nilalangaw
nilalangáw with stress marks
business with few customers
From root: langaw
Usage Note
Nilalangaw is a colorful colloquial expression literally meaning 'being visited by flies' — evoking the image of flies settling on idle stalls because no customers are coming. It is used humorously or sympathetically to describe a slow business or empty store. The etymology reflects a derived colloquial form rather than a simple loanword.
Examples
" Nilalangaw ang tindahan ngayon. "
Natural Translation
The store has no customers today.
Literal Translation
Empty-of-customers the store today.
" Halos nilalangaw ang kanyang tindahan kahapon. "
Natural Translation
His/her store was almost empty of customers yesterday.
Literal Translation
Almost empty of customer the his/her store yesterday.
" Mula nang magbukas ang malaking mall sa kabilang kanto, nilalangaw na ang dati niyang masiglang tindahan. "
Natural Translation
Ever since the big mall opened on the next corner, his once-lively store has had hardly any customers.
Literal Translation
From when opened the big mall on opposite corner, empty-of-customers already the formerly his lively store.
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langaw has 5 related forms built from the same root.
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