Sunday, November 7, 2021

Interesting to Know: Pinoy Old Expressions (1)

These are some words that we used to hear from our older relatives. I still hear them but not so often. Sometimes, I uttered some of them myself…. familiar with the words but not necessarily their true meanings. Most of the time, these words tickle my imagination… what might be their true meaning and origins.

I made this compilation… to remind me of these familiar words! If you know some that were not included in my list, please share with me by COMMENTING in the COMMENT BOX.
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Magsunog ng Kilay
To stay late up night studying very hard.

Mabilis pa sa alas kuwatro
To leave in a mad rush… Dashed out in a rush....

Tapos na ang boksing
It is done. Finished. Nothing can be done anymore.

Noong bata pa si Sabel
Believed to be originated as a tribute to Queen Isabella II of Spain, who reigned from 1843 to 1868. It literally means, ‘when Isabel was still but a child’. In other words, a long long time ago.

Wala kahit singkong duling
Not even a “cross-eyed 5 centavo”. No value.

Agua de Pataranta
Hard liquor disguised as a medicine that addle the minds of the men drinking it; putting them in a state of confused stupor (taranta in vernacular).

Natutulog sa Pansitan
Failure because of laziness.

Lutong Makaw
Pre-arranged winner. Rigged victory/decision.

Nineteen Kopong-Kopong. Panahon pa ni Limahong.
Long time ago, that no one remembers anymore.

Walastik!
A praise!

Aabutin ng siyam-siyam
Long wait. 

Pagputi ng Uwak
Translated in English “when the crow turns white.” Meaning ‘something that will never happen’. 

Kalapating mababa ang lipad
Euphemism for a prostitute.







111 comments:

Mylene said...

Sanggang dikit
bond between two person as bestfriend

Mylene said...

Putok sa buho
expression refers to an adopted child or fatherless child

Mylene said...

Para kang sirang plaka
referring to a person who repeat the same thing over and over again

Mylene said...

Consuelo de bobo
translated in english "consolation for the idiot"
prize given to those who has just suffered loss

Crystal said...

“Panahon pa ni Mahoma yan.”

According to UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino, Mahoma is the Spanish name of Muhammad, a Muslim prophet who lived in the 6th century and has been regarded as the founder of Islam.Lumang Panahon.

Crystal said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Crystal said...

“May ipot sa ulo.”

Literally translated as “poop in the head,” this Pinoy expression is a euphemism for a man who has been cheated by his wife or partner, but doesn’t know it yet. Worse, almost everybody knows about it (or can see the “poop” in his head, so to speak) except him.

Crystal said...

“Walang katorya-torya.”

People used to describe a boring movie as “walang kaistorya-istorya” which means it has no story at all. As time went by, it condensed into “walang katorya-torya” and now used to describe anything uninteresting–be it a movie, book, person, etc.

Crystal said...

“Bulang-gugo.”

When you call someone bulang-gugo, it means that he or she is generous or what most Filipinos call “galante.” It was probably named so because the gugo, or the native Filipino shampoo made from the bark of a tree, produces a lot of foam when soaked and rubbed in water.


Crystal said...

“Basag ang pula.”

Egg yolk (pula ng itlog) is usually at the center, and where almost all the nutrients are concentrated (sort of like the human brain which serves as our ‘central switch’). Using the same logic, the Filipino expression basag ang pula (‘broken’ egg yolk) eventually became a euphemism for insane or crazy person.

Crystal said...

“Hilong-talilong.”

According to the book Malictionary by Ernie Zarate, this either means “madly in love” or a person who is in a “hurried frenzy” so much that he/she already acts like a headless chicken.

Crystal said...

“Kahiramang-suklay.”

Similar to “sanggang-dikit,” this Pinoy idiomatic expression refers to a friend whom we share intimate relationship with–so intimate that we no longer mind sharing a personal comb with him/her. You normally don’t allow someone to use your personal items (such as a comb) unless you trust that person.

Michelle said...

Balitang kutsero
fake news/rumor

Bahag ang buntot
coward/afraid

Basang sisiw
pity/unfortunate

Asal hudas
traitor

Halang ang bituka
wicked

Umuusok ang tuktok
angry

Crystal said...

"Kwentong Kutsero"

rumor, gossip, false story - hindi totoong balita o kwento

Crystal said...

"Bantay Salakay"

a person who pretends to be good, opportunist

Crystal said...

" Bahag ang Buntot"

Coward

Crystal said...

"balat Sibuyas"

a sensitive person (literal=onion-skinned)

Crystal said...

"Balat Kalabaw"

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

Mylene said...

Giyera patani
expression reffering to two or more people who are having argument

Crystal said...

"Tulak ng Bibig, Kabig ng Dibdib"


literally speaking - pushing (words) with one's mouth, but drawing in some feelings (in one's chest) as a result

Crystal said...

