No sooner had... than (ما إنْ ... حتّى)

QuestionAnswer
no sooner
ما إنmâ 'in
than (after 'no sooner had')
حتىhattâ
to storm (break into)
اقتحمiqtahama
to gather in a crowd
تجمهرtajamhara
No sooner had the thief stormed the bank than the police gathered.
ما إن اقتحم اللص البنك حتى تجمهرت الشرطة.mâ ini iqtahama allissu albanka hattâ tajamharati ashshurtatu.
to pour down (rain or tears)
انهمرinhamara
No sooner had the rain poured down than the people gathered inside the restaurant.
ما إن انهمر المطر حتى تجمهر الناس داخل المطعم.mâ ini nhamara al-mataru hattâ tajamhara an-nâsu dâkhila al-matami
to crash into
ارتطم بirtatama bi
to scatter (in the air)
تطايرtatâyara
No sooner had the car crashed into the wall than the glass scattered.
ما إن ارتطمت السيارة بالجدار حتى تطاير الزجاج.maa ini irtatamati s-sayyaaratu bil-jidaari hattaa tataayara z-zujaaju
to pounce on
انقض علىinqadda 'alâ
to tremble
ارتعشirta'asha
No sooner had the tiger pounced on the gazelle than it trembled.
ما إن انقض النمر على الغزال حتى ارتعش.mâ ini inqadda annamiru alâ alghazâli hattâ irtaasha.
to stammer
تلعثمtala'thama
No sooner had the female journalists stormed the hall than the female minister stammered.
ما إن اقتحمت الصحفيات القاعة حتى تلعثمت الوزيرة.mā ini iqtahamati assahafiyyâtu alqâ'ata hattâ tala'thamati alwazîratu
No sooner had she seen the lion than she trembled and stammered.
ما إن رأت الأسد حتى ارتعشت وتلعثمت.mâ in ra'ati l-asada hattâ irta'ashat wa tala'thamat.
to evaporate
تبخرtabakhkhara
No sooner had the hot water spilled than it evaporated.
ما إن انسكب الماء الساخن حتى تبخر.mâ ini insakaba al-mâ'u as-sâkhinu hattâ tabakhkhara.
No sooner had the bird crashed into the window than the cat pounced on it.
ما إن ارتطم الطائر بالنافذة حتى انقض عليه القط.mâ ini irtatama at-tâ'iru bin-nâfidhati hattâ inqadda alayhi l-qittu
No sooner had the female player stammered than the hope itself evaporated.
ما إن تلعثمت اللاعبة حتى تبخر الأمل نفسه.mâ in tala'thamati l-lâ'ibatu hattâ tabakhkhara l-amalu nafsuhu
No sooner had the papers scattered than the employees gathered to collect them.
ما إن تطايرت الأوراق حتى تجمهر الموظفون ليجمعوها.mâ in tatâyarati l-awrâqu hattâ tajamhara l-muwazzafûna liyajmaûhâ
No sooner had her tears poured down than she trembled and stammered.
ما إن انهمرت دموعها حتى ارتعشت وتلعثمت.mâ ini anhamarat dumû'uhâ hattâ irta'ashat wa tala'thamat
No sooner had the wolf attacked the flock than the dust scattered.
ما إن هاجم الذئب القطيع حتى تطاير الغبار.mâ in hâjama al-dhi'bu al-qatî'a hattâ tatâyara al-ghubâru
No sooner had the truck crashed into the wall than the sleeping female guard woke up.
ما إن ارتطمت الشاحنة بالجدار حتى استيقظت الحارسة النائمة.mâ ini irtatamati ash-shâhinatu bil-jidâri hattâ istayqazati al-hârisatu an-nâ'imah

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