Tagalog Idiomatic Expressions

Front 1

agaw-buhay -- naghihingalo

Back 1

between life and death (literal=life about to be snatched away)

Front 2

anak-pawis -- magsasaka; manggagawa

Back 2

farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker

Front 3

anak-dalita -- mahirap

Back 3

poor

Front 4

alilang-kanin -- utusang walang sweldo,

Back 4

house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter

Front 5

balitang kutsero -- hindi totoong balita

Back 5

rumor, gossip, false story

Front 6

balik-harap -- mabuti sa harapan, taksil sa likuran

Back 6

double-faced person, one who betrays trust

Front 7

bantay-salakay -- taong nagbabait-baitan

Back 7

a person who pretends to be good, opportunist

Front 8

bungang-araw -- sakit sa balat

Back 8

prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)

Front 9

bungang-tulog -- panaginip

Back 9

dream (literal=fruit of sleep)

Front 10

balat-sibuyas -- manipis, maramdamin

Back 10

a sensitive person (literal=onion-skinned)

Front 11

balat-kalabaw -- mahina ang pakiramdam, di agad tinatablan ng hiya

Back 11

one who is insensitive; with dense-face (literal=buffalo-skinned)

Front 12

buto't balat -- payat na payat

Back 12

malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)

Front 13

tulak ng bibig -- salita lamang, di tunay sa loob

Back 13

insincere words (literal=pushed-by-the-mouth)

Front 14

dalawa ang bibig -- mabunganga, madaldal

Back 14

nagger, talkative person (literal=two-mouthed)

Front 15

halang ang bituka -- salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay ng tao

Back 15

a person with no moral compunction (literal=with a horizontal intestine)

Front 16

mahapdi ang bituka -- nagugutom

Back 16

a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)

Front 17

makapal ang bulsa -- maraming pera

Back 17

rich, wealthy (literal=with a thick pocket)

Front 18

butas ang bulsa -- walang pera

Back 18

poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)

Front 19

sukat ang bulsa -- marunong gumamit ng pera, marunong magbayad at mamahala ng kayamanan

Back 19

someone who knows his ability to pay

Front 20

nagbabatak ng buto -- nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan

Back 20

one who works hard

Front 21

matigas ang buto -- malakas

Back 21

a strong person

Front 22

kidlat sa bilis -- napakabilis

Back 22

exceedingly fast

Front 23

kusang palo -- sariling sipag

Back 23

initiative

Front 24

mabigat ang kamay -- tamad magtrabaho

Back 24

a lazy person (literal=heavy-handed person)

Front 25

magaan ang kamay -- madaling manuntok, manapok, manakit

Back 25

one who easily hits another person, easily provoked (literal=light-handed person)

Front 26

mabilis ang kamay -- mandurukot

Back 26

a snatcher, pickpocket (literal=fast-handed)

Front 27

malikot ang kamay -- kumukuha ng hindi kanya

Back 27

one who has the habit of stealing things (literal=listless hand)

Front 28

di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin

Back 28

a very demure, prim-and-proper  person (literal=someone who can't break a plate)

Front 29

di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming tao

Back 29

overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot throw a pin)

Front 30

pag-iisang dibdib -- kasal

Back 30

wedding (literal=to be of one heart)

Front 31

kabiyak ng dibdib -- asawa

Back 31

spouse (literal=the other half of the heart)

Front 32

daga sa dibdib -- takot

Back 32

worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)

Front 33

nagbukas ng dibdib -- nagtapat na nais pakasalan ang kasintahan

Back 33

a man who proposed marriage (literal=opened his heart)

Front 34

bulaklak ng dila -- pagpapalabis sa katotohanan

Back 34

exaggeration (literal=flower of the tongue)

Front 35

magdilang anghel -- magkatotoo sana

Back 35

to wish that what has been said will come true

Front 36

makati ang dila -- madaldal, mapunahin

Back 36

talkative person (literal = one with itchy tongue)

Front 37

matalas ang dila -- masakit mangusap

Back 37

one who talks offensively (literal = sharp-tongued person)

Front 38

maanghang ang dila -- bastos magsalita

Back 38

a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued person)

Front 39

matamis ang dila -- mahusay mangusap, bolero

Back 39

a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued person)

Front 40

kaututang dila -- katsismisan

Back 40

a gossip (literal = farting tongue)

