Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Persian (Farsi) term or phrase:
به روی کسی خندیدن
English translation:
to let someone off easy/to go easy on someone
Added to glossary by
SeiTT
Nov 12, 2012 14:24
11 yrs ago
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Persian (Farsi) term
به روی کسی خندیدن
Persian (Farsi) to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
فیلم مارمولک
Hi
The “Lizard” climbs the prison wall to free a trapped dove. When he hesitates to come down, the guard up in the watchtower barks this at him:
هی داداش سوء استفاده نکن پنج دقیقه به روت خندیدیم، برو پایین یاالله
به کسی خندیدن means 'to laugh at somebody, but how does it differ from به روی کسی خندیدن? Does the latter carry the idea of "to laugh at the spectacle made by someone" for example, perhaps?
Best
Simon
The “Lizard” climbs the prison wall to free a trapped dove. When he hesitates to come down, the guard up in the watchtower barks this at him:
هی داداش سوء استفاده نکن پنج دقیقه به روت خندیدیم، برو پایین یاالله
به کسی خندیدن means 'to laugh at somebody, but how does it differ from به روی کسی خندیدن? Does the latter carry the idea of "to laugh at the spectacle made by someone" for example, perhaps?
Best
Simon
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
1 day 2 hrs
Edward Plaisance Jr
Native in English
Specializes in field
20+ yrs experience--native English
Native in: English 
Works in: Persian (Farsi) to English, English to Persian (Farsi)
Related KudoZ points
:
61
Selected
to let someone off easy/to go easy on someone
other options...this is a hard one to find a really good equivalent in English
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks Ed, I think this fits best of all."
+1
34 mins
Alireza Amini
Türkiye
Türkiye
Native in Persian (Farsi)
Specializes in field
Türkiye
committed to quality & accuracy
Native in: Persian (Farsi)
Works in: English to Persian (Farsi), Persian (Farsi) to English, Turkish to Persian (Farsi), and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
I spoiled you rotten
The Farsi idiom means behave in a way that makes somebody cheeky. I can say I made you cheeky....Here I suppose I spoiled you rotten would work....
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Note added at 42 mins (2012-11-12 15:06:52 GMT)
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When you are too kind to a person and he gets cheeky or rude we say berot khandidam poro shodi.....This is I suppose the implied meaning...
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Note added at 42 mins (2012-11-12 15:06:52 GMT)
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When you are too kind to a person and he gets cheeky or rude we say berot khandidam poro shodi.....This is I suppose the implied meaning...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Zeynab Tajik
3 hrs
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Thank you dear Zeynab
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| neutral |
Edward Plaisance Jr
: overall the meaning is OK, but not in this context...it is not what a guard would say to someone...mostly used with children
1 day 1 hr
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Thank you Edward for your comment
|
41 mins
Younes Mostafaei
Iran
Iran
Native in Persian (Farsi)
Specializes in field
Iran
+15 Years of Professional Experience!
Native in: Persian (Farsi) (Variant: Iranian (standard)) 
Works in: English to Persian (Farsi), English to Dari, Persian (Farsi) to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
to make one cheeky/ you are getting cheeky/ to spoil sb.
It is quite usual in Persian to same به کسی رو دادن or پر رو شدن/ کسی را پر رو کردن.
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Note added at 42 mins (2012-11-12 15:07:09 GMT)
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oh sorry typo, in Persian to say.
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Note added at 42 mins (2012-11-12 15:07:09 GMT)
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oh sorry typo, in Persian to say.
+1
34 mins
Hojat Borumandi
Iran
Iran
Native in Persian (Farsi)
&
English
Iran
Quality Translator and Freelancer
Native in: Persian (Farsi) , English
Works in: English to Persian (Farsi), Persian (Farsi) to English
to laugh somebody/sth off
to laugh somebody/sth off
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-12 15:32:53 GMT)
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spoil somebody rotten means "to do whatever someone wants you to do or to give them anything they want" which is different from "به روی کسی خندیدن"
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/spoil rotten
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Note added at 1 hr (2012-11-12 15:32:53 GMT)
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spoil somebody rotten means "to do whatever someone wants you to do or to give them anything they want" which is different from "به روی کسی خندیدن"
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/spoil rotten
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Alireza Amini
: Dear Hojat, laugh sth off means to get rid of sth not in a serious way...
5 mins
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Thanks Alireza it also means: to treat at or dismiss sth lightly or not to consider sth seriously. I think in this context it means to be dismissive at sb’s behavior so the he does what he wants
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| agree |
Edward Plaisance Jr
: yes, it can definitely have the meaning you suggested
1 day 1 hr
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thank you very much
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3 hrs
Mahmood Haerian-Ardakani
Canada
Canada
Native in Persian (Farsi)
Canada
Expert in Legal and Medical Translation
Native in: Persian (Farsi)
Works in: Persian (Farsi) to English, English to Persian (Farsi)
take it easy with someone
take it easy with someone
+1
18 hrs
Ehsan Alipour
Native in Persian (Farsi)
In Constant Quest to Exceed Expectations
Native in: Persian (Farsi) (Variant: Iranian (standard))
Works in: English to Persian (Farsi), Persian (Farsi) to English, Azerbaijani to English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Now, you are taking liberties with my kindness!
Used in a conversation, به روت خندیدم is a king of threat or warning: you are being cheeky, rude, or abusive due to my kindness, and now if you do not behave yourself, I won't be kind anymore! unfortunately, I could not find an equivalent for به روی کسی خندیدن, which means 'to make someone rude by being kind to them'. I asked some natives and they were also unaware of such an expression.
The one I suggested here might be somewhat close. At least, it is functionally close since it conveys a warning to the person.
Here, the same expression is used:
http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=38589&chapter=6
“You are taking liberties with my kind nature,” Crompton said, causing Tom to snort in indignantly. “And severely trying my patience young man,” he added with a hard edge to his voice.
The one I suggested here might be somewhat close. At least, it is functionally close since it conveys a warning to the person.
Here, the same expression is used:
http://www.whofic.com/viewstory.php?sid=38589&chapter=6
“You are taking liberties with my kind nature,” Crompton said, causing Tom to snort in indignantly. “And severely trying my patience young man,” he added with a hard edge to his voice.
Discussion
I am trying to imagine what dialog would sound right to my ear...and I hear things like:
"hey bro, I've gone easy with you so far..."
"...you're trying my patience..."
"...I've laughed it off up to now..."
"...OK, you've had your laugh..."
Sure your suggestion means با ملایمت رفتار کردن یا سخت نگرفتن. But it is no way close to به روی کسی خندیدن. Indeed, none of the suggestions here are!
Thank you for taking the time to discuss the matter. :)
Thank you for providing the reference; but selection, you ignored the first part of expression (با خوشرویی و ملایمت) which I meant in my suggestion.
You can find به روی کسی خندیدن here:
http://www.loghatnaameh.org/dehkhodaworddetail-f3a5ed04b17f4...
I referred you to the page that there is no sign of "به روی کسی خندیدن". Please note that this expression is different from "بر کسی خندیدن" which is stated in Dehkhoda.
I consulted Dehkhoda (not himself) before submitting my answer; please check again through http://www.loghatnaameh.org/dehkhodaworddetail-cc8461601e264...
به روی کسی خندیدن : با خوشرویی و ملایمت ویرا گستاخ کرد
'to spoil sb' does not really convey the meaning. It means لوس کردن.
'To make someone cheeky' is closer, but still does not convey the meaning intended in Persian. I searched and I couldn't find any equivalent. Edward might be helpful here.