Abstract: Considering increasing development of Persian Language in the capital as well as immigrating villagers to metropolitans, there is a fear that many of authentic words, idioms and riddles in the ancient cultures will be forgotten and obsolete. Therefore in this paper for the first time it has been tried to collect idioms and riddles in one of original dialects survived from Middle Persian in southwest Iran, subset of dialects in Fars Province or Xollari dialect and additionally, to present their transcription, pronunciation, meaning and equivalent in Persian. Also, before dealing with the subject, a summary description about Xollar dialect has been provided for the eager reader. This study is based on field studies, interview, questionnaire, library compilation as well as analysis an

Fatemeh Moradi

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Journal of American Science 2013;9(4s)                                                    http://www.jofamericanscience.org 
 
http://www.americanscience.org 252 editor@americanscience.org 
 
A Study of Idioms and Enigmas in Xollar Dialect 
 
Fatemeh Moradi1 
1. Ph.D. Student of Persian Literature, Imam Khomeini International University of Qazvin 
Email address: dr.moradi91@yahoo.com 
Abstract: Considering increasing development of Persian Language in the capital as well as immigrating villagers 
to metropolitans, there is a fear that many of authentic words, idioms and riddles in the ancient cultures will be 
forgotten and obsolete. Therefore in this paper for the first time it has been tried to collect idioms and riddles in one 
of original dialects survived from Middle Persian in southwest Iran, subset of dialects in Fars Province or Xollari 
dialect and additionally, to present their transcription, pronunciation, meaning and equivalent in Persian. Also, 
before dealing with the subject, a summary description about Xollar dialect has been provided for the eager reader.  
This study is based on field studies, interview, questionnaire, library compilation as well as analysis and comparison 
of Xollar dialect‟s idioms, riddles, their meanings and their equivalents in Persian in comparison with formal Persian 
spoken in the capital, Tehran.  
[Fatemeh Moradi. A Study of Idioms and Enigmas in Xollar Dialect. J Am Sci 2013;9 (4s):252-256]. (ISSN: 
1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org.  38 
 
Keywords: Xollar dialect, Idiom, Riddle, Middle Persian 
 
1. Introduction  
Deep bond between people lives of countries and 
their popular idioms is undeniable. Idioms have a 
long history in Iran and Iranians traditionally has 
been known as idiom developers [5].  
Idiom is part of a language, behind of which the 
history and an instructive story is hidden in some 
cases. Many of these stories are obsolete and the 
histories of some idioms are not obvious for some 
people, although they are used in conversations. 
Idiom means parable (or allegorize) and some 
describe it as a brief statement consisting of metaphor 
or wise context which is popular among the people 
because of its clear meaning, smooth pronunciation 
and elegant combination and they use it in everyday 
dialogues. It can be said that knowing idioms makes 
speaking and writing easy because these statements 
are brief and beautiful, are attractive, make long 
conversations summarized and if proper use, add 
effectiveness. Of course, using in right place is itself 
an art provided that it is accorded with respective 
issue; otherwise, it is a kind of josh. On the other 
hand, historically, the scientists and sociologists have 
also used popular idioms within spiritual analyses 
and ethics [3].  
All that nowadays accounted for idioms are originally 
allegory in some cases from eloquence view point but 
these are famous allegories in Persian that due to 
frequency of use, with some tolerance are considered 
as idiom. By the way, these allegories are even still 
accounted for as idiom [13]. Therefore, it should be 
known that beside verbal and dialectic sources, the 
importance of recording and literally writing idioms, 
wisdoms, idiomial expressions and allegories should 
no longer be ignored.  
In this paper, for the first time, it has been 
investigated the idioms and riddles for one of original 
Persian dialects survived from Middle Persian 
language in southwestern Iran, a subset of Fars 
Province dialects, known as Xollar dialect and it has 
been indicated to pronunciations, transcription and 
their equivalent in Persian.  
Considering that it has been no longer conducted any 
researches in this regard and no paper is issued at all, 
therefore, this issue is an innovation. Before dealing 
with the issue, it is required to provide some 
descriptions about Xollar dialect for more 
information.  
 
