In the process of making a fishhook, one ends up losing an eye

It may seem strange that helping someone could actually cause a larger problem, right? The idiom “Kaş yapayım derken göz çıkartmak” precisely describes this situation: it means unintentionally harming someone while trying to do them a favor.

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The exact origin of this idiom is unknown, but it may date back to ancient times. It is believed that people once shaped their eyebrows for beautification purposes, and sometimes unintended accidents occurred during this process. The idea that someone might accidentally injure an eye while trying to correct their eyebrows could have inspired this expression.

The idiom’s origin lies in carelessness shown during manual work or any task performed without sufficient attention. It describes a mistake made when an action begun with good intentions lacks the necessary care. The expression emphasizes that good intentions do not always lead to positive outcomes.

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We use this idiom when someone attempts to help but ends up making the situation worse.

Examples:

• Ali tried to repair his friend’s broken computer but ended up destroying it completely. His mother said to him, “Kaş yapayım derken göz çıkardın.”
• A child stepped on newly planted seedlings while watering flowers in the garden. The father said, “O da kaş yapayım derken göz çıkardı.”