like father like son

like father, like son
like father, like son#English

Alternative form of like father, like son


плетью обуха не перешибёшь

head

пле́тью о́буха не перешибёшь

пле́тью о́буха не перешибёшь • (plétʹju óbuxa ne perešibjóšʹ)

пле́тью о́буха не перешибёшь (canonical)
plétʹju óbuxa ne perešibjóšʹ (romanization)

[ˈplʲetʲjʊ ˈobʊxə nʲɪ‿pʲɪrʲɪʂɨˈbʲɵʂ]

Literally, “you can't break (in two) the butt (of a weapon) with a whip”.

lit

there is no use trying to fight against (or to win, overcome) someone or something that is stronger than you

en-плетью_обуха_не_перешибёшь-ru-proverb-ZTXtU655


bi now, gay later

A pun on the marketing phrase "buy now, pay later".

One of the most common misconceptions about bisexuality is that it's some kind of stepping-stone on the way to coming out "all the way," as gay and/or lesbian. This pernicious stereotype, sometimes referred to as “bi now, gay later,” is often used to warn straight people away from dating bi folks. […] If “bi now, gay later” is one side of an offensive, disrespectful coin, the LUG (or “lesbian until graduation”) stereotype is its counterpart.

2016, Lindsay King-Miller, Ask a Queer Chick: A Guide to Sex, Love, and Life for Girls Who Dig Girls, Penguin, →ISBN:

"And I did that usual sort of bi now gay later thing, so I was like I'm bisexual, I'm bisexual, I like women as well. Just to make it more acceptable."

2021, Estella Ferraro, Wilful Blindness: On the Relationship of Identity, Agency and Personal, Springer Nature, page 162, quoting a man named John

(humorous, offensive) A slogan suggesting that bisexual people tend to become exclusively homosexual later in life.


head

si quieres conocer a Agapito, dale un puestito

/si ˌkjeɾes konoˌθeɾ a aɡaˌpito | ˌdale um pwesˈtito/

[si ˌkje.ɾes ko.noˌθeɾ a a.ɣ̞aˌpi.t̪o | ˌd̪a.le ũm pwesˈt̪i.t̪o]

/si ˌkjeɾes konoˌseɾ a aɡaˌpito | ˌdale um pwesˈtito/

[si ˌkje.ɾes ko.noˌseɾ a a.ɣ̞aˌpi.t̪o | ˌd̪a.le ũm pwesˈt̪i.t̪o]

Literally, “if you want to know Agapetus, give them a position of power”.

lit

If you want to know what someone is like, give them power


ئېشىكى يوق موللامنىڭ قۇلىقى تىنچ

head

ئېشىكى يوق موللامنىڭ قۇلىقى تىنچ

ئېشىكى يوق موللامنىڭ قۇلىقى تىنچ • (ëshiki yoq mollamning quliqi tinch)

ëshiki yoq mollamning quliqi tinch (romanization)

The mullah who has no donkey has peaceful ears.

en-ئېشىكى_يوق_موللامنىڭ_قۇلىقى_تىنچ-ug-proverb-cq~czK8b


o que vem de baixo não me atinge

Literally, “What comes from below doesn't reach me”.


新官上任三把火

a new official has three fires when he takes up the new post

ㄒㄧㄣ ㄍㄨㄢ ㄕㄤˋ ㄖㄣˋ ㄙㄢ ㄅㄚˇ ㄏㄨㄛˇ

xīn guān shàngrèn sān bǎ huǒ [Phonetic:xīnguānshàngrènsānbáhuǒ]

синь гуань шанжэнь сань ба хо

/ɕin⁵⁵ ku̯än⁵⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʐən⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pä²¹⁴⁻³⁵ xu̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/sɐn⁵⁵ kuːn⁵⁵ sœːŋ¹³ jɐm²² saːm⁵⁵ paː³⁵ fɔː³⁵/

a new broom sweeps clean
a new broom sweeps clean


en-proverb

don't count your chickens before the eggs have hatched

don't count your chickens before they're hatched#English

Alternative form of don't count your chickens before they're hatched


kaksin aina kaunihimpi

Anything goes better when you have a companion.


二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず

ja-pos

にと を お.う もの は いっと を も えず

にと を おふ もの は いつと を も えず

二(に)兎(と)を追(お)う者(もの)は一(いっ)兎(と)をも得(え)ず • (nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu) ^(←にとをおふものはいつとをもえず (nito wo ofu mono fa ituto wo mo ezu)?)

