Understanding Turkish Culture: The Best Turkish Idioms

Turkish, with its deep history and rich cultural heritage, is one of the most fascinating languages in the world. Within the vast vocabulary of Turkish, there are numerous idioms that add color to the language and bring depth to conversations. These idioms encountered while learning the language are linguistic treasures, reflecting cultural heritage, historical events, and the lifestyle of the people. Therefore, understanding and using idioms while learning Turkish not only elevates your language skills but also helps you better understand Turkey’s cultural and social fabric. Idioms, frequently encountered in daily life, literary works, media, and popular culture, play a significant role in internalizing the language and using it naturally.

In this article, I have compiled some of the most interesting and widely used idioms for Turkish learners. When considered within a cultural context, idioms offer insights into the emotional and mental world of Turkish people. Thus, a language learning process enriched with idioms brings you closer to Turkish culture and helps you appreciate the subtleties of the language. By learning the meanings and contexts in which these idioms are used, you can discover this unique and enjoyable aspect of the language. At the same time, these idioms, which enhance the expressive power and aesthetic richness of the language, will help you use Turkish more naturally and fluently in your daily conversations.

This collection will serve as a guide on your Turkish journey, helping you learn the language in a more enjoyable and meaningful way.

• Abayı yakmak: To be impressed by someone, to fall in love.
• Açığa vurmak: To reveal or disclose something secret to everyone.
• Açık kapı bırakmak: To leave room for returning to a subject later if needed, acting prudently with foresight.
• Açıkta kalmak: To be unable to find a job or a place to stay. / To be deprived of a benefit that others enjoy.
• Ağız değiştirmek: To explain something in a way that conveys a different meaning than originally stated.
• Ağzı laf yapmak: To have the ability to speak well and convincingly.
• Ağız kalabalığı: Inconsistent, unnecessary, or irrelevant words.
• Ağzına bir parmak bal çalmak: To keep someone temporarily occupied or deceived with sweet words; to give hope and persuade someone to do a task.
• Akla karayı seçmek: To experience significant difficulties and hardships until achieving something.
• Aklını peynir ekmekle yemek: To act thoughtlessly, to engage in foolish behavior.
• Aralarından kara kedi geçmek: To have a falling out, causing a coldness between friends.
• Asıp kesmek: For someone in power to act harshly, disregarding laws.
• Aşık atmak: To compete or engage in rivalry.
• Ayağını yorganına göre uzatmak: To live within one's means, matching expenses to income.
• Ayakları geri geri gitmek: To reluctantly go somewhere.
• Bağrı yanık: A person who is very distressed or sorrowful.
• Bahtına küsmek: To become pessimistic because of misfortunes.
• Baklayı ağzından çıkarmak: To reveal something previously kept secret after running out of patience.
• Balık kavağa çıkınca: Used to refer to something impossible to achieve.
• Bam teline basmak: To say or do something that greatly angers someone.
• Bıyık altından gülmek: To smile secretly, trying not to show amusement at someone’s situation.
• Bindiği dalı kesmek: To unknowingly destroy something beneficial to oneself.
• Bir dediği bir dediğini tutmamak: To be inconsistent or self-contradictory in speech.
• Bir kulağından girip öbür kulağından çıkmak: To not take someone’s words seriously.
• Boyunun ölçüsünü almak: To realize one’s own incompetence or inadequacy.
• Bozuk çalmak: To be in a bad mood or appear upset.
• Buluttan nem kapmak: To be overly sensitive, taking offense at the slightest thing.
• Burnunda tütmek: To miss someone or something deeply.
• Burnundan kıl aldırmamak: To be unyielding, irritable, or arrogant.
• Boynunun borcu: A duty or responsibility that one must fulfill.
• Can evinden vurmak: To attack someone in the most effective way.
• Canı burnuna gelmek: To struggle greatly while doing something.
• Canını dişine takmak: To take on a task, risking everything despite the danger.