2. Xollar dialect  
Xollar is the name of e village 50km from 
northwestern Shiraz, Iran. this is one of villages in 
central Homqaijan rural district, subsidiary of 
Sepidan town, Ardakan city in 52:10 at longitude and 
29:55 at latitude. Around this village are mountains 
and Xollar is located in a plain surrounded by 
Calxersi, Komey, Sarow and Tosar mountains.  
From 331 B.C. (death of third Achaemeind Darius) to 
867 A.D. (Jacob Safari throne year) is middle era for 
Iranian languages [2].  
Middle Persian is a form of Persian language which 
is direct interface between ancient Persian and 
modern Persian [12]. There have always been some 
consistencies between this language and local 
dialects around Fars areas with regard to grammar 
and words [9], a subset of which is Xollar dialect and 
based on the historical records and observations, is a 
survivor of Middle Persian language [8].  
Historically, verbal culture, the constructions and 
people originality back is attributed to Pishdad Kings 
Journal of American Science 2013;9(4s)                                                    http://www.jofamericanscience.org 
 
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in more than 400 years ago in Shiraz but the most 
ancient written record for this claim is a written letter 
from Hajjaj-ben-Yusuf to his underlying governer 
and also it is indicated in Aghani and Taj-ol-Xorus as 
follows [3]:  
Sending me honey from Xollar; 
from those young bees; 
a concentrated yet soft; 
which the fire didn‟t touch it.  
Another written work in which the word Xollar has 
been observed is Khamriat from Abonavas, a famous 
Iranin Arabic-spoken poet such that he says heaven 
name is among Khollar‟s habitants. Then, Xollar is 
indicated geographers „s work such as Estaxri, Ebn-
hogal, Moghadasi, Ghodame, Ebn-ol-Balkhi, 
Hamdolla mostofi and etc. and we can see some 
descriptions for its wine, grapes, honey and mill 
stone. Idiom is a brief popular statement that 
represents a divisive story or lesson instead of more 
description. In fact, they are short pithy saying in 
general use, stating a general truth or piece of advice.  
Although many of stories have become obsolete and 
their histories are no longer obvious for some people, 
they are used in conversations. Then, they are 
identified and promising examples of a culture, 
whether used in short musical prose or in bits and 
hemistiches as compressed and brief words and they 
in some cases are a summary of a long popular story 
which as shortest and the most beautiful words as 
possible, are used in the language.  
There is no information how to populate these idioms 
and expressions. Statements, which are today popular 
among people, were previously temporal words said 
from thoughtful persons and because of effectiveness, 
accuracy and attractiveness, are recorded on general 
minds and iterated repeatedly. Therefore, the person 
who has used the idiom is as unknown as the 
historical folkloric speakers, poets and myths are.  
Also, famous linguistics and scientists have yet found 
a comprehensive meaning and definition for the 
idiom. Although there has been conducted many 
researches with this regard and there are valid 
interpretations, Dehkhoda in an introduction for 
“Adage” writes: “In French language, there are 17 
words that are translated as idioms in Arabic and 
Persian cultures and the definitions available in large 
French dictionaries are no longer satisfied and 
discriminated by those definitions [6].  
Many idioms contain all personal and social values in 
a society and they are in deep people livings [7]. 
Also, it can be said that in all the languages of the 
world, there are idioms with some similarities and the 
longer the national history and civilization, more 
idioms can be found. As the same, in Persian 
language there are thousands idioms, whether a 
simple statement or a poem but in any case, knowing 
idioms, makes writing and speaking more easier so as 
they are attractive, make conversations brief and if 
proper use, they have more effectiveness.  
In Xollar dialect, there are also popular idioms, some 
of which are available in Persian language without 
any difference except some phonetic ones and some 
other is different from Persian‟s. Some samples of 
idioms popular in Xollar language are as follows:  
Xollar Idioms English Equivalent Considerations 
1. Âsiyow a nuvat. First come, first served. 
The first people to arrive will be able to get the 
best choices. 
2. Adar migut divâr bešnavet. 
Beat one to frighten 
another. 
An ironic word to be indirectly conveyed to the 
audience 
3. Aftow a koδom var a dar adan? 
Which side the sun has 
risen? 
Unusually and unexpected action 
4. A gardešam nimrâse 
He can‟t hold a candle to 
him. 
Not [to be] equal to someone; unable to measure 
up to someone. 
5. Engâr mâ:  tu tava 
The pot call the kettle 
black 
Used humorously to say that you should not 
criticize someone for something, because you 
have done the same thing or have the same fault 
6. Owr amey vara: vara:           meymune mâ 
vari bera       
Gul gulu pašmin a sar              meymuna injon 
tâ sâl a sar 
Fish and guests stink after 
three days 
Having guests in your home after three days gets 
tiresome. 
7. Ow ke rext  rext 
A word spoken is an arrow 
let fly. 
A word spoken is past recalling 
8. Ow vavoδan eštan a tu zimin Tail between one`s leg 
On the image of a frightened or defeated dog 
going off threatened or humiliated 
9. A har das hâδe a hamu das misone 
As the question, so the 
answer 
A form of words addressed to a person in order 
to elicit information or evoke a response; 
interrogative sentence   
10. A yar  bande  mane  bidel  nešessi       
Boro  fekri  bokon  ke  vel  nešessi 
Dash one‟s hopes 
To ruin someone's hopes; to put an end to 
someone's dreams or aspirations. 
11. Aya namirom napirom All is well that ends well An event that has a good ending is good even if 
Journal of American Science 2013;9(4s)                                                    http://www.jofamericanscience.org 
 
