Kaş yapayım derken göz çıkarmak
Literal Translation
It literally means “while trying to make an eyebrow, to injure the eye.”
Meaning and Usage
This idiom is used when a well-intentioned action leads to serious damage instead of improvement. A person attempts to correct something small, offer help, or make something better, but through carelessness, lack of skill, or bad timing, the situation becomes worse.
It is commonly used in everyday life. Someone may try to repair a small problem and create a bigger one. A person may interfere in an argument to calm things down but increase tension instead. The expression highlights the difference between intention and outcome.
The tone can be critical, but it is also often used humorously when the damage is accidental rather than malicious.
Example Usage
Turkish
Sileceği tamir edeyim derken motoru bozdum! Kaş yapayım derken göz çıkardım.
English
While trying to fix the windshield wiper, I broke the engine! I tried to make things better and ended up making them much worse.
Cultural Note
According to traditional storytelling, the idiom is connected to wedding customs. In the past, women known as kalemkâr would prepare brides for their wedding day, carefully applying makeup.
One story tells of a kalemkâr shaping the bride’s eyebrows with precision. Just as she was applying kohl to the bride’s eye, someone bumped her arm. The cosmetic stick injured the bride’s eye, and what began as a small beautifying touch turned into serious harm.
The closeness of eyebrow and eye creates a strong image. A delicate act meant to enhance beauty becomes a lasting injury. This contrast gives the idiom its power and memorability.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: Does this idiom mean someone had bad intentions?
A: Not necessarily. It usually describes a good intention that leads to a bad result.
Q: Is it only used for physical accidents?
A: No. It is mostly used for social, emotional, or practical situations where an attempt to help makes things worse.
Q: Can it be used about yourself?
A: Yes. People often use it when admitting their own mistake in trying to fix something.
Q: Is this idiom still common today?
A: Yes. It remains a very common and widely understood expression in modern Turkish.