When I wake up unusually early, I use the time to read the newsletters I subscribe to in my email. Even if I have not opened emails from places I like for weeks, I like receiving email.
This morning, I read a fascinating piece on Word Smarts about "turns of phrase." It got me thinking about how the sequence of words changes based on where we live. As someone who has lived and studied outside the US, I often notice these differences when I write or speak. My idiom knowledge is closer to British English, but there are thousands of Indian idioms that color my thinking.
One Telugu saying came to mind while reading about these English turns of phrase: Panileni mangali pilli tala gorigadanta.
The Meaning
Translated literally, it means: "A barber without work shaved the cat's hair."
It is a specific turn of phrase used to describe someone doing useless work just to look busy. But my elders had a way of flipping it. To them, it was a reminder to use your time well. Even if work is slow, find something productive to do rather than inventing tasks.
We often say "no use crying over spilt milk" in the US. It is practical. But sometimes I miss the vivid imagery of the idioms back home.
What turns of phrase do you remember from your childhood?
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