"namuti ang mata"

a person who was stood up (literal=one whose eyes turned white) nainip sa kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay

Crystal said...

"Lumaki ang Ulo"

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

Mylene said...

Tubong lugaw
extremely large profits in a small capital

Crystal said...

"Mahangin ang Ulo"


arrogant person (literal=air-headed)

Mylene said...

Kutong lupa
expression used by someone irritated when reffering to a small kids

Michelle said...

i-krus sa noo
to remember

Iguhit sa tubig
to forget

Nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko
Self-praise

Puti ang tainga
Scrooge

Crystal said...

“ matalas ang tainga"

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


“maputi ang tainga “

kuripot--miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)


“nakapinid ang tainga"


nagbibingi-bingihan--one who plays deaf (literal=closed-eared)


“taingang kawali"

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

Crystal said...

takaw-tulog

- mahilig matulog a lazy person who always wants to stay in bed
talusira

-- madaling magbago -a person who easily changes

tawang-aso

- nagmamayabang, nangmamaliit a person who sneers

Mylene said...

Isang Kahig isang tuka
used to describe the life of those who don't have sufficient money to live a standard life

Michelle said...

Hindi mahulugang karayom
crowded place

May gatas pa sa labi
a young human being below the age of puberty.

Crystal said...

"nakahiga sa salapi/pera"

-- mayaman rich, connotes someone who is spoiled by wealth

nagbibilang ng poste

-- walang trabaho someone who is jobless, literally counting posts

"namamangka sa dalawang ilog"

-- salawahan a person who is unfaithful

"nagmumurang kamatis"

-- matandang nag-aayos binata o dalaga an old man/woman insecure about his/her looks and dresses up like a young person

"naniningalang-pugad"

-- nanliligaw a man courting a woman

Crystal said...

"Mahaba ang Binti"

Nakaka abot palagi , always present , fast.

Crystal said...

"kumukulo ang dugo"

- naiinis, nasusuklam a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)


"magaan ang dugo"

- madaling makapalagayan ng loob a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-blood)

"maitim ang dugo"

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

Mylene said...

Tulog mantika
literally means sleeping like a cooking oil

Crystal said...

"itaga mo pa sa Bato"

-Sincere promise

Mylene said...

Takaw tingin
refers to someone who filled his/her plate with food but "pero di niya maubos"🤦‍♀️

Crystal said...

"Pumuti Man ang Uwak at Umitim and Tagak"

-Impossible to Happen -hindi maaaring mangyari o imposible

Mylene said...

May "gintong kutsara" sa labi
refers to someone being born wealthy

Michelle said...

May gintong kutsara sa bibig
Rich

Naniningalang pugad
courting

Amoy pinipig
fragrant

Anak-dalita
poor

Mylene said...

Nagmumurang kamatis
reffering to a grown up woman not dressing approprite at her age

Mylene said...

Namamangka sa dalawang ilog
having a relationship with different people at the same time

Mylene said...

Mag dilang anghel ka sana
wishing that something that was said comes true

Mylene said...

Kwentong barbero
gossip

Michelle said...

Di makabasag pinggan
modest

Ibong mandaragit
conqueror

Ilaw ng tahanan
mother

Haligi ng tahanan
father

Lumagay sa tahimik
get married

Mylene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Mylene said...

Palay na ang lumalapit sa manok
used yo describe a girlwho is taking initiative in courtship

Mylene said...

Isang bakol ang mukha
scowling face

Michelle said...

Maglaro ng apoy
betray

Parang kiti-kiti
naughty

Patabaing baboy
lazy

Tinik sa lalamunan
hindrance

Mylene said...

Ligaw intsik
chinese way of courting a woman
manner of courting a woman by offering gifts, in afternoon

Mylene said...

Pinagbiyak na buko
anyone who looks exactly the same or wearing the same outfit

Mylene said...

Dugong bughaw
someone being a part of a royal family

Michelle said...

Susmaryosep
used as an expression of anger, frustration or disbelief.

Anak ng kamote
used to express your annoyance with something.

Mylene said...

Basang sisiw
woeful or pitiful

Mylene said...

Naglahong parang bula
disappeared without a trace

Kuskus balungos
all words and complaints, but not doing anything about the situation.

Mylene said...

Makati ang paa
or "itchy feet" refers to someone who likes going places.

Michelle said...

Makalaglag-matsing
beautiful or enchanting

Consuelo de bobo
band-aid solution or a mock consolation given to those who has just suffered loss, rejection, or other hardships in life.

Basag ang pula
euphemism for insane or crazy person.

Walang katorya-torya
used to describe anything uninteresting—be it a movie, book, person, etc.

Karancho
buddy

Giyera patani
use this expression when referring to two or more people who are having an argument.