二兎を追う者は一兎をも得ず (canonical)
nito o ou mono wa itto o mo ezu (romanization)
nito wo ofu mono fa ituto wo mo ezu (romanization)
にとをおふものはいつとをもえず (hiragana historical)

[ɲ̟ito̞ o̞ o̞ɯ̟ mo̞no̞ β̞a̠ it̚to̞ o̞ mo̞ e̞zɨ]

Literally, “he who runs after two hares does not catch even one”.

lit

grasp all, lose all (if you try to do two things at the same time, you will succeed in neither)


sobre gustos no hay nada escrito

Literally, “there's nothing written about tastes”.

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


άβυσσος η ψυχή του ανθρώπου

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άβυσσος η ψυχή του ανθρώπου • (ávyssos i psychí tou anthrópou)

ávyssos i psychí tou anthrópou (romanization)
an abyss [is] the soul of man (literally)

Ξαφνικά του ήρθε να παραιτηθεί από την δουλειά του και να ταξιδέψει. Τι να πει κανείς, άβυσσος η ψυχή του ανθρώπου!

He suddenly got the urge to quit his job and go travelling. What can one say, there's nowt so queer as folk!

Xafniká tou írthe na paraititheí apó tin douleiá tou kai na taxidépsei. Ti na pei kaneís, ávyssos i psychí tou anthrópou!

there's nowt so queer as folk
there's nowt so queer as folk

there's nowt so queer as folk (people can behave very oddly sometimes)

en-άβυσσος_η_ψυχή_του_ανθρώπου-el-proverb-OUUKaBhN


har de rǖe nich schēten, har he 'n hasen grēpen

desc

German: hätte er den Hasen gefangen (rare)

Literally: “If the dog hadn’t shit, he would’ve caught the hare.”

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle

if pigs had wings they would fly
if pigs had wings they would fly

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle; if pigs had wings they would fly

har de Hund nich scheeten, har de Hund de Haas beeten

wenn de Köter nich scheeten har, har he den Haas hatt


人要面，樹要皮

/jɐn²¹ jiːu̯³³ miːn²²⁻³⁵ syː²² jiːu̯³³ pʰei̯²¹/

(Cantonese) dignity is important to people


今時唔同往日

/kɐm⁵⁵ siː²¹ m̩²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ jɐt̚²/

/kɐm⁵⁵ siː²¹ m̩²¹ tʰʊŋ²¹ wɔːŋ¹³ jɐt̚²/


色字頭上一把刀

a刀 (dāo, “knife”) lies at the top of the 色 (“feminine charm; beauty”) character

ㄙㄜˋ ㄗˋ ㄊㄡˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧ ㄅㄚˇ ㄉㄠ

sè zì tóushàng yī bǎ dāo [Phonetic:sè zì tóushàng yì bǎ dāo]

сэ цзы тоушан и ба дао

/sɤ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡sz̩⁵¹ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pä²¹⁴⁻²¹ tɑʊ̯⁵⁵/

/sɪk̚⁵ t͡siː²² tʰɐu̯²¹ sœːŋ²² jɐt̚⁵ paː³⁵ tou̯⁵⁵/


aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn

Literally, “out of one's eyes, out of one's mind”.

lit

out of sight, out of mind
out of sight, out of mind


dem Auge fern, dem Herzen nah

Literally, “far from the eye, close to the heart”; originally an epitaph.

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

(fairly rare) absence makes the heart grow fonder


munakasta ei voi tehdä rikkomatta munia

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette


aika parantaa haavat

time heals all wounds
time heals all wounds#English


ahkeruus kovankin onnen voittaa

Literally, “determination/diligence will prevail over even tough luck”.

