Salawikain (Idioms)

More idioms at post #s 6, 17, 21, 23

agaw-buhay --(tagalog term) naghihingalo, between life and death

alilang-kanin --(tagalog term) utusang walang sweldo, pagkain lang, house-help with no income, provided with food and shelter
anak-dalita --(tagalog term) mahirap, poor
anak-pawis --(tagalog term) magsasaka; manggagawa, farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker
balat-kalabaw --(tagalog term) makapal, di agad tinatablan ng hiya, one who is insensitive; with dense-face (literal=buffalo-
skinned)
balat-sibuyas --(tagalog term) manipis, maramdamin a sensitive person (literal=onion-skinned)
balik-harap -- (tagalog term)mabuti sa harapan, taksil sa likuran, double-faced person, one who betrays trust
balitang kutsero --(tagalog term) hindi totoong balita, rumor, gossip, false story
bantay-salakay --(tagalog term) taong nagbabait-baitan, a person who pretends to be good, opportunist
basag-ulo --(tagalog term) gulo, away, chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)
bukal sa loob --(tagalog term) taos-puso, tapat , a sincere person, or one who gives with a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)
bulaklak ng dila --(tagalog term) pagpapalabis sa katotohanan , exaggeration (literal=flower of the tongue)
bungang-araw --(tagalog term) sakit sa balat, prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)
butas ang bulsa --(tagalog term) walang pera, poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)
buto't balat --(tagalog term) payat na payat, malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)
daga sa dibdib --(tagalog term) takot, worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)
dalawa ang bibig --(tagalog term) mabunganga, madaldal ,nagger, talkative person (literal=two-mouthed)
dalawa ang mukha --(tagalog term) kabilanin, balik-harap, a deceptive, two-faced person
di mahulugang-karayom --(tagalog term) maraming tao, overcrowded place (literal=where one cannot throw a pin)
di makabasag-pinggan --(tagalog term) mahinhin, a very demure, prim-and-proper person
halang ang bituka --(tagalog term) salbahe, desperado, hindi nangingiming pumatay, a person with no moral compunction
(literal=with a horizontal intestine)
haligi ng tahanan --(tagalog term) ama, father (literal = post of the house)
hampas-lupa --(tagalog term) lagalag, busabos, a bum person, without any goals in life
ilaw ng tahanan --(tagalog term) ina, mother (literal = light of the house)
isulat sa tubig --(tagalog term) kalimutan, to forget (something) forever (literal=write it on water)
itaga sa bato --(tagalog term) tandaan, to remember (something) forever (literal = cast in stone)
kabiyak ng dibdib --(tagalog term) asawa, spouse (literal=the other half of the heart)
kaututang dila --(tagalog term) katsismisan, a gossip (literal = farting tongue)
kidlat sa bilis --(tagalog term) napakabilis, exceedingly fast
kumukulo ang dugo --(tagalog term) naiinis, nasusuklam, a person who hates somebody (literal=boiling blood)
kusang palo --(tagalog term) sariling sipag, initiative
lumaki ang ulo --(tagalog term) yumabang, someone who became proud, arrogant (literal=one whose head grew big)
maaliwalas ang mukha --(tagalog term) masayahin, a joyful person (literal= bright-faced)maanghang ang dila --(tagalog term)
bastos magsalita, a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued person)
mababa ang loob --(tagalog term) maawain, merciful person (literal=low-hearted)
mababaw ang luha --(tagalog term) madaling umiyak, emotional person (literal=tear-on-the-surface)
mabigat ang kamay --(tagalog term) tamad magtrabaho, a lazy person (literal=heavy-handed person)mabigat ang loob --
(tagalog term) di-makagiliwan, a person with whom one could not get along with
mabilis ang kamay --(tagalog term) mandurukot, a snatcher, pickpocket (literal=fast-handed)madilim ang mukha --(tagalo