Alilang-kanin
Servants that are not paid with money. They only work for food.

Bulang-gugo
generous or what most Filipinos call “galante.”

Mylene said...

Mabilis pa sa alas-kwatro
Is used for people who'd respond to certain tasks, right away

Tengang-kawali
to describe those people pretending not to hear something

Mylene said...

pasang krus
means you'd be carrying a big burden

hugas kamay
means not taking responsibility for a deed that was done

Agaw buhay
when a person is in the brink of death because of an accident or health issues

Pusong bato
use to describe a person with no feelings/emotions or those who don't know how to love

Gemma G. R. said...

Pusong mamon-merciful
Bukas palad-helpful

Gemma G. R. said...

Maikli ang damit-late comer

Gemma G. R. said...

Lumilipad ang utak-absent minded

Gemma G. R. said...

Maliwanag pa sa buwan - clear evidence

Gemma G. R. said...

Butas ang bulsa - no money
Mataba ang bulsa - much money

Gemma G. R. said...

Magaan ang kamay - someone that is easily provoked and/or easily hits another person.
Buto't balat - skinny or malnurish

Gemma G. R. said...

Maganda ang hinaharap - bright future

Gemma G. R. said...

Balimbing - taking two sides, traitor, turncoat person.

Sipsip - self-concieted, self-rightous, obsequious.

Gemma G. R. said...

Magbanat ka ng buto - to work hard.

Gemma G. R. said...

Suntok sa buwan - imposible to accomplish.

May asim pa - someone still apealing despite thier age.

Panakip butas - substitute

Tubig at langis - a pair who doesn't work well.

Maluwag ang tornilyo - mentally imbalance.

May toyo sa utak - mental disorder.

Hulog ka ng langit - big help.

Dumaan ka sa butas ng karayom - face imposible odds to accomplish something.

Harangan man ng sibat - you will do something no matter what it takes.

Mylene said...

Di makabasag pinggan
Shy or silent-type woman

Gemma G. R. said...

Makati ang kamay - to steal something

Isaksak mo sa baga mo - it's all yours, i dont like it.

Nagpanting ang tainga - angry.

Sumunod sa agos - go with the flow.

Matalas ang dila - someone whose words can seriously hurt.

Akyat bahay - thieft, robber.

Mylene said...

Magdildil ng asin
To live a wretched life

Mylene said...

Lumang tugtugin
something that is no longer new or often heard

Mylene said...

Ningas cogon
not permanent or fades away quickly

Gemma G. R. said...

Pulot gata - honeymoon

Sanga sangang dila - liar

Hampas lupa - a bum person

Saling pusa - temporarily included

Patay gutom - glutton

Pagkagat ng dilim - twilight

Utang na loob - debt of gratitude

Basag ulo - chaos, quarrel, fight.

Samaing palad - unlucky, unfortunate.

Puwera usog - to avoid sickness.

Gemma G. R. said...

Hinog sa pilit - forced only to concent or to agree.

Hinipang pantog - sudden growth.

Hubad sa katotohanan - far from the truth.

Kahit lumuha ka pa ng dugo - you won't be forgiven no matter what you do.

Gemma G. R. said...

Andres de saya - a husband controlled by a wife.

Hawak sa leeg - Controlled by someone.

Ibaon sa hukay - forget everything.

Anay ng tahanan - mistress.

Ligaw tingin - lack of selfconfidence.

Walang buto - unstable, weak.

Mylene said...

Buruhin ang sarili
to remain single

Amoy tsiko
drunk

Hating kapatid
Equal share

Kapitbisig
Cooperation

Anak-pawis
A poor man, usually a laborer

Mylene said...

Walang bukang bibig
Favorite expression

Walang itulak kabigin
could not tell which one should be selected or chosen

walang preno ang bibig
no control in speech

walang susi ang bibig
could not keep a secretvorite expression

Mylene said...

Ibilanggo sa mga bisig
to embrace

Igisa sa sariling mantika
to invite a friends to eat and to make him or her pay for the expenses

Ihatid sa Dambana
to marry someone

Iguhit sa tubig
to count as nothing

Gemma G. R. said...

Mahaba ang dila - (palasumbong) tattletale.

Buhay pusa - always survive in a accident, long life.

Ahas - (traydor) traitor.

May sinasabi sa buhay - rich.

Ginintuang puso - with good heart, with good will.

Kastilyong buhangin - (gumuhong pangarap) collapse dream.

Kisap mata - very short moment, snap.

Tinulak sa bangin - (pinahamak) slander.

Gemma G. R. said...

Nagbibilang ng sisiw sa itlog - big expectation but not sure.

Panis ang laway - very quite person.

Matalas ang utak - genius.

Matigas ang ulo - determination not to change one's attitude. Stubborn.

Bukal sa loob - sincere person.

