Klingon idioms

An idiom is a combination of words that have a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning. As opposed to slang, these phrases are used in daily speech. Most Klingon idioms are explained in The Klingon Way and Klingon for the Galactic Traveler. Quote from KGT, p. 108 (1):

Hoch jaghpu'Daj HoHbogh SuvwI' yIvup
Pity the warrior who slays all his foes (G'trok)
Klingons are sometimes aware of the source of an expression, as is the case with the line from G'Trok just noted, but more often the origin of the phrase is known only to scholars or is lost altogether. In the list that follows, the sources or probable sources of the idioms are given when possible. There are a great many idioms other than the ones in this list, but the collection here should give the visitor a good start on speaking the language in a way that sounds natural.

List of idioms

The following list contains more idioms, but less information than the above mentioned list in KGT.

Idiom	Literal translation	Source	Meaning
bIQ ngaS HIvje'	The cup contains water	KGT p. 120	be quite mistaken, be totally wrong
bIQ'a'Daq 'oHtaH 'etlh'e'	the sword is in the ocean	KGT p. 121	is used to mean that something has ended, that it is impossible to return to a prior condition
bo'DaghHom lo'	use a little scoop	KGT p. 125	make less of something than it really is, minimize the importance of something, with the connotation that this is inappropriate.
bo'Dagh'a' lo'	use a big scoop	KGT p. 125	exaggerate: qaHarbe'. bo'Dagh'a' Dalo'. I don't believe you, you're exaggerating.
cha' DoSmey DIqIp	we hit two targets	KGT p. 104	We disagree.
cha' qabDu'	two faces	KGT p. 123	means that two individuals are involved in some activity and no one else is; face-to-face; Suv cha' qabDu'. They are fighting one-on-one; cf. qabDu' law'.
cha'maH cha' joQDu'	twenty-two ribs	KGT p. 126	is used to indicate that something is missing or not quite right; naDev cha'maH cha' joQDu' tu'lu'. There is something out of the ordinary going on here, even if no one can say exactly what; cha'maH cha' joQDu' ghaj qama' suggests that the prisoner is somehow a bit strange.
Doq bIQtIq(bIQ)	the river (water) is red	KGT p. 123	means that something momentous has happened, perhaps a major victory.
DoS chIl	lose the target	qep'a' 2008	digress
Dujmey law' chIjpu'	has navigated many ships	KGT p. 115	be experienced: Dujmey law' DachIjpu'. You are experienced.
ghaH vuv SuS neH	want the wind to respect someone	KGT p. 122	He/she is foolish: Duvuv SuS DaneH'a'? Are you an idiot?
ghe'torvo' narghDI' qa'pu'	when spirits escape from Gre'thor	KGT p. 117	To speak of spirits escaping from Gre'thor is to speak of an impossibility. The phrase usually follows the statement of what it is that supposedly cannot happen: jIjegh ghe'torvo' narghDI' qa'pu'. I will surrender when spirits escape from Gre'thor.
ghIchwIj DabochmoHchugh ghIchlIj qanob	If you shine my nose I will give you your nose	PK	Don't try to fool me!
Ha'quj nge'	take away a sash	KGT p. 123	wound one's pride: Ha'qujlIj nge' ghaH. He wounds your pride.
Hoch jaghpu'Daj HoHpu'	he/she has killed all his/her enemies	KGT p. 107	used to describe a person who is leading a meaningless, empty life, one lacking any challenge.
Hoch nuH qel	consider every weapon	KGT p. 108	Consider every possibility; Consider every option: Hoch nuH yIqel! Consider every possibility! Hoch nuH Daqel'a'? Did you consider every option?
Hom	use the second toe see ➞ toes	HQ 10:2, p. 7-11	Pointing one's second toe at someone (typically an opponent or an enemy) with the other toes pointing downward is considered an insulting gesture; jaghwI'Daq jIHom. I claim my enemy is unworthy or weak.
jej pach	The claw is sharp.	KGT p. 126	The food is pungent - that is, good.
jejHa' pach	The claw is dull.	KGT p. 126	The food is bland.
jop 'ej way'	lunge and deflect	KGT p. 115	have an argument: wIjoppu' 'ej wIway'pu'. We have had an argument.
jISum	I am close	HQ 7:4	a philosophical statement: I am in touch with my inner self
latlh HIvje'Daq 'Iw HIq bIr yIqang	Pour the cold bloodwine into another glass!	KGT p. 118	I don't believe you, maybe someone else will; That is irrelevant to me, maybe someone else will care.
maj ram	good, (it is) night	KGT p. 119	Good, it is night.
may' bom pIm bom	sing a different battle song	KGT p. 118	speak of another matter entirely: DaH may' bom pIm Dabom. Well, that's another matter altogether.
mevyap	Stop, (it is) enough	KGT p. 113	Stop! Cease!
mIv je DaS	helmet and boot	KGT p. 108	fully dressed, as for a ceremonial affair: mIv je DaS tuQ ra'wI'. The commander is in full dress uniform.
mIvDaq pogh cha'	display a glove on one's helmet	KGT p. 125	is used to convey the idea that a matter has been postponed or rescheduled; the phrase can be heard in a number of forms, depending on the parties to the commitment. For example, mIvwIjDaq poghlIj vIcha' implies that the postponed matter is between the speaker and the addressee.
