The Jerusalem Bridge
חבל על הזמן
khaval al hazman
literally "a shame about the time" — used for both amazing and terrible things · idiom
Illustration for khaval al hazman

A phrase that flips meaning entirely on tone: said with excitement it means "unbelievably good", said flatly it means "what a waste of time".

האוכל במסעדה הזאת — חבל על הזמן!

The food at this restaurant — khaval al hazman (it's incredible)!

What is something you would genuinely say khaval al hazman about — good or bad?

More Modern Hebrew words

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Yaacov, native Jerusalemite

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