime onlara bakarsın. I (royal 'we') have got one foot in the grave, son -- hopefully you'll be head of the family, and in my place, you'll look after them. bir baltaya sap olmak to be a handle to an ax to have a job, be employed A oğlum, kocaman oldun; artık bir baltaya sap ol, bir iş yap. Ah son, you're grown now; it's time you get a job and do some work! bir çuval inciri berbat etmek to ruin a sack of figs to foul things up, but good by incorrect behavior or words, to upset an activity that was going well Son söylediğin sözlerle bir çuval inciri berbat ettin. By what you just said, you really screwed up the works! bir dediğini iki etmemek Note: This idiom is also seen as: bir dediği iki edilmemek/olmamak. to not do two (of sth) about which one was said to do everything one asks for; to fulfill every desire of Dubaili şeyh sevgilisiyle ülke ülke dolaşan Ebru Şancı, "Artık Türkiye'ye dönmem, sevgilimle çok mutluyum. Bir dediğimi iki etmiyor" dedi. Ebru Şancı (who roams from country to country with her lover, a sheik from Dubai) said, "I won't return to Turkey any more, I'm very happy with my lover. He fulfills my every desire. Gözcü Gazetesi, 16 June 2003 Click to see news-photo caption in which this idiom appears. bir dikili ağacı olmamak not to have a planted tree to have no wealth nor property not to own land or home Dünyada bir dikili ağacım yok, diye sızlanıyor. "I'm poor and have no place to live in this world," he complained. bir eli yağda bir eli balda one hand in butter, one hand in honey to want for nothing to be materially well off to be 'living in clover' Her istediği oluyor, bir eli yağda, bir eli balda yaşıyor. She has everything she wants; one hand in honey, the other in butter. bir iki one two a very few, an imperceptible number or amount See Category 1 and 5, Turkish doublets. bir işin püf noktası See püf noktası.     bir kaşık suda boğmak to drown in a spoonful of water to be ready to 'kill' on the slightest pretext Eski ortağına çok kızıyor; bulsa bir kaşık suda boğacak. He was very angry with his old partner. If he found him he would have killed him. bir sıçrarsın çekirge, iki sıçrarsın çekirge, üçüncüde ele geçersin çekirge Note: Also seen shortened as: çekirge üç kez sıçramadı. let the grasshopper jump once, let the grasshopper jump twice, the third time he'll be captured You can't always trust to luck. His luck ran out! Left click for photo-article enlargement. O kadar çapkındı ki, aynı anda birkaç kızla flört ediyordu. Ama sonunda bir sıçrarsın çekirge, iki sıçrarsın çekirge, üçüncüde ele geçersin çekirge misali yakalandı ve bütün kız arkadaşlarını kaybetti. He was such a womanizer, he was flirting with several girls at the same time. But he couldn't always trust his luck, for when they found out -- he lost all his girl friends. Çekirge üç kez sıçramadı. Uluslararası uyuşturucu kaçakçısı Tilki Selim'i başta Amerika olmak üzere birçok avrupa ülkesi fıldır fıldır arıyordu ama işi Türk polisi bitirdi. His luck ran out! (The grasshopper didn't jump three times.) With America in the lead, several European countries have been hunting long and hard for the international drug fugitive 'Selim the Fox', but the Turkish police got the job done. Gözcü Gazetesi, 10 September 2003 (See photo-article at left.) Click following for: The Rest of the Idiom Story! bir sıkımlık canı olmak to have one squeeze's worth of life to be very frail to be such a 'pipsqueak' that anyone can easily beat up Bir sıkımlık canı var, herkese kafa tutuyor. He is such a weakling but (even so) he challenges everyone. bir şey değil Also see teşekkür ederim. not a thing This is the standard way to say, "You're welcome," after someone expresses a "Thank you." May be used as shown. bir tahtası eksik one plank missing derisively...