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The Plain English Meanings of Turkish Idioms 'S' Related Pages: The Turkish Idioms A-Z, Index Turkish Acronyms/Abbreviations The Idiomatic M-Doublets Idioms Origin Stories, Index Idioms Illustrated by Cartoons #1 We know you've seen reference books written for English speakers about English and American Idioms. And you may have seen books for Turkish speakers on the same subject. You may even have seen books for Turkish speakers about Turkish Idioms -- all in Turkish. But have you ever seen a reference for English speakers about Turkish Idioms? Well, when we couldn't find one after looking for seven years, we decided to do-it-ourselves. Observe our sampling just for Turkish idioms that begin with the letter S. Site visitors may navigate to other Turkish Idioms pages using the House-Favorite Idioms Page Index. Turkish Idioms beginning with the letter S The Turkish The Literal English Meaning The 'Plain' English Meaning Comments and Examples Sa   Saatler olsun! See sıhhatler olsun!     saç saça (baş başa) hair to hair (head to head) to begin to fight with each other, to rough up each other in a fight See Category 1 and 8, Turkish doublets. saçma sapan (konuşmak) (to talk) nonsense slingshot very absurd (to talk) nonsense Örnegin, birçok Batı ülkesinde çok satan kitaplar listesinde bir sürü saçma sapan kitaplar vardır. For example, in many western countries there are a lot of absurd books that reach the best-seller lists. (Hürriyet Gazetesi, 1 Sept 1999) sağ ol be alive [informal way to say] Thank you! or Thanks! Used as shown... Sağlık olsun. Let/may there be good health... As long as there's good health... Oh, never mind, not to worry. It's all right, don't worry about it. Yarışmayı hemen hemen kazanmıştım... Sağlık olsun. I almost won the contest, but never mind, it's all right... [a/e] sahip çıkmak for an owner to go out to claim to be the owner of (sth); claim (sth) (that one has no right to claim) to attend to; see to; look after (sb) to get (sb/sth) under control to support, back, help (sb/sth) Çocuğuna sahip çık! Get your child under control! Avrupa PKK'ya sahip çıkınca terör başladı! When Europe helps the PKK, terrorist-activity commences! Gözcü Gazetesi, 3 June 2003 Sakın kaçırmayin! I do hope you don't help (sb/sth) escape! You absolutely can't miss it!; You really must see it! [Used when talking or advertising about a TV show, a movie, etc.] May be used as shown. sakınca yoksa sakınca var if there is no objection there is objection if you don't mind I do mind May be used as shown. saman altından su yürütmek for water to walk under the straw to be as sly as a fox; to be extremely crafty and devious to do something (secretly) without being at all obvious to work (secretly) towards a goal Metin Bey yıllarca saman altından su yürütüp gizli işler yaptı ve kısa zamanda çok zengin oldu.102 Metin Bey worked slyly for years on secret projects and then he became rich in a short time. sarı çizmeli Mehmet Ağa yellow-booted Mehmet Aga an unknown person; just anybody; a nobody Joe Bloggs; Joe Blow; Joe Doaks, John Doe Kim olduğu, ne olduğu doğru dürüst bilinmeyen bir kişiden söz ederken, 'sarı çizmeli Mehmet Ağa' deyimini kullanırız.115 We use this idiom, 'yellow-booted Mehmet Aga' when talking about a person that we don't really know much about (...it is not really known 'who he is', 'what he is'). Click for The Rest of the Idiom Story. sarmaş dolaş (olmak) (Note: 'sarmaş' has no independent meaning outside of its use in this phrase -- see Category 2 Turkish doublets) (to be) ... wander (to be) locked in close embrace (to be) on very friendly terms Cem Adler, gazetecilere yanak yanağa ve sarmaş dolaş pozlar vermekten de çekinmedi. Cem Adler was on very friendly terms with the newspaper reporters, and didn't avoid giving [camera] poses. Müziğin ve alkolün dozunu artırdıkça, sevgilisiyle sarmaş dolaş dans etmeye başlanyan Seben Koçibey, rahat davranışlarıyla dikkat çekti. Seben Koçibey (who started dancing locked in close embrace with her lover, as the music and alcohol dosage increased) drew attention because of her relaxed behaviour. Gözcü Gazetesi, 14 June 2004 (See photo-article on the Who's Who page.) sayesinde Note: This idiom means almost the same as 'bu