çabaqnı suwdan çığarıb athanlay bolurğa
/tʃabaqnɯ suwdan tʃɯʁarɯb atxanlaj bolurʁa/
Literal translation
to be as if pulled out of the water and thrown down, like a fish
Intended meaning
To find oneself in an extremely awkward and helpless situation.
- Frontdan haparıŋ a barmıdı? Jaşdan igi kesekden beri bir türlü hapar joqdu da, tüz çabaqnı suwdan çığarıb athança bolub turabız.Any news from the front? There has been no word at all from the boy for a good while now, so we are just like a fish pulled out of the water and thrown down.
Variants
- çabaqnı suwdan çığarıb athança bolurğa
- çabaqnı suwdan çığarıb athan kibik bolurğa
- çabaqnı suwdan çığarıb athanlay eterge
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 489