lit

you can't keep a good man down
you can't keep a good man down


aina voi oppia jotakin uutta

you're never too old to learn
you're never too old to learn


sitä saat, mitä tilaat

you get what you pay for
you get what you pay for

sitä saa, mitä tilaa
sitä saa, mitä tilaa#Finnish

Alternative form of sitä saa, mitä tilaa (“you reap what you sow”)


ei ole koiraa karvoihin katsominen

you can't judge a book by its cover
you can't judge a book by its cover


ei kahta ilman kolmatta

bad things come in threes
bad things come in threes

good things come in threes
good things come in threes


head

vanhalle koiralle ei voi opettaa uusia temppuja

vanha koira ei opi uusia temppuja#Finnish

Alternative form of vanha koira ei opi uusia temppuja


sitä saa, mitä tilaa

you reap what you sow
you reap what you sow

sitä saat, mitä tilaat
sitä saat, mitä tilaat#Finnish

Alternative form of sitä saat, mitä tilaat (“you get what you pay for”)


oma maa mansikka, muu maa mustikka

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

east or west, home is best
east or west, home is best

there's no place like home; east or west, home is best


joka kuuseen kurkottaa, se katajaan kapsahtaa

look high and fall low
look high and fall low

look high and fall low; do not try to reach something too high or too good for you, as you may end up worse off

ken kuuseen kurkottaa, se katajaan kapsahtaa


vuoroin vieraissa käydään

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours#English


殺人償命，欠債還錢

ㄕㄚ ㄖㄣˊ ㄔㄤˊ ㄇㄧㄥˋ

ㄑㄧㄢˋ ㄓㄞˋ ㄏㄨㄢˊ ㄑㄧㄢˊ

шажэнь чанмин

цяньчжай хуаньцянь

/ʂä⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂaɪ̯⁵¹ xu̯än³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn³⁵/

a murderer must pay with his life as a debtor pays with money


devagar se vai ao longe

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

slow and steady wins the race (slowness and patience are helpful for achieving a goal)


quando a esmola é grande, o santo desconfia

Literally, “when the alms are big, the saint mistrusts”.

lit

quando a esmola é demais, o santo desconfia#Portuguese

Alternative form of quando a esmola é demais, o santo desconfia


quando o sol nasce, nasce para todos

when the sun rises, it rises for everyone (the essential things are to be enjoyed by everyone and are immune to any attempts to restrict access)


head

candeia que vai à frente alumia duas vezes

the first bearer's lamp shines twice as bright

expresses gratitude or subservience towards anyone brave enough to venture before others, in order to solve a challenge


насильно мил не будешь

наси́льно мил не бу́дешь

наси́льно мил не бу́дешь • (nasílʹno mil ne búdešʹ)

наси́льно мил не бу́дешь (canonical)
nasílʹno mil ne búdešʹ (romanization)

[nɐˈsʲilʲnə mʲiɫ nʲɪ‿ˈbudʲɪʂ]

LL-Q7737 (rus)-Cinemantique-насильно мил не будешь.wav

Literally, “you will not be sweet forcibly”.

lit

en-насильно_мил_не_будешь-ru-proverb-WTADOasF


seria cômico se não fosse trágico

Literally, “it would be comic if it wasn't tragic”.

a common saying to describe something tragicomic, i.e. having both comic and tragic aspects


leave with the one what brought ya

dance with the one that brought you#English

Synonym of dance with the one that brought you


dance with the one that brung ya

Alternative form of dance with the one that brought you


dance with the one that brought you

"I have had people say, ‘Oh, the landscaping business is doing OK. So, you're going to get out of tobacco farming.’ No! I would like to see my landscaping business grow. But, without the cash flow from the farm, I would not have been able to start the landscaping operation," the Bunn, N.C., farmer stresses. "As they say, you dance with the one that brought you."

1986, Cooperative Farmer, Vols 42-43, p. 77. (Google snippet view) (retrieved 9 May 2018)

Sometimes you have to dance with the one that brought you. And, ever since he won a crucial Game Four in Cleveland on 16 days rest in the 1998 ALCS, Torre has trusted Hernandez more than any of his starters.

2000 October 18, Thomas Boswell, “Unlike the Boss, Torre Recognizes the Right Stuff”, in Washington Post, retrieved 2018-05-09:

Obama’s approval ratings have fallen below 40 percent. “Dance with the one that brought you,” the saying goes, but when you are a Senate Democrat stuck with the wrong prom date, there’s only one thing to do: hide in the bathroom.

2014 February 17, John E. Sununu, “Keeping Obama at arm’s length”, in Boston Globe, retrieved 2018-05-09:

I mention this Canadian Conservative Prime Minister because he coined the political adage ‘you dance with the one that brought you’. In less colourful terms Mulroney meant that a Prime Minister should ‘never, ever ignore his party’s base’.

