in vino veritas

in wine, there is truth
in wine, there is truth

in wine, there is truth (one tells the truth under the influence of alcohol)


blind høne kan også finde korn

head

blind høne kan også finde korn ("a blind hen can also find corn")


brændt barn skyr ilden

brændt barn skyr ilden ("a burnt child shuns the fire")

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy


den der ler sidst, ler bedst

den der ler sidst, ler bedst ("those who laugh last laugh best")

he who laughs last laughs best
he who laughs last laughs best


det skal gøre ondt, før det gør godt

det skal gøre ondt, før det gør godt ("it must hurt before it does well")

Things get worse before they get better.


en fugl i hånden er bedre end ti på taget ("a bird in the hand is better than ten on the roof")

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.


for mange kokke fordærver maden

for mange kokke fordærver maden ("too many cooks corrupt the food")

too many cooks spoil the broth
too many cooks spoil the broth


fra børn og fulde folk skal man høre sandheden ("from children and drunk people, you will hear the truth")

Children and drunkards speak the wisest truths as they are not afraid of the repercussions or the world.


græsset er altid grønnere på den anden side af hækken ("The grass is always greener on the other side of the hedges")

the grass is always greener on the other side.


gå ikke over åen efter vand

gå ikke over åen efter vand ("Don't go over the river after water.")

Complete a task in the easiest way possible without unnecessary complications.


hvo intet vover, intet vinder

hvo intet vover, intet vinder ("who nothing dares, nothing wins.")

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained


hvor der handles, der spildes

hvor der handles, der spildes ("Where there's action, there's waste.")

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs.


ingen roser uden torne

ingen roser uden torne ("no roses without thorns")

you take the bad with the good
you take the bad with the good


kast ikke med sten hvis du selv bor i et glashus ("Don't throw with stones if you yourself live in a glass house.")

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.


man må hyle med de ulve man er iblandt

Literally, “one must howl with the wolves among which one is”.

lit

when in Rome, do as the Romans do
when in Rome, do as the Romans do


smede mens jernet er varmt

head

man skal smede mens jernet er varmt ("One must do the blacksmithing while the iron is hot.")

man skal smede mens jernet er varmt (canonical)

strike while the iron is hot
strike while the iron is hot


mange bække små gør en stor å

mange bække små gør en stor å ("Many small brooks make a big river.")

little strokes fell great oaks
little strokes fell great oaks


nød lærer nøgen kvinde at spinde

nød lærer nøgen kvinde at spinde ("Necessity teaches the naked woman to spin.")

necessity is the mother of invention
necessity is the mother of invention


over skyerne er himlen altid blå

over skyerne er himlen altid blå ("Above the clouds, the sky is always blue.")

every cloud has a silver lining
every cloud has a silver lining


pels ikke bjørnen før den er skudt

pels ikke bjørnen før den er skudt ("Don't skin the bear before it's shot.")

don't count your chickens before they're hatched.


sku ikke hunden på hårene

sku ikke hunden på hårene ("Don't examine the dog by its hair.")

don't judge a book by its cover
don't judge a book by its cover


sæt ikke dit lys under en skæppe

sæt ikke dit lys under en skæppe ("Don't put your light under a bushel.")

A reference to the bible, specifically part #15 of chapter 5 of the gospel of Matthew.


skik følge eller land fly

Literally, “observe custom or flee country”.


tale er sølv, tavshed er guld

head

tale er sølv, tavshed er guld ("Talking is silver, silence is gold.")

speech is silver, silence is golden
speech is silver, silence is golden


tomme tønder buldrer mest

tomme tønder buldrer mest ("Empty drums rumble most")

empty vessels make the most sound
empty vessels make the most sound


tab og vind med samme sind

tab og vind med samme sind ("Lose and win with the same spirit.")

It doesn't matter if you win or lose, for winning is not everything.


tyv tror hver mand stjæler

tyv tror hver mand stjæler (thief thinks everyone steals)

A person who commits wrongdoings is more likely to believe that others do as well.


ærlighed varer længst

ærlighed varer længst ("Honesty lasts longest.")

honesty is the best policy
honesty is the best policy


uden mad og drikke duer helten ikke

desc

Norwegian Bokmål: uten mat og drikke duger helten ikke

Literally, “without food and drink, the hero will not function”. First attested in print in Jens Christian Edvard Theodor Mau's 1879 Dansk ordsprogsskat. A similar sentence was first written by Johan Herman Wessel in 1772 as "Uden Øl og Mad er Helten ingen Ting" (Literally, “Without beer and food, the hero is nothing”). Changed to make the phrase rhyme.

lit

an army marches on its stomach
an army marches on its stomach

an army marches on its stomach; functioning well requires the fulfillment of basic needs


ude godt, men hjemme bedst

head

ude godt, men hjemme bedst ("Away is nice, but home is best.")

there's no place like home
there's no place like home


den ene hånd vasker den anden

den ene hånd vasker den anden ("The one hand washes the other.")