• Çamura bulaşmak: To get involved in an improper or illegal activity.
• Çiçeği burnunda: Very new or inexperienced in a job or role.
• Çizmeyi aşmak: To attempt something beyond one’s knowledge or authority.
• Çorap söküğü gibi gitmek: To have tasks proceed easily one after another.
• Çorbada tuzu bulunmak: To contribute, even if just a little, to a task or effort.
• Daldan dala konmak: To frequently change topics or thoughts.
• Dallanıp budaklanmak: To grow and become increasingly complicated.
• Defe (tefe) koymak: To gossip, mock, or criticize someone to others.
• Deveye hendek atlatma: To accomplish an extremely difficult or nearly impossible task.
• Dikiş tutturamamak: To be unable to stay in a job or place for long.
• Dil dökmek: To use sweet words to persuade, deceive, or convince someone.
• Dile getirmek: To express or articulate a thought or idea.
• Dilinde tüy bitmek: To become tired of repeating the same thing over and over.
• Diline düşmek: To become the subject of criticism or mockery.
• Dilini tutamamak: To speak without thinking about the consequences.
• Dimyat’a pirince giderken evdeki bulgurdan olmak: To lose what one already has in pursuit of something better.
• Dört duvar arasında kalmak: To be confined indoors or in an enclosed space.
• Dumanı tepesinden çıkmak: To be extremely angry.
• Dut yemiş bülbüle dönmek: To lose one’s joy and become silent.
• Dünyası başına yıkılmak: To feel devastated and lose hope.
• Dünyanın kaç bucak olduğunu anlamak: To learn or teach how unpredictable life can be.
• Dünyayı tozpembe görmek: To be optimistic, even in adverse situations.
• El ayak çekilmek: For a place to become deserted and quiet.
• Eli boş dönmek: To return empty-handed, failing to get what was expected.
• Eşeğini sağlam kazığa bağlamak: To secure one’s work or position to avoid risks.
• Etekleri zil çalmak: To be overjoyed, extremely happy.
• Eteğindeki taşı dökmek: To reveal everything one knows.
• Etek öpmek: To flatter or act obsequiously.
• Etliye sütlüye karışmamak: To stay away from conflicts or controversial matters.
• Faka basmak: To be deceived or tricked.
• Ferman dinlememek: To not follow any rules or laws.
• Foyası meydana çıkmak: For someone’s bad qualities to become exposed.
• Gafil avlamak: To catch someone off guard, putting them in a difficult situation.
• Geceyi gündüze katmak: To work tirelessly day and night.
• Gına gelmek: To get fed up or tired of something.
• Gır gıra almak / Gır gır geçmek: To make fun of someone.
• Göbeği çatlamak: To struggle hard to overcome difficulties.
• Göğsü kabarmak: To feel proud or boastful.
• Göklere çıkarmak: To praise someone excessively.
• Gölge düşürmek: To diminish the value or reputation of something.
• Gönül almak: To please someone with kind behavior after offending them.
• Göz boyamak: To deceive or mislead with appearances.
• Göz hapsine almak: To closely monitor someone or something.
• Gözlerini fal taşı gibi açmak: To look in astonishment or surprise.
• Göz nuru dökmek: To put in a lot of effort or labor.
• Gözü açılmak: To become aware of what is beneficial or harmful.
• Gözünü daldan budaktan sakınmamak: To take on dangerous tasks without fear.
• Gözünü dört açmak: To be extremely vigilant to avoid being deceived.
• Halep oradaysa arşın burada: A phrase used to challenge someone to prove themselves with actions.
• Hangi dağda kurt öldü?: An expression of surprise at an unexpected good deed.
• Hâli kalmamak: To lose strength or capacity.
• Hapı yutmak: To fall into a bad situation.
• Havanda su dövme: To engage in futile efforts.
• Her boyaya girip çıkmak: To have experience in various jobs, even briefly.
• Her kafadan bir ses çıkmak: For everyone to talk at once, creating confusion.
