बात छिपा नहीं सकती

/bɑːt tʃɪpɑː nəhiː kənniː/◆idiom

truth will out

सच्चाई कभी छिप नहीं सकती।

The truth will always come out.

◆ What It Really Means

The inevitability of truth or secrets being exposed, regardless of efforts to conceal them.

¶ Literal Meaning

A matter cannot be hidden.

Literal Breakdown

बातmatter or secret+छिपाhidden+नहीं सकतीcannot

◇ Mental Image

Imagine a seed buried underground—no matter how deep it is hidden, it will eventually sprout and reveal itself.

◈ When to Use

A student who cheated on an exam tries to hide the evidence, but their teacher finds out a week later. Someone might say, 'बात छिपा नहीं सकती' to emphasize that the truth always comes to light.

◉ Cultural Note

This idiom is deeply rooted in Hindi literary traditions, appearing in works like the 'Panchatantra' and 'Hitopadesha,' where moral lessons emphasize the futility of deceit. It aligns with the Hindu philosophical concept of 'Satya' (truth) being the ultimate reality.

literary

A truth or secret cannot be hidden forever; it will eventually be revealed.

उसकी चोरी की बात छिप नहीं सकती थी।

His theft could not be hidden forever.

अगर तुम झूठ बोलोगे तो बात छिपा नहीं सकती।

If you lie, the truth will come out.

Often used to emphasize that deception is unsustainable.

Collocations

सच्चाई छिपा नहीं सकतीthe truth cannot be hiddenराज छिपा नहीं सकताthe secret cannot be kept

Synonyms

सच्चाई प्रकट होगी राज़ खुल जाएगा

Antonyms

झूठ छिप सकता है गुप्त रखा जा सकता है

Related Phrases

जो होगा सो दिखेगाproverb

what will happen will be seen

अंत भला तो सब भलाproverb

all is well that ends well

Pro Tip

Cultural Context

This idiom reflects the Hindi cultural emphasis on honesty and the belief that truth is inherently powerful. It is often cited in moral lessons or to comfort someone facing injustice.

Gold Rule

Idiom vs. Literal Meaning

Never interpret this phrase literally. It does not refer to physical hiding but to the inevitability of truth being revealed.

Word Origin

This idiom originates from classical Hindi literature and folklore, where the concept of truth being indestructible is a recurring theme. The phrase combines 'बात' (truth/secret) and 'छिपाना' (to hide), with the negation 'नहीं सकती' (cannot) emphasizing inevitability.

Usage Notes

Used in both formal and informal contexts to assert that deception is futile. Common in moral storytelling and proverbial wisdom.

Word Breakdown

बात

truth, matter, or secret

noun

छिपा

hidden or concealed

verb (past participle)

नहीं सकती

cannot (feminine form)

negation + auxiliary verb

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