balat-kalabaw
balat-kalabáw with stress marks
insensitive; thick-skinned
Usage Note
Balat-kalabaw is a colorful idiomatic phrase literally meaning 'carabao skin,' used to describe someone who is impervious to shame, criticism, or insult. It invokes the thick hide of the water buffalo, a central animal in Filipino agricultural life, and is common in everyday speech when criticizing someone's lack of hiya.
Examples
" Balat-kalabaw talaga siya. "
Natural Translation
He is really thick-skinned.
Literal Translation
Thick-skinned really he.
" Huwag kang maging balat-kalabaw. "
Natural Translation
Don't be insensitive.
Literal Translation
Don't you become thick-skinned.
" Kahit anong puna ang ibato mo sa kanya, hindi siya tinatablan dahil talagang balat-kalabaw na ang lalaking iyon. "
Natural Translation
No matter what criticism you throw at him, it doesn't affect him because that man has truly grown thick-skinned.
Literal Translation
Even any criticism that throw you at him, not he affected because truly thick-skinned already the man that.
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