Idioms With Body Words
Idioms with body words have a meaning that differs from the words themselves.
How It Works
Maithili idioms often use body words: मुँह (mouth), आँखि (eye), हाथ (hand). The phrase means something different from its parts, so each one is learned as a unit.
| Idiom | Word for word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| मुँह मे पानि आबब | water comes in the mouth | to crave food |
| आँखि लागब | the eye is attached | to fall asleep |
| हाथ बँटाएब | to share the hand | to help with a job |
| आँखिक तारा | star of the eye | a dear child |
- The verb changes like any other verb: आबि गेल, लागि गेल.
- The idiom keeps its words in order.
- आँखि लागब, हाथ बँटाएब and आँखिक तारा have close matches in Hindi, and the wording can change from place to place.
Do not stack many idioms in one sentence. When you learn a new one, note the verb that goes with it and the situation where people say it.
Examples (4)
- मिठाई देखि कऽ हमर मुँह मे पानि आबि गेल।
My mouth watered when I saw the sweets.
मुँह मे पानि आबब means to crave food.
- पढ़ैत-पढ़ैत हमर आँखि लागि गेल।
I fell asleep while reading.
आँखि लागब means to fall asleep.
- मायक काज मे हाथ बँटाउ।
Help Mother with her work.
हाथ बँटाएब means to help with a job.
- ई बउआ हमर आँखिक तारा अछि।
This little boy is the apple of my eye.
आँखिक तारा is a warm way to name a dear child.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The main idiom ends in a compound with गेल, so that shape comes first.
Related Patterns
- -ैत-ैतWhile Something Goes on
Used in the second example.
Level 4 - Basic Sentence Order
The word order idioms keep.
Foundations - नेनपन / मिठासMaking Abstract Nouns
Words that name feelings and states.
Level 5 - Everyday and Written Maithili
Idioms fit speech more than formal writing.
Level 5 - गेल / कएल / भेलCommon Irregular Past Stems
The -ल forms used with these idioms.
Level 2
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