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.


den, der graver en grav for andre, falder tit selv i den ("The one who digs graves for others often falls in it themselves.")

Karma sees to all evildoers and the same fate they work to achieve for others will befall them.


gammel kærlighed ruster ikke

gammel kærlighed ruster ikke ("Old love doesn't rust.")


troen kan flytte bjerge

troen kan flytte bjerge ("The faith can move mountains.")

faith will move mountains
faith will move mountains


æblet falder ikke langt fra stammen

æblet falder ikke langt fra stammen (the apple doesn't fall far from the trunk)

apple does not fall far from the tree
apple does not fall far from the tree

the apple does not fall far from the tree


det er aldrig for sent at give op

det er aldrig for sent at give op ("It is never too late to give up.")

It doesn't pay to be stubborn; change is good.


man kan tvinge hesten til truget, men man kan ikke tvinge den til at drikke ("You can force a horse to the trough but you can't force it to drink.")

you can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.


du er hvad du spiser

du er hvad du spiser ("You are what you eat.")

you are what you eat
you are what you eat


utak er verdens løn

utak er verdens løn ("ingratitude is the reward of the world")

a person often does not receive recognition and gratitude for good deeds


som man råber i skoven får man svar

som man råber i skoven får man svar ("As you shout in the woods, you get answers.")

what goes around comes around
what goes around comes around


man skal ikke give bagerbørn hvedebrød

man skal ikke give bagerbørn hvedebrød ("One must not give children of bakers wheat bread.")

carry coals to Newcastle
carry coals to Newcastle

Admonition not to carry coals to Newcastle; don't do or give something one can easily do or get on their own.


skønhed kommer indefra

skønhed kommer indefra ("Beauty comes from within.")

beauty is only skin deep
beauty is only skin deep


et æble om dagen holder doktoren borte

et æble om dagen holder doktoren borte ("An apple a day keeps the doctor away.")

et æble om dagen holder lægen borte#Danish

alternative form of et æble om dagen holder lægen borte


dyden i midten, sagde Fanden; han satte sig mellem to advokater

Literally, “virtue in the middle, said the Devil; he sat down between two lawyers”.

lit

Dyden i midten, sagde Fanden, han satte sig mellem to advokater. Det siger Alceste ikke, men det kunne han tænke.

2015, Johannes Møllehave, Læsehest med teaterkikkert, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

Virtue in the middle, said the Devil, he sat down between two lawyers. Alceste does not say this, but he might think it.

... at Ib åbenbart havde det med at omgås tidligere sagførere. Ib kunne sige som fanden, der satte sig mellem to advokater: dyden i midten!

2016, Henning Mortensen, Ulveørken, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

... that Ib was, apparently, in the habit of socialising with former lawyers. Ib could say like the Devil, who sat down between two lawyers: virtue in the middle!


dyden i midten

Talemåder som 'dyden i midten' og 'den gyldne middelvej' og 'for lidt og for meget er lige slemt' viser alle tilbage til Aristoteles' ide om, at 'det rigtige' næsten altid ligger cirka midt mellem to ekstremer ...

2005, Vær god, Forlaget Ajour, →ISBN, page 9:

Phrases like 'virtue in the middle' and 'the golden middle way' and 'too little and too much is just as bad' all refer back to Aristoteles' idea that 'the right thing' is almost always approximately halfway between two extremes ...

Ideen om »dyden i midten« er ikke noget særegent dansk fænomen, men den kendertegner den danske opfattelse af det ekstreme som farligt og fremmed.

2007, Rasmus Glenthøj, På fædrelandets alter: national identitet og patriotisme hos det danske borgerskab 1807-1814, Museum Tusculanum Press, →ISBN, page 77:

The idea of »virtue in the middle« is not a uniquely Danish phenomenon, but it characterizes the Danish view of the extreme as dangerous and strange.

Man kan sige, at pligten og nytten står på de to fløje — og dyden i midten. Den sidste formulering er et ekko af Aristoteles' berømte ord om dyden i midten som den gyldne middelvej mellem to yderpunkter.

2009, Jørgen Husted, Etik og værdier i socialt arbejde, Hans Reitzels Forlag, →ISBN, page 61:

One may say that duty and use are on the two wings — and virtue in the middle. The last articulation is an echo of Aristoteles' famous words about virtue in the middle as the golden middle way between two extremes.

