Muhavare (Idioms): Meaning and List — Patwari Notes
This page gives the definition and features of an idiom, its difference from a proverb, and exam-relevant idioms based on body parts and other themes, with meaning and example usage — including one Rajasthani idiom.
- Class 6-8 level
- 7 min read
What is a Muhavara (idiom)?
A muhavara (idiom) is a phrase that, setting aside the literal (abhidha) meaning of its words, conveys a special, figurative sense. 'मुहावरा' is a word from Arabic. For example — 'आँखें खुलना' doesn't literally mean waking from sleep, but coming to know the truth of a situation; 'हाथ मलना' doesn't literally mean rubbing one's palms, but feeling regret.
The main features of an idiom: (1) it is not a complete sentence but a phrase, so it isn't used independently — it occurs only within a sentence; (2) when used in a sentence, its verb changes according to gender, number, and tense — 'आँखें खुलना' becomes 'उसकी आँखें खुल गईं' ('her eyes opened [to the truth]'); (3) its words cannot be swapped for synonyms — 'आँख का तारा' ('the apple of one's eye') can't be said as 'नेत्र का सितारा'; (4) its meaning is figurative, not literal.
Idioms bring conciseness, vividness, and impact to language. Saying 'वह आठ-आठ आँसू रोया' instead of 'वह बहुत दुखी होकर रोया' ('he cried very sadly') conveys the feeling with far more depth. This is why idioms are taught not as a bare list but with context and sentence usage.
Difference between a Muhavara (idiom) and a Lokokti (proverb)
| Basis | Muhavara (idiom) | Lokokti (proverb) |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A phrase (incomplete) | A complete sentence |
| Usage | Not used independently; occurs as part of a sentence | Can be used independently |
| Change in form | The verb changes with gender, number, and tense | The form usually stays exactly as it is |
| Nature | A figurative/striking turn of meaning | The essence of an experience or truth, usually didactic |
| Example | नौ दो ग्यारह होना ('to vanish/flee') → चोर पुलिस को देखकर नौ दो ग्यारह हो गया (The thief fled on seeing the police) | अब पछताए होत क्या, जब चिड़िया चुग गई खेत ('what use is regret once the bird has eaten the whole field' — once the harm is done, regret is futile) |
Simple identification: if the phrase ends in a '-ना' verb (होना, करना, लगना), it's usually an idiom; if it's a full sentence, it's a proverb.
Idioms based on body parts
| Idiom | Meaning | Example usage |
|---|---|---|
| आँखें खुलना | To come to know the truth | धोखा खाने के बाद उसकी आँखें खुलीं (After being deceived, his eyes opened to the truth). |
| आँख का तारा | Very dear/beloved | इकलौता बेटा माँ की आँख का तारा है (The only son is the apple of his mother's eye). |
| आँख लगना | To fall asleep | पढ़ते-पढ़ते उसकी आँख लग गई (He fell asleep while studying). |
| आँखें बिछाना | To welcome someone warmly/lovingly | गाँव वालों ने अतिथियों के लिए आँखें बिछा दीं (The villagers gave the guests the warmest welcome). |
| आँखों में धूल झोंकना | To deceive someone | ठग ने सबकी आँखों में धूल झोंक दी (The conman deceived everyone). |
| नाक में दम करना | To harass/trouble someone greatly | शरारती बच्चों ने नाक में दम कर दिया (The mischievous children drove everyone to distraction). |
| नाक कटना | For one's honour/reputation to be destroyed | बेटे की करतूत से पिता की नाक कट गई (The son's misdeed brought disgrace on the father). |
| हाथ मलना | To regret/repent | समय पर न पढ़ने वाले परिणाम के दिन हाथ मलते रह गए (Those who didn't study on time were left regretting it on results day). |
| हाथ पीले करना | To get someone married | उन्होंने इस वर्ष बेटी के हाथ पीले कर दिए (They got their daughter married this year). |
