#tagalogidioms

Dealing with idioms can be challenging because there’s more to them than just their literal meanings; however, that’s also what makes learning them more fun. 

Today, let’s learn about some basic Tagalog idioms, their literal English translations, their actual meanings, and the corresponding English idioms (if applicable).

Tagalog Idiom: Pagputi ng uwak / Pag-itim ng Tagak  

Literal Translation: When the crow has turned white / when the stork has become black

English Counterpart: When hell freezes over. / When pigs fly.

Meaning: Something that will never happen

Tagalog Idiom: Makati ang kamay 

Literal Translation: Hand is itchy

English Counterpart: Sticky fingers

Meaning: Someone who is always itching to steal something

Tagalog Idiom: Makati ang paa

Literal Translation: Foot is itchy

English Counterpart: Someone afflicted with wanderlust

Meaning: Someone who’s always itching to go somewhere else.

Meaning: Matamis ang dila 

Literal Translation: Tongue is sweet

English Counterpart: Sweet-talker

Meaning: Someone who’ll tell you compliments that they don’t mean just to get you to do what they want you to.

Tagalog Idiom: Matalas ang dila

Literal Translation: Sharp-tongued

English Counterpart: Sharp-tongued

Meaning: Someone whose words can seriously hurt.

Tagalog Idiom: Manigas ka! 

Literal Translation: Stiffen up

English Counterpart: Go die! / Drop dead! / Like hell, I will!

Meaning: There’s no way I’m going to do that!

Tagalog Idiom: Itaga mo sa bato 

Literal Translation: Hack it against a rock).

English Counterpart: Mark my word. / Carved in stone

Meaning: Remember my words because I will make sure that they will become a reality

Tagalog Idiom: Sipsip

Literal Translation: Suck

English Counterpart: Suck-up

Meaning: A person who tries to gain the favor of someone in authority by saying or doing everything that might please them

Tagalog Idiom: Parang naghahanap ng karayom sa gitna ng dayami 

Literal Translation: Like looking for a needle in the middle of a haystack

English Counterpart: Like looking for a needle in a haystack 

Meaning: Doing something that requires too much effort without any guarantee of success

Tagalog Idiom: Mahirap pa sa daga 

Literal Translation: Poorer than a mouse

English Counterpart: As poor as a church mouse

Extremely poor. Probably because mice only rely on scraps, so if you’re poorer than a mouse, you are very poor indeed.

Tagalog Idiom: Nagsusunog ng kilay 

Literal Translation: Burning eyebrows

English Counterpart: Burning the midnight oil

Meaning: Working very hard

Tagalog Idiom: Mani / Sisiw

Literal Translation: Peanut / Chick

English Counterpart: Piece of cake

Meaning: Something that can be easily accomplished (I’m not sure about the origin of this one, though)

Tagalog Idiom: Maghahalo ang balat sa tinalupan 

Literal Translation: The peel will get mixed with the thing that was already peeled

English Counterpart: All hell will break loose.

Meaning: Chaos will ensue if a particular thing was done.

Tagalog Idiom: Dadaan sa butas ng karayom 

Literal Translation: Will pass through the eye of the needle

English Counterpart: Go through fire and water

Meaning: You will face impossible odds before you accomplish something

Tagalog Idiom: Harangan man ng sibat 

Literal Translation: Even when blocked with a spear

English Counterpart: Come hell or high water

Meaning: You will do something no matter what it takes

Tagalog Idiom: Balat-sibuyas 

Literal Translation: Onion-skinned

English Counterpart: Thin-skinned

Meaning: Someone who’s easily offended

Tagalog Idiom: Namamangka sa dalawang ilog 

Literal Translation: Rowing down a stream while riding two boats simultaneously

English Counterpart: Not applicable

Meaning: Two-timing

Tagalog Idiom: Sumakay na lang 

Literal Translation: Just jump in for the ride

English Counterpart: Go with the flow

Meaning: Just let something pass (Don’t rebut it)

Tagalog Idiom: Ilista sa tubig 

Literal Translation: List it down on water

Not applicable

Meaning: Write something (i.e. a debt) off.

Tagalog Idiom: Nagdidilim ang paningin 

Literal Translation: Eyesight is getting dark

English Counterpart: Seeing red

Meaning: Getting very angry

Tagalog Idiom: Isaksak mo sa baga mo 

Literal Translation: Shove it up your lungs

English Counterpart: Shove it up yours.

Meaning: Keep it. I don’t want it.