Featured Collection
हाथ की बातें
Idioms of the Hand
From "empty-handed" (हाथ खाली) to "lend a hand" (हाथ बँटाना), Hindi uses the hand to talk about effort, help, poverty, and generosity. Nine idioms that show up in every household conversation.
हाथ खाली होना
to be empty-handed / to be broke
haath khaali hona
हाथ बँटाना
to lend a hand / to help someone
haath bantaana
हाथ पर हाथ धरे बैठना
to sit idle / to do nothing
haath par haath dhare baithna
हाथ मलना
to regret / to wring one's hands in regret
haath malna
हाथ-पैर मारना
to try desperately / to struggle hard
haath-pair maarna
हाथ तंग होना
to be short of money / tight on cash
haath tang hona
हाथों-हाथ
immediately / right away / hand-to-hand
haathon-haath
हाथ का मैल
something trivial / money that comes and goes (lit. dirt on hands)
haath ka mail
हाथ धोकर पीछे पड़ना
to pursue someone relentlessly
haath dhokar peechhe padna
Loved this collection?
Explore more of Bolbala — thousands of Hindi words, phrases, idioms, and stories.