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.
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. |