بوجار لنجان

English translation: time server

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Persian (Farsi) term or phrase:بوجار لنجان
English translation:time server
Entered by: SeiTT

13:52 Jul 28, 2010
Persian (Farsi) to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Idioms
Persian (Farsi) term or phrase: بوجار لنجان
Greetings,

According to my dictionary, this means “time server” i.e. someone who always makes a big show of agreeing with whichever government is in power.

But is it still used? And does it really mean “time server”? I know that لنجان is a city in the ostan of Esfahan, but does بوجار have a meaning of its own?

All the best, and many thanks,

Simon
SeiTT
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:33
time server
Explanation:
I wonder if there is any better English equivalent for this term, but your definition well serves the meaning. Here is a definition from Dehkhoda:

بوجار لنجان ; مثل است براي کسي که هر جا مرکز قدرت و ثروت بيند براي استفاده بدان سو رود و در عقيده پابرجا نباشد، همچنانکه بوجار، که هنگام بوجاري از هر طرف که باد آيد روي خود بدان سوي کند. (از فرهنگ فارسي معين ): بوجار لنجان از هر طرف باد مي آيد بادش ميدهد. رجوع به امثال و حکم دهخدا شود.

A بوجار is a traditional sieve that works with the wind, so whatever comes out of the sieve goes in whichever direction the wind is blowing.
Selected response from:

Ryan Emami
Canada
Local time: 18:33
Grading comment
many thanks very good indeed
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4time server
Ryan Emami
5 +2Lanjan Sifter
Ali Beikian
5 +1yes-man/rubber stamp
Edward Plaisance Jr


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
time server


Explanation:
I wonder if there is any better English equivalent for this term, but your definition well serves the meaning. Here is a definition from Dehkhoda:

بوجار لنجان ; مثل است براي کسي که هر جا مرکز قدرت و ثروت بيند براي استفاده بدان سو رود و در عقيده پابرجا نباشد، همچنانکه بوجار، که هنگام بوجاري از هر طرف که باد آيد روي خود بدان سوي کند. (از فرهنگ فارسي معين ): بوجار لنجان از هر طرف باد مي آيد بادش ميدهد. رجوع به امثال و حکم دهخدا شود.

A بوجار is a traditional sieve that works with the wind, so whatever comes out of the sieve goes in whichever direction the wind is blowing.


    Reference: http://www.mibosearch.com/word.aspx?wName=%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AC...
Ryan Emami
Canada
Local time: 18:33
Native speaker of: Native in Persian (Farsi)Persian (Farsi)
PRO pts in category: 27
Grading comment
many thanks very good indeed

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hosein H
11 mins
  -> Thanks.

agree  Reza Rostamzadeh Khosroshahi
3 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Armineh Johannes: armineh johannes
3 hrs
  -> Thank you.

agree  Farzad Akmali
15 hrs
  -> Thanks Farzad!

neutral  Edward Plaisance Jr: this usually means someone who is "serving time" in prison
1 day 35 mins
  -> I have no idea! I just wanted to tell Simon the meaning. Anyway, my dictionary says a time server is one who makes no effort in life and is waiting for retirement. How confusing!
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4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Lanjan Sifter


Explanation:
بوجار means "sifter"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2010-07-28 14:08:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

بوجار is a Person who sifts. Lanjan sifter and a timeserver both "go with the flow". The former goes with the wind flow and the latter with the flow of political currents.
حزب باد is another Persian equivalent for "timeserver".


Ali Beikian
Iran
Local time: 02:03
Native speaker of: Native in Persian (Farsi)Persian (Farsi)
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Farzad Akmali
15 hrs
  -> Thank you very much, Sir!

agree  Ghodrat Hassani
1 day 6 hrs
  -> Thank you very much, Sir!
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1 day 41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
yes-man/rubber stamp


Explanation:
There are quite a few words in English that convey this idea: yes-man/woman, toady, lackey, minion, sycophant, brownnoser, bootlicker, apple-polisher...and more.

The suggestion of "time server" in the U.S., at least, usually conveys the idea of someone in jail, that is, "serving time"

Edward Plaisance Jr
Local time: 18:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 236

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hosein H
5 hrs
  -> thanks!
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