dahon og lapad

Cebuano

Etymology

From dahon (“leaf”) + og (“object marker”) + lagpad (“wide”). Literally, "to grow wide leaves." An agricultural metaphor comparing financial success to a thriving, healthy plant.

Verb

dahon og lapad (Badlit spelling ᜇᜑᜓᜈ᜔ ᜂᜄ᜔ ᜎᜉᜇ᜔)

1. (literary, idiomatic) To flourish financially; to improve one's economic situation.

   Modahon tag lagpad og magkugi.

   We will improve financially if we work hard.

   Ayaw gayod kalimot sa imong gigikanan kon modahon na kag lupad.

   Never forget where you came from once you become financially successful.

Usage notes

• This is an archaic, regional idiom documented in Wolff's (1972) dictionary. It is rarely used in modern urban speech, which favors terms like molambo and moasenso.