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Proverbs and Idioms
Common Persian proverbs and their meanings.
اونٹ کے منہ میں زیرہ
To do something futile
oont ke muh mein zeera
Literally to pound water in a mortar.
مرگ کے بعد دوا
A remedy that comes too late
marg ke baad dawa
From the Shahnameh story of Sohrab.
مشق سے کمال حاصل ہوتا ہے
Practice makes perfect
mashq se kamaal hasil hota hai
Skill comes from repetition.
جتنا بڑا عہدہ اتنی بڑی ذمہ داری
Greater status brings greater burdens
jitna bada ohda utni badi zimmedari
Literally the bigger your roof the more snow.
صبر کا پھل میٹھا ہوتا ہے
With patience things may improve
sabr ka phal meetha hota hai
Relief can come with time.
الٹا چور کوتوال کو ڈانٹے
The pot calls the kettle black
ulta chor kotwal ko daante
Criticizing a fault one shares.
شروع کرنے میں کبھی دیر نہیں ہوتی
It is never too late to start
shuru karne mein kabhi dair nahi hoti
Literally a fish is fresh whenever caught.
جلدی کا کام شیطان کا
Haste makes waste
jaldi ka kaam shaitan ka
Literally haste is the devil's work.
جو جاگے سو پائے
The early bird gets the worm
jo jaage so paaye
Rise early to succeed.
دوست وہی جو وقت پر کام آئے
A friend in need is a friend indeed
dost wohi jo waqt par kaam aaye
A famous line by the poet Saadi.
جب لوہا گرم ہو تبھی ہتھوڑا چلاؤ
Strike while the iron is hot
jab loha garam ho tabhi hathora chalao
Literally stick the bread while the oven is hot.
قطرہ قطرہ دریا بنتا ہے
Small amounts add up to a lot
qatra qatra darya banta hai
Literally drops gather and become a sea.
