NAHAU ZA KISWAHILI NA MAANA ZAKE

Kumpa mtu ukweli wake                  =>  Kumwambia mtu wazi [to be transparent]
Pua kukaribiana kushikana na uso     =>  Kukunja uso kwa hasira [to express anger]
Sina hali                                            => Sijiwezi  [I am helpless (mostly when talking about love)]
Kupiga uvivu                                     => Kukaa tu bila kazi [abject laziness]
Kupiga kubwa                                   =>  Kwenda moja kwa moja [vanishing act]
Kumwekea mtu deko                         =>   Kulipiza  kisasi [pay back]
Mtu mwenye ndimi mbili                     =>  Kigeugeu  [A turncoat]
Miamba ya mitishamba                       => Wanga hodari wa kienyeji [ expert wizardry]
Kupiga supu                                       => Tegea  [do the least]
Kupiga mali shoka                              => Gawana  [distribute (contraband, bullion, inheritance]
Amekula chumvi nyingi          =>Ameishi miaka mingi [lived a long life]
Ahadi ni deni                          =>Timiza ahadi yako [be trustworthy; keep your promise]
Amewachukua wazee wake    => Anawatunza vizuri wazazi wake [taking good care of parents]
Amekuwa popo                      -=>Yu kigeugeu [ a turncoat]
Amevaa miwani                      =>Amelewa pombe [chakari] [inebriation, a drunkard]

Kuchungulia  kaburi                 =>Kunusurika kifo   [saved from a worse fate]
Fyata mkia                              => Nyamaza [keep silent]
Fimbo zimemwota mgongoni    =>Ana alama ya mapigo ya Fimbo mgongoni [birching scars on                                                         ones' back]
Hamadi kibindoni                    =>Akiba iliyopo kibindoni [savings for a rainy day]
Hawapikiki chungu kimoja       =>Hawapatani kamwe !  [always at loggerheads]
Kupika majungu                      => Kufanya mkutano wa siri [conspire a secret meeting]
Kumpiga [kumvika] kilemba cha ukoka   =>  Kumsifu mtu kwa unafiki [kinafiki] [paying lip service]
Kula mlungula                          => Kula rushwa [receiving a bribe]
Kupelekwa miyomboni            => Kutiwa [kupelekwa] jandoni [performing circumcision]
Kujipalia mkaa                         => Kujitia matatani [get yourself in trouble]
Amekuwa mwalimu                => Yu msemaji sana  [a talkative person]
Amemwaga unga                     => Amefukuzwa kazi [ dismissed from employment]
Ana ulimu wa upanga               =>Ana maneno makali  [biting words]
Ameongezwa unga                  => Amepandishwa cheo [promoted]
Agizia risasi                             =>Piga risasi  [shoot!]
Chemsha bongo                      => Fikiri kwa makini  [think analytically]
Kumeza [zea] mate                  => Kutamani   [to crave for]
Kumuuma mtu sikio                 => Kumnong'oneza mtu jambo la siri [tell a secret to someone]
Kumpa nyama ya ulimi             =>Kumdanganya mtu kwa maneno matamu [using wiles to tell lies]
Kumchimba mtu                      => Kumpeleleza mtu siri yake  to dig one's secrets]
Kutia chumvi  katika mazungumzo  =>  Kuongea habari za uwongo [tell lies]
Vunjika moyo                          =>  Kata tamaa [give up]
Utawala msonga                               => Utawala wa wachache [leadership of the few]
Usiwe nyang'au                                 => Usidhulumu kwa kutumia madaraka
                                                                [Don't use your position to exploit others]
usiwe Kikaragosi                              =>  Usiwe chui katika ngozi ya kondoo
                                                                [Don't be a sheep in a leopard's skin]
Umangimeza                                     =>  Viongozi wanaopenda kuamrisha watu [a Dictatorship]
Kutoa ya mwaka                               => Kufanya jambo zuri na la pekee [performing a unique act]
Kula vumbi                                         => Pata taabu   [struggle]
Mafungulia ng'ombe                            => Kati ya saa mbili na saa tatu
                                                                   [between 8.00  and 9.00 o'clock
Kutia kiraka                                        => Fichia siri [confiante]
Kumlainisha mtu                                  -=> Kumzungumzia mtu maneno

Yalimkata maini                       - Yalimtia uchungu  [emotional pain]
Kujikosoa                               => Kujisahihisha  [correct your ways]
Kutia utambi                            => Kuchochea ugomvi  [convince someone to fight]
Kumeza maneno                      => Kutunza siri moyoni  [to keep a secret]
Kula njama                              => Kufanya mkutano wa siri [to conspire a secret meeting]
Kumkalia mtu kitako                => Kumsema/kumsengenya  [to talk about someone]
Kupiga vijembe                        => Kumsema mtu kwa fumbo [use idioms to talk about someone]
Kiinua mgongo                         => Malipo ya pongezi/uzeeni [pension]
Kazi ya majungu                       => Kazi ya kumpatia mtu posho [hand to mouth existence]
Kaza kamba                             => Usikate tamaa - [never give up!]
Kumwonyesha mgongo             =>  Kujificha - [to hide]
Kuona cha mtema kuni             =>  Kupata mateso [torture]
Maneno ya uwani                     => Maneno yasiyo na maana/porojo  -  [hyperbole !]
Mate ya fisi                              =>  Kata tamaa kupita kiasi - [give up totally !]
Mbiu ya Mgambo                     => Tangazo [advertisement]
Mungu amemnyooshea kidole   => Mungu amemuadhibu -  [God's punishment]
Mkubwa jalala                          => Kila  lawama hupitia kwa mkubwa -
                                                       [The eldest is the Dumping ground!]
Mkaa jikoni                               => Mvivu wa kutembea -  [a stay at home person]
Mungu si Athumani                    -=>Mungu hapendelei [God is fair]
Ndege mbaya                            => Bahati mbaya [bad luck]
Paka mafuta kwa mgongo wa chupa => Danganya [telling lies]
 Usiwe kabaila                                  => Usichume tokana na jasho la mwingine [Don't exploit others]
Usiwe kupe                                      =>  Fanya kazi [be gainfully employed]
Usiwe bwanyenye                             =>  Usichume kwa vitega uchumi vyako [don't be a capitalist!]
Usiwe na mrija                                  =>  Usinyonye wenzako  [don't be exploitative]