2016 April 30, James Allan, “Leaving the dance with the one who brought you”, in Spectator, UK, retrieved 2018-05-09:

(chiefly US and Canada) Be considerate and loyal to the one who has been supportive, attentive, or helpful to you.


better safe then sorry

better safe than sorry
better safe than sorry#English


head

masuk ke dalam kandang kambing mengembek, masuk ke dalam kandang kerbau menguak

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

when in Rome, do as the Romans do (literally: "bleat in the goat's pen, grunt in the buffalo's shed")


一個巴掌拍不響

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄅㄚ ˙ㄓㄤ ㄆㄞ ㄅㄨˋ ㄒㄧㄤˇ

yī gè bāzhang pāi bù xiǎng [Phonetic:yí gè bāzhang pāi bù xiǎng]

и гэ бачжан пай бу сян

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ pä⁵⁵ ɖ͡ʐ̥ɑŋ² pʰaɪ̯⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ paː⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ³⁵ pʰaːk̚³ pɐt̚⁵ hœːŋ³⁵/

it takes two to tango
it takes two to tango


amo kaj puno loĝas komune

LL-Q143 (epo)-Lepticed7-amo kaj puno loĝas komune.wav

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


蒼蠅不叮無縫的蛋

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄨˊ ㄈㄥˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄉㄢˋ

tsʻang¹-ying⁵ pu⁴ ting¹ wu² fêng⁴ tê⁵ tan⁴

цанъин бу дин у фэн дэ дань

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ² pu⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ fɤŋ⁵¹ d̥ə¹ tän⁵¹/

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄅㄨˋ ㄉㄧㄥ ㄨˊ ㄈㄥˋㄦ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄉㄢˋ

цанъинбудинъуфэнрдэдань

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ² pu⁵¹ tiŋ⁵⁵ u³⁵ fɤ̃ɻ⁵¹ d̥ə¹ tän⁵¹/


psi štěkají, ale karavana jde dál

Literally, “dogs bark, but the caravan goes on”.

lit

the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on
the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on

the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on, haters gonna hate


psi štěkají a karavana jde dál

Literally, “dogs bark and the caravan goes on”.


head

die Hunde bellen, aber die Karawane zieht weiter


en-proverb

en-au-give someone an inch and someone will take a mile.ogg

give them an inch and they'll take a mile#English

(idiomatic) Alternative form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile


the odds are good, but the goods are odd

(humorous) There are plenty of potential romantic/sexual partners available, but many of them are strange or eccentric people.


nemo judex in sua causa

nemo debet esse judex in propria causa#Latin

Alternative form of nēmō dēbet esse jūdex in propriā causā


nemo debet esse judex in propria causa

nēmō dēbet esse jūdex in propriā causā (canonical)

Ultimately from variations on the Code of Justinian, 3.5.0: “Ne quis in sua causa iudicet vel sibi ius dicat” (“Let no one pass judgement in his own cause, nor speak the law unto himself”). Current as nemo debet esse judex in propria causa and similar forms as a maxim by the 16th–17th centuries in Continental Europe with reference to vigilantism. Applied literally to interested judges in later common law.

lang

Ad tertium, cum dicunt, quòd illi, à quibus abstulerunt, fortè habent plus de suo, dicitur, quòd nemo debet esse iudex in propria causa.

1588, Guillaume Pepin, Elucidatio in Confiteor […] , page 350:

To the third [point], when they say that those from whom they have stolen perhaps have more than themselves, it is said that no one ought to be the judge in his own trial.

Deberet autem occisio fieri in continenti, seu flagranti: nam ex intervallo, si fur jam coepisset quietè possidere, non liceret; quia tunc non haberet rationem justae defensionis; sed tunc sunt adhibenda Iuris remedia, & auctoritas publica, quia nemo debet esse Iudex in propria causa.

1671, Christoph Haunold, Controversiarum de Justitia et Jure Privatorum Universo […] , volume 1, page 193:

The killing would have to have been done in a restrained manner, or in passion: for, from a distance, if the thief had at that point begun to take possession quietly, it would not be lawful; for there would then be no reason of just defence; but there should then be recourse to the remedies of the Law, and to the public authority, for no one ought to be the judge in his own trial.

