İpe un sermek

idiom

/ee-PEH oon ser-MEK/

English Meaning

To make up excuses

“İpe un sermek” in Example Sentences

İşi yapmamak için ipe un seriyor.
He is making up excuses not to do the job.
Ne zaman yardım istesem ipe un seriyor.
Whenever I ask for help, he comes up with excuses.
İpe un serme, gelmek istemiyorsan söyle.
Stop making excuses — if you don't want to come, just say so.

Usage Note

Traced to a Nasreddin Hodja story: when a neighbour asked to borrow his rope, Hodja said he had spread flour on it to dry. Asked how flour could be spread on a rope, he replied that it can be — when you don't want to lend it.

Grammar & Usage

Lit. 'to spread flour on a rope'.

Cultural Context

Spreading flour on a rope is an impossible task. It means creating absurd preconditions to avoid doing something.

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