चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरना

culū bhara pānī mẽ ḍūb marnā◆idiom
to be overwhelmed with shame

उसने झूठ बोला तो सबके सामने चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मर गया।

He lied in front of everyone and was overwhelmed with shame.

◆ What It Really Means
to feel extreme shame or embarrassment to the point of wishing to disappear
Literal Meaning
to drown in a handful of water and die
Literal Breakdown
चुल्लू भर पानीa handful of water+मेंin+डूब मरनाto drown and die
◇ Mental Image
The mental picture is of someone drowning in an impossibly small amount of water, symbolizing the overwhelming feeling of shame that feels as suffocating as literal drowning.
◈ When to Use
Imagine a person who makes a public mistake at work or in a social gathering, leading to ridicule or criticism. They might use this idiom to describe how they felt at that moment.
◉ Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the cultural emphasis on honor, dignity, and social standing in Hindi-speaking communities. Public humiliation is considered deeply painful, and the idiom captures the intensity of such emotions.
informal

to feel extreme shame or embarrassment to the point of wishing to disappear or die

जब उसका बॉस ने सार्वजनिक रूप से उसकी गलती बताई, तो वह चुल्लू भर पानी में डूब मरने लगा।

When his boss publicly pointed out his mistake, he felt so ashamed he wished he could disappear.

Often used to describe a moment of deep humiliation or public embarrassment.

Related Phrases

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use this idiom when someone feels so ashamed that they wish they could disappear, especially in public or social settings.

Usage Notes

This idiom is commonly used in social or professional contexts where someone experiences extreme embarrassment. It is not meant literally but figuratively to express the intensity of shame felt.

Word Breakdown

चुल्लू भर पानी
a handful of water
phrase
+
में
in
postposition
+
डूब मरना
to drown and die
verb phrase
हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी शब्दकोश