English translation:
kokatath: for anything
thailaya (n): medicinal oil
Literal meaning:
Medicinal oil (cure) for any illness
Idiomatic meaning:
Solution for all problems
Sri Lankan Idioms
Saturday, May 16, 2020
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Gahen wetuna minihata gona enna wage
English translation:
gaha (n): tree gahen: from the tree
wetenawa (v): fall wetuna: fallen
miniha (n): man minihata: to the man
gona (n): bull
aninawa (v): gore enna: was/were gored
wage (Prep): like
Literal meaning:
Falling from the tree only to be gored by a bull
Idiomatic meaning:
Face a double whammy.
Wednesday, May 10, 2017
Kedena deege hewanellath edalu
English translation:
Kedena (Adj): doomed
deege (N): marriage
hewanella (n): shadow
edai (Adj): crooked
Literal meaning:
Even the shadow of a doomed marriage is crooked.
Idiomatic meaning:
Everything associated with a looming disaster brings evil.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Higannage paththareta henahura watuna wage
English translation:
higanna (n): beggar
paththaraya (n): bowl
henahura (n): Saturn
wetenawa (v): fall
wage (prep): like
Literal meaning:
Saturn landing in the beggar's plate
Idiomatic meaning:
Graver disaster befalling on a hapless person
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Yuddeta nethi kaduwa kos kotannada?
English translation:
Yudde (n): war
Nethi (prep): without/ not available
Kaduwa (n): sword
Kos (n): jack fruit
Kotanawa (v): slice
Literal meaning:
Should the sword slice jack fruit if it is not used for war?
Idiomatic meaning:
What is the use if the implement is not used for its intended purpose?
Yudde (n): war
Nethi (prep): without/ not available
Kaduwa (n): sword
Kos (n): jack fruit
Kotanawa (v): slice
Literal meaning:
Should the sword slice jack fruit if it is not used for war?
Idiomatic meaning:
What is the use if the implement is not used for its intended purpose?
Monday, January 16, 2017
Atheesareta amude gasanawa wage
English translation:
Atheesare (n): dysentery
amude (n): loincloth
gasanawa (v): wear
wage (prep): like
Literal meaning:
Wear a loincloth to control dysentery
Idiomatic meaning:
Use a futile method to solve a grave problem
Atheesare (n): dysentery
amude (n): loincloth
gasanawa (v): wear
wage (prep): like
Literal meaning:
Wear a loincloth to control dysentery
Idiomatic meaning:
Use a futile method to solve a grave problem
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Lella nethi kesel gediya wage
English translation:
lella (n): skin of a fruit
nethi (prep): without
kesel (n): banana
gediya (n): fruit
wage (prep): like
Literal meaning:
a banana without the skin
Idiomatic meaning:
without any protection against attack
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