What is the meaning of the Filipino idiom Di-mahulugang-karayom?

• A. Crowded or packed situation.
• B. A deserted area.
• C. An empty street.
• D. A quiet library.

Answer: (A)

This idiom expresses extreme crowding; it’s a vivid image of a place so packed that you can’t thread a needle through it. It conveys that there’s almost no space to move because of the high number of people, so a crowded or packed situation is the best way to describe it. When people say the market or a bus stop is di-mahulugang-karayom, they mean you have to squeeze through and movement is difficult. The other scenarios—deserted area, empty street, or quiet library—describe emptiness or calm, which is the opposite of what this saying conveys. For example, “Grabe ang di-mahulugang-karayom na dami ng tao sa palengke tuwing Sabado” = “The market is unbelievably crowded every Saturday.”