Tagalog Dictionary
Vehicle Fleet Management

Idioms

IDIOMS / SAWIKAIN

a phrase or a fixed expression that has a figurative, or sometimes literal, meaning. An idiom's figurative meaning is different from the literal meaning.

agaw-buhay -- naghihingalo, between life and death
anak-pawis -- magsasaka; manggagawa farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker
anak-dalita -- mahirap, poor
alilang-kanin -- utusang walang sweldo, pagkain lang, house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter
balitang kutsero -- hindi totoong balita, rumor, gossip, false story
balik-harap -- mabuti sa harapan, taksil sa likuran double-faced person, one who betrays trust
bantay-salakay -- taong nagbabait-baitan a person who pretends to be good, opportunist
bungang-araw -- sakit sa balat prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)
balat-sibuyas -- manipis, maramdamin a sensitive person (literal=onion-skinned)
balat-kalabaw -- makapal, di agad tinatablan ng hiya one who is insensitive; with dense-face (literal=buffalo-skinned)
buto't balat -- payat na payat malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)
tulak ng bibig -- salita lamang, di tunay sa loob insincere words (literal=pushed-by-the-mouth)
dalawa ang bibig -- mabunganga, madaldal nagger, talkative person (literal=two-mouthed)
halang ang bituka -- salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay, a person with no moral compunction (literal=with a horizontal intestine)
mahapdi ang bituka -- nagugutom, a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)
makapal ang bulsa -- maraming pera rich, wealthy (literal = with a thick pocket)
butas ang bulsa -- walang pera poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)
sukat ang bulsa -- marunong gumamit ng pera someone who knows his ability to pay
nagbabatak ng buto -- nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan one who works hard
matigas ang buto -- malakas, a strong person
kidlat sa bilis -- napakabilis, exceedingly fast
kusang palo -- sariling sipag, initiative
mabigat ang kamay -- tamad magtrabaho, a lazy person (literal=heavy-handed person)
magaan ang kamay -- madaling manuntok, manapok, manakit, one who easily hits another person, easily provoked (literal=light-handed person)
mabilis ang kamay -- mandurukot a snatcher, pickpocket (literal=fast-handed)
malikot ang kamay -- kumukuha ng hindi kanya one who has the habit of stealing things (literal=listless hand)
di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin a very demure, prim-and-proper person
di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming tao overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot throw a pin)
pag-iisang dibdib -- kasalwedding (literal=to be of one heart)
kabiyak ng dibdib -- asawa spouse (literal=the other half of the heart)
daga sa dibdib -- takot worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)
nagbukas ng dibdib -- nagtapat na nais pakasalan ang kasintahan a man who proposed marriage (literal=opened his heart)
bulaklak ng dila -- pagpapalabis sa katotohanan exaggeration (literal=flower of the tongue)
magdilang anghel -- magkatotoo sana to wish that what has been said will come true
makati ang dila -- madaldal, mapunahin talkative person (literal = one with itchy tongue)
matalas ang dila -- masakit mangusap one who talks offensively (literal = sharp-tongued person)
maanghang ang dila -- bastos magsalita a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued person)
matamis ang dila -- mahusay mangusap, bolero a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued person)
kaututang dila -- katsismisan a gossip (literal = farting tongue)
sanga-sangang dila -- sinungaling a liar
may krus ang dila -- nakapanghihimatong one who could foretell an event
kumukulo ang dugo -- naiinis, nasusuklam a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)
magaan ang dugo -- madaling makapalagayan ng loob a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-blood)
maitim ang dugo -- salbahe, tampalasan an evil or bad person (literal=dark-blooded)
hampas-lupa -- lagalag, busabos a bum person, without any goals in life
haligi ng tahanan -- ama father (literal = post of the house)
ilaw ng tahanan -- ina mother (literal = light of the house)
itaga sa bato -- tandaan to remember (something) forever (literal = cast in stone)
isulat sa tubig -- kalimutan to forget (something) forever (literal=write it on water)
makitid ang isip -- mahinang umunawa, walang masyadong nalalaman someone incapable of understanding (literal=narrow-minded)
malawak ang isip -- madaling umunawa, maraming nalalaman someone who easily understands (literal=broad-minded)
malakas ang loob -- matapang a brave person (literal=strong-willed)
mahina ang loob -- duwag a coward (literal=weak-willed)
mababa ang loob -- maawain merciful person (literal=low-hearted)
masama ang loob -- nagdaramdam a person with a grudge, painful or ill feelings against someone (literal=bad feelings)
mabigat ang loob -- di-makagiliwan a person with whom one could not get along with
bukal sa loob -- taos-puso, tapat a sincere person, or one who gives with a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)
