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Idioms and proverbs

Ek Anaar Sau Bimaar: One Prize Many Hopefuls

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Photo: 0121921 Neelkanth temple, Kalinjar Fort, Uttar Pradesh 050 by Ms Sarah Welch (CC0), via Openverse

एक अनार सौ बीमार (ek anaar sau bimaar) literally means one pomegranate, a hundred sick people, describing a situation where a single resource or opportunity is desired by far more people than it could ever satisfy. The saying is used lightly, often about jobs, prizes or any limited opportunity.

To note how demand outstrips supply so heavily that most hopefuls are bound to be disappointed no matter how deserving they might be. Learners can reach for this idiom in conversations about competition or scarcity, since it captures the situation with warmth and a touch of wry humour rather than harsh criticism of anyone involved.

The proverb is frequently reached for in conversations about competitive exams or scarce job openings, situations many Hindi speaking families discuss with real, shared familiarity. Learners encountering this idiom in such contexts will find it captures a genuinely common, relatable social experience rather than an abstract or distant idea.

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