(someone) who's mind is not right, who has a 'screw loose', who's not 'all there' Böyle ölçüsüz davranan insanın, bir tahtası eksik olsa gerekir. A person who acts in such a reckless way, must have one plank missing. Bir varmış bir yokmuş... One has been, one has not been... Once upon a time... (as said at the beginning of a fairy tale)   bir yastıkta kocamak to age on a pillow for a husband and wife to live a long time together "Mutluluklar dileriz, bir yastıkta kocayın," dedim. I said, we wish you happiness and a long life together. bir yaşıma daha girdim I entered another age of mine I'm very much surprised we live and learn A, bir yaşıma daha girdim! Genç çocuk traktörü sürüyor. Oh! What a surprise! There's a young child driving that tractor. birbirine girmek to enter each other to start (physically) fighting each other; to lay into each other to quarrel bitterly, to rip into each other to crash into each other Başbakan Silvio Berlusconi'nin Almanya'nın AB temsilcisini "Nazi"likle suçlaması yüzünden Almanya ile İtalya birbirine girdi. Because of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's accusations of Nazism aimed at the German Representative to the EU, Germany and Italy have quarreled bitterly. Adapted from an article in Gözcü Gazetesi, 4 July 2003 birden öfkelenmek to suddenly get angry to fly off the handle to lose one's composure   biri eşikte, bir(i) beşikte one on the threshold, one in the cradle they (the children) are still quite young Çocukları pek küçük; biri eşikte, bir(i) beşikte. The children are very small, they are still quite young. Bismilla- hirrah- manirra- him Often shortened to Bismillah. Also see: Turkish Exclamations, Illustrated In the name of God, the compassionate, the merciful In the name of God, the most gracious, most merciful Same... This 'formula' is used as the introduction to almost anything that has a religious context. It may be the first words of a book about a religious subject, the beginning of a religious speech, the opening of a written public announcement about something religious, etc. It opens every 'sura' (chapter) of the Koran. Actually (ÜÖ assures us), "It is also very common to say this phrase before starting many actions other than religious ones, like starting a journey, starting to eat -- in fact almost starting anything." This single, long Arabic word is referred to by some as the 'Islamic formula' (as opposed to the 'creed' that states, 'There is but one God and Muhammad is his Prophet.'). Mevcut iktidar işbaşına gelir gelmez daha 'Bismillah' demeden bazı yöneticilerin laik cumhuriyet ilkelerini yerle bir etmek isteyen girişimleri oldu. As soon as it [the AKP] became the existing party in power, there were attempts by some of the [AKP] administrators wanting to destroy the [Turkish] Republic's basic secular principles -- without even first saying the "Islamic Formula" [to initiate their work]. Gözcü Gazetesi, Diken Op Ed, 31 December 2003 bit yeniği (a) louse bite a job that doesn't seem right a direction that doesn't inspire trust Bu işte bir bit yeniği var, ben kuşkuluyum. There's a louse bite in this business, I'm suspicious about it. Bo boktan from 'shit' This idiomatic word has a distinctly off-color origin, but is quite acceptable in mainstream conversation and print. crappy worthless, bad wrong-headed Amerika'nin boktan eyaletleri dahil, bir çok devlet 'Türklerin 1915'te Ermeni soykırımı yaptığını' kabul etti. 'Fakir olana köpekler de havlar' derler ya... Her aklına esen bize havlıyor! Neden? Güçsüzlüğümüzden! Including [legislatures in some] wrong-headed American states, [the parliaments of] several countries have accepted that 'Turks committed [so-called] Armenian genocide in 1915.' You know the proverb that says, 'Dogs bark and snarl at the poor', don't you? They [foreign groups] bark and snarl at us without thinking twice about it. Why? It's due to our powerlessness! From 'Diken' by Rahmi Turan, Gözcü Gazetesi, 28 April 2005 bol bol plentiful plentiful amply; abundantly; generously a full sth; a large sth; a lot of sth Ali Babacan, "Erkenden evime gidip bol bol yemek yiyorum" diye söyledi. [Minister of State] Ali Babacan said, "I'm going home early and eating a large meal." Adapted from an article in Gözcü Gazetesi, 4 July 2003 borusu ötmek to toot a horn to have authority, be influential to 'call the shots' Hamdi Beyin bu mahallede borusu öter. In this district, Hamdi Bey calls the shots. boşu boşuna to vain empty uselessly, for no reason, for nothing Bu gerginliğe ne gerek vardı? İktidarın, Cumhurbaşkanı Sezer'in veto ettiği YÖK Yasası'nı yeniden köşke göndermeme eğiliminde oldğunu söyleyen siyasi çevreler, "Yine boşu boşuna gerginlik yarattılar!" dediler. What was the necessity of [all] this tension? In political circles they are saying of the ruling [AKP] government (which has not shown any impetus towards overriding President Sezer's veto of the [AKP's] YÖK Law ...