sayede' and 'o sayede'. in its shadow thanks to, because of Ali'nin sayesinde işi bitirdik.87 Thanks to Ali we finished the job. Se   sefa/safa geldin(iz) you come pleasant Welcome... Hoş geldin, sefa geldin. Gemi benim değil, senindir. Welcome, welcome. The boat's not mine, consider it to be yours. The Illustrated Story of Barbarossa, Book 1 Plate 17 by Orhan and Erhan Dündar (1996) Selamün aleyküm. Also seen as selamünaleyküm. Let peace be upon you. same meaning... This is the standard (formal) greeting used by one Muslim to another. The standard (formal) reply from the second Muslim is 'Aleyküm selam'. Both are adopted from the original Arabic. May be used as shown. selamün aleyküm demeden/vermeden without saying 'Let peace be upon you' without so much as a 'By your leave'; without even saying 'hello' brusquely and tactlessly May be used as shown -- or as in the following variation. Eskişehir'de kendisine selam vermeyen komşusu ile tartışmaya giren Mehmet Özcan adlı şahıs, pompalı av tüfeği ile hem komşusunu hem de yoldan geçen bir vatandaşı yaraladı. A character named Mehmet Özcan (who started in to arguing with his neighbor without so much as a 'how de doo') wounded both his neighbor and a passing motorist -- with his pump-action shotgun. Gözcü Gazetesi, 9 January 2004 selamün aleyküm kör kadı let peace be upon you, blind judge [Meet] [say hello to] a blind Muslim Judge. Said when referring to a person who doesn't mince his/her words, who doesn't hold back from saying what he/she thinks, who expresses his/her views without caring about the outcome. Öğrenmek istediğin her şeyi öğrenebilirsin, işte sana selamün aleyküm kör kadı.103 You can learn everything that you want to learn. How about that! Now go for it! [Look at you, you're a blind Muslim Judge!] See another example sentence at kör kadı. Compare with tok sözlu and hatıra gönüle bilmemek. sen bilirsin you (habitually) know as you wish/like as you will OK, if that's what you think is right, I leave it up to you. May be used as shown. Sen de mi Brutus? See... Sen de mi Brutus? (on the Conjunction Celebration page).     sen sen ol This is the singular, informal equivalent of siz siz olun.     senet sepet senetsiz sepetsiz documentary proof basket lack of documentary proof basket written proof of a business transaction; an IOU; a bond (something) which has no written certification whatsoever See Category 1 and 8, Turkish doublets. ses çıkarmamak to not bring out voice to not raise an objection to keep quiet, not to say anything   ses çıkarmak to bring out voice to voice an opinion to say something Ses çıkaran olmadı. Nobody objected. (There wasn't anyone who raised a voice.) sessiz sedasız quiet unvoiced quiet and retiring quietly and unobtrusively Sedef Erbil'den sessiz sedasız boşanan Mehmet Ali Erbil'in eşine nafaka olarak 100 bin dolar ve Beylikdüzü'nde de iki ev verdiği iddia edildi. It's claimed that [famed Turkish entertainer] Mehmet Ali Erbil (who was divorced quietly and unobtrusively from Sedef Erbil) gave his wife 100 thousand dollars alimony and two houses in Beylikdüzü [a 'rich and famous' residential area of Istanbul]. Gözcü Gazetesi, 4 July 2003 Sı   Sıhhatler olsun! (Also seen as saatler olsun!...) Let there be healths! I hope it does you good! I hope you enjoy it! Note: this is most often said to someone who has just had a bath or a haircut. Bana verilmesi adet olan şey bile size sıhhatler olsun. Even as it was given to me, I hope you enjoy it [too]. The Illustrated Story of Barbarossa, Book 1 Plate 37 by Orhan and Erhan Dündar (1996) sıkı fıkı close ... intimate See 'Category 2, Turkish doublets'. Sıkı giy(in)(iz). Dress tightly. Dress warmly. May be used as shown. sıkı tutmak to hold tightly to do something with scrupulous care to hold tightly İşimizi sıkı tutalım, sonra başımız ağrımasın. Let's do this job meticulously, then we won't have any headaches later. sınıfta çakmak (kalmak) to drive a nail (remain) in class (for a student) to fail a class, fail a grade Recai Kutan açıkladı: AKP neden sınıfta kaldı? Recai Kutan (leader of the Saadet political party and right hand man of Necmettin Erbakan) explains: Why has the AKP failed? Headline from Gözcü Gazetesi, 17 June 2003 sıra sende (bende, etc.) and you (me, etc.) line/queue It's