What it means
کلاه گذاشتن سر کسی (kolâh gozâshtan sar-e kasi) literally “to put a hat on someone’s head.” Figuratively, it means to deceive, swindle, or trick someone. The most common Iranian idiom for being conned in a deal.
How to use it
- سرم کلاه گذاشت (saram kolâh gozâsht) “He swindled me”
- سرت کلاه نذار بگن (saret kolâh nazâr began) “Don’t let them con you”
- این فروشنده سر همه کلاه میذاره (in forushande sar-e hame kolâh mizâre) “This seller cons everyone”
The literal meaning
You pull a hat down over someone’s eyes so they can’t see what’s happening. Their vision is blocked while you do something behind their back, like cheating in a card game or rigging a sale.
The figurative meaning
The active counterpart to رو دست خوردن. Here the trickster is the subject. Used for sellers who lie about goods, contractors who overcharge, people who exploit your trust for gain.
When you’d say it
A friend bought a “genuine” Persian rug at a tourist bazaar that turns out to be machine-made. You wince and say: سرت کلاه گذاشته.
Cultural note
This is the bazaar idiom par excellence. Iranian humor about deception loves the visual, hat over eyes, prey unaware. It pairs with phrases like سرت رو شیره مالیدن (saret-o shire mâlidan) “to smear your head with syrup,” same idea, different image.
References
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