ne men, ne sen
/ne men, ne sen/
Literal translation
either me, or you
Intended meaning
Said of two irreconcilable sides in a fight or feud: the clash can end only with one side destroying the other.
- Eki ayıw bir awuzda jaşayallıq tüyüldüle, Gamal! Bügünden arı ne sen, ne men, – dep, Sarı qarasap qamasın çığardı."Two bears cannot live in one den, Gamal! From today on it is either you or me," said Sary, and in a fury drew his dagger.
- …Qoluna sawut alıb çıqğannı jolu Sıyrat köpürge uşaydı. «Ne sen, ne men!» – degen jol.…The road of a man who sets out with a weapon in his hand is like the bridge of Sirat. A road that says, "Either you or me!"
Variants
- ne biz, ne duşman
- ne biz, ne birew
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 366