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October 10, 2005
Vishy's Indian English Dictionary: to sit on someone's head
to sit on someone's head. To take undue advantage of someone after they have shown you a little bit of kindness. Appears to be a direct translation of the Hindi phrase, sar par baith jaana.
Usually used contemptuously to berate someone's continued request for favors. For example, when traveling long distances on Indian Railways in second class coaches (aside: possibly traumatic for outsiders, yet highly recommended if you want to see the soul of India), people with no reserved seats will frequently board the train and ask nicely if one of their ass-cheeks could please share your reserved seat with you for just a little while. Trying to be nice and being eager to make a new acquaintance, you may let them share your seat with you properly. Then, as they get more comfortable, out come the elaborate spread of food and outstretched legs that push you further into the corner of your legitimately reserved seat. Soon afterwards, long-lost cousins emerge mysteriously from the woodwork and join the stowaway. After much pleading and cajoling from the stowaways in small doses, it eventually becomes a party of stowaways, with the result that you get completely marginalized in the very seat you legitimately purchased. In sum, you gave 'those types' one little inch of leeway and they ended up sitting on your head.
Posted by Vishy at October 10, 2005 12:13 AM