Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif not only comprehensively won a vote of confidence on Thursday but also unwittingly gave us a lesson in language.

While addressing the House, the premier used a word that left the internet scratching its head.

“Woh kaam humein karny diye jaye, humein in bhambhal bhoochiyoon mei na uljhaya jaye,” he said.

یہ خواجہ سعدرفیق کی ہنسی کیوں نکل آئی ؟ شہبازشریف نے ایسا کیا کہہ دیا؟ pic.twitter.com/mYZEzfgp6J

— Pervaiz Sandhila (@chsandhilaa) April 27, 2023

As soon as he used the expression, Railways Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique burst into laughter. PM Shehbaz turned around to look at the members seated closest to him. He asked if he pronounced the word correctly, to which they laughed and nodded.

Former President Asif Ali Zardari can also be seen smiling up at Shehbaz Sharif from his chair.

However, the exact meaning of the word eluded many. So we did some sleuthing on Twitter.

According to one social media user ‘Bhambhal bhoochiyan‘ means putting someone in trouble or confusion.

یہ لفظ ۲۰۰۳ میں پہلی بار ICMA میں اکنامکس کے ٹیچر سے سنا تھا جو کہ Phd Ecnomics, وزٹنگ لیکچرر اور ساتھ گریڈ ۲۰ کے بیوروکریٹ بھی تھے 😂
ہم اس لفظ کو کوئی گندہ لفظ سمجھے تھے اور ساری کلاس ہنسنے لگی تھی مگر انھوں نے ا سکا ترجمہ شاید “مشکل میں یا الجھن میں ڈالنا” بتایا تھا 🤓

— Aamir (@Aamirrasheeed) April 27, 2023

Another user suggested it may be the antonym of Bhool Bhulaiyaa. Another one said that it means leading someone on.

شاید یہ لفظ "بھول بھلیاں" کے مترادف ہوگا.

— 𝕳𝖆𝖇𝖎𝖇 𝕶𝖍𝖆𝖓 (@HabibKh34028133) April 28, 2023

چکر بازیوں میں ڈالنا

— عبداللہ (@namadni79) April 28, 2023