मुँह पर कालिख पोतना
Smear soot on face
Literalmente: मुँह (Face) पर (on) कालिख (soot/blackness) पोतना (to smear/plaster)
Use this phrase to describe actions that cause public humiliation or destroy a person's or family's honor.
En 15 segundos
- To bring deep shame or disgrace to someone's reputation.
- Derived from historical public shaming rituals involving black soot.
- Used for scandals, betrayals, or major moral failures.
Significado
This phrase describes the act of bringing immense shame or disgrace upon oneself, one's family, or an organization. It's like saying someone has permanently stained their reputation with a dark mark that everyone can see.
Ejemplos clave
3 de 6Discussing a family scandal
उसने चोरी करके अपने खानदान के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी।
By stealing, he smeared soot on his family's face.
Talking about a corrupt politician
घोटाले में पकड़े जाने पर मंत्री जी ने अपनी पार्टी के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी।
By getting caught in the scam, the minister disgraced his party.
A stern warning from a parent
ऐसा कोई काम मत करना जिससे मेरे मुँह पर कालिख पुत जाए।
Don't do anything that would bring shame upon me.
Contexto cultural
The phrase originates from a historical form of public shaming where offenders had their faces blackened with soot and were paraded on a donkey. It highlights the collective nature of honor in South Asian societies, where one person's actions reflect on their entire community. Even today, it remains one of the strongest ways to describe social disgrace.
The Passive Voice Trick
You can use it as `कालिख पुत गई` (soot got smeared) to describe the state of being disgraced without blaming a specific person directly.
It's very strong!
Be careful using this with elders. It is a very accusatory phrase and can escalate a conflict quickly because it attacks their 'honor'.
En 15 segundos
- To bring deep shame or disgrace to someone's reputation.
- Derived from historical public shaming rituals involving black soot.
- Used for scandals, betrayals, or major moral failures.
What It Means
Imagine someone literally rubbing black charcoal soot all over your face. You can't hide it. Everyone sees it immediately. That is exactly what मुँह पर कालिख पोतना feels like socially. It means doing something so scandalous or wrong that your reputation is ruined. It is about deep, public humiliation. It is not just a small mistake. It is a 'point of no return' for your social standing.
How To Use It
You use this when someone has betrayed a trust. You use it when a person’s actions bring shame to their group. In a sentence, the person doing the bad deed is 'smearing the soot.' For example, if a son gets caught in a scam, people might say he smeared soot on his father's face. It is a heavy, dramatic expression. It carries a lot of emotional weight.
When To Use It
Use it in serious conversations about ethics or family honor. It fits perfectly when discussing a major corporate scandal. You can use it when a politician gets caught in a lie. It is great for dramatic storytelling. If you are watching a Bollywood drama, you will hear this often. It is for moments of high stakes and high emotion.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this for minor accidents. If your friend spills coffee, don't use it. That would be way too dramatic! Avoid using it in lighthearted banter unless you are being very sarcastic. It is too heavy for casual workplace feedback. Don't tell a colleague they smeared soot on their face for a late report. You might get a call from HR!
Cultural Background
This phrase has deep roots in ancient Indian punishments. In the past, criminals were sometimes paraded through town with blackened faces. This was meant to strip away their dignity. It was a visual mark of being an outcast. Today, the physical act is gone, but the linguistic scar remains. It reflects the high value Indian culture places on 'Log Kya Kahenge' (What will people say?).
Common Variations
You might also hear मुँह काला करना. This is a shorter, punchier version. It means the same thing: to blacken the face. Sometimes people say कुल का नाम डुबोना (to sink the family name). Both expressions deal with the loss of honor. However, the 'soot' version is more visual and visceral.
Notas de uso
This idiom is highly evocative and should be reserved for situations involving a significant breach of trust or social norms. It sits between neutral and informal, making it versatile for media, literature, and serious personal discussions.
The Passive Voice Trick
You can use it as `कालिख पुत गई` (soot got smeared) to describe the state of being disgraced without blaming a specific person directly.
