Monday, February 1, 2016

What are the things that only Indians say


What are the things that only Indians say?

1. "Hey, do you have a rubber?"
Translation : "Can I borrow your eraser?"

2.  "I just came"
Translation : "I just got here"

3. "Love marriage"
Translation : Anything other than a union of two souls arranged by the complicated and occasionally humiliating process that is the Indian arranged marriage.

4. "I came to the city after my father's expiry."
Translation : "I moved to the city after my father passed away."

5. Tiffin
Translation :  Any substantial meal between breakfast and dinner.

6. Loose character / characterless
Translation : Person of questionable morality, but most often referring to sexual promiscuity.

7. Copy
Translation : Exercise Book used in academics

8.  Revert
Translation : Reply

EDIT (Just adding a few more, This question took me back to the days of half-pants and gully-cricket)

9. "God Promise!"
Translation : "May the Gods strike me down if I renege on this sacred agreement!"

10. "Xerox" / "PhotoStat"
Translation : Copy (as in, from a copier)

11. "My Native"
Translation: As racist as this sounds it actually refers to one's ancestral village/property


Prepone--Opposite of postpone
Come to know that -- to find something out. 
Do the needful -- no direct translation.  It means to get shit done.
I have a doubt -- I have a question
Cousin-brother -- just a cousin
My brother -- Also probably just a cousin
My real brother -- My brother
Cum -- And
Timepass -- Something you do to keep busy. (esp. eating peanuts)
Level best -- your darndest, as in what you do (usually while failing or about to fail)
Level best only -- This is definitely not going to go as planned.
Give an exam -- take an exam (as a student, not a teacher)
Spinster -- any adult female who is not yet married
Periods -- That time of the month. I can't swim in a pool, I'm having my periods!
1.5 years -- One year, five months.  Because November and December don't count.  Or something....
Where are you staying?  -- Where do you live?
Keep it -- Put it (Where shall I keep your handbag?  Shall I keep it on the table?)
At rate -- @ (like in an email address)
No more -- Dead
Just like that -- No comment.  (Me: "why are you late to band practice today?" You: "Just like that.")
Homely -- Someone who is tidy and good at keeping house/cooking/etc
Even I am...[doing X] -- Me too. 
Nothing is coming -- I can't hear you (although I use this for a lot of different situations)
Only -- Decoration at the end of the sentence.  "Are you staying in Mumbai only?"
Cribbing -- Complaining or whining
My seniors -- People in my peer group who are older than me
Auntie -- A woman who appears older than me
A bomb -- A lot of money (You sure are spending a bomb on your housekeeper)
Good name -- just a name
I am [doing x] since [y] years -- I've been doing x for [y] long
Burst crackers -- Set off fireworks
Reach -- Arrive [somewhere] (Did you reach yet?)
Very less  -- Not enough of something.  "My bank account is very less since the last 1.2 years"
I'll just quickly do [x] -- No direct translation.  Usually heard from a woman, when something very time consuming and complicated is about to be done.  I am sure the ladies who planned the Mars Orbiter Mission were like, "I'll just quickly calculate the trajectory for this secondary rocket booster."
Get through -- To be accepted (as to university) or to pass an exam.
[any food item] burst -- a marketing term that somehow appeals to Indians and not Americans (shall we order for the Cheese Burst Pizza?---NO THANK YOU!)
Do one thing...--Do every thing on the long list I'm about to give you
Do one thing only...--It's going to be a reeeeaaally long list.
Ek minute -- An hour
Ek minute only -- 2-3 hours
Paanch minute -- 24 hours
Paanch minute only -- less than 1 week
Pass out -- graduate (from school)
Geezer -- Water heater (actually spelled /geyser/)


From Quora