Malay Idiom Dictionary

Simpulan Bahasa De--Du

Demam puyuh This is an entry in the Malay idiom dictionary that faces the challenge of time. It is excusable in an era before the invention of clinical thermometer to say that quails do not suffer from fever and therefore a person who pretends to be sick is as "feverish" as a quail. Now that we know many quails die from BIRD FLU...I wonder what will be the fate of this simpulan bahasa.

Depan hidung Right in front of your nose.

Kabinet terkejut kerana Skuad Sukarelawan Majlis Agama Islam Wilayah Persekutuan ditubuhkan di "depan hidung" tanpa pengetahuannya.
The Cabinet is surprised because a Voluntary Squad of the Federal Territory Islamic Council was established right before them without their knowledge.

Diam penggali Part of the Malay proverb:" Diam-diam penggali berkarat, diam-diam ubi berisi." Leave a spade to stay quietly in the store, it gradually becomes rusty. On the contrary, leave a sweet potato plant to sit quietly underground, it will be filled up with goodies in the form of edible carbohydrate. A person who remains quiet as a spade is doing so to his harm.

Diam-diam lepu Lepu is commonly known as lion fish. Extended spines makes this fish look very attractive but beware...the spines are poisonous and this fish itself is voracious grrrr. That's why lepu is only recommended for careful aquarist and is a symbol of a person who seems good externally but is actually bad and dangerous.

Ada remaja berkelakuan diam-diam lepu, menjadi liar tanpa disangka-sangka ibubapa mereka.
There are youths who are as quiet as the lion fish and turn wild to the surprise of their parents.

Diam-diam ubi Explanation already discussed under "diam penggali" of this idiom dictionary.

Ronaldinho yang diam-diam ubi akan membuat kejutan di peringkat akhir supaya namanya terpahat sebagai wira Brazil.
The quiet Ronaldinho will surprise many in the finals to make his name as Brazilian hero.

P.s. Ronaldo's fans including Wan agree whole-hearted.

Dingin hati A heart that feels cool is not happy.

Anak-anak saya dingin hati tidak dapat menonton rancangan televisyen ini. Kami berharap tuan boleh menyiarkan rancangan ini lagi.---surat kepada Radio TV Malaysia.
My children were not happy for not being able to catch up with the TV program. We hope you can replay this program.---a letter to RTM.

Dingin tangan A cool hand to denote a hand that is successful with work. This is one simpulan bahasa in the idiom dictionary which is strange even to Wan. A cool head, dingin kepala, thinks calmly. But a cool hand...? Anyway, when applied to the gardening work, this is a great Malay equivalent for "green fingers".

Dingin tangan untuk tanaman memang bukan milik Wan.
Green fingers do not belong to Wan. ( A consequent of being used to buying vegetables all my life )

*This must be one of the most flexible entries in the Malay idiom dictionary, because it can also apply to guys who are successful working with their FEET...

Kelab bola sepak ingin mengupah pemain yang dingin tangan.
Football clubs wish to employ successful players.

Doa pendinding Prayers uttered by Muslims to ward off dangers.

Saudari dilarang berjumpa bomoh tetapi boleh meminta tolong dengan guru-guru agam memberikan doa pendinding agar dapat menyedarkan sumai daripada melakukan perkara yang memecah belahkan rumah tangga.---naishat kepada seorang isteri yang mengesyaki suaminya didukuni ibu mertua.
You are forbidden to see a medicine man but allowed to seek the help of religious teachers to give protective prayers to awaken your husband from doing things that break up the family.---advice given to a wife who suspects her mother-in-law cast a spell on her husband.

Dua hati A heart divided into two...unfaithful love.

Duduk perut There are no idiom dictionary that explains why. I guess it means pregnant because a baby resides or duduk, in the womb.

Duit kopi 1. Only hopelessly naive people believe this is money for you to buy coffee. It is --- bribe. Other synonyms are wang suap and duit teh.

Duit kopi 2. To put it in a nice way, when one is happy that a property owner is "kind" enough to sell you his property, you give him some extra money as a token of appreciation. In reality, the wonderful system in Malaysia allows privileged people to own houses and these people in turn sell the houses at rip-off prices---something most Malaysian idiom dictionary does not tell.

Sesetengah orang menjual rumah ini misalnya seunit RM60,000, tetapi "wang kopi"nya RM11,000.---laporan Parlimen
Some people sell this house, let's say for RM60,000 per unit but, collect a "token of appreciation" of RM11,000.

Dukun beranak A medicine woman who delivers a baby is a midwife.

Dunia akhirat From this world to the next world, that is, forever.

Buruk macam mana pun perangainya, dia tetap ibu dunia akhirat.---rayuan kepada seorang anak yang membiarkan ibunya kesunyian pada Syawal.
No matter how terrible is her personality, she is still mother forever.---persuading a daughter who left her mother alone during Syawal.

Durian runtuh A synonymous simpulan bahasa of dapat terpijak. This is another reason why we love durians, when they are ready to be eaten, they drop themselves to the ground. No need to climb up to the trees to pluck them.

Kontinjen Selangor yang menjuarai Sukan Malaysia bakal menerima durian runtuh berbentuk pemberian insentif.
The Selangor contingent which became the champion the the Malaysian sports will receive extra cash in the form of incentives.

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