• Her telden çalmak: To have knowledge in various subjects.
• Hevesi kursağında kalmak: To be unable to achieve something desired.
• Huyuna suyuna gitmek: To behave in a way that won’t upset someone.
• Huyunu suyunu değiştirmek: To cause someone to change their behavior or habits.
• Isıtıp ısıtıp önüne koymak: To repeatedly bring up past issues or events.
• İbret almak: To learn a lesson from an event.
• İcat çıkarmak: To develop an annoying habit or cause trouble.
• İç açmak: To bring joy or relief.
• İç çekmek: To sigh with sorrow.
• İçine kurt düşmek: To become suspicious that something harmful might happen.
• İçi açılmak: To feel relieved or delighted.
• İçi bayılmak: To feel extremely hungry.
• İçi cız etmek: To feel sudden sorrow.
• İçi daralmak: To feel anxious or distressed.
• İçi dayanmamak: To be unable to bear a painful situation.
• İçi dışına çıkmak: To feel nauseous, as if about to vomit.
• İçi erimek: To worry deeply.
• İçi gitmek: To strongly desire something.
• İçi içine sığmamak: To be unable to contain one’s excitement.
• İçi kan ağlamak: To feel great sorrow.
• İçi kazınmak: To feel hunger pains.
• İçi parçalanmak: To feel deep sorrow for someone.
• İçi rahat etmek: To feel relieved after learning there’s nothing to worry about.
• İçi sızlamak: To feel great sadness.
• İçi yanmak: To feel deep anguish or sorrow.
• İçinden geçirmek: To think about doing something.
• İçinden gelmek: To have a heartfelt desire to do something.
• İçine atmak: To keep one’s troubles to oneself.
• İçine daralma gelmek: To feel overwhelmed or distressed.
• İçine doğmak: To have a premonition about something happening.
• İçtikleri su ayrı gitmemek: To be very close friends.
• İçine kapanmak: To become introverted and avoid social interactions.
• İçine sinmek: To feel satisfied and content with something.
• İçini ısıtmak: To evoke warm, pleasant feelings.
• İçini karartmak: To cause depression or anxiety.
• İçini kemirmek: To feel restless due to worry.
• İçini okumak: To understand someone’s hidden thoughts.
• İğne ile kuyu kazmak: To work persistently towards a difficult goal with limited resources.
• İğne ipliğe dönmek: To become very thin.
• İki arada bir derede kalmak: To be stuck between two difficult choices.
• İki ayağını bir pabuca sokmak: To pressure someone to act quickly.
• İki ateş arasında kalmak: To be caught in a difficult situation with no easy solution.
• İki gözü iki çeşme ağlamak: To cry continuously and intensely.
• İki karpuzu bir koltuğa sığdırmak: To handle two tasks at the same time.
• İki yakası bir araya gelmemek: To struggle financially and be unable to get out of debt.
• İnce eleyip sık dokumak: To examine every detail carefully.
• İn cin top oynamak: For a place to be completely deserted.
• İncir çekirdeğini doldurmamak: To be trivial or insignificant.
• İpe sapa gelmemek: To be illogical or inconsistent.
• İpe un sermek: To make excuses to avoid doing something.
• İpliği pazara çıkmak: For someone’s bad traits to be revealed over time.
• İpi koparmak: To sever ties with a person or organization.
• İpin ucunu kaçırmak: To lose control of a situation.
• İstifini bozmamak: To remain unaffected or unbothered.
• İş başa düşmek: To have to handle something oneself.
• İş sarpa sarmak: For a task to become complicated.
• İşi aksi gitmek: To encounter bad luck in one’s efforts.
• İşkembeden atmak: To make things up without any basis.
• İz bırakmak: To leave a lasting impact.
• İzinden yürümek: To follow someone’s path or example closely.
• Jetonu geç düşmek: To understand something only after a delay.
• Kabak başına patlamak: For one person to suffer the consequences of an issue involving many people.