[which has not shown a tendency of again sending to the Turkish White House the AKP's YÖK Law that President Sezer vetoed]) that, "Once again they [the AKP] have created tension for nothing." Head line and caption from article in Gözcü Gazetesi, 1 June 2004 (Click here for the story behind the story.) boşuna uğraşmak to strive in vain to waste time and/or effort See next panel for illustrative example. An illustrative cartoon of the idiom (above)... that also provides biting social commentary about the differently perceived effects of the 50% devaluation of the Turkish Lira (during March/April 2001) on the different Turkish population classes. Right click for options to 'View' larger image... The rich Turkish 'Fat Cat' shouts loudly (in the foreground): Help!... We're sinking!.. We're ruined!.. Help!.. The poor 'Average Ahmet' shouts feebly (at background left): Help, we're ruined!.. Average Ahmet's pal opines (at background right): Come. Don't waste your efforts! (BOŞUNA UĞRAŞMA!) It's hard to hear our voices, next to this guy. This cartoon commentary, (that appeared in Gözcu Gazete on 30 March 2001) is originally from Gırgır humor magazine. boy göstermek to show height to show oneself off See example sentence at: ayağının tozu ile. boynuzlu boynuz takmak antlered to attach antlers cuckolded [for a husband] to be cuckolded Ahlaksız, bir başka adamla aldatarak kocasına boynuzlu dedirtti. How rude! The husband being cheated by another man is said to be 'cuckolded'. boyu boyuna huyu huyuna uymak to fit length to length temperament to temperament suitable, good match for two people to be in good balance with one another Boyu boyuna huyu huyuna uyan biri ile evlendi. She married someone who is suitable to her temperament. boyunun ölçüsünü almak to take a measurement of your size to learn painfully about your short-comings/inadequacies to 'measure up', unfavorably to be disappointed at someone's indifference to be unsuccessful, against hope, at what you attempt Sen de yap, sen de boyunun ölçüsünü al da, bu işin öyle kolay olmadığını anla! This job isn't so easy. You try it too, and see how you measure up, then you'll know. boyun eğmek to bend neck to submit (to someone) to humiliate oneself (before someone) Kimseye boyun eğmedi. He didn't bow down to anyone. Kaldık ki açık denizler yıllanmış gemicilere bile boyun eğdirir. We stayed like that (in the open sea) for a long time, open seas make even the most experienced sailors bow down. bozguna uğramak (bozguna uğratmak) to visit defeat (to cause defeat to be visited) to be routed (to rout) [in a battle] to be defeated (to defeat) Ours whip theirs! Left click for photo-article enlargement. Tunus askerleri bozguna uğradı bir çil yavrusu gibi dağıldı. The Tunisian soldiers were routed and were scattered like a covey of birds. Kızlarımız tesettürlü voleybolcuları bozguna uğrattı. Headline: Our women routed the veiled volleyball players. [In reference to the Turkish women's volleyball victory over the women's team of Egypt.] Gözcü Gazetesi, 14 November 2003 (See photo-article at left.) bozuk düzen broken order in a disorderly state, out of order disorganized, uncoordinated, muddled, confused wrong laws applied in the society, that make it disorderly Note: This is a popular phrase on the news programs these days... (Summer 1999) "Bu bozuk düzeni demokratik yolla düzeltmek gerekir," diyorum. "It's necessary to fix the muddled social order in a democratic way," I say. Bö bölük pörçük group ... in bits, incomplete See Category 2 and 9, Turkish doublets. börtü böcek Note: börtü has no meaning except in this idiom. See Turkish doublets, Category 2. ... bug bugs and insects vermin Yazın ev boş kalınca börtü böcek dolmuş. When the house is empty in summer, it fills up with bugs and