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 ngayon ay daga sa dibdib which has a literal translation "a mouse in the chest".

Pambihira naman ang dagang yan at nakipagpatintiro pa sa dibdib of all places. Ang dami namang lugar ... bakit doon pa? But don't get fooled because ang figurative meaning ng idiom ay natatakot yong tao ... or he is worried and petrified about something.

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: It takes two to tango 

MEANING: It takes two to tango means a task or a situation is not created by one person alone .... it has to be two people. The situation involves two parties and both therefore are to be blamed ... and are responsible for it. If a couple plans for a divorce or separation ... both parties are instrumental in making it happen.

ORIGIN:  In order to dance tango it requires a duo ... or two dance partners to perform it. Tango is a dance in South America and the idiom originated in a 1952 song Takes Two to Tango by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning and gained popularity subsequently as an expression. 

USING IT IN A SENTENCE: If you want to play the divorce game, you need a partner who will play with you. It takes two to tango.

Choice Cut

(Some Pinoy programs on TV barely make a glitch on our radar screen, but there were lines uttered that invaded our collective consciousness so much so that we find ourselves echoing its most famous lines in our everyday conversations. Some lines manage to put a smile on our faces making us happy and contented.

Whether intentional or accidental, the classic lines resonate with us, because we can relate to the scene and see our lives being lived out onscreen.)

 (In the set of It's Your Lucky Day ... the show that temporarily replaced Its Showtime for 2 weeks)

Luis: Kung si Anne Curtis merong ITS SHOWTIME ... kami naman ay mayroong ...

Melai: IT'S SHORT TIME!

Caption That

                                                Romeo and Juliet .... dog-style    
 

Funny Signage

If you are a grammar police who usually gets irritated and cannot stand your penchant for the use of the fractured King's language ... incoherent sentence structure and semantics ... mind-boggling syntax and word coordination ... this nook is not for you. 

But traveling from Aparri to Jolo ... we encountered signage in the streets that managed to put a smile on our faces ... even though Robin Padilla's grandiose display of bad opinions ... or China's flexing his superpower muscle ... has riled up and angered our tender sensibilities.

We are here to celebrate (not mock) the little cracks and flaws in the manner we communicate ourselves. All of us make mistakes ... and at a time when a kilo of rice at 20 pesos is next to impossibility ... we need a little outlet to have a hearty laugh.

And no matter how over-use the cliche goes ... Laughter is indeed ... the best medicine.

 What a sale pitch ... and what a graphic invitation to convince someone to buy their goods.

The goal of a sales pitch is to catch a potential customer's attention and convince them to learn more.  But this one takes the cake of being sleazy and unsavory. Pitches can happen anywhere — via email, social media, or in person. 

A great sales pitch should pique the buyer's curiosity and convey clear value.

Homily Said: Jesus Loves Children

 

When the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Who, then, is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?’ Jesus answered the question by calling a little child to him and placed the child among them. And he said: ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me’” (Mark 9:35-37 )   

In olden times children were considered to hold the lowest status in society. God always comes first to defend children. Proof of that is Mark 10:13-16 which says:  People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”  And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them, and blessed them.

Jesus also advocates for children.  This can be seen as written by Mark 9:36-37  "He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me ... does not welcome me ... but the one who sent me.” 

It is obvious that since time immemorial (from the years of Christ to the present) people have been so engrossed and worried about how they see themselves as placed side by side with anybody in society. They are so bothered about the societal hierarchy that usually uses honor and prestige ... as the barometer for acceptance and they are so concerned about how someone is perceived ... and that includes his profession, the clothing he wears, the car he drives, or his political affiliation.

And Jesus was here to remind us in this homily that using mundane and worldly yardstick will never give us the correct image or depiction of how rank is viewed in God's kingdom. 

If we can live our lives (like children in the olden times) where they were considered outcasts ... and were regarded as low-ranking ... and then we segue today and develop an attitude to never care about position or rank or wealth  ... it may pave the way to God. As Matthew 19:30 says: “Many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first”.

Being great in God’s kingdom is not about wealth, prestige, or fame, and social status. Rather, it involves responsibility and sacrifice. As they say: what good will it do to a man to gain the whole world ... and then he loses his soul.

*ANG SARAP MAGING BATA* Mas Madaling Maging Masaya Kung Magiging Mapagku...