| दाँत खट्टे करना | To defeat someone badly | वीर सैनिकों ने शत्रु के दाँत खट्टे कर दिए (The brave soldiers thoroughly defeated the enemy). |
| दाँतों तले उँगली दबाना | To be astonished | नन्हे जादूगर का खेल देखकर सबने दाँतों तले उँगली दबा ली (Everyone was astonished watching the little magician's trick). |
| कान भरना | To turn someone against another (by badmouthing) | किसी ने मालिक के कान भर दिए (Someone turned the master against him). |
| कान पर जूँ न रेंगना | To have no effect at all | बहुत समझाया, पर उसके कान पर जूँ न रेंगी (He was told many times, but it had no effect on him). |
| अंग-अंग मुळकणौ (Rajasthani) | To be extremely delighted | A popular idiom in the Rajasthani folk language. |
Other idioms that come up repeatedly in the exam
| Idiom | Meaning |
|---|---|
| उड़ती चिड़िया के पंख गिनना | To be very clever/experienced (able to read a situation at a glance) |
| सोने में सुगंध होना | An excess of good qualities; a good thing becoming even better |
| कोढ़ में खाज होना | One misfortune followed by another |
| आग में घी डालना | To fuel anger or a quarrel further |
| आठ-आठ आँसू रोना | To weep bitterly, to regret deeply |
| कब्र में पाँव लटकना | To be close to death, to be very old |
| ईद का चाँद होना | To be seen only rarely, after a long time |
| गागर में सागर भरना | To say a great deal in very few words |
| लोहे के चने चबाना | To do a very difficult task |
| नौ दो ग्यारह होना | To flee/vanish |
| टेढ़ी खीर | A difficult task |
| घी के दीये जलाना | To celebrate greatly |
| एड़ी-चोटी का ज़ोर लगाना | To make one's fullest effort |
| पानी-पानी होना | To be deeply ashamed |
| श्रीगणेश करना | To make an auspicious beginning |
| अक्ल पर पत्थर पड़ना | For one's judgement to fail |
| अँगूठा दिखाना | To refuse at the very last moment |
Similar-sounding phrases like 'उड़ती खबर' (a rumour) and 'उड़ती नज़र' (a passing glance) are placed among the options as traps.
Method for solving idiom questions
Step one — think of the idiom placed inside a sentence: putting 'कोढ़ में खाज' into a sentence like 'पहले से बीमार था, ऊपर से चोरी हो गई — यह तो कोढ़ में खाज हो गई' ('he was already ill, and on top of that there was a theft — that really was adding insult to injury') makes the meaning clear at once. Step two — be wary of any option giving the literal, word-for-word meaning; an idiom's meaning is almost never literal.
Step three — identify the difference in sense between similar-looking idioms: 'आग में घी डालना' is about escalating anger or a quarrel, while 'कोढ़ में खाज' is one misfortune on top of another; 'आँखें खुलना' is coming to understand the truth, while 'आँखें बंद करना' is ignoring something or dying, and 'आँख लगना' is falling asleep. For questions on Rajasthani idioms, pay attention to the standard-Hindi meaning of the words — 'मुळकणौ' relates to smiling/being delighted, so 'अंग-अंग मुळकणौ' = 'to be extremely delighted'.
Memory trick / exam tip
'Place it in a sentence, find the meaning': before choosing an option, try saying the idiom in a short sentence of your own. And to remember similar-sounding idioms, pair them up by sense — आग में घी (anger increases), कोढ़ में खाज (misfortune increases), सोने में सुगंध (a good quality increases).
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a muhavara and a lokokti?+
A muhavara is a phrase, and its verb changes when used in a sentence; a lokokti is a complete sentence and is used independently, exactly as it is.
What does 'सोने में सुगंध होना' mean?+
For a good thing or person to gain even more good qualities — an excess of good qualities.
What does 'कोढ़ में खाज होना' mean?+
For a new trouble to arrive on top of an existing misfortune or problem.
Which language does the word 'मुहावरा' come from?+
'मुहावरा' is a word from Arabic.