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Idioms & Expressions

Figurative language

110

Words

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Akabi ke k'omwana

Every child has their charm

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Emmere egula emmere

Food brings people together

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Oluganda lunfuna

Family is gold

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Ekimu n'ekimu

Step by step

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Bwa Nagirinya

By force / Stubbornly

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Akasolya

A spark (of trouble)

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Omukono mu bbwa

A hand in the pot (corrupt)

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Akabega ku mukono

Nearby help

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Tewali bulungi mu bulungi

Nothing is perfect

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Akabwa akadde

Old tricks don't work

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Ekikulaakulana tekisiba

What grows does not stop (perseverance)

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Amaziga ga nswa agalemwa omukono

Termite tears outdo the hand (effort beats force)

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Ttaka limu teliimba ndiga bbiri

One field cannot sustain two goats (can't serve two masters)

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Omwana takulira oluggya lw'eddyo

A child doesn't cut teeth on gravel (can't rush growth)

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Omusajja alya emmere y'omulimu

A man eats from his work (you reap what you sow)

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Ekisawe kiggya embwa

An empty field brings out dogs (idle time leads to trouble)

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Olugendo lw'enkya luggya,olugendo lw'ekiro lutuusa

A morning journey starts, evening journey arrives (take things one at a time)

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Okufa kw'omuntu si kusiba omwenge

Death of a person is not like stopping beer (death is final)

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Abaana b'enkima bakyalikana

Monkey children resemble each other (like father like son)

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Omuntu mulungi omulimu gwe gumuwa

A good person, their work praises them

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Enswa ezikulira wamu zigaba emmere

Termites that grow together share food (teamwork wins)

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Omugenyi tatuukira ng'obwire

A guest doesn't arrive like rain (guests need preparation)

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Amagezi ga mukadde gakuuma omwana

Elder's wisdom protects the child

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Omukazi mulungi tawangulwa n'enfumo

A good woman is not conquered by gossip

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Akabwa kato kanikana n'ekikula

A small dog barks like a big one (small things can be bold)

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Entulo ekimbe tieyimisaamu

A sleeping leopard doesn't miss its mark (be prepared)

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Ebigambo bya mukadde ebibukuta

Words of an elder are like polished beads (precious)

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Taata alya ku ndigala — omwana alya ku mbago

Father eats on the shield, child eats from the clay pot (inheriting hard work)

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Omuntu agamba naye tekola tebalamulwa

Words said but not done are not judged (action speaks)

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Omwenge ogukaabirira tekugaana

Beer that drips cannot be refused (don't refuse free gifts)

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Embuzi ekomye tekosa omu

A tied goat doesn't harm anyone (restraint prevents damage)

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Ejjinja ly'enkuba tilyasa buli lunaku

Lightning stone doesn't strike every day (rare events)

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Endiga y'omwayo tegana n'enswa

A distant goat doesn't compete with termites (stay in your lane)

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Okulya okwonna tekubuliza omwana

Eating all doesn't satisfy a child (greed has no end)

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Nyumirira ate olya obulungi

Swallow gently and eat well (don't rush good things)

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Obungi tebuzira wansi

Plenty doesn't spoil at the bottom (abundance is a blessing)

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Omugga tegwa na kimu

A river is not blocked by one stone (one person can't stop all)

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Embwa etannya talyamu nnyama

A dog that barks constantly doesn't eat meat (all talk no action)

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Omusawo taweetolamu

A doctor doesn't just treat one condition (help everyone you can)

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Omusota gumubiri teguwa

A double-bodied snake doesn't die (stubborn people persist)

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Kulya mu ngalo

To eat in the hand (to have it easy)

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Gutula engalo

To stretch the hand (to reach out / give)

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Okubba omwoyo

To steal the heart (to charm someone)

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Suma ennyumba

To lock/close the house (to settle down / shut up)

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Okutaasa embeera

To read the situation (be aware)

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Saala mu mbeera

To slip through the situation (escape nicely)

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Okukuba ekidde

To hit the chest (to boast / be proud)

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Kyokyamu mu mutwe

Shake it in the head (think carefully)

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Okususa enkazi

To escape a trap (to avoid danger cleverly)

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Gumamu omwotoke

Hold the smoke (to hold something intangible)

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Okweteekawo

To position oneself (prepare strategically)

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Atantya mulundi

One who runs away fast (coward / fast runner)

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Omwaka guggwa

The year runs out (time passes fast)

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Omutwe gukwata

The head catches (to understand clue quickly)

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Okulaba ennyuma

To look behind (to regret / miss the past)

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Guza mu bikonde

Come into fists (enter a fight / argue)

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Okuyima obujju

To pick up debt (borrow trouble)

