kutia chumvi
koo-TEE-ah CHOO-mvee
How to say it
Swahilikutia chumvikoo-TEE-ah CHOO-mveesoon
Englishto exaggerate; to add saltsoon
Frenchexagérer ; salersoon
Meaning
Literally to put salt in food; figuratively to exaggerate a story or add details that make it bigger than the truth.
Good to know
The figurative sense is the common one: usitie chumvi, don't exaggerate. Kutia chumvi kwenye kidonda, to rub salt in the wound, is to make a hurt worse.
Examples
- Mwandishi huyo anapenda kutia chumvi habari zake.That journalist likes to exaggerate his stories.
- Alitia chumvi aliposimulia jinsi alivyomkamata mwizi.He exaggerated when he told how he caught the thief.
- Mama alisahau kutia chumvi kwenye mchuzi.Mother forgot to put salt in the stew.
The same word in
Not yet checked by a native speaker.