mahabang dulang -- kasalan wedding
makalaglag-matsing -- nakaka-akit enchanting look
makuskos-balungos -- mareklamo, mahirap amuin, mahirap pasayahin hard to please, always complaining
mahaba ang buntot -- laging nasusunod ang gusto, kulang sa palo, salbahe a person who is a spoiled brat
malapad ang papel -- maraming kakilala na makapagbibigay ng tulong a person who is very influential
may magandang hinaharap -- may magandang kinabukasan a person with a bright future
may sinasabi -- mayaman, may likas na talino a wealthy person or a talented person
matalas ang mata -- madaling makakita someone who could easily spot something (literal=sharp-eyed)
tatlo ang mata -- maraming nakikita, mapaghanap ng mali a fault-finder, cynical person (literal=three-eyed person)
namuti ang mata -- nainip sa kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay a person who was stood up (literal=one whose eyes turned white)
matigas ang leeg -- mapag-mataas, di namamansin snobbish person (literal=stiff-necked)
matigas ang katawan -- tamad a lazy person (literal=stiff-bodied)
makapal ang palad -- masipag a busy-body, industrious person (literal=thick-palmed)
maitim ang budhi -- masamang tao, tuso an evil or bad person (literal=dark-souled)
mababaw ang luha -- madaling umiyak emotional person (literal=tear-on-the-surface)
makapal ang mukha -- di marunong mahiya a shameless person (literal= dense-faced)
manipis ang mukha -- mahiyain a shy person (literal= thin-faced)
maaliwalas ang mukha -- masayahin a joyful person (literal= bright-faced)
madilim ang mukha -- taong simangot, problemado a problematic person (literal=dim-faced)
dalawa ang mukha -- kabilanin, balik-harap a deceptive, two-faced person
nakahiga sa salapi/pera -- mayaman rich, connotes someone who is spoiled by wealth
nagbibilang ng poste -- walang trabaho someone who is jobless, literally counting posts
namamangka sa dalawang ilog -- salawahan a person who is unfaithful
nagmumurang kamatis -- matandang nag-aayos binata o dalaga an old man/woman insecure about his/her looks and dresses up like a young person
naniningalang-pugad -- nanliligaw a man courting a woman
ningas-kugon -- panandalian, di pang-matagalan something that is not permanent, usually connotes a behavior or action not meant to last
panis ang laway -- taong di-palakibo a very quiet person
pagkagat ng dilim -- pag lubog ng araw twilight
patay-gutom -- matakaw glutton
pulot-gata -- pagtatalik ng bagong kasal honeymoon
putok sa buho -- anak sa labas an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock child
makati ang paa -- mahilig sa gala o lakad a person who is fond of going places (literal=itchy feet)
pantay ang mga paa -- patay na one who just died (literal=level feet)
nagpupusa -- nagsasabi ng mga kuwento ukol sa isang tao telling on somebody
saling-pusa -- pansamantalang kasali sa laro o trabaho temporarily included in a game or work
sampid-bakod -- nakikisunod, nakikikain, o nakikitira someone who is privileged to lodge and board in house for free
samaing palad -- malas na tao an unfortunate person, unlucky person
sampay-bakod -- taong nagpapanggap, hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi a false, pretentious person
takaw-tulog -- mahilig matulog a lazy person who always wants to stay in bed
takipsilim -- paglubog ng araw twilight
talusaling -- manipis ang balat a very sensitive person
talusira -- madaling magbago a person who easily changes
tawang-aso -- nagmamayabang, nangmamaliit a person who sneers
matalas ang tainga -- madaling makarinig one who easily hears the news (literal=sharp-eared)
maputi ang tainga -- kuripot miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)
nakapinid ang tainga -- nagbibingi-bingihan one who plays deaf (literal=closed-eared)
taingang kawali -- nagbibingi-bingihan one who plays deaf (literal=wok-eared: uses metaphor of the handle of a wok)
utang na loob -- pasasalamat na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man (as noun) debt of gratitude
matalas ang ulo -- matalino bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)
mahangin ang ulo -- mayabang arrogant person (literal=air-headed)
malamig ang ulo -- maganda ang sariling disposisyon in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)
mainit ang ulo -- pangit ang disposisyon in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)
lumaki ang ulo -- yumabang someone who became proud, arrogant (literal=one whose head grew big)
matigas ang ulo -- ayaw makinig sa pangaral o utos one who is stubborn (literal=hard-headed)
basag-ulo -- gulo, away chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)
may ipot sa ulo -- taong pinagtaksilan ng asawa a person who has been cheated by his/her spouse (literal=one with shit on his/her head)
sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok -- taong maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip a crazy or foolish person
utak-biya -- bobo, mahina ang ulo stupid, brainless (literal=fish-brained)
matalas ang utak -- matalino bright, intelligent person (literal=sharp-brained)



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