your (my, etc.) turn, now. May be used as shown... sıradan from line/queue ordinary, middling, mediocre, run-of-the-mill Dün gece çok sıradan bir film gördük. We saw a very mediocre film last night. sırası gelmişken while it has come to the line/queue by the way   [-e/-a] sırtını dayamak to lean the back against sth to rely on the protection of sb/sth Left click for image enlargement. Sırtını Dubaili şeyhe dayadı! She relies on the protection of a sheik from Dubai! Headline from Gözcü Gazetesi, 26 June 2003 (See article at left.) Si   sinek avlamak to hunt (shoot) a fly (mosquito/gnat) to kill time, to twiddle one's thumbs, (be forced) to pass time idly (due to lack of employment, etc.) Sigara yasağı yüzünden restoranlar sinek avlıyor. Due to 'No Smoking' law (cigarette prohibition) restaurants are losing business (...are forced to pass time idly). Gözcü Gazetesi news headline (about New York City), 13 May 2003. sitem etmek to [do] reproach to reproach Click to see example sentence. siz siz olun do you you [an imperative] never [do sth] don't ever [do sth] Siz siz olun İnternet kimseye güvenmeyin... İnternet chat yaparken tanıştığı kişiye güvenip cep telefonuna ait bilgileri veren sağlık teknisyenine bir ay sonra 22,5 milyar liralık fatura geldi. Newspaper headline and caption -- Never trust anyone [without a secure connection] on the Internet... A health-technician trusted a person he met [casually] while chatting on the Internet and gave his mobile phone account details -- and one month later he got a bill for 22.5 billion Turkish Lira [approx. $15,000]. Gözcü Gazetesi, 16 January 2004 Sen sen ol, bir daha bunu yapma! Don't you ever do this again! 87 So   soluğu (bir yerde) almak to take breath (at a place) to get to a place in no time flat Soluğu İspanya yakasında aldı. She reached the Spanish border in no time flat. soluk almak to take a breath to breathe; to inhale to take a breather, rest See example sentence at: cami/minare yıkılmış... son derece last degree extremely Bu adam son derece cimriydi. This man was very very stingy. son gülen iyi güler the last laugher, laughs good he who laughs last, laughs best Used as is... [-ı/-i] sona erdirmek sona ermek to cause attainment to the end to attain to the end to conclude, complete, cause the end of (sth) to end, come to an end Saddam'ın yakalanması direnişi sona erdirecek mi? Headline: Will Saddam's capture cause an end to the [Iraqi] resistence? Zaman Gazetesi, 15 December 2003 Bu sorulardan en önemlisi ise Irak direnişini organize ettiği öne sürülen Saddam'ın ele geçirilmesinden sonra gerçekte söz konusu direnişin sona erip ermeyeceği? Of these [remaining] questions, the most important is whether or not the aforementioned [Iraqi] resistence will really end after the capture of Saddam (who supposedly organized it). Zaman Gazetesi, 15 December 2003 Irak'ta savaşın sona erdiğinin ilan edilmesinden beri 200 Amerikan askeri öldürülmüş. Since the announcement of the completion of the war in Iraq, 200 American soldiers have been killed. Zaman Gazetesi, 15 December 2003 sonradan görme Note: This idiom is also sometimes seen as sonradan görmüş. seeing/seen subsequently a person who acts with extreme pride after achieving (undeserved) wealth or rank a person who has suddenly risen to a higher economic status but has not gained social acceptance of others in that class (nouveau riche) Dikkat et, ben senin gibi sonradan görme değilim, öyle olur olmaz şeyleri alamam.99 Be careful, I'm not 'newly rich' like you, I can't buy whatever I please (...just any old things). Sonradan görme olduğu, özenti içinde olmasından anlaşılıyor.103 Someone who is nouveau riche is recognizable from his/her (failed) attempts to imitate his/her 'superiors'. soylu soplu with lineage with clan someone from a well-known, well-established family See Category 1 and 7, Turkish doublets. [-a/-e] soyunmak to undress to ... to become professional at (sth); to become a professional (sth); to try to project oneself as being (sth) Professional writer? Left click for image enlargement. Ünlü manken, yakında ev yemekleri ve tatlılar ile ilgili kitap daha yazacakmış. Bu gidişle Tülin yazarlığa da soyunursa hiç şaşırmayın. The famous fashion model will soon write another book concerned with home prepared foods and sweets. At this pace, don't be surprised if Tülin becomes a professional writer. Gözcü Gazetesi, 9 January 2004 (See photo-article at left.) Sö   sövüp saymak to curse and to count to swear violently (at) (each other) Saygısız biriydi; herkese sövüp sayıp gitti. He was a very disrespectful person; he swore at everyone and then he left. söz düşmemek See laf/söz düsmemek.     