Click on

the letters
below and
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linked to
(IDIOMS)
the
appropriat
e
idiomatic
words Ang Tagalog
and ay mayaman sa mga sawikain.
phrases Ang sawikain ay mga salita o
on this pagpapahayag na karaniwang
page ginagamit sa araw-araw.

Ang mga
pagpapahayag na mga ito
A ay nagbibigay, hindi ng tiyakang
kahulugan ng bawat salita,
kundi ng ibang kahulugan.
B
The introduction and selections on
K this page were taken from
C.S. Canonigo's
UNA BULAQUEA MGA BUGTONG, SALAWIKAIN,
D Juan Luna SAWIKAIN at mga PILING TULA
(Book I)
1996 Cebu City, Philippines

L A

agaw-buhay -- naghihingalo between life and death (literal=life

M about to be snatched away)

anak-pawis -- magsasaka; manggagawa farmer; laborer; blue-collar worker

N
anak-dalita -- mahirap poor
P alilang-kanin -- utusang walang house-help with no income, provided
sweldo, pagkain lang with food and shelter
S
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T
B
U balitang kutsero -- hindi totoong balita rumor, gossip, false story

balik-harap -- mabuti sa harapan, taksil double-faced person, one who betrays

sa likuran trust

bantay-salakay -- taong nagbabait- a person who pretends to be good,

baitan opportunist

bungang-araw -- sakit sa balat prickly heat (literal=fruit of the sun)

bungang-tulog -- panaginip dream (literal=fruit of sleep)

BALAT (SKIN)

balat-sibuyas -- manipis, maramdamin a sensitive person (literal=onion-

skinned)

balat-kalabaw -- mahina ang one who is insensitive; with dense-face

pakiramdam, di agad tinatablan ng hiya (literal=buffalo-skinned)

buto't balat -- payat na payat malnourished (literal=skin-and-bone)

BIBIG (MOUTH)

tulak ng bibig -- salita lamang, di tunay insincere words (literal=pushed-by-the-

sa loob mouth)

dalawa ang bibig -- mabunganga, nagger, talkative person (literal=two-

madaldal mouthed)

BITUKA (INTESTINE)

halang ang bituka -- salbahe, a person with no moral compunction

desperado, hindi nangingiming (literal=with a horizontal intestine)
pumatay ng tao

mahapdi ang bituka -- nagugutom a hungry person (literal=sore intestine)

BULSA (POUCH/POCKET)

makapal ang bulsa -- maraming pera rich, wealthy (literal=with a thick

pocket)

butas ang bulsa -- walang pera poor (literal=with a hole in the pocket)

sukat ang bulsa -- marunong gumamit someone who knows his ability to pay
ng pera, marunong magbayad at
mamahala ng kayamanan

BUTO (BONE)
nagbabatak ng buto -- nagtatrabaho ng one who works hard
higit sa kinakailangan

matigas ang buto -- malakas a strong person

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kidlat sa bilis -- napakabilis exceedingly fast

kusang palo -- sariling sipag initiative

KAMAY (HAND)

mabigat ang kamay -- tamad a lazy person (literal=heavy-handed

magtrabaho person)

magaan ang kamay -- madaling one who easily hits another person,
manuntok, manapok, manakit easily provoked (literal=light-handed
person)

mabilis ang kamay -- mandurukot a snatcher, pickpocket (literal=fast-

handed)

malikot ang kamay -- kumukuha ng one who has the habit of stealing things
hindi kanya (literal=listless hand)

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di makabasag-pinggan -- mahinhin a very demure, prim-and-proper

person (literal=someone who can't break
a plate)

di mahulugang-karayom -- maraming overcrowded place (literal=where one

tao cannot throw a pin)

DIBDIB (CHEST/HEART)

pag-iisang dibdib -- kasal wedding (literal=to be of one heart)

kabiyak ng dibdib -- asawa spouse (literal=the other half of the

heart)

daga sa dibdib -- takot worry, fear (literal=mouse in the chest)

nagbukas ng dibdib -- nagtapat na nais a man who proposed marriage
pakasalan ang kasintahan (literal=opened his heart)

