At The Global Diary, we talk a lot about idioms. Those colorful expressions really add spice to our language. But as we’ve pointed out always, idioms can easily be misunderstood or even get confused, especially when taken literally. And this week, we saw a perfect example of that on politics stage.
Just a few days ago, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra landed in hot water over a speech she gave in Bengali. The media and police accused her of saying that Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s head should be cut off. A phrase that sounds violent and shocking when taken literally. But here’s where it gets interesting: Mahua says that’s not what she meant at all. According to her, she was speaking in idioms, not threats.
She explained that in Bengali, phrases like “matha kata jawa” and “matha ke tebi le rakha” are commonly used as metaphors. One means feeling so ashamed you’d want to hide your face, and the other refers to taking accountability. But thanks to a poor translation, possibly even Google Translate, her figurative language turned into something that looked like hate speech.
Her response? “Idiots don’t understand idioms.”
And honestly, that hits close to home for us. We often talk about how idioms get people into trouble. Especially when they’re used across languages, cultures, or without enough context.
Mahua gave more examples to make her point. She said, after the 2024 elections, people said “the BJP’s campaign fell flat on its face,” or that the results were a “slap in the face” for the ruling party. No one actually fell, and no one got slapped—these are just common English idioms. Even “heads will roll” is a phrase we’ve all heard, especially after a big scandal. It doesn’t mean people are being literally beheaded, it just means someone is about to lose their job or be held responsible.
But when these idioms get misunderstood. Especially in politics it can lead to serious consequences. In Mahua’s case, an FIR was filed under serious legal charges for promoting enmity. All because someone took an idiom literally.
And she didn’t stop there. She used another idiom to describe the police’s reaction: she said they came back with their “tail between their legs” after she challenged a previous case in court and won. Again, no one has an actual tail here. It’s just a way of saying someone returned in defeat or embarrassment.
Now, as language lovers, this whole story is a goldmine. It proves what we always say here at [Your Website Name]: idioms aren’t just words, they’re cultural tools. But they can backfire if people don’t understand them, or worse, twist them for political gain.
So the next time you hear a phrase like “heads will roll” or “he got a slap in the face,” don’t panic. Chances are, no one’s getting hurt—it’s just another idiom doing its job.
Breakdown of the idioms used by Mahua Moitra
Below is a clean, clear breakdown of all the idioms used by Mahua Moitra in her statements.
1. Heads will roll
- Literal meaning: Someone’s actual head will be cut off.
- Idiomatic meaning: People will lose their jobs or be held accountable for something that went wrong.
- Example: After the scandal, several heads rolled in the company’s management.
2. Slap in the face
- Literal meaning: Someone physically gets slapped.
- Idiomatic meaning: A harsh criticism, insult, or unexpected setback.
- Example: Losing the election was a real slap in the face for the party.
3. Fell flat on its face
- Literal meaning: Someone literally trips and falls face-first.
- Idiomatic meaning: Something failed completely or did not meet expectations.
- Example: The product launch fell flat on its face due to technical issues.
4. Tail between your legs
- Literal meaning: Like a frightened dog, someone tucks their tail and walks away.
- Idiomatic meaning: Someone feels ashamed, embarrassed, or defeated.
- Example: He came back with his tail between his legs after being scolded by his boss.
5. Matha kata jawa (Bengali idiom)
- Literal meaning: To cut off your own head.
- Idiomatic meaning: To feel extremely ashamed or humiliated.
- Example: He felt like ‘matha kata jawa’ after being caught lying in public.
6. Matha ke tebi le rakha (Bengali idiom)
- Literal meaning: To carry your own head in your hands.
- Idiomatic meaning: To take ownership, be accountable or responsible for your actions.
- Example: A leader must always ‘matha ke tebi le rakha’ when the team fails.
7. Cut his head off (as misinterpreted)
- Literal meaning: Behead someone.
- Idiomatic meaning (intended): A twisted mistranslation of the Bengali idiom meant to show extreme shame or taking responsibility.
- Example (incorrect use): The FIR said she said “cut his head off,” but she was referring to a Bengali metaphor about accountability.
Her sarcastic line – “Idiots don’t understand idioms”
- Literal meaning: Not applicable—it’s a clever wordplay.
- Implied meaning: People without nuance or understanding often take idiomatic language literally, missing the figurative point.
- Example: When she was accused of inciting violence, she fired back, “Idiots don’t understand idioms.”
Idioms can make language more vivid, but they can also get you into real trouble if people take them the wrong way. This Mahua Moitra case is the perfect reminder of why context matters. And why we need to keep talking about idioms.