[…] quoniam nemo debet esse judex in propria causa, sed injuriam passus contra injuriantem actionem injuriarum coram judice competente legitimè instituere debet, ad conservandam famam […]

1678, Nicolaus Beckmann, Jus Novissimum Romano-Germanicum facili methodo ac modo elaboratum […] , page 198:

[…] since no one ought to be the judge in his own trial, but the one who has suffered an injury should legitimately undertake an action for delict against the injurer before a competent judge, so as to preserve his reputation […]

take the law into one’s own hands
take the law into one's own hands

(New Latin, law) “No one ought to be the judge in his own trial”: one should not take the law into one’s own hands.


three times a charm

third time's a charm
third time's a charm#English

Alternative form of third time's a charm


en-proverb

those who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those doing it

Possibly come from a Chicago newspaper in 1903: “Things move along so rapidly nowadays that people saying: ‘It can’t be done,’ are always being interrupted by somebody doing it.” https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/12/world/asia/ivanka-trump-china-summit-korea.html

people who dispute that a task is possible should not impede those people who attempt to do it


head

sebab nila setitik, rosak susu sebelanga

Literally: Because of a drop of indigo, the whole container of milk is spoiled


ผีซ้ำกรรมซัด

th-proverb

ผีซ้ำกรรมซัด • (pǐi-sám-gam-sát)

From ผี (pǐi) + ซ้ำ (sám) + กรรม (gam) + ซัด (sát).

com

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly

(idiomatic) misfortunes never come singly.


風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる

ja-pos

かぜ が ふけば おけや が もうかる

風(かぜ)が吹(ふ)けば桶(おけ)屋(や)が儲(もう)かる • (kaze ga fukeba okeya ga mōkaru)

風が吹けば桶屋が儲かる (canonical)
kaze ga fukeba okeya ga mōkaru (romanization)

[ka̠ze̞ ɡa̠ ɸɯ̟ke̞ba̠ o̞ke̞ja̠ ɡa̠ mo̞ːka̠ɾɯ̟]

Used to point out a far-fetched or circuitous chain of events. For want of a nail the kingdom was lost.


jedem Tierchen sein Pläsierchen

different strokes for different folks
different strokes for different folks


head

die Schönheit liegt im Auge des Betrachters

[diː ˈʃøːnhaɪ̯t likt ɪm ˈaʊ̯ɡə dɛs bəˈtʁaχtɐs]

beauty is in the eye of the beholder
beauty is in the eye of the beholder


[man mʊs das ˈaɪ̯zn̩ ˈʃmiːdn̩ zoˈlaŋə ɛs haɪ̯s ɪst]

De-man muss das Eisen schmieden%2C solange es heiß ist.ogg

De-man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist.ogg

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


Unwissenheit schützt vor Strafe nicht

[ˈʊnvɪsn̩haɪ̯t ʃʏt͡st foːɐ̯ ˈʃtʁaːfə nɪçt]

Calque of Latin ignōrantia jūris nōn excūsat.

clq

Ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse.


wer Wind sät, wird Sturm ernten

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
sow the wind, reap the whirlwind


wer A sagt, muss auch B sagen

Literally, “who says A, must also say B”.

lit

in for a penny, in for a pound
in for a penny, in for a pound


in der Not frisst der Teufel Fliegen

/ɪn dɛɐ̯ ˈnoːt fʁɪst dɛɐ̯ ˌtɔʏ̯fəl ˈfliːɡən/

Literally, “when in need, the devil will eat flies”.

lit

beggars can't be choosers
beggars can't be choosers

in times of need one must do and accept things one otherwise would not; beggars can't be choosers; desperate times require desperate measures


wo ein Wille ist, ist auch ein Weg

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


Ende gut, alles gut

/ˈɛndə ˌɡuːt ˈaləs ˌɡuːt/

Literally, “end good, all good”.
Used as the title of the German translation of William Shakespeare's play All's Well That Ends Well and likely reinforced in use thereby. However, the claim made in some sources that this translation is the actual origin is false, as the saying is attested in German before Shakespeare.

all's well that ends well
all's well that ends well


head

[ˈveːɐ̯ ɪm ˈɡlaːsˌhaʊ̯s ˈzɪt͡st ǀ ˈsɔl nɪçt mɪt ˈʃtaɪ̯nən ˈvɛʁfn̩]