söz (lafını) etmek to make/do remark to talk about sb/sth to gossip (unfavorably about sb) Az önce senin lafını ediyor, nerelerde kaldı, niye buralara uğramaz oldu, diyorduk.100 We were just talking about you; we were wondering where you were, why you hadn't visited hereabouts... Also see example at: sarı çizmeli Mehmet Ağa. söz konusu Note: Also seen as: sözkonusu word subject a person, thing, topic being talked about a person, thing, topic under consideration, discussion a topic for discussion as mentioned, aforementioned, in question, that kind of, such... Seçimin iptali ihtimaline karşı CHP'nin YSK'da kulis yaptığı iddiasına tepki gösteren CHP lideri, "Sözkonusu bile değil. Bu iddialar çok çirkin" diye konuştu. The CHP leader (who reacted [angrily] to accusations that the CHP was lobbying the YSK in opposition to the possibility of the election's cancellation) said, "It's not even a topic for discussion. These accusations are shameful [and malicious]. Adapted from an article in Gözcü Gazetesi, 8 September 2003 1991'de Irak'ın Kuveyt'e girmesi üzerine ABD'nin Irak'a müdahalesi, uluslararası topluluk tarafından büyük destek görmüştü. Ancak 12 yıl sonra böyle bir destek söz konusu değil. In 1991 when Iraq invaded Kuwait, the American intervention (against Iraq) had a lot of support by the international community. But, 12 years later, there wasn't such support. Globus Magazine, 'Special Edition' entitled: Savaşı Anatomisi [Anatomy of War], April 2003 Also see example sentence at sona erdirmek. söz sahibi olmak to become a remark owner to be able to speak knowledgeably/ authoritatively about sth/sb135 to have the right to comment on sth/sb (owing to one's knowledge of it/him/her)135 to be able to contribute constructively in discussion, debate, or research -- because of one's expertise Young lady psychiatrist who knows a lot about 'the blues'... Left click for enlarged photo article. Amerikan Psikiyatri Birliği tarafından 'duygu ve durum bozukluğu' kategorisinde 'Dünyanın En İyi Genç Bilim Adamı' ödlülünü kazanan Doç. Dr. Aşegül Yıldız "Türkiye'nin de bilimsel arenada söz sahibi olabileceğin gösterdim" diyor. Professor Dr. Aşegül Yıldız (who won the [international] award presented by the American Psychiatic Institute for World's Best Young Scientist in the category of 'Emotional and Situational Distress') says, "I've shown that Turkey can also contribute constructively in the scientific arena." Gözcü Gazetesi, 28 May 2004 (See photo-article at left.) sözünden dönmemek to not turn from your word See sözünü yerine getirmek.   sözünü kesmek to cut the word to stop speaking in mid-sentence Hoca adamın sözünü keserek yanından ayrılmış. The teacher left the man's side, cutting him off in mid-sentence. sözünü tutmak to hold your word See sözünü yerine getirmek.   sözünü yerine getirmek to bring your word to a place to keep one's word John bey'e, Donna'ye bir kardeş gibi bakacağıma söz verdim. O sözünü myerine getiriyorum. I promised Mr. John that I'd look after Donna like she was a sister. I'm keeping my word on it. Su   su gibi like water... easily, smoothly, fluently...   su gibi berrak as clear as water Just beautiful. Perfect, ideal, wonderful... May be used as shown... su gibi bilmek to know like water to know something perfectly, have something down pat   su yüzüne çıkmak/çıkarmak for water to get out on the face to surface, to become apparent, to come to light Bu arada, son gelişmeler ABD ile Avrupa arasındaki çekişmeyi su yüzüne çıkarmış görünüyor. Meanwhile, the latest developments show that a spat has surfaced between the US and Europe. Globus Magazine, 'Special Edition' entitled: Savaşı Anatomisi [Anatomy of War], April 2003 suç işlemek to perform an offence to commit an offence/crime Bu rahatsız edici durum şimdi suç işlenmiş durumuna düşmüştür. This disturbing situation has now become a criminal situation. sudan çıkmış balığa