Bulaklak ng dila - exaggeration.

May krus ang dila - one who could foretell an event.

Matamis ang dila - sweet talker.

Gemma G. R. said...

Makabagbag damdamin - pitiful.

May daga sa dibdib - nervous, fear.

Malapad ang papel - influential person.

Isinuko ni sabel ang bataan - a lady that surrendered her virginity.

Mabilis ang kamay - snatcher.

Malikot ang kamay - habit of stealing.

Makati ang dila - talkative.

Makitid ang utak - incapable of understanding.

Malawak ang pag-iisip - easily to understand.

Mababaw ang luha - emotional person.

Maghigpit ng sinturon - to be thrifty.

Unknown said...

Kwentong Barbero - Ito ay isang uri ng kwento na gawa gawa lamang at hindi totoo kadalasan rin ito ay mga kathang isip na istorya na pang-aliw lamang.

Grace G said...

Anak ng kamote/tokwa/tinapa - isang direktang ekspresyon na ginagamit para sa pagpapakita ng inis tungkol sa isang bagay

Grace G said...

Chibugan na - Kakain na

Grace G said...

Susmariosep (Contraction of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph) - Ekspresyon na maaaring gamitin sa magkakaibang sitwasyon. Para sa mga Pilipino, ito ay isang catch-all expression at maaari ding paikliin sa "sus" at "maryopsep"

Grace G said...

Bahala na si Batman - galing sa salitang "Bathala" na nangangahulugang Diyos at naging "Bahala na si Bathahla",
na nangangahulugang isuko ang kapalaran sa Diyos.
at pagkatapos ay muling binago sa “Bahala na” na nangangahulugang “come what may” o "anuman ang mangyari".
Kung paano napunta sa larawan si Batman ? – isang katatawanan, kung gugustuhin mo
na kunin ang mga bagay sa magaan na paraan.

Grace G said...

Takaw mata - madalîng maakit na kunin ang isang bagay na hindi naman kailangan, gaya ng pagkaing hindi káyang ubusin

Grace G said...

malaki ang ulo – mayabang

Grace G said...

maitim ang budhi – tuso

Grace G said...

usad pagong – mabagal kumilos

Grace G said...

may bulsa sa balat – kuripot

Grace G said...

nakalutang sa ulap – sobrang saya

Grace G said...

bahag ang buntot – duwag

Grace G said...

nagbibilang ng poste - walang trabaho

Grace G said...

basa ang papel - bistado na

Grace G said...

busilak ang puso - malinis ang kalooban

Grace G said...

di madapuang langaw - maganda ang bihis

Grace G said...

itim na tupa - masamang anak

Grace G said...

pusong-bakal - hindi marunong magpatawad

Grace G said...

Banal na aso, santong kabayo - nagbabanalbanalan

Grace G said...

nagpúputók ang butsé - nakakramdam ng pagkairita o galit

Grace G said...

Humanap ng batong ipupokpok sa ulo - naghahanap ng gulo, away, o problema

Michelle said...

Malabo pa sa sabaw ng pusit.
When you can't see the possibility or chance of something happening.

Mylene said...

Nagbubuhat ng sariling bangko
always praising oneself

Mabait
term used when referring to the rats

Labis sa pito kulang sa walo
unbalanced mind

Mabilis ang kamay
someone who is fast in stealing from others

Nabato-balani
attracted somebody's attension by pleasing personality

Mylene said...

Walang sumisira sa bakal kundi kalawang
person who destroys the reputation of his friend or relative

Kalatog-pinggan
visitors whi go to parties without invitation

Walang itulak kabigin
almost having the same characteristics

Walang balon ng salapi
no wealth

Kalamayin ang loob
to calm one's self

Mylene said...

wala sa kalingkingan
not of the same ability

Alsa-balutan
changeable as to residence

Dagok ng kapalaran
bad luck

Daanin sa tigas ng ulo
to take anything through force

Gagapang na parang ahas
will lead a miserable life



Mylene said...

Ibilanggo sa mga bisig
to embrace

Kabatakang kumot
friend

Hagisan ng tuwalya
making the opponent surrender

Kalabasang naiiwan ang bunga
a person who accomplish nothing with the flight of time

Hampas ng kalabaw, sa kabayo ang latay
indirect verbal attack

Michelle said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Michelle said...

Kaawaan ka ng Diyos
May God be merciful to you! (Kaawaan ka ng Diyos!)” means that God looks over you and cares for you.

Gemma G. R. said...

Ligo uwak- binasa lang ang buhok para magmukhang bagong ligo.

Kinalawang na utak - nakalimutan ang mga dating natutunan.

Dagdag bawas - dayaan.

Nakaharap sa dagat ang ulam - maalat ang ulam.

Parang ilog ang ulam - nasobrahan sa sabaw ang ulam.

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