Type: Idiomatic Expression / Saying
Origin: Traditional Urdu proverb; literally refers to the absurdity of giving nails to someone who has no hair, implying an ironic or sarcastic wish
Expanded Features:
Polarity: Negative / Humorous
Register: Informal, Conversational, Literary
Pragmatic Sense: Used to highlight irony, absurdity, or the futility of giving something useless to someone
Synonyms (Urdu): گنجے کو ناخن دینا فضول ہے، بے فائدہ چیز دینا، بے کار نعمت دینا
Synonyms (English): Giving Something Useless, Bestowing A Pointless Blessing, Providing Futile Aid
Antonyms (Urdu): فائدہ مند چیز دینا، کارآمد دینا
Antonyms (English): Giving Something Useful, Bestowing Benefit
Key Nuances:
Often said humorously or sarcastically
Highlights the mismatch between need and gift
Used in daily speech, literature, and folk sayings
Usage Contexts:
طنزیہ گفتگو میں
کسی فضول یا غیر ضروری کام کے تناظر میں
مزاحیہ محاورات میں
Example Sentences:
Urdu: وہ کام کرنے لگا تو میں نے کہا، اللہ گنجے کو ناخُن نہ دے
English: When He Started That Task, I Said, May God Not Give Nails To A Bald Person
Urdu: یہ مشورہ بالکل فضول ہے، اللہ گنجے کو ناخُن نہ دے
English: This Advice Is Completely Useless, God Forbid A Bald Person From Getting Nails
Urdu: ہم نے مذاق میں کہا، اللہ گنجے کو ناخُن نہ دے
English: We Jokingly Said, May The Bald Be Spared From Nails
Cultural Insight:
This proverb is part of Urdu folk wisdom, often used to convey the idea of pointless effort or mismatched actions. It combines humor with irony and is widely understood in conversational Urdu.
Related Terms:
Mazahiya Mahawarat (مزاحیہ محاورات): Humorous Proverbs
Fuzool Kaam (فضول کام): Useless Work
Tanziya (طنزیہ): Sarcasm