धज्जियाँ उड़ाना

/d̪ʱəd͡ʒd͡ʒɪ̃ːɾɪ̃ː ʊɽɑːnɑː/idiom
to tear apart completely

उसने मेरी बात सुनकर मेरी धज्जियाँ उड़ा दीं।

He tore my words apart completely after listening to me.


What It Really Means
To utterly destroy someone's argument, reputation, or confidence through harsh criticism.
Literal Meaning
To scatter something into shreds by flying or blowing.
Literal Breakdown
धज्जियाँstrips or pieces of torn material+उड़ानाto cause to scatter in the air
Mental Image
Imagine tearing a piece of paper into tiny shreds and watching them fly away in the wind, symbolizing complete destruction of an argument or reputation.
When to Use
During a debate, if one speaker dismantles another's points so thoroughly that no counterargument remains, they have 'धज्जियाँ उड़ा दी हैं'.
Cultural Note
This idiom reflects the Hindi cultural emphasis on verbal confrontation and the idea that words can 'tear apart' a person's dignity or credibility, similar to how physical shredding destroys material.
informal

to criticize harshly and thoroughly; to demolish someone's argument or reputation

अगर तुम उसके सामने अपनी गलती मान लोगे तो वह तुम्हारी धज्जियाँ उड़ा देगा।

If you admit your mistake in front of him, he'll tear you apart.

उसकी रिपोर्ट ने पूरे बोर्ड की धज्जियाँ उड़ा दीं।

His report tore the entire board apart.

Often used in contexts of verbal or written criticism that leaves no room for defense.

Related Phrases

Pro Tip

Usage Context

Use 'धज्जियाँ उड़ाना' when someone's words or actions are so thoroughly criticized that they are left with no credibility or defense. It’s stronger than 'आलोचना करना' (to criticize).

Gold Rule

Avoid in Formal Writing

This idiom is too informal and aggressive for formal reports, academic papers, or professional settings. Use 'गंभीर आलोचना' or 'खंडन' instead.

Word Origin

From Hindi 'धज्जियाँ' (strips, shreds) + 'उड़ाना' (to fly, to cause to scatter). Literally means 'to scatter into shreds,' metaphorically extended to mean thorough destruction of reputation or arguments.

Usage Notes

Commonly used in informal speech, especially in heated discussions or debates. Often implies a personal attack rather than constructive criticism.

Word Breakdown

धज्जियाँ
strips, shreds
noun
+
उड़ाना
to fly, to scatter
verb
हिन्दी-अंग्रेज़ी शब्दकोश