kiştikni otha tarthança

/kiʃtikni otxa tartxantʃa/

This expression has 2 meanings.

Literal translation

as if dragging a cat into the fire

Refusing to do something and resisting every attempt to make one do it.

«Men tepsey bilmeyme... tepserik tüyülme... qayrı süyreyse...» – dep, kiştikni otha tarthança, eki ayağın tirep tohtadı."I don't know how to dance... I'm not going to dance... where are you dragging me..." he said, and stopped dead, bracing both legs like a cat being dragged into the fire.

as if dragging a cat into the fire

Doing something only after much coaxing, making a show of what a great thing one is granting.

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