Front 41

sanga-sangang dila -- sinungaling

Back 41

a liar

Front 42

may krus ang dila -- nakapanghihimatong

Back 42

one who could foretell an event

Front 43

kumukulo ang dugo -- naiinis, nasusuklam

Back 43

a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)

Front 44

magaan ang dugo -- madaling makapalagayan ng loob

Back 44

a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-blood)

Front 45

maitim ang dugo -- salbahe, tampalasan

Back 45

an evil or bad person (literal=dark-blooded)

Front 46

hampas-lupa -- lagalag, busabos

Back 46

a bum person, without any goals in life

Front 47

haligi ng tahanan -- ama

Back 47

father (literal = post of the house)

Front 48

ilaw ng tahanan -- ina

Back 48

mother (literal = light of the house)

Front 49

itaga sa bato -- tandaan

Back 49

to remember (something) forever (literal=cast in stone)

Front 50

isulat sa tubig -- kalimutan

Back 50

to forget (something) forever (literal=write it on water)

Front 51

makitid ang isip -- mahinang umunawa, walang masyadong nalalaman

Back 51

someone incapable of understanding (literal=narrow-minded)

Front 52

malawak ang isip -- madaling umunawa, maraming nalalaman

Back 52

someone who easily understands (literal=broad-minded)

Front 53

malakas ang loob -- matapang

Back 53

a brave person (literal=strong-willed)

Front 54

mahina ang loob -- duwag

Back 54

a coward (literal=weak-willed)

Front 55

mababa ang loob -- maawain

Back 55

merciful person (literal=low-hearted)

Front 56

masama ang loob -- nagdaramdam

Back 56

a person with a grudge, painful or ill feelings against someone (literal=bad feelings)

Front 57

mabigat ang loob -- di-makagiliwan

Back 57

a person with whom one could not get along with (literal=heavy vibes or feelings)

Front 58

bukal sa loob -- taos-puso, tapat

Back 58

a sincere person, or one who gives with a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)

Front 59

mahabang dulang -- kasalan

Back 59

wedding

Front 60

makalaglag-matsing -- nakaka-akit

Back 60

enchanting look

Front 61

makuskos-balungos -- mareklamo, mahirap amuin, mahirap pasayahin

Back 61

hard to please, always complaining

Front 62

mahaba ang buntot -- laging nasusunod ang gusto, kulang sa palo, salbahe

Back 62

a person who is a spoiled brat

Front 63

malapad ang papel -- maraming kakilala na makapagbibigay ng tulong

Back 63

a person who is very influential

Front 64

may magandang hinaharap -- may magandang kinabukasan

Back 64

a person with a bright future

Front 65

may sinasabi -- mayaman, may likas na talino

Back 65

a wealthy person or a talented person

Front 66

tatlo ang mata -- maraming nakikita, mapaghanap ng mali

Back 66

a fault-finder, cynical person (literal=three-eyed person)

Front 67

namuti ang mata -- nainip sa kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay

Back 67

a person who was stood up (literal=one whose eyes turned white)

Front 68

matigas ang leeg -- mapag-mataas, di namamansin

Back 68

snobbish person (literal=stiff-necked)

Front 69

matigas ang katawan -- tamad

Back 69

a lazy person (literal=stiff-bodied)

Front 70

makapal ang palad -- masipag

Back 70

a busy-body, industrious person (literal=thick-palmed)

Front 71

maitim ang budhi -- masamang tao, tuso

Back 71

an evil or bad person (literal=dark-souled)

Front 72

mababaw ang luha -- madaling umiyak

Back 72

emotional person (literal=tear-on-the-surface)

Front 73

makapal ang mukha -- di marunong mahiya

Back 73

a shameless person (literal= dense-faced)

Front 74

manipis ang mukha -- mahiyain

Back 74

a shy person (literal= thin-faced)

Front 75

maaliwalas ang mukha -- masayahin

Back 75

a joyful person (literal= bright-faced)

Front 76

madilim ang mukha -- taong simangot, problemado

Back 76

a problematic person (literal=dim-faced)