• Kabak tadı vermek: To become tiresome or annoying due to excessive repetition.
• Kabına sığmamak: To act overly excited or restless.
• Kabuğuna çekilmek: To withdraw from social interactions and avoid people.
• Kafa patlatmak: To think deeply about a subject.
• Kafa sallamak: To signal disapproval or warning with a nod.
• Kafası kazan gibi olmak: To feel overwhelmed by noise or confusion.
• Kafası bozulmak: To get angry or upset.
• Kafasına dank etmek: To suddenly realize or understand something clearly.
• Kafasına koymak: To make a firm decision and wait for the right moment to act.
• Kâğıt üzerinde kalmak: For plans to remain unimplemented.
• Kale almamak: To disregard or underestimate something or someone.
• Kaleyi içinden fethetmek: To achieve a goal with help from the other side.
• Kalıbını basmak: To confidently confirm something as true.
• Kalıbının adamı olmamak: To not be what one appears to be at first glance.
• Kalıptan kalıba girmek: To adapt to different situations for personal gain.
• Kanadı altına almak: To protect or take someone under one’s wing.
• Kanat germek: To provide protection or support.
• Kan beynine sıçramak: To become extremely angry and lose control.
• Kancayı takmak: To target someone with malicious intent.
• Kan ter içinde kalmak: To be drenched in sweat, exhausted, and disheveled.
• Kapağı atmak: To escape to a comfortable place.
• Kapı aralamak: To introduce a topic or prepare someone for what’s coming.
• Kapıda kalmak: To be unable to enter.
• Kapıları kapamak: To cut off all connections or negotiations.
• Kapısını aşındırmak: To visit someone frequently.
• Kapıyı göstermek: To dismiss or expel someone.
• Kara çalmak: To slander or accuse falsely.
• Karda gezip izini belli etmemek: To act secretly without leaving a trace.
• Kargadan başka kuş tanımamak: To stubbornly stick to what one knows or believes.
• Karıncayı bile ezmemek: To be extremely kind and compassionate.
• Karnı zil çalmak: To be extremely hungry.
• Kaşıkla verip kepçeyle geri almak: To take back more than what was given as a favor.
• Kaşıkla yedirip, sapıyla göz çıkarmak: To ruin a good deed with a bad action.
• Kaşlarını çatmak: To frown in anger or disapproval.
• Kaş yapayım derken göz çıkarmak: To make things worse while trying to fix them.
• Keli görünmek: To have a fault exposed.
• Kelleyi koltuğuna almak: To risk one’s life or take a great risk.
• Kelleyi vermek: To sacrifice one’s life.
• Kemer sıkmak: To adopt frugality and reduce expenses.
• Kızılca kıyamet kopmak: To have a noisy and intense quarrel or argument.
• Kök söktürmek: To make things very difficult for someone.
• Kökünden halletmek: To solve a problem thoroughly and completely.
• Kökünü kazımak: To eradicate something entirely.
• Kraldan çok kralcı olmak: To support a cause more zealously than its originator.
• Kulağı ters taraftan göstermek: To do something in an unnecessarily complicated way.
• Kulağına girmemek: To ignore or disregard what is said.
• Kulağına kar suyu kaçmak: To receive disturbing or alarming news.
• Kulak kesilmek: To listen attentively.
• Kulp takmak: To find fault with someone or something unjustly.
• Kuş uçurmamak: To prevent anyone or anything from escaping or passing through.
• Külahını ters giydirmek: To outwit someone through cunning.
• Külahları değişmek: To quarrel or fall out with someone.
• Küpünü doldurmak: To accumulate wealth when given the opportunity.
• Kürek kadar dili olmak: To respond rudely or impolitely.
• Laf altında kalmamak: To respond appropriately to offensive or hurtful words and correct the situation.
• Laf işitmek: To be scolded or reprimanded by someone.
• Lafa karışmak: To interrupt or join a conversation while others are speaking.