DILA (TONGUE)

bulaklak ng dila -- pagpapalabis sa exaggeration (literal=flower of the

katotohanan tongue)

magdilang anghel -- magkatotoo sana to wish that what has been said will
come true

makati ang dila -- madaldal, talkative person (literal = one with itchy
mapunahin tongue)

matalas ang dila -- masakit mangusap one who talks offensively (literal =
sharp-tongued person)

maanghang ang dila -- bastos magsalita a vulgar person (literal = spicy-tongued

person)

matamis ang dila -- mahusay a fast talker (literal = sweet-tongued

mangusap, bolero person)

kaututang dila -- katsismisan a gossip (literal = farting tongue)

sanga-sangang dila -- sinungaling a liar

may krus ang dila -- one who could foretell an event

nakapanghihimatong

DUGO (BLOOD)

kumukulo ang dugo -- naiinis, a person who hates somebody

nasusuklam (literal=boiling blood)

magaan ang dugo -- madaling a person with whom one gets along
makapalagayan ng loob easily (literal=light-blood)

maitim ang dugo -- salbahe, tampalasan an evil or bad person (literal=dark-

blooded)

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hampas-lupa -- lagalag, busabos a bum person, without any goals in life

haligi ng tahanan -- ama father (literal = post of the house)

I

ilaw ng tahanan -- ina mother (literal = light of the house)

itaga sa bato -- tandaan to remember (something) forever

(literal=cast in stone)

isulat sa tubig -- kalimutan to forget (something) forever

(literal=write it on water)

ISIP (MIND/BRAIN)

makitid ang isip -- mahinang someone incapable of understanding

umunawa, walang masyadong (literal=narrow-minded)
nalalaman

malawak ang isip -- madaling someone who easily understands

umunawa, maraming nalalaman (literal=broad-minded)

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L
LOOB (FEELINGS; LITERAL=INSIDE)

malakas ang loob -- matapang a brave person (literal=strong-willed)

mahina ang loob -- duwag a coward (literal=weak-willed)

mababa ang loob -- maawain merciful person (literal=low-hearted)

masama ang loob -- nagdaramdam a person with a grudge, painful or ill

feelings against someone (literal=bad
feelings)

mabigat ang loob -- di-makagiliwan a person with whom one could not get
along with (literal=heavy vibes or
feelings)

bukal sa loob -- taos-puso, tapat a sincere person, or one who gives with
a pure heart (literal=pure-hearted)

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M

mahabang dulang -- kasalan wedding

makalaglag-matsing -- nakaka-akit enchanting look

makuskos-balungos -- mareklamo, hard to please, always complaining

mahirap amuin, mahirap pasayahin

mahaba ang buntot -- laging nasusunod a person who is a spoiled brat

ang gusto, kulang sa palo, salbahe

malapad ang papel -- maraming a person who is very influential

kakilala na makapagbibigay ng tulong

may magandang hinaharap -- may a person with a bright future

magandang kinabukasan

may sinasabi -- mayaman, may likas na a wealthy person or a talented person

talino

MATA (EYE)

matalas ang mata -- madaling makakita someone who could easily spot
something (literal=sharp-eyed)

tatlo ang mata -- maraming nakikita, a fault-finder, cynical person

mapaghanap ng mali (literal=three-eyed person)

namuti ang mata -- nainip sa a person who was stood up (literal=one

kahihintay, matagal nang naghihintay whose eyes turned white)

matigas ang leeg -- mapag-mataas, di snobbish person (literal=stiff-necked)

namamansin

matigas ang katawan -- tamad a lazy person (literal=stiff-bodied)

makapal ang palad -- masipag a busy-body, industrious person

(literal=thick-palmed)

maitim ang budhi -- masamang tao, an evil or bad person (literal=dark-

tuso souled)

mababaw ang luha -- madaling umiyak emotional person (literal=tear-on-the-

surface)