Dyden i midten betyder at man hverken skal være fej eller dumdristig, men tapper.

Virtue in the middle means that one should be neither cowardly nor stupidly daring, but brave.

one should preferentially seek out moderate ways rather than extremes


adskillelse gør længslen større

head

adskillelse gør længslen større ("Separation makes the longing larger.")

absence makes the heart grow fonder
absence makes the heart grow fonder


renlighed er en dyd

renlighed er en dyd ("Cleanliness is a virtue.")


man kan ikke både blæse og have mel i munden ("One cannot both blow and have flour in one's mouth.")

have one's cake and eat it too
have one's cake and eat it too

One cannot have one's cake and eat it too.


intet nyt er godt nyt

intet nyt er godt nyt ("No news is good news.")

no news is good news
no news is good news


pennen er mægtigere end sværdet

pennen er mægtigere end sværdet ("The pen is mightier than the sword.")

the pen is mightier than the sword
the pen is mightier than the sword


i nøden kender man sine venner

i nøden kender man sine venner ("In distress, you know your friends.")

a friend in need is a friend indeed
a friend in need is a friend indeed


når katten er ude, spiller musene på bordet (when the cat is out, the mice is playing on the table)

when the cat's away the mice will play
when the cat's away the mice will play

når katten er ude, danser musene på bordet


når katten er ude, danser musene på bordet (when the cat is out, the mice is dancing on the table)


alle veje fører til Rom

all roads lead to Rome
all roads lead to Rome

all roads lead to Rome (different paths to the same goal)


hvad der kommer let, går let

hvad der kommer let, går let (what comes easy, goes easy)

easy come, easy go (easily won and easily lost; usually said when resigned to a loss)


de gustibus non disputandum est

Denne ytring kan være et udtryk for en velfunderet, personlig afsky for Wagner, og noget sådant må man naturligvis bøje sig for; de gustibus non disputandum est.

This utterance may be an expression of a well-founded, personal disdain for Wagner, and to such things, one must, of course, acquiesce; de gustibus non disputandum est.

De gustibus non disputandum est, sagde Hertugen ligeledes leende ...

1904, Romaner: Stillelivs-folk - Poet og junker:

De gustibus non disputandum est, said the duke, also laughing ...

... til arkitekturen i de forskellige bygninger må denne stå for forfatterens regning - de gustibus non disputandum est.

1962, Meddelelser fra Akademisk architektforening:

De gustibus non disputandum est, men smagen er derfor ikke mindre et udslag af karakteren, ...

1886, Claes Annerstedt, Oscar Montelius, Nordisk tidskrift för vetenskap, konst och industri:

De gustibus non disputandum est, but taste is nonetheless a product of character, ...

de gustibus non est disputandum
de gustibus non est disputandum#Danish

alternative form of de gustibus non est disputandum


øje for øje, tand for tand

From Exodus 21:23-24 "Men hvis der sker en Ulykke, skal du bøde Liv for Liv, Øje for Øje, Tand for Tand, Haand for Haand, Fod for Fod".

an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth


målet helliger midlet

Literally, “the goal justifies the method”.

lit

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means


head

man kan ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunster

»At man ikke kan lære en gammel hund nye kunster.

2017, Inge Fischer Sørensen, Bundfald, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

»That one cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Nogen vil måske indvende, at man ikke kan lære en gammel hund nye kunster.

Someone might protest that one cannot teach an old dog new tricks.

Desværre, Viveca, jeg er en gammel hund, det nok er for sent at lære nye kunster.

2016, Poul Ørum, Af hjertens grund, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

I am sorry, Viveca, I am an old dog which it is probably too late to teach new tricks.

Ikke fordi han havde ideer om at pacificere ham, man kan jo ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunster, men der kunne måske komme et eller andet sjov ud af at sætte disse tre mennesker sammen.

1964, Arne Hartmann, Alle skibets maend:

Not that he had any intentions of pacifying him, one can, after all, not teach an old dog new tricks, but maybe some fun could come out of putting these three humans together.

you can't teach an old dog new tricks
you can't teach an old dog new tricks


den enes død, den andens brød

Literally, “the death of one [person], the bread of another [person]”.

m-g

the death of one 􂀿person􂁀, the bread of another 􂀿person􂁀

lit

the misfortune of one person may be fortunate for someone else


hvor der er vilje, er der vej

where there is a will there is a way
where there is a will there is a way


head

lige ved og næsten slår ingen mand af hesten

almost doesn't count
almost doesn't count


man må smede, mens jernet er varmt

Literally, “one must do smithing while the iron is hot”.

lit

one must strike while the iron is hot
one must strike while the iron is hot

one must strike while the iron is hot; one must seize opportunities before they vanish


man skal kravle, før man kan gå

Literally, “one must crawl before one can walk”.

one must start with the fundamentals before moving on to more advanced practices


Rom blev ikke bygget på en dag

Rome wasn't built in a day
Rome wasn't built in a day


håbet er lysegrønt

hope springs eternal
hope springs eternal


om smagen kan der ikke diskuteres

Ja, om Enkeltheder kan man jo være uenig, man siger, om Smagen kan der ikke diskuteres, men der er intet, der diskuteres mere om.