De-wer im Glashaus sitzt, soll nicht mit Steinen werfen.ogg

people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones


wer nicht wagt, der nicht gewinnt

[ˌveːɐ̯ nɪçt ˈvaːkt deːɐ̯ ˌnɪçt ɡəˈvɪnt]

nothing ventured, nothing gained
nothing ventured, nothing gained


nada se cria; tudo se copia

nada se cria (canonical)
tudo se copia (canonical)

Literally, “nothing is created; everything is copied”, referring originally to television. Attributed to Chacrinha.

lit

there is nothing new under the sun
there is nothing new under the sun

it is impossible for artists and authors to be genuinely original; there is nothing new under the sun


een appel valt niet ver van de boom

/ən ˈɑ.pəl ˌvɑlt ˈnit ˌfɛr vɑn də ˈboːm/

de appel valt niet ver van de boom#Dutch

Uncommon form of de appel valt niet ver van de boom.


put one's hand to the plough

From the King James translation of Luke 9:62 (“And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”).


fish and company stink after three days

A guest who overstays will cease to be welcome.


even a blind pig can find an acorn

even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while#English

Alternative form of even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while


andere Länder, andere Sitten

Literally, “other countries, other customs”.

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


plus on est de fous, plus on rit

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-plus on est de fous, plus on rit.wav

Literally, "the more fools/jesters/madmen we are, the more we laugh."

the more the merrier
the more the merrier


mỗi cây mỗi hoa, mỗi nhà mỗi cảnh

[moj˦ˀ˥ kəj˧˧ moj˦ˀ˥ hwaː˧˧ moj˦ˀ˥ ɲaː˨˩ moj˦ˀ˥ kajŋ̟˧˩]

[moj˧˨ kəj˧˧ moj˧˨ hwaː˧˧ moj˧˨ ɲaː˦˩ moj˧˨ kɛɲ˧˨]

[moj˨˩˦ kəj˧˧ moj˨˩˦ waː˧˧ moj˨˩˦ ɲaː˨˩ moj˨˩˦ kan˨˩˦]

Different trees have different flowers; different families have different situations. / Every family goes through its own problems.


autre pays, autres mœurs

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-autre pays, autres mœurs.wav

Literally, “other country, other mores”.


fr-proverb

un mauvais ouvrier a toujours de mauvais outils

/œ̃ mo.vɛ.z‿u.vʁi.je a tu.ʒuʁ də mo.vɛ.z‿u.ti/

Literally, “a bad workman always has bad tools”.

lit

a bad workman always blames his tools
a bad workman always blames his tools


à Rome, fais comme les Romains

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-à Rome, fais comme les Romains.wav


Auge um Auge, Zahn um Zahn

[ˈaʊ̯ɡə ʊm ˈaʊ̯ɡə | t͡saːn ʊm t͡saːn]

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


ein Unglück kommt selten allein

Literally, “a misfortune rarely comes alone”.

it never rains but it pours
it never rains but it pours


Geld stinkt nicht

money does not smell
money does not smell


head

[man zɔl deːn ˈtaːk nɪçt foːɐ̯ deːm ˈaːbn̩t ˈloːbm̩]

De-man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben.ogg

Literally, “one shouldn't praise the day before the evening”.

lit

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing

/vɛs ˈbʁoːt ɪç ˈɛs dɛs ˈliːt ɪç ˈzɪŋ/

De-wes Brot ich ess%2C des Lied ich sing.ogg

De-wes Brot ich ess, des Lied ich sing.ogg

Literally, “whose bread I eat, their song I sing”. Compare Dutch wiens brood men eet, diens woord men spreekt.

cog

people tend to side with whoever pays them; people put personal needs or advantages above convictions


l'argent n'a pas d'odeur

/l‿aʁ.ʒɑ̃ n‿a pɑ d‿ɔ.dœʁ/


man muss mit den Wölfen heulen

Literally, “one has to howl with the wolves”.

lit

Behave as those around do, so as to not get into trouble; when in Rome, do as the Romans do


ce qui est fait est fait

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-ce qui est fait est fait.wav

crying over spilt milk
crying over spilt milk

what's done is done; it's no use crying over spilt milk


la fin justifie les moyens

LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-la fin justifie les moyens.wav

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means


qui veut la fin veut les moyens

Literally, “who wants the end, wants the means”.