MUKHA (FACE)

makapal ang mukha -- di marunong a shameless person (literal= dense-

mahiya faced)

manipis ang mukha -- mahiyain a shy person (literal= thin-faced)

maaliwalas ang mukha -- masayahin a joyful person (literal= bright-faced)

madilim ang mukha -- taong simangot, a problematic person (literal=dim-faced)

problemado

dalawa ang mukha -- kabilanin, balik- a deceptive, two-faced person

harap

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nakahiga sa salapi/pera -- mayaman rich, connotes someone who is spoiled

by wealth

nagbibilang ng poste -- walang trabaho someone who is jobless, literally

counting posts

namamangka sa dalawang ilog -- a person who is unfaithful

salawahan

nagmumurang kamatis -- matandang an old man/woman insecure about

nag-aayos binata o dalaga his/her looks and dresses up like a
young person

naniningalang-pugad -- nanliligaw a man courting a woman

ningas-kugon -- panandalian, di pang- something that is not permanent,

matagalan usually connotes a behavior or action
not meant to last

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panis ang laway -- taong di-palakibo a very quiet person

pagkagat ng dilim -- pag lubog ng araw twilight

patay-gutom -- matakaw glutton

pulot-gata -- pagtatalik ng bagong kasal honeymoon

putok sa buho -- anak sa labas an illegitimate child; out-of-wedlock

child

PAA (FEET)

makati ang paa -- mahilig sa gala o a person who is fond of going places
lakad (literal=itchy feet)

pantay ang mga paa -- patay na one who just died (literal=level feet)

PUSA (CAT)

nagpupusa -- nagsasabi ng mga telling on somebody

kuwento ukol sa isang tao

saling-pusa -- pansamantalang kasali sa temporarily included in a game or work,

laro o trabaho a term used to refer to little kids fond of
joining games or work of grown-ups

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sampid-bakod -- nakikisunod, someone who is privileged to lodge and

nakikikain, o nakikitira board in house for free

samaing palad -- malas na tao an unfortunate person, unlucky person

sampay-bakod -- taong nagpapanggap, a false, pretentious person

hindi mapagkakatiwalaan ang sinasabi

takaw-tulog -- mahilig matulog a lazy person who always wants to stay

in bed

takipsilim -- paglubog ng araw twilight

talusaling -- manipis ang balat a very sensitive person

talusira -- madaling magbago a person who easily changes

tawang-aso -- nagmamayabang, a person who sneers
nangmamaliit

TAINGA (EAR)

matalas ang tainga -- madaling one who easily hears the news
makarinig (literal=sharp-eared)

maputi ang tainga -- kuripot miser, scrooge (literal=white-eared)

nakapinid ang tainga -- nagbibingi- one who plays deaf (literal=closed-

bingihan eared)

taingang kawali -- nagbibingi-bingihan one who plays deaf (literal=wok-eared:

uses metaphor of the handle of a wok)

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U
utang na loob -- malaking pasasalamat (as noun) debt of gratitude
na hindi kayang bayaran ng ano pa man

"utang na loob" -- malaking pakiusap, (as expression) "please", used to express

madalas ginagamit upang ipahiwatig the deepest feelings of the person asking
ang masidhing damdamin ng for a very big favor, equivalent to "have
nakikiusap, tulad ng "parang awa mo mercy"
na"

ULO (HEAD)

matalas ang ulo -- matalino bright, intelligent (literal=sharp-headed)

mahangin ang ulo -- mayabang arrogant person (literal=air-headed)

malamig ang ulo -- maganda ang in a good mood (literal=cool-headed)

sariling disposisyon

mainit ang ulo -- pangit ang in a bad mood (literal=hot-headed)

disposisyon

lumaki ang ulo -- yumabang someone who became proud, arrogant

(literal=one whose head grew big)

matigas ang ulo -- ayaw makinig sa one who is stubborn (literal=hard-

pangaral o utos headed)

basag-ulo -- gulo, away chaos, quarrel, fight (literal=break head)

may ipot sa ulo -- taong pinagtaksilan a person who has been cheated by
ng asawa his/her spouse (literal=one with shit on
his/her head)

sira ang ulo/sira ang tuktok -- taong a crazy or foolish person

maraming kalokohan ang nasa isip

UTAK (BRAIN)

utak-biya -- bobo, mahina ang ulo stupid, brainless (literal=fish-brained)

matalas ang utak -- matalino bright, intelligent person (literal=sharp-

brained)

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