• Lafa tutmak: To keep someone occupied with unnecessary or continuous talk.
• Leb demeden leblebiyi anlamak: To understand what someone means without them finishing their sentence.
• Lokmasını saymak: To keep track of how much someone is eating at a meal.
• Lügat paralamak: To use foreign or fancy words that are not commonly spoken.
• Mahalleyi ayağa kaldırmak: To disturb the neighborhood with shouting or loud noise.
• Mantar gibi bitmek: To appear suddenly or unexpectedly.
• Masal okumak: To deceive someone with unconvincing words.
• Mekik dokumak: To shuttle between two points frequently.
• Meteliğe kurşun atmak: To be completely out of money.
• Meydan okumak: To challenge someone openly, showing no fear.
• Meydana çıkarmak: To reveal or make something clear.
• Meydana getirmek: To bring something into existence or make it happen.
• Meydanı boş bulmak: To behave excessively when no one is around to stop you.
• Muma çevirmek: To impose strict discipline on someone.
• Mumla aramak: To search for something eagerly and with longing.
• Muradına ermek: To achieve one's wish or desire.
• Mürekkebi kurumadan: Very shortly after something has been written down.
• Mürekkep yalamak: To be well-read and well-educated.
• Nabzına göre şerbet vermek: To act in a way that pleases or flatters someone.
• Nabzını tutmak / Nabzını yoklamak: To try to understand someone’s thoughts or intentions.
• Nalıncı keseri gibi kendine yontmak: To always act in one’s own self-interest.
• Nefes aldırmamak: To not allow someone to rest or relax.
• Nefes tüketmek: To talk for a long time without saying anything meaningful.
• Ne oldum delisi olmak: To become arrogant after an unexpected success.
• Notunu vermek: To form a negative opinion about someone.
• Ocağı batmak: To have one's home destroyed or family line ended.
• Ocağına düşmek: To seek protection or help from someone desperately.
• Ocağına incir dikmek: To ruin someone's home or livelihood.
• Ok yaydan çıkmak: To take an action that cannot be undone.
• Olmayacak duaya âmin demek: To engage in impossible or futile tasks.
• On paraya on takla atmak: To do anything, even humiliating, for a small amount of money.
• On parmağında on marifet olmak: To be highly skilled in many areas.
• O tarakta bezi olmamak: To have no interest or involvement in something.
• Oyuna gelmek: To be tricked or deceived.
• Öküzün altında buzağı aramak: To search for faults or blame where there are none.
• Ölçüyü kaçırmak: To go to excess in actions or consumption.
• Ölümü göze almak: To risk everything, even one’s life, to achieve something.
• Ömür çürütmek: To spend a long time working on something or wasting time.
• Ömrüne ömür katmak: To make someone very happy or joyful.
• Öpüp başına koymak: To treat something with great respect or gratitude.
• Pabucunu ters giydirmek: To outsmart someone and force them to leave quickly.
• Pabucu dama atılmak: To be replaced by someone better or more competent.
• Pabuç kadar dili olmak: To speak rudely and disrespectfully.
• Paçayı kurtarmak: To escape from a difficult or dangerous situation.
• Paha biçmek: To estimate or determine the value of something.
• Pahalıya mal olmak: To require a lot of money, effort, or sacrifice.
• Para saçmak: To spend money extravagantly.
• Parasıyla rezil olmak: To not get what one paid for, despite spending money.
• Paraya kıymak: To be willing to spend money when necessary.
• Paraya para dememek: To earn a lot of money easily.
• Parmağında oynatmak: To manipulate someone easily, like a puppet.
• Parmağını bile kıpırdatmamak: To not lift a finger to help or act.
• Parmak ısırmak: To be astonished or amazed.
• Parmakla gösterilmek: To be famous or highly regarded.
• Patırtıya pabuç bırakmamak: To ignore empty threats and stand one’s ground.
• Pire için yorgan yakmak: To overreact to a small issue and cause more harm.