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Ssagala obutassagala

Love wanting not wanting (love-hate relationship)

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Omuze wa ttono

Small-minded customer (cheap person)

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Okusimba engatto

To plant shoes (to stay put / hold ground)

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Abiri tebakwata nyama eemu

Two people don't grab one piece of meat (sharing is hard)

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Embwa enkulu n'entono zombi ziwagira wamu

Big and small dogs bark together (we're all equal in fear)

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Oluganda lwa nkima tekusiba

Monkey kinship is not tied (some bonds are meaningless)

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Akaana ka gwanga tekagwa

Child of the community doesn't fall (community protects all)

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Ekigambo ekisangula emmotoka

A word that starts a car (magic words / right approach)

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Okutema olukwe mu mwezi

To cut a reed in moonlight (do things at the right time)

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Omukazi alabya ekijajali

Woman shows the broken thing (women expose problems)

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Okulungamira ekijanjalo

To bend towards the bean (stay flexible)

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Ennyumba eri mu muzigo

House is in the bundle (home is where your things are)

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Kwotela engalo — kwotela amagezi

Count fingers — count wisdom (check every detail)

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Omukono gumu tegwa abiri

One hand is not struck by two (united front)

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Enyama ya nkima tekamya.

Monkey meat doesn't finish quickly (some riches last)

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Omwana w'enkima kizibeko

Monkey's child is a shut case (stubborn from birth)

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Ogwira omu tegwira bonna

What drops on one doesn't drop on all (personal trials)

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Amaanyi g'essika

Strength of the clan (family support is power)

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Omulamwa talaguye obuwombo

A prophet doesn't predict their own collapse

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Omwenge ogukwata akaleero

Beer that bites now (quick effects / immediate impact)

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Olugendo lutonotono lutuusa

A slow journey arrives (slow and steady wins)

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Omusota w'amaka tekosa

House snake doesn't bite (familiar things rarely harm)

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Empiso y'omwogo tekosa bana

Cassava peel doesn't harm children (simple things are safe)

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Amata tagiwa ku lusuku

Milk is not poured on a plantain (don't waste good on bad)

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Tebakuuma omuntu n'ensigo ezimu

They don't protect a person by one seed (team support)

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Okunoga bilungi tekulyusa

Chewing good things doesn't ruin teeth (enjoying right things)

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Bw'oyimba nga toyagala

When you sing without wanting (forced performance)

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Enswa ezimala ennaka

Termites that finish the garden (persistent destroyers)

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Ekirowoozo kikulungi

Thought is a sweet thing (think before you act)

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Se nzizi nzira ya muzigo

I don't know the path of the bundle (lost/confused)

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Olunaku abaana baaggalira

The day children were sated (unforgettable blessing day)

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Eyi n'eyi ekikusa ekimu

Each adds a bite (everyone contributes smallest part)

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Akagoba k'oluzzi tekagwa

River foam never falls (persistent people keep rising)

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Obuggya bwa nnyabo

Mother's kindness (unconditional love)

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Olulimi lwe luyimba

The tongue sings (persuasive speaker)

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Muze alya mu bwangu

Guest eats in a hurry (visitors adjust to the host)

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Ebigere bitambudde

Feet that have not walked (inexperienced person,rookie)

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Omwenge gwa bulijjo tegussa

Everyday beer doesn't run out (abundance through routine)

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Ensejjere egenda n'ej'omununuwa

Good rat goes with the bought one (buy quality)

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Olukalala lwa nkima litali lwa mwana

Monkey's list is not a child's (adults and children differ)

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Okwoleseza ekijajali

To show the broken thing (to reveal weakness)

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Empewo tegenda na wuuma

Wind doesn't go with the mouse (small can't follow great)

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Afuna akabi k'ayogedde

He gets evil from what he said (watch your words)

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Kula nga orya, gwa nga otya

Grow by eating, fall by fear (courage builds strength)

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Ekitono n'ekitono bikuza

Little by little it grows (small steps matter)

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Ensimbi eziyamba tezisimba

Coins that help don't dig holes (useful things aren't wasteful)

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Eddagala erivumba teliwa

Smelling medicine is not eaten (looks vs substance)

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Abiri baata embwa kulyoka

Two beat the dog until it barks (keep pushing until results)

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Ssente zisiima tezigwa

Money kept thankfully doesn't fall (gratitude preserves wealth)

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Yimirira nga nkuba

Stand like thunder (be immovable and fearless)

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Oluyimba lw'essanyu teluggwa bawemu

Joy song is not sung by few (joy shared multiplies)

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Ate olutalo lusembeze

And the battle continued (persistence pays)

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Abantu ni abantu olw'abantu

People are people because of people (Ubuntu)

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