Front 77

dalawa ang mukha -- kabilanin, balik-harap

Back 77

a deceptive, two-faced person

Front 78

nakahiga sa salapi/pera -- mayaman

Back 78

rich, connotes someone who is spoiled by wealth

Front 79

nagbibilang ng poste -- walang trabaho

Back 79

someone who is jobless, literally counting posts

Front 80

namamangka sa dalawang ilog -- salawahan

Back 80

a person who is unfaithful

Front 81

nagmumurang kamatis -- matandang nag-aayos binata o dalaga

Back 81

an old man/woman insecure about his/her looks and dresses up like a young person

Front 82

naniningalang-pugad -- nanliligaw

Back 82

a man courting a woman

Front 83

ningas-kugon -- panandalian, di pang-matagalan

Back 83

something that is not permanent, usually connotes a behavior or action not meant to last

Front 84

panis ang laway -- taong di-palakibo

Back 84

a very quiet person

Front 85

pagkagat ng dilim -- pag lubog ng araw

Back 85

twilight

Front 86

patay-gutom -- matakaw

Back 86

glutton

Front 87

pulot-gata -- pagtatalik ng bagong kasal

Back 87

honeymoon

Front 88

putok sa buho -- anak sa labas

Back 88

an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock child

Front 89

makati ang paa -- mahilig sa gala o lakad

Back 89

a person who is fond of going places (literal=itchy feet)

Front 90

pantay ang mga paa -- patay na

Back 90

one who just died (literal=level feet)

Front 91

nagpupusa -- nagsasabi ng mga kuwento ukol sa isang tao

Back 91

telling on somebody

Front 92

saling-pusa -- pansamantalang kasali sa laro o trabaho

Back 92

temporarily included in a game or work, a term used to refer to little kids fond of joining games or work of grown-ups

Front 93

sampid-bakod -- nakikisunod, nakikikain, o nakikitira

Back 93

someone who is privileged to lodge and board in house for free

Front 94

samaing palad -- malas na tao

Back 94

an unfortunate person, unlucky person

Front 95

sampay-bakod --  taong nagpapanggap, hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi

Back 95

a false, pretentious person

Front 96

takaw-tulog -- mahilig matulog

Back 96

a lazy person who always wants to stay in bed

Front 97

takipsilim -- paglubog ng araw

Back 97

Twilight

Front 98

talusaling -- manipis ang balat

Back 98

a very sensitive person

Front 99

talusira -- madaling magbago

Back 99

a person who easily changes

Front 100

tawang-aso -- nagmamayabang, nangmamaliit

Back 100

a person who sneers

Front 101

matalas ang tainga -- madaling makarinig

Back 101

one who easily hears the news (literal=sharp-eared)

Front 102

maputi ang tainga -- kuripot

Back 102

miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)

Front 103

nakapinid ang tainga -- nagbibingi-bingihan

Back 103

one who plays deaf (literal=closed-eared)

Front 104

taingang kawali -- nagbibingi-bingihan

Back 104

one who plays deaf (literal=wok-eared: uses metaphor of the handle of a wok)

Front 105

utang na loob -- malaking pasasalamat na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man

Back 105

(as noun) debt of gratitude

Front 106

"utang na loob" -- malaking pakiusap, madalas ginagamit upang ipahiwatig ang masidhing damdamin ng nakikiusap, tulad ng "parang awa mo na"

Back 106

(as expression) "please", used to express the deepest feelings of the person asking for a very big favor, equivalent to "have mercy"

Front 107

matalas ang ulo -- matalino

Back 107

bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)

Front 108

mahangin ang ulo -- mayabang

Back 108

arrogant person (literal=air-headed)

Front 109

malamig ang ulo -- maganda ang sariling disposisyon

Back 109

in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)

Front 110

mainit ang ulo -- pangit ang disposisyon

Back 110

in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)

Front 111

lumaki ang ulo -- yumabang

Back 111

someone who became proud, arrogant (literal=one whose head grew big)

Front 112

matigas ang ulo -- ayaw makinig sa pangaral o utos

Back 112

one who is stubborn (literal=hard-headed)

Front 113

basag-ulo -- gulo, away

Back 113

chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)

Front 114

may ipot sa ulo -- taong pinagtaksilan ng asawa

Back 114

a person who has been cheated by his/her spouse (literal=one with shit on his/her head)

Front 115

sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok -- taong maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip

Back 115

a crazy or foolish person

Front 116

utak-biya -- bobo, mahina ang ulo

Back 116

stupid, brainless (literal=fish-brained)

Front 117

matalas ang utak -- matalino

Back 117

bright, intelligent person (literal=sharp-brained)