temir suwuğunçu jazarğa
/temir suwuʁuntʃu dʒazarʁa/
Literal translation
to straighten the iron before it cools
Intended meaning
To do a thing at the right moment, while the chance is still there and before the matter slips by.
- Biyağı sen [efendi], namazdan çıqğanlay, uwaznı hırşılay kelib aytsaŋ, başlarğa bolluqdu. Temirni qızğanı bla jazarğa kerekdi, – dedi Qıyamıt."Again, if you [the efendi] come straight out of the prayer and deliver the sermon briskly, it will be possible to begin. One has to strike while the iron is hot," said Kyiamyt.
- Amin da temir suwuğunçu tüe üyrenŋendi.Amin, too, has learned to strike while the iron is hot.
Variants
- temir suwuğunçu tüerge
- temirni qızğanı jazarğa
- temirni qızğanı tüerge
Sources
Show sources
- Къарачай-малкъар тилни фразеология ангылатма сёзлюгю (2017), p. 442