term) taong simangot, problemado, a problematic person (literal=dim-faced)
magaan ang dugo --(tagalog term) madaling makapalagayan ng loob, a person with whom one gets along easily (literal=light-
blood)
magaan ang kamay --(tagalog term) madaling manuntok, manapok, manakit, one who easily hits another person, easily
provoked (literal=light-handed person)
magdilang anghel --(tagalog term) magkatotoo sana, to wish that what has been said will come true
mahaba ang buntot --(tagalog term) laging nasusunod ang gusto, kulang sa palo, salbahe, a person who is a spoiled brat
mahabang dulang --(tagalog term) kasalan, wedding
mahangin ang ulo --(tagalog term) mayabang, arrogant person (literal=air-headed)
mahapdi ang bituka --(tagalog term) nagugutom, a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)mahina ang loob --(tagalog term)
duwag, a coward (literal=weak-willed)
mainit ang ulo --(tagalog term) pangit ang disposisyon, in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)
maitim ang budhi --(tagalog term) masamang tao, tuso, an evil or bad person (literal=dark-souled)
maitim ang dugo --(tagalog term) salbahe, tampalasan, an evil or bad person (literal=dark-blooded)
makalaglag-matsing --(tagalog term) nakaka-akit, enchanting look
makapal ang bulsa --(tagalog term) maraming pera, rich, wealthy (literal = with a thick pocket)
makapal ang mukha --(tagalog term) di marunong mahiya, a shameless person (literal= dense-faced)
makapal ang palad --(tagalog term) masipag, a busy-body, industrious person (literal=thick-palmed)
makati ang dila --(tagalog term) madaldal, mapunahin, talkative person (literal = one with itchy tongue)
makati ang paa --(tagalog term) mahilig sa gala o lakad, a person who is fond of going places (literal=itchy feet)
makitid ang isip --(tagalog term) mahinang umunawa, walang masyadong nalalaman, someone incapable of understanding
(literal=narrow-minded)
makuskos-balungos --(tagalog term) mareklamo, mahirap amuin, mahirap pasayahin, hard to please, always complaining
malakas ang loob --(tagalog term) matapang, a brave person (literal=strong-willed)
malamig ang ulo --(tagalog term) maganda ang sariling disposisyon, in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)
malapad ang papel --(tagalog term) maraming kakilala na makapagbibigay ng tulong, a person who is very influential
malawak ang isip --(tagalog term) madaling umunawa, maraming nalalaman, someone who easily understands (literal=broad-
minded)
malikot ang kamay --(tagalog term) kumukuha ng hindi kanya, one who has the habit of stealing things (literal=listless hand)
manipis ang mukha --(tagalog term) mahiyain, a shy person (literal= thin-faced)
maputi ang tainga --(tagalog term) kuripot, miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)
masama ang loob --(tagalog term) nagdaramdam, a person with a grudge, painful or ill feelings against someone (literal=bad
feelings)
matalas ang dila --(tagalog term) masakit mangusap, one who talks offensively (literal = sharp-tongued person)
matalas ang mata --(tagalog term) madaling makakita, someone who could easily spot something (literal=sharp-eyed)
matalas ang tainga --(tagalog term) madaling makarinig, one who easily hears the news (literal=sharp-eared)
matalas ang ulo --(tagalog term0 matalino, bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)
matalas ang utak --(tagalog term) matalino, bright, intelligent person (literal=sharp-brained)
matamis ang dila --(tagalog term) mahusay mangusap, bolero, a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued person)
matigas ang buto --(tagalog term) malakas, a strong person
matigas ang katawan --(tagalog term) tamad, a lazy person (literal=stiff-bodied)
matigas ang leeg --(tagalog term) mapag-mataas, di namamansin, snobbish person (literal=stiff-necked)
matigas ang ulo --(tagalog term) ayaw makinig sa pangaral o utos, one who is stubborn (literal=hard-headed)
