közünde aytmazğa
/køzynde ajtmazʁa/
Idiom
Literal translation
not to say in his eye
Intended meaning
To say something about someone in their presence not as empty flattery but as sincere praise; to speak well of a person to their face without pretence.
- Ay üyüŋe, alaysız jaramay edi! Bu kesi bılaydadı dep, közünde aytmayma, Azamat, ma munu mında, bu permada etgen işi, sen aŋa iynan, elde ne ullu işden da awurdu, qıyındı, – dedi Qonaq.“Oh, bless your house, it could not have been otherwise! I am not saying it to his face just because he is standing here, Azamat — believe me, the work he has done here, on this farm, is harder and heavier than any great job in the village,” said Qonaq.
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 256