Lost in translation: How idioms trip up Indian speech and politics

A West Bengal MP's clumsy translation of an English idiom into Bangla sparked controversy, highlighting a broader decline in idiomatic proficiency among Indians. This stems from utilitarian language education and a preference for succinct communication. While multilingualism could foster idiom sharing, unthinking translations often lead to misinterpretations, creating challenges, especially for politicians whose words are scrutinized.