نوشدارو
نوشدارو (nush-dâru) means antidote or cure, but its literal sense is “sweet medicine.” In Persian culture it also carries the meaning of a remedy that arrives too late to save the patient.
Glossary
کشمکش
کشمکش (keshmakesh) means a struggle, tug-of-war, or prolonged conflict. It captures the back-and-forth of two forces pulling against each other and fits everyday disputes as well as political standoffs.
سنگ تمام گذاشتن
Sang-e tamâm gozâshtan (سنگ تمام گذاشتن) means to pull out all the stops or go all out for someone. A Persian idiom where sang (stone, Persian) pairs with tamâm (complete, Arabic) to mean giving everything.
دل سوختن
Del sukhtan (دل سوختن) means to feel sympathy or compassion for someone, literally the heart burning for them. A vivid compound verb from pure Persian roots used to express genuine pity or empathy.
چشمبهراه
Cheshm-be-râh (چشمبهراه) means eyes fixed on the road, waiting anxiously or hopefully for someone to arrive. A vivid Persian compound used to express longing and expectant waiting.
هر که بامش بیش برفش بیشتر
Har ke bâmash bish barfash bishtar (هر که بامش بیش برفش بیشتر) means the higher your roof, the more snow it collects. A Persian proverb saying more wealth and status bring more worries.
ماهی از سر گنده میشود
Mâhi az sar gandeh mishavad (ماهی از سر گنده میشود) means fish rots from the head. A Persian proverb pointing out that corruption and dysfunction start with leaders, not subordinates.
نمکگیر
Namak-gir (نمکگیر) describes someone bound by loyalty because they have eaten another’s salt. In Persian culture, sharing bread and salt creates a debt of gratitude that cannot be ignored.
نمکناشناس
نمکناشناس (namak-nâshnâs) means ungrateful in Farsi, literally someone who does not recognise the salt, rooted in the ancient bond formed by sharing bread and salt.
دست بالا
دست بالا (dast-e bâlâ) means “the upper hand” in Farsi, the position of power or advantage in a negotiation, argument, or competition.