Det er sagt indtil Ulidelighed, men aabenbart ikke for ofte, at om Smagen kan der ikke diskuteres.

1944, Ex libris: tidsskrift for exlibris-kunst:

Hver Forlægger yder vel, hvad han finder kunstnerisk forsvarligt, men om Smagen kan der ikke diskuteres.

1924, Povl Engelstoft, Svend Dahl, Den Nye litteratur: dansk litteraturtidende ...:

there's no accounting for taste
there's no accounting for taste


et æble om dagen holder lægen borte

Det gamle mundheld om, at „et æble om dagen holder lægen borte“, nævner en frugt og gør det af en grund.

2017, Anthony William, translated by Frank Robert Pedersen, Den medicinske seer: Sandheden om sygdom og hvordan du helbreder dig selv, Gyldendal A/S, →ISBN:

„Et æble om dagen holder lægen borte,“ citerer Kirsten på engelsk.

2016, Estrid Ott, Piger i Pension, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

Hvis et æble om dagen holder lægen borte, hvad holder et hvidløg så borte? Alle andre!

2011, 10001⁄2 gåde, Politikens Forlag, →ISBN, page 59:

Et gammelt ordsprog siger jo, at et æble om dagen holder lægen borte.

2013, Niels Stærup, Kryddersnaps, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

Æblejuice har et sundheds-image og passer godt ind i det velkendte slogan: »Et æble om dagen holder lægen borte« (An apple a day - keeps the doctor away - if you hit him!).

an apple a day keeps the doctor away
an apple a day keeps the doctor away

(uncommon) an apple a day keeps the doctor away


det er ikke alt guld, som glimrer

Det er ikke alt Guld, som glimrer. Herved maa dog bemærkes, at Krag ikke fik sit Arbejde fuldført, ...

1856, Niels Matthias Petersen, Bidrag til den danske literaturs historie: Det lærde tidsrum 1560-1710, page 409:

“Det er ikke alt guld, som glimrer,” sagde madam Moth.

2016, Carl Ewald, Sofie Amalie Moth og Christian 5., Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

Leander. Man lærer heraf, at det er ikke alt Guld, som glimrer.

1754, Ludvig baron Holberg, Holberg's Comedier, i eet bind, page 620:

Men, desværre! det er ikke Alt Guld som glimrer.

1807, Peder Syv, Peder Syvs Kjernefulde Ordsprog:

Og jeg siger endnu en Gang: Hvis eders Naade ikke giver mig Øen, fordi jeg er en Nar, vil jeg være klog nok til at finde mig deri, thi jeg har tit hørt sige: Hvor Gud har en Kirke har Djævelen et Kapel: og det er ikke alt Guld som glimrer; ...

1831, Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra, Den sindrige adelsmand, Don Quixote, af Mancha's levnet og bedrifter, page 4:

Det var dog en smuk Mand, bemærkede nu Mamsellen med en vis Varme, hvorover Candidat Rose strax kom i Harnisk og udbrød: Det er ikke alt Guld, som glimrer! Saavidt jeg kan dømme, stod han paa et meget lavt moralsk Standpunkt.

2017, Frederik Paludan-Müller, Ivar Lykkes historie bind 1, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

Men det er ikke alt Guld, som glimrer.

1790, Levnets-historie: oversat af Svensk, page 122:

Det har næppe været Wagners dybere mening med sit værk. Skønt, hvem ved? Rhinguldet? Man plejer jo at sige, at det er ikke alt guld, som glimrer, haha ... “ Cay Holmes fremsatte sine overvejelser med en latter, der skulle virke forsonende.