döndüler they go out of water and turn into fish to be in a daze not to know what to do or which way to turn Bewitched, bothered, and bewildered... Left click for image enlargement. İranlılar, Antalya'ya gelince şaşıp kaldılar. Sudan çıkmış balığa döndüler. When (male tourist) Iranians come to Antalya, they are bewildered. They don't know what to do or which way to turn. Gözcü Gazetesi, 14 July 2003 (See the bewildered towel-covered Iranian at left.) suya düşmek to fall to the water to fail, come to nothing Acil tezkere suya düşüyor. Irak'a asker gönderme konusunda kamuoyunda yoğunlaşan tepkiler, hükümeti geri adım atmaya zorladı. [Hope for the] swift 'parliamentary approval' comes to nothing. The [Turkish] government was forced to take a step back, due to intense reactions in public opinion about the subject of sending [Turkish] soldiers to Iraq. Headline and caption of an article in Gözcü Gazetesi, 27 August 2003 [-in/-ın] Suyu mu çıktı? Did water go out? What's wrong with this/that person/place/thing? Fashion model flap... Left click for enlarged photo article. Türk mankenlerin suyu çıktı. Türkiye'deki mankenleri beğenmeyen bir iç giyim fırması binlerce dolar ödeyip Hollanda'dan manken getirtip ürünlerini tanıttı. Antalya'daki defilede podyuma çıkan mankenler yürek hoplattı. There was something wrong [apparently] with Turkish models... A [dim-witted foreign] lingerie company (that wasn't adaquately impressed with the fashion models of Turkey) paid thousands of dollars to have models brought from Holland to introduce their products. [Nonetheless] the [Dutch] models who paraded on the fashion-show stage in Antalya made hearts flutter. Headline and article excerpt from Gözcü Gazetesi, 16 April 2004 (See photo-article at left.) Sü   süklüm püklüm Note: both these words are meaningless, except in this idiom... ... ... looking [very] guilty [in] a downcast or hangdog manner Kapıyı vurdu, yavaşça açıp süklüm püklüm içeri girdi. He knocked on the door, slowly opened it and entered looking very guilty. Camı kıran çocuk süklüm püklüm müdürün huzuruna çıktı. The boy who broke the window glass presented himself to the principal in a hang-dog manner. süsleyip püslemek also süslü püslü (Note: püslemek and püslü are meaningless except in these phrases. See Lewis's category 2) to decorate and (no meaning) to adorn with great care, to dress in a remarkable and striking manner elaborately dressed ornamented, decorated needless, worthless, excessive adornment El ele verip kızcağızı süsleyip püsledik. We joined forces and dolled up our daughter 'fit to kill'! Sütten ağzı yanan yoğurdu üfleyerek yer. Serves as both a proverb and an idiom. One who burns his mouth on [hot] milk, eats his yogurt while blowing. Once bitten twice shy. May be used as shown. Related Pages: The Turkish Idioms A-Z, Index Turkish Acronyms/Abbreviations The Idiomatic M-Doublets Idioms Origin Stories, Index Idioms Illustrated by Cartoons #1 Unrelated fun: Frequently asked questions about Turkey and the Turkish language 'Erotik' Movies -- The Short Unhappy Life of Mine Mutlu Erotik Angel? -- Melek Görgün Sizzling transsexual -- Emel Aydan Erotik 'Second Banana' -- Gülden Gül Deep-inside Dilber Ay White-Hot Real Blonde... the Ceyda Karahan Center Figen Han -- Fire down below... Arzu Okay -- brainy 'erotik' bombshell The Feri Cansel Story -- an erotik 'Beauty and the Beast' Zerrin Egeliler - (most of) everything you always wanted to know The Seyyal Taner Center The Seher Şeniz Center Tarkan's Metamorphosis Album -- Christmas Day Release Turkish Music -- Tarkan Real-Life Weight Loss a la turc (with booklet) Habibullah and the Great Cannon Caper A simple Turkish 'thing'... Turkish Music -- Kayahan Turkish Belly Dancers Turkish Food and Beverage Turkish Terms Of Endearment Turkish Personal Names Politically Incorrect Turkish Humor Why Off-Color Turkish is important too Gossipy Turkish Who's Who Turkish Conventional and 'Erotik' Movies, Index We wish to extend thanks to Emin Özdemir, Osman Çizmeciler, Ömer Asım Aksoy, H. Fethi Gözler, Ferit Devellioğlu, Nermin and Muammer Yüzbaşıoğlu, Halil Uysal, Ali Püsküllüoğlu, and Ali Uslu for their Turkish Idioms source material -- on which some of this page is based.

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