insects. Bu bu sayede Note: This idiom means the same as 'o sayede' and nearly the same as 'sayesinde'. in this/that shadow thanks to this/that [reason] so, therefore Şirket bu sayede ayakta kalabildi. Thanks to this [reason], the corporation was able to survive [...to remain on its feet]. bundan iyisi can sağlığı better than this is good health this is the best nothing (except good health) can surpass this this is the next best thing to good health En iyi arabayı aldık; bundan iyisi can sağlığı. We bought the greatest car; nothing can surpass it. bundan iyisi Şam'da kayısı better than this is an apricot in Damascus It doesn't get any better than this... nothing (except eating an apricot in Damascus) can surpass this this is the next best thing to eating a great apricot in Damascus (where they have really great apricots!)   burnu bile kanamamak for the nose not to even bleed to survive a calamity without a scratch... Agır bir kaza geçirdi; burnu bile kanamadı. He was in a very serious accident and he survived without a scratch. burnu büyümek for the nose to grow to become conceited... Son günlerde burnu büyüdü; kimseye selam bile vermiyor. He's become very conceited in these last days; he doesn't even say hello to anyone. burnu düşmek for the nose to fall to be overpowered by a bad odor to be humbled after being too proud Sokağa dökülen çöplerin kokusundan burnumuz düştü. We were suffocating from the smell of the garbage that was left in the street. burnu havada (olmak) [equivalent to: burnu büyümek] for the nose to be in the air to be conceited Burnu havada, kimseye yüz vermiyor. He's conceited, he doesn't pay attention to anyone. burnu Kaf dağında (olmak) for the nose to be on Kaf Mountain Note: The mythical Kaf Mountain lay just beyond the horizon, at all points on the compass -- thereby surrounding the world. And, it was a cheerless, desolate and inhospitable place. to look down on everyone, to be excessively proud Burnu Kaf dağında, çalımından yanına varılmıyor. His nose is on Kaf Mountain, he's unapproachable due to his affected dignity. burnu sürtülmek to rub the nose hard to learn a lesson through humiliation Bu acı olaydan sonra burnu sürtüldü. After this event happened, he learned his lesson. burnunda tütmek for smoke to rise in the nose to have intense longing to miss a lot Doğduğum yerleri çok özledim; burnumda tütüyor. I've missed my birth place a lot; I'm longing to see it again. burnunda tütmek for smoke to rise in the nose to have intense longing to miss a lot Doğduğum yerleri çok özledim; burnumda tütüyor. I've missed my birth place a lot; I'm longing to see it again. burnundan (fitil fitil) gelmek Also see, fitil fitil burnundan gelmek... (for wicks or fuzes) to come from the nose to suffer so terribly after making a big gain, that you wish you'd never had the gain in the first place. to have something go terribly wrong -- something which should have been very pleasant. Kazandığımız burnumuzdan geldi. We suffered greatly because of our [previous] gains. (Our [previous] gains came from our noses.) burnunu kırmak to break the nose of someone to humiliate Onun burnunu kırdım; artık yüksekten atamaz. I humiliated him, he won't talk so big any more. See another example sentence at kör kadı. burnunu sıksan canı çıkar if you squeeze the nose, the life goes out to be greatly distressed Çok üzüntülü görünüyor; burnunu sıksan canı çıkacak. She seems very upset; if you squeeze her nose her life will go out. burnunu sokmak to stick or poke the nose to involve oneself in another's affairs Her işe burnunu sokan insanları hiç sevmem. I don't like people who stick their noses into other folks' business, at all. burnunun dibinde at the bottom of the nose nearby, very close by, very near Burnunun dibindeki evi görmemiş; bucak bucak dolaşıp kiralık apartman arıyor. He didn't notice the (nice, available) house nearby; (instead) he's looking in every nook and cranny for a rental apartment. burnunun direği sızlamak for the pole of the nose to ache to have sad, painful memories of something or a person to be painfully sorry for something Kazanın oluşunu anımsayınca burnunun direği sızlamış. When he (even faintly) remembers how the accident happened, he is racked with sorrow. burnunun ucunu (bile) görememek not to be able to see the end of the nose to be blind with pride sth that is very nearby/closeby sth that will occur very soon to be dead drunk or extremely weary Ne ileri görmesi? Adam burnunun ucunu bile göremiyor. Who knows what's ahead? Man doesn't even know what is very soon to be. Çok yorgunsun; burnunun ucunu görecek durumda degilsin. You are really tired; you're in no condition to even see the end of your nose. Öyle sarhoş ki burnunun ucunu bile göremiyor. He's so drunk he can't even see the end of his nose. burun buruna gelmek to come nose to nose to come face to face (with someone) Kapı da nöbetçi ile burun buruna geldik. We came face to face with the guard at the gate. burun kıvırmak to curl the nose to smirk at something or person to turn one's nose up, to sniff at Bizim başarımıza burun kıvırdı She turned her nose up at our success. burundan kıl aldırmamak to not let hair be removed from the nose. to not be open to criticism to meet criticism with anger to be very conceited and unapproachable Hem bu türden olumsuz işler yapıyor, hem de burnundan kıl aldırmıyor. He does these kinds of negative things and at the same time he's not open to criticism (...he rejects having hair removed from his nose). Buyurun cenaze namazına! Please come in, to the corpse, to the worship. We've had it! (Said when one is faced with an unpleasant situation, for which one is unprepared.) Çok yazık. Yapılacak bir şey de yok. Bugün yazılı varmış, buyurun cenaze namazına! 105 It's a great pity. And there's nothing that can be done. Today was bound to come sometime (...was fated). We've had it, now! buz üstüne yazı yazmak to write on ice to exert useless effort to make statements that are ineffective to do work whose effect is just temporary Kalıcı bir çözüm bulamadık, buz üstüne yazı yazıyoruz. We didn't find a permanent solution, we are writing on ice. Bü bülbül kesilmek for the nightingale to be cut to become like the nightingale to give in under pressure (and to reveal one's secrets or feelings) to talk rather grandly, but with weak resolve to (finally) reveal previously unrevealed interest in sth Üzüntüye dayanamaz duruma gelince bülbül kesilmişti. When it came to the point that he couldn't stand the sadness, he gave into his emotions and told me everything. Deminden beri susan adam, işin ucunda para olduğunu öğrenince bülbül kesildi. See that man who has kept quiet until now? He sure got interested -- when he learned that money was the object of the 'game'. büyük sözüme tövbe vow 'never again' to my big words same... Büyük sözüme tövbe, işlerimiz iyi gidiyor. I vow never to say this again, but our business is going very well. büyümüş de küçülmüş grown and small to be mature in speech and behaviour -- despite being young. Bu çocuk çok akıllı, bilgili; büyümüş de küçülmüş sanki. This child is very intelligent -- knowledgeable even; it's as if she were an adult while at the same time being a child. Related Pages: The Turkish Idioms A-Z, Index Turkish Acronyms/Abbreviations The Idiomatic M-Doublets Idioms Origin Stories, Index Idioms Illustrated by Cartoons #1 Unrelated fun: Frequently asked questions about Turkey and the Turkish language The Feri Cansel Story -- Beauty and the Beast Zerrin Egeliler - (most of) everything you always wanted to know Tarkan's Metamorphosis Album -- Christmas Day Release Turkish Music -- Tarkan Real-Life Weight Loss a la turc (with booklet) Habibullah and the Great Cannon Caper A simple Turkish 'thing'... Turkish Music -- Kayahan Turkish Belly Dancers Turkish Food and Beverage Turkish Terms Of Endearment Turkish Personal Names Politically Incorrect Turkish Humor Off-Color Turkish Gossipy Turkish Who's Who Turkish Conventional and 'Erotik' Movies, Index We wish to extend thanks to Emin Özdemir, Osman Çizmeciler, Ömer Asım Aksoy, H. Fethi Gözler, Ferit Devellioğlu, Nermin and Muammer Yüzbaşıoğlu, Halil Uysal, Ali Püsküllüoğlu, and Ali Uslu for their Turkish Idioms source material -- on which some of this page is based.

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