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some things went wrong along the way. 
12. Bâδo  bif  kâ  šamsali  bošo  tu  xunaš  
va:zeš  bivin 
 
Beauty is only skin deep  
Something that you say which means a person's 
character is more important than their 
appearance 
13. mivaxšet 
Poš  ju  
It's easy to be generous 
with another man's money 
Do what you ought to do before you do things 
that you want to do; pay your debts before you 
give money away. 
14. Pârna  ya  qâteri  boδem  emsâl  ya 
xarisem 
Better the devil you know 
than the devil you don't 
know 
Something that you say to mean it is better to 
deal with a person or thing you know, even if 
you do not like them, than to deal with a new 
person or thing who could be even worse 
15. Tâ:li  haftâ  moške  kur a xowš ditan In the arms of Morpheus. Asleep 
16. Tal  taxta  hosmet Death dreams  
17. To  ke  mene  hâro hâr  das  boko  tu  jivet  
pu:l  a  darâr. 
Blue are the hills that are 
far away 
Comparable to distance lends enchantment to the 
view. 
18. Tu  de:  ra:š  šu  nimiδâ  sorâγ  xuney  
kaδxoδâš   migero 
A Bad workman always 
blames his tools 
Something that you say when someone blames 
the objects they are using for their own mistakes 
19. Tooš  xom eš  koštan  dareš  mardom Show off  
20. Jâ   tareno   bača   ni Water under the bridge 
If a problem or an unpleasant situation is water 
under the bridge, it happened a long time ago 
and no one is upset about it now 
21. Či  a  češ  nayitan Cool-handed  
22. Xar   vâmonda   bandurša   howšen Slowcoach  
23. Tâ  kur  yarâq  bokond  eyš a  saren His fingers are all thumbs 
To be awkward with your hands and keep 
making mistakes 
24. Xoδâ  dar  taxta  mizuneš  kerdan Every jack has his Jill 
Every man will eventually find a woman to be 
his romantic partner. 
25. Daryâ  hezâr  dor  šeno  dam  nimizend 
Juja  morx  ya  xâg  šeno  hezâr  na:ra  mizend 
As proud as the peacock Overly proud; vain. 
26. Doz  a  sâv  mâl  zuren a windbag  
27. Doz   ke   a  doz  bezend  yorγa  dozen Look before you leap. 
Think carefully about what you are about to do 
before you do it. 
28. Daz  del  masuz  kâr  mikond Careless  
29. Del   bira:   biru:   a   xom Helpless  
30. Delom  xašen  čakma  a  pâm / a  ra:  
mišem  lengom  a  tân. 
A bird in the hand is worth 
two in the bush 
Having something for certain is better than the 
possibility of getting something better. 
31. Dig      a  dig  migut  rut   se 
The pot calls the kettle 
black. 
Something that you say which means someone 
should not criticize another person for a fault 
that they have themselves 
32. Digi  keš  ni  asi  mo  ba:ra / če  sar  sag  a  
tuš  bujušet  če  sar   ka:ra 
 
Charity begins at home 
You should take care of family and people close 
to you before you worry about helping others. 
33. Ra:   sar  setârey  bisyakom To dig one‟s own grave 
To be responsible for one's own downfall or 
ruin. 
34. Ruγan  rexta  narze  emumzâδa  mikond 
You can't grease a "pig" so 
many times that he can't be 
greased one more time. 
 
35. Sag  ke  vâvi  se: vo  safiδ eš  ni Virulent  
36. Sageš   ba: za  xošen 
Better the head of a dog 
than the tail of a lion 
It is better to be the leader of a less prestigious 
group than to be a subordinate in a more 
prestigious one. 
37. Šâ:   ke  pâvi   nuvey  vaziren 
A little knowledge is a 
dangerous thing. 
If you only know a little about something, you 
may feel you are qualified to make judgments 
when, in fact, you are not. 
38. Šarik   dozo  rafiq  qâfelan 
You can't run with the hare 
and hunt with the hounds. 
To support both sides of a dispute. 
39. Šolla   besmellâš  ni Useless  
40. Šivane   xar  šâδiye  sag 
After night comes dawn , 
after sorrow comes joy 
 
41. Qowm   guštet   boxord  osoγunet  nimvât   
a  dur 
Loyalty  
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42. Ka:   xot   ni   ka:dun   xo  a  xoten 
Never trouble till trouble 
troubles you 
If you think something might cause trouble, 
leave it alone and wait until it actually causes 
trouble. 
43. Koffa  to  koffa  vaxša  to  vaxša  sik sikak  
to  če  margeten? 
 
