Marash Girl's friend Bilal was volunteering at WBUR with his little one year old son in tow -- his blonde one-year-old son who signed to me (just as Dylan Marie does) that he wanted more! (Apparently Bilal had just fed him a treat from WBUR's breakfast table!)
Noting the child's sign language reminded Marash Girl of an old expression that her family often used. Öp de başına koy. Literally, Kiss (it) and place it on your forehead. Öp (kiss) başına (on your head) koy (place, put). An expression that Bilal also remembered from his childhood!
According to both Bilal and Marash Girl's friend Murat, the expression means (in general) to be thankful for what you have -- (and stop complaining!) In other words, be thankful to God (for the bread or for whatever you may be kvetching about.)
Often, if a member of Marash Girl's family dropped a piece of bread, another member of the family would give the advise, Öp de başına koy. (Pick it up and) kiss it and put it on your forehead. Be thankful . . . give a silent prayer of thanksgiving.
If the family member hesitated, Marash Girl's father would add in English, "Don't worry. You have to eat a pound of dirt before you die!"
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