may ipot sa ulo --(tagalog term) taong pinagtaksilan ng asawa a person who has been cheated by his/her spouse (literal=one
with shit on his/her head)
may krus ang dila --(tagalog term) nakapanghihimatong, one who could foretell an event
may magandang hinaharap --(tagalog term) may magandang kinabukasan, a person with a bright future
may sinasabi --(tagalog term)mayaman, may likas na talino, a wealthy person or a talented person
nagbabatak ng buto --(tagalog term) nagtatrabaho ng higit sa kinakailangan, one who works hard
nagbibilang ng poste --(tagalog term) walang trabaho, someone who is jobless, literally counting posts
nagbukas ng dibdib --(tagalog term) nagtapat na nais pakasalan ang kasintahan, a man who proposed marriage (literal=opened
his heart)
nagmumurang kamatis --(tagalog term) matandang nag-aayos binata o dalaga, an old man/woman insecure about his/her
looks and dresses up like a young person
nagpupusa --(tagalog term) nagsasabi ng mga kuwento ukol sa isang tao, telling on somebody
nakahiga sa salapi/pera --(tagalog term) mayaman, rich, connotes someone who is spoiled by wealth
nakapinid ang tainga --(tagalog term) nagbibingi-bingihan, one who plays deaf (literal=closed-eared)
namamangka sa dalawang ilog --(tagalog term) salawahan, a person who is unfaithful
namuti ang mata --(tagalog term) nainip sa kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay, a person who was stood up (literal=one
whose eyes turned white)
naniningalang-pugad --(tagalog term) nanliligaw, a man courting a woman
ningas-kugon --(tagalog term) panandalian, di pang-matagalan, something that is not permanent, usually connotes a behavior
or action not meant to last
pag-iisang dibdib --(tagalog term) kasal, wedding (literal=to be of one heart)
pagkagat ng dilim --(tagalog term) pag lubog ng araw, twilight
panis ang laway --(tagalog term) taong di-palakibo, a very quiet person
pantay ang mga paa --(tagalog term) patay na, one who just died (literal=level feet)
patay-gutom --(tagalog term) matakaw, glutton
pulot-gata --(tagalog term) pagtatalik ng bagong kasal honeymoon
putok sa buho --(tagalog term) anak sa labas, an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock child
saling-pusa --(tagalog term) pansamantalang kasali sa laro o trabaho, temporarily included in a game or work
samaing palad --(tagalog term) malas na tao, an unfortunate person, unlucky person
sampay-bakod --(tagalog term) taong nagpapanggap, hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi, a false, pretentious person
sampid-bakod --(tagalog term) nakikisunod, nakikikain, o nakikitira, someone who is privileged to lodge and board in house for
free
sanga-sangang dila --(tagalog term) sinungaling, a liar
sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok --(tagalog term) taong maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip, a crazy or foolish person
sukat ang bulsa --(tagalog term) marunong gumamit ng pera someone who knows his ability to pay
taingang kawali --(tagalog term) nagbibingi-bingihan, one who plays deaf (literal=wok-eared: uses metaphor of the handle of a
wok)
takaw-tulog --(tagalog term) mahilig matulog, a lazy person who always wants to stay in bed
takipsilim -- (tagalog term) paglubog ng araw, twilight
talusaling --(tagalog term) manipis ang balat, a very sensitive person
talusira --(tagalog term) madaling magbago, a person who easily changes
tatlo ang mata --(tagalog term) maraming nakikita, mapaghanap ng mali, a fault-finder, cynical person (literal=three-eyed
person)
tawang-aso -- nagmamayabang, nangmamaliit, a person who sneers
tulak ng bibig --(tagalog term) salita lamang, di tunay sa loob insincere words (literal=pushed-by-the-mouth)
utak-biya --(tagalog term) bobo, mahina ang ulo, stupid, brainless (literal=fish-brained)
utang na loob --(tagalog term) pasasalamat na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man (as noun) debt of gratitude