• Pireyi deve yapmak: To blow a minor issue out of proportion.
• Posta koymak: To intimidate or threaten someone.
• Postu kurtarmak: To escape a life-threatening situation.
• Pot kırmak: To say something inappropriate or offensive by mistake.
• Punduna getirmek: To act at the right moment to achieve something.
• Pusulayı şaşırmak: To become confused and not know what to do.
• Put kesilmek: To become silent and motionless.
• Rafa kaldırmak: To neglect or abandon something, to stop paying attention to it.
• Rahat yüzü görmemek: To never experience peace or comfort.
• Rayına girmek: For a process or project to be put in order and run smoothly.
• Rengi atmak: To turn pale due to fear or excitement.
• Renk vermemek: To hide one's feelings or thoughts, to act as if unaware of something.
• Renkten renge girmek: To change facial color out of fear or embarrassment.
• Rest çekmek: To take a decisive stand and say the final word on an issue.
• Rüzgâr ekip fırtına biçmek: To face a severe consequence for a wrongdoing.
• Rüzgârdan nem kapmak: To be overly sensitive and easily offended.
• Saat gibi işlemek: To function without interruption, to run smoothly.
• Saati saatine uymamak: To have a mood or condition that changes frequently.
• Sabahı etmek: To stay awake all night, either working or worrying about something.
• Sabrı taşmak: To reach a point where one can no longer endure or tolerate something.
• Saçına ak düşmek: To begin to grow gray hair, to age.
• Saçını başını yolmak: To express great sorrow or despair.
• Saçını süpürge etmek: For a woman to work tirelessly and selflessly for her family.
• Sağ gösterip sol vurmak: To deceive by acting unexpectedly.
• Sağ gözünü sol gözünden sakınmak: To be excessively jealous.
• Sakalı ele vermek: To become fully dependent on someone else's words or decisions.
• Sakalına kar yağmak: To begin growing gray hair in the beard.
• Sallantıda bırakmak: To leave something unresolved or neglected.
• Sallantıda kalmak: To remain unresolved or uncertain.
• Saman altından su yürütmek: To act secretly and create chaos without being noticed.
• Sarpa sarmak: To encounter difficulties, making a situation hard to resolve.
• Sepet havası çalmak: To dismiss someone from their job or position.
• Sermayeyi kediye yüklemek: To waste or deplete one's money.
• Sevinci kursağında kalmak: To face disappointment just when expecting happiness.
• Sevinçten havalara uçmak: To feel extremely happy.
• Seyirci kalmak: To stay out of a situation without getting involved.
• Sıfırdan başlamak: To start from scratch with nothing.
• Sıfırı tüketmek: To become impoverished or run out of resources.
• Sırra kadem basmak: To disappear without a trace.
• Sırtından geçinmek: To rely on someone else for financial support.
• Sırtı yere gelmemek: To remain strong and not lose one's position despite difficulties.
• Silip süpürmek: To eat or consume everything available.
• Sineye çekmek: To endure an insult or wrongdoing without retaliation.
• Sinek avlamak: To have no business or customers, sitting idle.
• Son kozunu oynamak: To use the last available resource or opportunity.
• Son noktayı koymak: To say the final word and end a discussion or decision-making process.
• Soyup soğana çevirmek: To rob someone of everything they have.
• Sözü ağzına tıkamak: To interrupt someone and prevent them from speaking.
• Sözü ağzında gevelemek: To hesitate and struggle to say what one wants to say.
• Sucuk gibi ıslanmak: To get completely soaked.
• Su gibi ezberlemek: To memorize something perfectly, without mistakes.
• Sudan çıkmış balığa dönmek: To feel lost and confused, not knowing what to do.
• Suratından düşen bin parça olmak: To look extremely displeased or angry.
• Suratını ekşitmek: To show displeasure through facial expression.
• Suya götürüp susuz getirmek: To outsmart someone with cunning and wit.
