Idioms
An idiom is a phrase that fits inside a sentence, and its verb changes for tense and person.
How It Works
An idiom is a fixed phrase with a figurative meaning. A proverb is a fixed saying that keeps its words, but an idiom is part of a sentence, so its verb takes the tense, the person and the gender of the sentence.
| Idiom | Literal words | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| तोंडाला पाणी सुटणे | water flows to the mouth | to long for tasty food |
| पायाखालची जमीन सरकणे | the ground slips under the feet | to be shocked |
| जीव भांड्यात पडणे | the life falls into the pot | to feel relieved |
| अंगावर काटा येणे | thorns come on the body | to get goosebumps |
| हात धुवून मागे लागणे | to wash the hands and follow | to hound someone relentlessly |
In some idioms the verb agrees with the idiom's own noun. जीव is masculine, so it is आईचा जीव भांड्यात पडला. काटा is masculine, so it is अंगावर काटा आला.
Do not translate an idiom word for word from English or Hindi. A learner who builds one from the words alone usually says something Marathi speakers do not.
Essays and stories use idioms to add colour. Pick one where it fits, and keep its words as they are.
Examples (5)
- बँकेचे लोक कर्जवसुलीसाठी त्याच्या मागे हात धुवून लागले आहेत.
The bank's people are hounding him relentlessly to recover the loan.
हात धुवून मागे लागणे takes लागले आहेत for the plural subject लोक.
- पुरणपोळीचा वास येताच मुलांच्या तोंडाला पाणी सुटले.
At the smell of puran poli, the children's mouths watered.
तोंडाला पाणी सुटणे describes longing for food.
- निकाल ऐकून तिच्या पायाखालची जमीन सरकली.
Hearing the result, she was thunderstruck.
पायाखालची जमीन सरकणे describes a shock, and सरकली agrees with जमीन.
- मुलगा सुखरूप घरी आल्यावर आईचा जीव भांड्यात पडला.
When the boy came home safely, his mother felt relieved.
जीव भांड्यात पडणे describes relief; पडला agrees with जीव.
- त्या भयानक बातमीने सगळ्यांच्या अंगावर काटा आला.
That terrible news gave everyone goosebumps.
अंगावर काटा येणे takes आला because काटा is masculine.
Common Mistakes
Copying a Hindi idiom into Marathi.
पुरणपोळीचा वास येताच मुलांच्या तोंडात पाणी आले.पुरणपोळीचा वास येताच मुलांच्या तोंडाला पाणी सुटले.तोंडात पाणी आना is Hindi. The Marathi idiom is तोंडाला पाणी सुटणे.
Making the verb agree with the wrong word.
आईचे जीव भांड्यात पडले.आईचा जीव भांड्यात पडला.जीव is masculine, so the possessive is आईचा and the verb is पडला.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Idioms are fixed noun-and-verb pairs, so the plain pairs come first.
Related Patterns
- Proverbs
A proverb stands as a saying on its own, and an idiom is a phrase inside a sentence.
Level 6 - Similes and Metaphors
Many idioms began as images.
Level 6 - Questions That Make a Point
This is another way to make a point.
Level 6 - -ताचAs Soon as
This ending says that the next action follows at once.
Level 4
Practice Idioms in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Marathi lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