2017, Peter Dürrfeld, Krible Krable, Lindhardt og Ringhof, →ISBN:

all that glitters is not gold
all that glitters is not gold


det er ikke alt guld som glimrer

head

det er ikke alt guld, som glimrer ("all that glitters is not gold.")

det er ikke alt guld (canonical)
som glimrer (canonical)


tyv tror, hvermand stjæler

Literally, “[a] thief thinks [that] everyone steals”.

lit

someone with a moral failing thinks that that failing is common (usually with the implication that it is therefore excusable)


head

hellere lille og vågen end stor og doven

better to be small and agile than big and lazy


vejen til mandens hjerte går gennem maven

the way to a man's heart is through his stomach


små gryder har også ører

little pitchers have big ears
little pitchers have big ears

(idiomatic) little pitchers have big ears (beware, the children also listen)


sælg ikke skindet, før bjørnen er skudt

(idiomatic) don't take succes or victory for granted by acting before an outcome


hvad du ikke ved af, har du ikke ondt af

(idiomatic) what you're not aware of, you're not upset by


frisk luft gør lægen fattig

(idiomatic) people need fresh air to be healthy


de værste sår er de, der ikke bløder

(idiomatic) the worst wounds are those that do not bleed


en dåre kan spørge om mere, end ti vise kan svare på

(idiomatic) a fool can ask about more that ten wise can answer


den der sladrer til dig sladrer også om dig

(idiomatic) those who go behind the back of others do the same to you


at tale er at så, at lytte er at høste

(idiomatic) talking is seeding and listening is harvesting


at falde er ingen skam, men at blive liggende er

(idiomatic) falling is not a shame, keep lying down is


slå to fluer med et smæk

kill two birds with one stone
kill two birds with one stone

(idiomatic) kill two birds with one stone


intet godt kommer let

(idiomatic) you have to put up an effort to reap good things


blod er tykkere end vand

blood is thicker than water
blood is thicker than water


den, der kommer først til mølle, får først malet

Compare Swedish först till kvarn får först mala.

first come, first served
first come, first served


den sidste idiot er ikke født endnu

the last idiot hasn't been born yet
the last idiot hasn't been born yet

(idiomatic) the last idiot hasn't been born yet


mod dumhed kæmper selv guderne forgæves

(idiomatic) even the gods can't fight against stupidity


al begyndelse er svær

all beginning is hard
all beginning is hard


bag skyerne er himlen altid blå

(idiomatic) things are not as dark as they appear


den tid der går godt kommer ikke dårligt igen


intet er så galt, at det ikke er godt for noget

(idiomatic) every occasion have a hidden treasure


ingen brand uden ild

(idiomatic) a fire always have flames; sometimes the true cause of something is hard to pinpoint


efter tørke kommer væde, efter sorg kommer glæde

(idiomatic) after hardship it is easy to smile


et råddent æg fordærver hele kagen

(idiomatic) a tiny mistake can result in a clusterfuck


fra sagt til gjort er springet stort

(idiomatic) to say is much quicker than to do


tiden læger alle sår

time heals all wounds
time heals all wounds


enhver er sin egen lykkes smed

everyone has primary responsibility for their own happiness


skæg for sig og snot for sig

(politics) express a wish to separate less and more important subjects


plejer er død

variety is the spice of life
variety is the spice of life

variety is the spice of life (if the old method didn't work, try something new).


hvad man ikke har i hovedet, må man have i benene

Compare French quand on n'a pas de tête on a des jambes.

cog

if one is forgetful or doesn't think ahead, one will have to walk more frequently


head

af børn og fulde folk skal man høre sandheden

in wine, there is truth
in wine, there is truth


lige børn leger bedst

Literally, "alike children play best (with each other)."

birds of a feather flock together
birds of a feather flock together


den der gemmer til natten, gemmer til katten

Literally, "the one who saves (something) for the night, saves it for the cat".

if you make it a habit of keeping/saving things or valuables for a later time, you might never end up benefitting from them.


høg over høg

what goes around comes around
what goes around comes around

used to describe situations where a person's aggressive, daring, or immoral behaviour provokes an opponent to engage in similar behaviour, what goes around comes around.


vente på at stegte duer skal flyve ind i munden på en

Literally, “waiting for fried pigeons to fly into one's mouth”.

lit

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. no guts, no glory.


forbuden frugt smager bedst

Literally, “forbidden fruit taste the best”.

forbidden fruit is the sweetest
forbidden fruit is the sweetest


der er ugler i mosen

Norwegian Bokmål: det er ugler i mosen

desc

→ Norwegian Nynorsk: det er ugler i mosen

Literally: "There are owls in the bog/swamp". The expression is a corruption of the Jutish der er uller i mosen, which referred to wolves (ull, see ulv). The expression spread to Copenhagen with Jutlandic bull traders, who used it to describe dubious transactions.


den man elsker, tugter man

spare the rod and spoil the child
spare the rod and spoil the child