• Suya sabuna dokunmamak: To avoid any action that could offend or disturb others.
• Suyunca gitmek: To act in a way that keeps someone calm or unprovoked.
• Sünger çekmek: To forget or dismiss something as if it never happened.
• Sürüden ayrılmak: To choose a different path than the majority, to act independently.
• Süt liman olmak: To become calm, peaceful, and quiet.
• Şeytana pabucu ters giydirmek: To be extremely cunning or clever.
• Şeytanın bacağını kırmak: To overcome bad luck or misfortune.
• Şifayı bulmak: To get sick or become worse in health.
• Taban tepmek: To walk a long distance.
• Tabanları yağlamak: To prepare to walk a long way on foot.
• Tadı damağında kalmak: To not forget something enjoyable or pleasurable.
• Tadı tuzu kalmamak: To lose its former charm or enjoyment.
• Tadına doyum olmamak: To find something extremely enjoyable or delightful.
• Tadında bırakmak: To stop something before it turns unpleasant.
• Takıp takıştırmak: To dress up or adorn oneself carefully.
• Tam üstüne basmak: To hit the nail on the head, to say or do exactly what is needed.
• Tarihe karışmak: To be forgotten and remain only as a memory.
• Tası tarağı toplamak: To pack up everything and get ready to leave.
• Taşı gediğine koymak: To say the right thing at the right time and silence the opponent with wit.
• Tefe koymak: To gossip mockingly about someone.
• Tepeden bakmak: To look down on others with disdain.
• Tepesine binmek: To oppress or mistreat someone weaker.
• Tepesinden kaynar sular dökülmek: To feel suddenly overwhelmed with sorrow or stress.
• Tepesinin tası atmak: To become suddenly and intensely angry.
• Tereciye tere satmak: To try to teach someone something they already know very well.
• Ters düşmek: To disagree or be at odds with someone.
• Ters tarafından kalkmak: To be irritable or moody without reason.
• Tıka basa yemek: To eat excessively, to the point of discomfort.
• Tilki uykusuna yatmak: To pretend to be asleep while waiting for an opportunity.
• Tongaya basmak: To fall into a trap set by others.
• Topa tutmak: To harshly criticize or attack verbally.
• Toz kondurmamak: To not acknowledge any flaws in something or someone.
• Tozu dumana katmak: To cause chaos or disruption.
• Treni kaçırmak: To miss an opportunity.
• Turnayı gözünden vurmak: To achieve an unexpected gain or success.
• Turşusunu kurmak: To hesitate to let go of something despite its uselessness.
• Tuttuğu dal elinde kalmak: To lose trust in something or someone that was once reliable.
• Tuttuğunu koparmak: To be determined and succeed in every endeavor.
• Tuzluya mal olmak: To cost a lot of money, to be very expensive.
• Tükürdüğünü yalamak: To take back one’s word in a shameful way.
• Türkü yakmak: To compose the lyrics and melody for a song.
• Tüyleri diken diken olmak: To have goosebumps due to cold or fear.
• Tüyleri ürpermek: To shiver from fear, disgust, or cold.
• Ucuz atlatmak: To narrowly escape from a difficult or dangerous situation.
• Ucu bucağı olmamak: To have no end or boundary.
• Uçan kuşa borcu olmak: To be indebted to many people.
• Umudunu kesmek: To give up hope for something to happen.
• Uyku bastırmak: To feel overwhelmed by sleepiness.
• Üçe beşe bakmamak: To disregard minor differences in cost while buying or selling.
• Üstünde durmak: To give importance to something, to follow up on a matter closely.
• Üstüne alınmak: To feel personally targeted by someone’s words or actions.
• Üstüne toz kondurmamak: To not accept any criticism or flaws about something or someone.
• Üstüne üstüne gitmek: To confront a situation head-on, despite the risks.
• Üstüne vazife olmamak: To not be one’s duty or responsibility.
• Vakit öldürmek: To waste time on unproductive activities.
