लकीर का फ़कीर (lakiir kaa fakiir)
noun
A fixed idiomatic phrase describing someone who blindly follows old ways or tradition without question -- literally 'a fakir (devotee) of the line.' It functions as a noun phrase, usually used predicatively to describe a person's character.
Sense
1
:
a person who blindly follows tradition/convention, a slave to old ways
noun, masculine Used with होना (honaa) or बनना (bannaa): कोई लकीर का फ़कीर होता है (koii lakiir kaa fakiir hotaa hai, 'someone is a slave to convention'). Functions as a noun even though it describes a quality, similar to calling someone 'a creature of habit' in English.
Synonyms: रूढ़िवादी (roodhivaadii, focuses on conservatism specifically), दकियानूसी (dakiyaanoosii, old-fashioned in outlook)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: The image comes from a well-known fable about a fakir (ascetic) who drew a line for his disciples to follow and, after his death, his followers kept walking the exact same path even when it no longer made sense -- because that's 'the line the fakir drew.' Delhi speakers use this phrase a lot for stubborn relatives, bureaucrats, or institutions that follow outdated rules 'just because that's how it's always been done.' It pairs well with the adjective रूढ़िवादी (roodhivaadii) but carries more of a folksy, storytelling flavor than that more clinical-sounding word.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to use this as a straightforward adjective before a noun (like लकीर का फ़कीर आदमी (lakiir kaa fakiir aadmii)); it is far more natural as a predicate describing someone, e.g. वह लकीर का फ़कीर है (vah lakiir kaa fakiir hai, 'he is a slave to old ways'), rather than modifying a noun directly. 2) Do not translate word-for-word -- लकीर (lakiir) here means 'a line drawn (in the ground)' referring to old, fixed paths of habit, not a literal line or streak.
Sample Sentences:
मेरे दादाजी लकीर के फ़कीर हैं, नई तकनीक से उन्हें सख़्त परहेज़ है।
My grandfather is a slave to old ways -- he has a strict aversion to new technology.
(mere daadaajii lakiir ke fakiir hain, naii takniik se unhen sakht parahez hai।)
यह विभाग सालों से लकीर का फ़कीर बना हुआ है, कोई नया नियम मानने को तैयार नहीं।
This department has been stuck blindly following the old ways for years, unwilling to accept any new rule.
(yah vibhaag saalon se lakiir kaa fakiir banaa huaa hai, koii nayaa niyam maanne ko taiyaar nahiin।)
अरे भाई, लकीर के फ़कीर मत बनो, ज़माने के साथ थोड़ा बदलो।
Come on man, don't be a slave to tradition, change a little with the times.
(are bhaaii, lakiir ke fakiir mat bano, zamaane ke saath thodaa badlo।)
अगर हम लकीर के फ़कीर बने रहते, तो यह कंपनी कभी आगे नहीं बढ़ती।
If we had remained slaves to the old ways, this company would never have progressed.
(agar ham lakiir ke fakiir bane rahte, to yah kampnii kabhii aage nahiin badhtii।)
पुरानी व्यवस्था में जकड़े ये अधिकारी लकीर के फ़कीर थे, जनता की परेशानी से उन्हें कोई मतलब नहीं था।
Trapped in the old system, these officials were slaves to the beaten path, unconcerned with the public's troubles.
(puraanii vyavasthaa men jakde ye adhikaarii lakiir ke fakiir the, jantaa kii pareshaanii se unhen koii matlab nahiin thaa।)
क्या तुम हमेशा लकीर के फ़कीर बने रहोगे या कभी अपनी सोच से भी काम लोगे?
Will you always remain a blind follower of tradition, or will you ever use your own judgment too?
(kyaa tum hameshaa lakiir ke fakiir bane rahoge yaa kabhii apnii soch se bhii kaam loge?)
हो सकता है वह भी लकीर का फ़कीर हो, इसलिए हर बात में पुराने रीति-रिवाज़ का हवाला देता है।
Maybe he too is a slave to the old ways, which is why he cites old customs in every matter.
(ho saktaa hai vah bhii lakiir kaa fakiir ho, islie har baat men puraane riiti-rivaaz kaa havaalaa detaa hai।)
समाज में ऐसे लकीर के फ़कीर बहुत मिलते हैं जो रूढ़िवादी सोच को ही सही मानते हैं।
One finds many such slaves to old ways in society who consider only orthodox thinking to be correct.
(samaaj men aise lakiir ke fakiir bahut milte hain jo roodhivaadii soch ko hii sahii maante hain।)
उस कहानी के फ़कीर की तरह, हम भी अक्सर बिना सोचे-समझे लकीर के फ़कीर बन जाते हैं।
Like the fakir in that story, we too often become blind followers of the beaten path without thinking.
(us kahaanii ke fakiir kii tarah, ham bhii aksar binaa soche-samjhe lakiir ke fakiir ban jaate hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
लकीर का फ़कीर
(lakiir kaa fakiir)
(sg.m.oblique):
लकीर का फ़कीर
(lakiir kaa fakiir)
(pl.m.direct):
लकीर का फ़कीर
(lakiir kaa fakiir)
(pl.m.oblique):
लकीर का फ़कीरों
(lakiir kaa fakiiron)