Idiom In Tagalog

One of my friends asked:  "Are there idiom equivalents also  in the Tagalog language?" Of course, there are.  Katulad ng idioms sa English, ginagamit ito para tumingkad ang paglalarawan ng mga bagaybagay at para mapaigting  at matalinhaga ang takbo ng usapin o pagsusulat.

And just like in English ... ang kahulugan ng mga "sawikain or idioms" ay magkaiba sa literal meaning ng mga salita. Sa madaling salita ang mga sawikain don't mean exactly what the individual words in it say. Tandaan natin ... ang figurative meaning ng mga sawikain ... is different from its literal meaning.

Ang sawikain natin today is "maitim ang dugo" which has a literal meaning "black blood." Nobody in his right mind will agree with you ... dahil sa totoo lang ang dugo ay pula,  Maitim na dugo figuratively means pure evil or a bad person.

Magiging itim lang siguro ang dugo ... kung ito ay "dinuguan". Or gumagawa ka ng isang horror film na pang Halloween. Or may medical condition ka na tinatawag na melena or black tarry blood in the stool which is considered an old blood kaya nagiging itim.

Idiom Of The Day

 

Let's start using idioms or idiomatic expressions when we write. When idioms are used, it add color and texture to language by creating images that convey meanings beyond those of the individual words that make them up. An idiom can be very colorful and make a 'picture' in our minds. It also shows the writer's familiarity with English. When you want to make your writing sound more conversational, including idioms can give your writing a more relaxed tone.

Idioms allow us to say a lot with few words. Idioms amplify your messages in a way that draws your readers in and helps awaken their senses. It adds dynamism and character to otherwise stale writing. They make your writing less monotonous and your readers will think that you are smart and knowledgeable. All the while ... you only clothe your writing with elaborate idioms to create an impact... saying too much with less. 

To perfect your English, you really need to become confident in using idioms and knowing the difference between breaking a leg and pulling someone's leg. So the idiom of the day is:

IDIOM: Written in the stars 

MEANING: If you believe that something is written in the stars, you believe that it will come true because there are external and celestial bodies and forces up there that are aligned to make things happen in the future ... like the stars in the constellation, the galaxies ... all heavenly bodies collide as if there is a conspiracy of everything cosmic and extra-terrestrial that conspire to make something that is unlikely to happen ... come true. The meaning is almost like it was destined, pre-determined, or fated/meant to do something.

ORIGIN:  "Written in the Stars” is a miss quote from Julius Cæsar (Shakespeare) talking about destiny ... or Fate. Written in the Stars" is also a song by English musician Elton John and American singer LeAnn Rimes. The song came from the musical Aida. If something is written in the stars ... Fates have taken control. Apart from the sun, the moon, and the planets, the stars in heaven are aligned and make things happen for somebody.

USING IT IN A SENTENCE: John and Jean are poles apart, but it was written in the stars ... despite their differences ... it was a relationship made in heaven.

Mission Impossible?

 Will the stars align for Michele Dee in Miss Universe 2023? Does her chances of winning the Miss Universe written in the stars - that everything is set for something good to happen?

The Philippines and Venezuela are Towers of Power in pageantry ... and avid observers have seen certain parallelism between the two countries. When Pia Wurtzback won Miss Universe in 2015 ... Edymar Martinez of Venezuela won Miss International 2015.

When Catriona Gray won Miss Universe 2018 ... netizens are pointing out the possibility that it is highly unlikely that Mariem Velazco of Venezuela would win Miss International 2018.  But she did win the title ...  in a way so unexpected. Pure coincidence?

In Miss International 2023 ... Andrea Rubio of Venezuela held supreme and won ... and now fans are speculating Michelle Dee's chances. I am not superstitious ... but these made trivia watchers ... hope for another deja vu to happen ... and they ask ... will Michelle Dee of the Philippines win the Miss Universe title this time?

I am waiting with too much anticipation ... that another impossible becomes possible.