To fool around 
To waste time doing something unnecessary or 
doing something amateurishly. 
44. Kom  xâla  xânbagi  xoδ   âš  tu  nâlvagi? 
 
Make a pig out of oneself 
To eat too much of something; to make a pig of 
oneself. 
45. Ko:yi   andan  de:yi  a  dar  bokond Usurper  
46. Gaδâ  hâδe  nun o  duγ  čuγš a  bâloy  
čuγet   bu 
 
I saw a saw that saw a 
saw 
 
47. Lačaktam   došman   sarten Untrusted  
48. Mâl  tâya  dâr  rikora  rikow  mâl  bi  tâyaš  
bezano  borow. 
Better a lock than doubt  
49. Malet seft bigi mardom a doz mako 
Good fences make good 
neighbors. 
It is easier to be friendly with your neighbor if 
neither of you trespasses upon the other's 
property or privacy. 
50. Meymun  češ  meymun  eš   ni   sâvxuna  
češ   har  doš 
a gatecrasher  
51. Meymunak  har  či  zeštaren  bâziš  a  
hamma  bištaren 
 
The worst wheel of a cart 
makes most noise 
 
52. Har  či  a  nâzoki  mipuket  merd  a  
kolofti 
Still waters are the deepest. Quiet people are often very thoughtful. 
53. Har   ka  mixord  nun o  panir  to  bošo  tu  
konj  beftâ   bimir 
 
To fool around 
To waste time doing something unnecessary or 
doing something amateurishly. 
54. Har   ka  mâδan  nunš  âmâδan  har  ka  
naren  darvâdaren 
A great ship must have 
deep water 
 
55. Hergi ow xaš a guliš duman nara 
One never has a carefree 
moment 
 
56. Ya   xâg   dârom  jâš   naδârom Upstart  
57. Ya  farmunbar  ba:rey   haftâ  aziz   
mixord. 
Assorted  
58. Yeki   morda vi a binavâyi yekiš migo 
xânom zardak mixâyi? 
 
He can‟t make both ends 
meet 
To earn and spend equal amounts of money. 
(Usually in reference to a meager living with 
little if any money after basic expenses.) 
59. Yeki rišeš taš gerofta vi yek daš migo 
valla vel ta mo a ruš ya qovδey  balali bonem  
          
Fall out of the frying pan 
into the fire 
From a bad situation to a worse situation. 
60. Ya   gol  a  risom  do  gol  a  risom  om dâ  
dišow  dasma  lisom. 
You can't have your cake 
and eat it too. 
 
 
3. Riddles  
Xollar riddles English Equivalent Answer 
1. Sa:râye  tang o  târiken  poreš  muri  
sar  bariken 
A narrow, dark Sahara full of narrow-
head ants 
Matches can  
2. Sa:râye  larde  larden  poreš  gerdala  
barden. 
Very soft Sahara full of round and 
circular shape aggregates 
Paste 
3. Do   čiš   bis  angos Two eyes with 20 fingers Human 
4. Čar   pâ  a  ru  gel  do  pâ  tu  âsemun   
ey   xar  bozen 
Four feet on the ground, two in the sky Goat 
 
4. Conclusions 
Having collected idioms and riddles in Xollar dialect, 
in addition to maintain originality, they can be 
compared with the replacements in Persian language 
and other dialects and their similarities and 
differences can be investigated. In Xolllar idioms and 
riddles considering the history which is survived 
from Middle Persian language, it can be obtained 
many ancient words and their correct pronunciation. 
For the first time in this study as well as with regard 
to immigrations to metropolitans, they can be 
Journal of American Science 2013;9(4s)                                                    http://www.jofamericanscience.org 
 
http://www.americanscience.org 256 editor@americanscience.org 
 
preserved against obsolesce and maintained for 
posterities. 
 
Corresponding author 
Address: 34147-37918, first floor, 23, Hekmat 50 
Alley, Noroozian St., Qazvin, Iran.  
Cell: +989124479103. Tel.: +982113661017 
Email address: dr.moradi91@yahoo.com 
 
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3. Alhamavi, Y. Mojam-al-Boldan. Beirut. 5.  
4. Bahmaniari A. Bahmaniari story book. 
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5. Hableroodi M. Jame-al-Tamsil. Moin Peess. 
2011.  
6. Dehkhoda M. “The adage”. Amirkabir 
Press. 1971: 4(3).  
7. Zolfaqari H. “Large encyclopedia of Persian 
idioms”. Moin Press; 2009:3.  
8. Rezaii B. H. “An introduction to Iranian 
dialects and languages”. Farhangestan Press. 
2001.  
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Qoqnoos press. 2004.  
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4/16/2013 
 


A Study of Idioms and Enigmas in Xollar Dialect

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