Ağzını hayra aç

08:47 Apr 13, 2015
This question was closed without grading. Reason: No acceptable answer

Turkish to English translations [Non-PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Turkish idiom
Turkish term or phrase: Ağzını hayra aç
Ağzını hayra aç = [saying] [ literally " open your mouth for good things] " Dont talk too soon". The above translation was given me by a friend, who said that this phrase was often used in spoken Turkish with this English meaning. My dictionaries translate it as 'God forbid!' There is a clear difference: God/Heaven forbid is to me stronger than 'Don't talk too soon' as this dictionary entry defines it:-
'Also, heaven forbid. May God prevent something from happening or being the case. For example, God forbid that they actually encounter a bear, or Heaven forbid that the tornado pulls off the roof. This term, in which heaven also stands for "God," does not necessarily imply a belief in God's direct intervention but merely expresses a strong wish. For a synonym, see perish the thought.'
'Don't talk/speak too soon' is a much milder expression & means 'Don't be too positive, when things could still all go wrong!'
Which translation of the term or phrase I entered is more correct in colloquial speech?
Hellinas
Local time: 23:26


Summary of answers provided
5 +1Better talk optimistically!
Salih YILDIRIM
3 +1Open your mouth for good things
ATIL KAYHAN
4Perish the thought
Tim Drayton
1speak with a good word of mouth
Emin Arı
Summary of reference entries provided
According to the Redhouse dictionary
Tim Drayton
tureng
Yunus Gündüz

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Open your mouth for good things


Explanation:
Open your mouth for good things only, i.e. do not talk evil things.

The phrase is all about "talking" good or bad things. Therefore, "God/Heaven forbid" is not appropriate here at all because it does not imply any talk.

ATIL KAYHAN
Türkiye
Local time: 02:26
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
PRO pts in category: 84

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Uygar_
6 hrs
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The asker has declined this answer

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Better talk optimistically!


Explanation:
IMO

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 19:26
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
PRO pts in category: 88

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Uygar_
15 mins
  -> Teşekkür ederim.
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The asker has declined this answer

1 day 29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Perish the thought


Explanation:
You have already suggested this above, so it seems a bit cheeky to propose it as an answer, but I think this is one of the best solutions if you are looking for something that sounds as if it is part normal English discourse rather than a literal translation.

Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Local time: 01:26
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 75
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1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
speak with a good word of mouth


Explanation:
imho

Emin Arı
Türkiye
Local time: 02:26
Native speaker of: Turkish
PRO pts in category: 4
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Reference comments


50 mins
Reference: According to the Redhouse dictionary

Reference information:
Ağzını hayra aç! don't say such an ill-omened thing! heaven forbid! don't say it.

Tim Drayton
Cyprus
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 75
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4 hrs
Reference: tureng

Reference information:
according to tureng


    Reference: http://tureng.com/search/a%C4%9Fz%C4%B1n%C4%B1%20hayra%20a%C...
Yunus Gündüz
Türkiye
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
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