The word ‘Afshan’ refers to golden flakes or filings that women sprinkle in the parting of their hair or foreheads as adornment. Afshan is especially graced upon, or “etched (Chuna Jaana)” into, a bride’s parting of hair. A couplet of Qamar Jalalvi’s reads:
'qamar' afshaa.n chunii hai ruKH pe us ne is saliiqe se
sitaare aasmaa.n se dekhne ko aa.e jaate hai.n

In Urdu, the word Afshan is also used as a suffix in the sense of sprinkling, shedding, or scattering. Girls are commonly named "Mehr Afshan" (She who spreads love) and “Noor Afshan”. In couplets, we see the heavens scattering dew (Shabnam-Afshani) on somebody’s grave, or someone shedding flowers (Gul-Afshani) from their eloquent conversation. Like Ghalib, in this following couplet:
phir dekhiye andaaz-e-gul-afshaanii-e-guftaar
rakh de ko.ii paimaana-e-sahbaa mere aage
In Urdu, another idiom is present for the expression ‘gul-afshaanii-e-guftaar’, namely ‘Phuul JhaDna’. A famous verse by Ahmad Faraz reads:
sunaa hai bole to baato.n se phuul jha.Dte hai.n
ye baat hai to chalo baat kar ke dekhte hai.n
Another Urdu word ‘Ifsha’, means to reveal a secret. In thousands of Urdu couplets, the secret of love is revealed through eyes. Also, interrogation done by the police to solve a crime is called ‘Taftish Karna’.

Urdu has adopted many Arabic and Persian words but they are used in different meanings. One of these words is ‘Latifa’, which in Urdu means a small humorous story, or a joke. Conversely, in Arabic, it means a delicate and excellent thing. Also, in Arab countries, Latifa is used as a proper name for girls. However, the phrase ‘fine arts’ is known in Urdu as ‘Funuun-e-Latifa’. Originally, the word ‘Latifa’ stems out of the word ‘Lutf’, which is used in different ways in Urdu, and ranges from meaning taste (lazzat) to kindness (Mihrbaani). Ameer Minai is one of his famous couplets says:
lutf aane lagaa jafaa.o.n me.n
vo kahii.n mehrbaa.n na ho jaa.e
While Hafeez Jalandhari says:
ham se ye baar-e-lutf uThaayaa na jaa.egaa
ehsaa.n ye kiijiye ki ye ehsaa.n na kiijiye

The word Haram means something that is sacred, worthy of respect, honorable. This word is used in many ways.
Haram-e-Zanaan is the part of the house where women live.
Mecca, Medina and a few miles around it is also called Haram.
In Urdu poetry, the theme of ‘Dair-o-Haram’ is often taken up. ‘Dair’ means an idol-house, while Haram, a mosque. The disputes and bickering between those associated with Dair and Haram go back along way. Poets, however, are beyond these issues.
bujh rahe hai.n charaaG-e-dair-o-haram
dil jalaa.o ki raushnii kam hai
Poetry is a world that is expanded, open, and full of life. In Urdu, those who are set in the confines of ‘Dair-o-Haram’ are always made an object of satire. You can come across countless such couplets.