• Varlıkta darlık çekmek: To struggle despite having resources, often due to external obstacles.
• Vebal altında kalmak: To carry the burden of moral responsibility.
• Volta atmak: To walk back and forth aimlessly.
• Yâd etmek: To remember or commemorate someone or something.
• Yağmur yağarken küpünü doldurmak: To take advantage of opportunities while they last.
• Yağmurdan kaçarken doluya tutulmak: To encounter a worse situation while trying to escape a difficult one.
• Yakasına yapışmak: To persistently demand something from someone.
• Yakayı ele vermek: To get caught while trying to escape.
• Yakışık almamak: To be inappropriate or improper.
• Yan çizmek: To avoid responsibility or commitment.
• Yan gelip yatmak: To take things easy and avoid work or responsibility.
• Yan gözle bakmak: To glance at someone or something surreptitiously.
• Yanına bırakmamak: To seek revenge, to not let something go unpunished.
• Yanına kâr kalmak: To escape punishment or consequences.
• Yangına körükle gitmek: To escalate a conflict or tension.
• Yanlış kapı çalmak: To ask for something from the wrong place or person.
• Yaraya merhem olmak: To provide relief for a difficult situation.
• Yaraya tuz biber ekmek: To worsen an already painful situation.
• Yarı yolda bırakmak: To abandon someone before completing a task or journey.
• Yaş tahtaya basmamak: To be cautious and avoid mistakes.
• Yatak yorgan yatmak: To be bedridden with a serious illness.
• Yaygarayı basmak: To make a loud fuss.
• Yelkenleri suya indirmek: To give up resistance and accept the other’s terms.
• Yer yarılıp içine girmek: To disappear completely, without a trace.
• Yerden yere vurmak: To criticize harshly from all sides.
• Yere çalmak: To throw something forcefully to the ground.
• Yeri göğü birbirine katmak: To create extreme turmoil or panic.
• Yerin dibine geçmek: To feel extreme shame or embarrassment.
• Yerinde yeller esmek: To find that something is no longer there, to have disappeared.
• Yerle bir etmek: To destroy something completely.
• Yeşil ışık yakmak: To indicate approval or permission.
• Yılanın kuyruğuna basmak: To provoke a dangerous person or situation.
• Yıldızları barışmamak: To not get along with someone due to differing opinions or feelings.
• Yoluna can vermek: To be willing to sacrifice one’s life for someone.
• Yuları birinin elinde olmak: To be under someone’s control or influence.
• Yumurta kapıya dayanmak: To leave things until the last minute.
• Yüreği ağzına gelmek: To feel intense fear or excitement.
• Yüreği hop etmek: To jump with sudden fear or excitement.
• Yüreği kan ağlamak: To feel deep sorrow.
• Yüreğine ateş düşmek: To suffer from a great loss or tragedy.
• Yüreğine su serpmek: To bring relief by easing someone’s worries.
• Yüz verince astar istemek: To take advantage of kindness by demanding more.
• Yüzüne kan gelmek: To regain health, to look better.
• Yüzünü güldürmek: To make someone happy.
• Yüzünü kara çıkarmak: To embarrass or disappoint someone.
• Yüzüp yüzüp kuyruğuna gelmek: To be close to completing a long and difficult task.
• Zaman öldürmek: To pass time doing unproductive activities.
• Zeval vermemek: To not destroy or bring an end to something.
• Zeytinyağı gibi üste çıkmak: To avoid admitting fault and present oneself as innocent.
• Zıvanadan çıkmak: To lose one’s temper or self-control.
• Zihnini kurcalamak: To be preoccupied with a thought or concern.
• Zil takıp oynamak: To openly celebrate and show joy.
• Zirveye çıkmak: To become highly popular or well-known.
• Zokayı yutmak: To be deceived and suffer great loss.
• Züğürt tesellisi: To console oneself with trivial things after losing something valuable.
• Zülfüyâre dokunmak: To offend or upset someone important with words or actions.