Hindi expressions quiz
Your textbook never taught you these.
Could you keep up in an auto, at a wedding, at a chai stall or with friends? Let’s see how many of these you’d catch.
10 expressionsbeginner to advancedabout 2 minutesno sign-up
Word for word: “there’s something black in the lentils”
So what does it really mean? Tap an answer to start.
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Hindi expressions quiz
The 10 expressions in this quiz
Word for word, they make no sense. Here’s what people in India actually mean by them.
दाल में कुछ काला हैdaal mein kuch kaala hai
BeginnerWord for word: “there’s something black in the lentils”
Something’s fishy
वह आज इतना मीठा बोल रहा है, दाल में कुछ काला है। He’s being so sweet today, something’s fishy.
Fine at workनौ दो ग्यारह होनाnau do gyaarah hona
BeginnerWord for word: “to become nine two eleven”
To run off fast
पुलिस की गाड़ी देखते ही चोर नौ दो ग्यारह हो गए। The moment they saw the police car, the thieves ran off.
Fine at workनाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ाnaach na jaane aangan tedha
BeginnerWord for word: “can’t dance, says the courtyard is crooked”
Blaming anything but yourself
मैच हारकर बल्ले को दोष दे रहा है? नाच न जाने आँगन टेढ़ा। He lost the match and blames his bat? Classic, blaming anything but himself.
With friendsआँखों का ताराaankhon ka taara
IntermediateWord for word: “the star of the eyes”
Someone’s darling, their favourite
छोटा बेटा तो दादी की आँखों का तारा है। The youngest son is his grandma’s darling.
Fine at workऊँट के मुँह में जीराoont ke munh mein jeera
IntermediateWord for word: “cumin in a camel’s mouth”
Nowhere near enough
इतने बड़े परिवार के लिए एक पिज़्ज़ा? ये तो ऊँट के मुँह में जीरा है। One pizza for a family this big? That’s nowhere near enough.
Fine at workघर की मुर्गी दाल बराबरghar ki murgi daal barabar
IntermediateWord for word: “the chicken at home is worth the same as lentils”
Taking what’s close for granted
माँ इतना अच्छा गाती हैं, पर घर की मुर्गी दाल बराबर, कोई ध्यान ही नहीं देता। Mum sings so well, but we take her for granted and nobody even notices.
Fine at workअपने मुँह मियाँ मिट्ठू बननाapne munh miyan mitthu banna
IntermediateWord for word: “to be Mister Parrot by your own mouth”
To blow your own trumpet
वह हर मीटिंग में अपने मुँह मियाँ मिट्ठू बनता रहता है। He blows his own trumpet in every single meeting.
Fine at workउल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डाँटेulta chor kotwal ko daante
AdvancedWord for word: “backwards, the thief scolds the police chief”
The guilty one turns accuser
देर से वो आया और गुस्सा मुझ पर कर रहा है? उल्टा चोर कोतवाल को डाँटे। He’s the one who turned up late and he’s angry with me? Talk about the guilty one turning accuser.
With friendsदिमाग़ मत खाdimaag mat kha
AdvancedWord for word: “don’t eat my brain”
Stop pestering me (slang)
यार, सुबह से एक ही बात, अब दिमाग़ मत खा। Mate, it’s been the same thing since this morning, stop pestering me.
With friendsबंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वादbandar kya jaane adrak ka swaad
AdvancedWord for word: “what does a monkey know of the taste of ginger”
Wasted on someone who can’t appreciate it
उसे पुरानी फ़िल्में बोरिंग लगती हैं? बंदर क्या जाने अदरक का स्वाद। He finds old films boring? Wasted on him.
With friends
Questions
Are these expressions still used?
Yes, every day. The quiz leaves out anything dated or crude, and every answer tells you where it’s safe to say: fine at work, with friends, or best avoided.
Why does the quiz go from beginner to advanced?
The first three are common and you’ll hear them early on. The last three need nuance, like sarcasm or mood, which is where most learners lose the thread.
What do I get if I unlock the 15?
A free deck with all 25 expressions, added for you when you finish setting up: the 10 from the quiz (the ones you missed first, each with its example), then the 15 new ones. Every card has audio and comes back for review just before you’d forget it.
Do I need to read Devanagari?
No. Every expression is shown in Devanagari with a Latin spelling next to it, so you can say it before you can read the script.