Tuesday, May 16, 2017

VEGETARIAN FOOD-FOR-THOUGHT

43.  Kacang lupakan kulit
     
The bean forgets its pod

The nut is ashamed of its shell. Said of those who are embarrassed 
by their own humble origins. Nouveau riche.



44.  Dapat tebu rebah
    
To come upon a fallen sugarcane

In effect, to be spared the effort of cutting it. In clover.


45.  Pinang dibelah dua
      
Two halves of a betelnut

As alike as two peas. Tweedledum and Tweedledee.

 46.  Pagar makan padi
     
The fence devours the rice crop

Breach of trust. To suffer injury at the hands of one from whom 
protection was expected. Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? 
(Who shall keep the keepers themselves?)


47.  (Seperti) aur dengan tebing
     
 (Like) bamboo and riverbank

One strengthening the other in perfect symbiosis. 
Part of a large family of idioms which includes: seperti dakwat dengan kertas 
(like ink and paper); and hilang tukul, hilanglah pahat 
(lose the hammer and you lose the chisel too).


48.  (Seperti) durian dengan mentimum
      
(Like) the durian and the cucumber

An uneven match. Odd couple. As unalike as chalk and cheese. 
May also mean "easy meat" - unfair competition, as is the case 
between harimau dengan kambing (tiger and goat); 
or lang dengan ayam (hawk and chicken).



49.  Apa boleh buat? 
Nasi sudah menjadi bubur
     
What's to be done? The rice has become gruel


An irreversible situation. Beyond help. No use crying over spilt milk.



1 comment:

  1. So what is the story of the durian at the end? Waiting for your reply. You can find me at thegreencrystal.

    ReplyDelete