qolu-ayağı qımıldağan

/qolu-ajaʁɯ qɯmɯldaʁan/

This expression has 2 meanings.

Literal translation

whose hand and foot move

Of a person: full of strength and drive, able to work and get things done.

Mından bizge onuşar arşınnı tart, ahçabız joqdu, soğulub, basılıb turğan, qarağa boyalğan çepkenibiz bardı, sen anı al bizden ahça üçün, qoluŋ-ayağıŋ qımıldağan adam, sen alanı hayırlanırsa.Measure us out ten arshins of this; we have no money, but we do have a chepken — woven, pressed, dyed black — take it from us in place of money; you are an able-bodied man, you will put it to use.

when one's hand and foot move

The young, strong, working years of a person's life.

Jarlı anala, jarlı atala! Qolları-ayaqları qımıldağan, hayırları tiygen zamanda, sabiyleri üydegilenŋinçi, bek bağalıdıla.Poor mothers, poor fathers! In the time when their hands and feet still move, when they are still of use, until their children have households of their own, they are held most dear.

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