naH jajmey	vegetable days	KGT p. 110	refers to one's youth, a time before reaching an age considered appropriate for marriage; naH jajmeywIj betleH vIyanbe' In my vegetable days, I did not wield a bat'leth.
narghpu' 'eb	the opportunity has escaped	ste 1998.01.18	It's too late.
notlh tonSaw'lIj	your fighting technique is obsolete	qep'a' 2012	Your argument is invalid.
ngaQ lojmIt	The door is locked	KGT p. 108	1. The situation has an unavoidable outcome; 2. The plan or commitment is firm and cannot be changed.
ngem Sarghmey tlha'	chase forest sarks	KGT p. 111	The phrase often in the form ngem Sarghmey tlha'laH is now used to indicate that one is capable of following anyone or anything - that is, that one is capable of understanding even the most complex of discussions or of solving the most intricate of problems.
pel'aQDaj ghorpa'	before it breaks its shell	KGT p. 124	before it's too late; while there's still time; pel'aQDaj ghorpa' qama yIHoH. Kill the prisoner now, while you've got a chance.
petaD / yItaD	Be frozen!	KGT p. 117	Don't move!
pe'vIl bI'chu'	forcefully sweep away	KGT p. 112	do something at once, as a single event; romuluSnganpu' Dujmey DIQaw'pu'; pe'vIl DIbI'chu'pu'. We destroyed the Romulans' ships all at once.
pe'vIl roS	use the third toe forcefully see ➞ toes	HQ 10:2, p. 7-11	conveys the idea that someone is particularly agile or nimble or spry.
pIpyuS yIghor	Break a pipius!	TKW p. 185	used as a command to tell someone, often a child, to get started on or to devote more effort to a project.
pollaH pagh polHa'laH	can either keep it or discard it	KGT p. 116	The matter is unimportant; It does not make a difference: DapollaH pagh DapolHa'laH.
pumDI'	when it falls	HQ 8:4, p. 9	by that time, by the time that (something) occurred: tagha' pawpu' meb 'ach pumDI' Heghpu' qagh. The guest finally arrived, but by then the gagh had died.
qabDu' law'	many faces	KGT p. 123	may be used to refer to a group participating in a single activity. Thus, a brawl may be described by saying: Suv qabDu' law'; cf. cha' qabDu'.
qagh HoH	kill gagh	KGT p. 118	The phrase is applied to a person and means that he or she is doing something counterproductive: SuyDuj DaQaw'chugh qagh DaHoH. That is, destroying the merchant ship is contrary to the best interests of the current mission.
qan	use the little finger see ➞ fingers	HQ 10:2, p. 7-11	to point your pinkie at someone is to comment that you think they are old; qI'empeqDaq jIqan. I think that K'mpec is old.
qul DIr yISop!	Eat the fire skin!	KGT p. 110	Hurry up! Move quickly!
quSDaq ba'	sit in a chair	KGT p. 124	that's obvious: quSDaq bIba'. What you said is quite obvious.
qutluch patlh	kut'luch rank	KGT p. 110	hierarchical structure.
ro'lIj HI'ang	Show me your fist!	KGT p. 195	used to challenge someone to take action in a manner consistent with something he or she just said.
SenwI' rIlwI' je	adult thumbs and children thumbs	HQ-10.2.8	everybody
Soj	food	HQ 12:3	matter, concern, affair: tlhIngan Soj 'oH -- not bIyaj. It is a Klingon matter -- you'll never understand.
SuD veqlargh mInDu'	Fek'lhr's eyes are green	HQ 8.3, p. 4	somebody is jealous!
Sum: jISum	I am close	HQ 7:4	a philosophical statement: I am in touch with my inner self
tIngvo' 'evDaq chanDaq	from area-southwestward to area-northwestward to area eastward	stk 21.11.1999	all around, all over the place; tIngvo' 'evDaq chanDaq jIlengpu'. I've traveled all over the place.
to'waQ yIv	chew ligament	KGT p. 119	take some time to consider a matter: to'waQ yIyIv. Take your time thinking about it! to'waQ vIyIvtaH. I'm in the process of taking my time considering the matter. to'waQ yIyIvQo'; DaH yIwuq.* _Don't chew ligament, decide now!*
vaDjaj yaDDu'lIj!	May your toes be flexible	HQ 10:2 p. ?	good fortune wishes
vaj Duj chIj	navigate a warrior ship	KGT p. 113	have strength of character: vaj Duj DachIj You have strength of character.
vIHtaH gho	The hoop is moving	KGT p. 111	means that an activity of finite (though perhaps indeterminate) length has started: bISop DaneH'a'? vIHtaH gho. If you want to eat, say so now before the food is gone.
wa' DoS wIqIp	we hit one target	KGT p. 105	We agree.
wa'maH cha' pemmey wa'maH cha' rammey je	twelve days and twelve nights	KGT p. 121	a long time; means not only that the length of the event is long but also that the event is an important one, worthy of taking up so much time.
wa'maH wej	thirteen	qephom 2014	It's complicated.
wa' wa' wa'	one one one	qephom 2014	It's complicated.
yItaD / petaD	Be frozen!	KGT p. 117	Don't move!
'arlogh Qoylu'pu'	How many times has someone heard it?	HQ 8:1, p. 7-12	What time is it?
'IwwIj jeD law' 'IwlIj jeD puS	My blood is thicker than yours	PK	I am much stronger than you.
'oy'qu' Qay'wI'wIj	My little toe aches a lot see ➞ toes	HQ 10:2, p. 7-11	I'm extremely angry.