It's very strong!
Be careful using this with elders. It is a very accusatory phrase and can escalate a conflict quickly because it attacks their 'honor'.
The Donkey Connection
In older times, the punishment often involved riding a donkey backwards. While the phrase doesn't mention the donkey, the mental image of that historical punishment is what gives the phrase its 'punch'.
Ejemplos
6उसने चोरी करके अपने खानदान के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी।
By stealing, he smeared soot on his family's face.
Focuses on how an individual's action affects the whole family's honor.
घोटाले में पकड़े जाने पर मंत्री जी ने अपनी पार्टी के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी।
By getting caught in the scam, the minister disgraced his party.
Used in a political or professional context to show institutional shame.
ऐसा कोई काम मत करना जिससे मेरे मुँह पर कालिख पुत जाए।
Don't do anything that would bring shame upon me.
A preventative warning about maintaining reputation.
उस एक्टर ने तो अपने करियर पर खुद ही कालिख पोत ली।
That actor smeared soot on his own career.
Applying the idiom to a professional career path.
इतने कम नंबर लाकर तूने तो हमारे ग्रुप के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी!
By getting such low marks, you've disgraced our group!
Using a heavy idiom for a light situation to create humor.
मैच हारने के तरीके ने देश के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी।
The way the match was lost brought shame to the country.
Used for national pride and sports disappointment.
Ponte a prueba
Choose the correct word to complete the idiom.
झूठ बोलकर उसने अपने माता-पिता के मुँह पर ___ पोत दी।
`कालिख` (soot) is the specific substance used in this idiom to represent shame.
What is the meaning of this phrase in the following sentence?
कंपनी के फ्रॉड ने उसके नाम पर कालिख पोत दी।
The phrase signifies a permanent stain on one's reputation.
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Ayudas visuales
Formality and Intensity Scale
Used in heated arguments or family dramas.
तूने मेरा नाम डुबो दिया!
Standard usage in news or storytelling.
मुँह पर कालिख पोतना
Using sophisticated synonyms for disgrace.
कलंकित करना (To blemish)
When to use 'Smearing Soot'
Financial Fraud
Embezzling office funds.
Academic Dishonesty
Getting caught cheating in finals.
Betrayal
Leaking a best friend's secret.
Public Scandal
A celebrity's public meltdown.
Preguntas frecuentes
10 preguntasYes, it is very common in news headlines and daily conversation when discussing scandals. You will hear it in sentences like उसने पूरे देश के मुँह पर कालिख पोत दी (He disgraced the whole country).
Yes, if you feel you've done something shameful, you can say मैंने अपने ही मुँह पर कालिख पोत ली (I have disgraced myself).
नाक कटना (cutting the nose) also means losing respect, but मुँह पर कालिख पोतना feels more active and aggressive. It implies a darker, more visible stain on character.
It is not 'vulgar', but it is very harsh. It is an idiom of serious condemnation, so use it only when the situation is truly disgraceful.
Only if a major ethical violation has occurred. For minor business failures, it is too dramatic. Stick to छवि खराब होना (image being spoiled) for professional settings.
Literally, yes. In this context, it metaphorically represents 'blackness' or 'stain'. It is the opposite of 'safedi' (whiteness/purity).
Not really. To describe the opposite (bringing honor), you would say नाम रोशन करना (to light up the name).
No, that would be an exaggeration. It's like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut. Save it for big betrayals.
Older generations use it more often, but younger people use it sarcastically or when discussing serious social issues.
It functions as a verb phrase. You conjugate पोतना (to smear) according to the tense and subject, like पोत दिया (smeared) or पोत रहा है (is smearing).
Frases relacionadas
मुँह काला करना (To blacken the face)
नाक कटना (To have one's nose cut/lose face)
नाम डुबोना (To sink the name)
कलंकित करना (To blemish/stain)
इज्जत मिट्टी में मिलाना (To drag honor through the dirt)
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