if one wants to achieve some goal, one must be ready to make the necessary sacrifices to achieve it


un malheur ne vient jamais seul

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lyokoï-un malheur ne vient jamais seul.wav

Literally, “a misfortune never comes alone”.


qui vit par l'épée périra par l'épée

qui vit par l’ épée périra par l’ épée (canonical)

live by the sword, die by the sword
live by the sword, die by the sword

chien hargneux a toujours l’oreille déchirée


nul n'est censé ignorer la loi

nul n’ est censé ignorer la loi (canonical)

Calque of Latin nēmō cēnsētur ignōrāre lēgem (“nobody is presumed not to know the law”).

clq

ignorantia juris non excusat
ignorantia juris non excusat

ignorantia juris non excusat, ignorance of the law is not a valid excuse


aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera

aide-toi (canonical)
le ciel t’ aidera (canonical)

LL-Q150 (fra)-DenisdeShawi-aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera.wav

Literally, “help yourself, [and] heaven will help you.” From the fable Le Chartier embourbé by Jean de La Fontaine.

heaven helps those who help themselves
heaven helps those who help themselves

Jean de La Fontaine
fr:Le Chartier embourbé


qui sème le vent récolte la tempête

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind
sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

what goes around comes around
what goes around comes around

sow the wind, reap the whirlwind; what goes around comes around


aux grands maux les grands remèdes

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-aux grands maux les grands remèdes.wav

desperate times call for desperate measures


fr-proverb

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.wav

Literally, “do not wake up the sleeping cat”.

lit

let sleeping dogs lie
let sleeping dogs lie


fr-proverb

il faut battre le fer pendant qu’il est chaud

il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud

/il fo ba.tʁə l(ə) fɛʁ pɑ̃.dɑ̃ k‿i.l‿ɛ ʃo/

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

il faut battre le fer tant qu’il est chaud


pas de nouvelle, bonnes nouvelles

no news is good news
no news is good news


il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué

/il nə fo pa vɑ̃.dʁə la po d(ə) l‿uʁs a.vɑ̃ d(ə) l‿a.vwaʁ tɥe/

/il nə fo pɑ vɑ̃.dʁə la po d(ə) l‿uʁs a.vɑ̃ d(ə) l‿a.vwaʁ tɥe/

Literally, “one must not sell the bear's skin before having killed it”. From the fable L'Ours et les Deux Compagnons by Jean de la Fontaine.

lit

il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué

Jean de la Fontaine
fr:L'Ours et les Deux Compagnons


nécessité fait loi

necessity knows no law
necessity knows no law


das Auge isst mit

the look of food is important in determining if a food is appetizing or tasty


tout vient à point à qui sait attendre

Literally, "everything comes to ripeness for [one] who knows how to wait."

good things come to those who wait
good things come to those who wait


head

cho fad 's a bhios an deò, bidh an dòchas

while there's life, there's hope
while there's life, there's hope

where there's life, there's hope
where there's life, there's hope

while there's life, there's hope, where there's life, there's hope


fr-proverb

tant qu'il y a de la vie, il y a de l'espoir

tant qu’il y a de la vie, il y a de l’espoir

tant qu’il y a de la vie (canonical)
il y a de l’ espoir (canonical)

/tɑ̃ k‿il i a d(ə) la vi | il i a d(ə) l‿ɛs.pwaʁ/

hope springs eternal
hope springs eternal

hope springs eternal, while there's life, there's hope


it ain't over till the fat lady sings

it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings#English

Alternative spelling of it ain't over 'til the fat lady sings


Auge um Auge

[ˈaʊ̯ɡə ʊm ˈaʊ̯ɡə]


न रहेगा बाँस न बजेगी बाँसुरी

hi-proverb

نہ رہیگا بانس نہ بجیگی بانسری

न रहेगा बाँस न बजेगी बाँसुरी • (na rahegā bā̃s na bajegī bā̃surī) (Urdu spelling نہ رہیگا بانس نہ بجیگی بانسری)

na rahegā bā̃s na bajegī bā̃surī (romanization)
نہ رہیگا بانس نہ بجیگی بانسری (Urdu)

/nɑː ɾə.ɦeː.ɡɑː bɑ̃ːs nɑː bə.d͡ʒeː.ɡiː bɑ̃ː.sʊ.ɾiː/

[näː‿ɾɐ.ɦeː.ɡäː‿bä̃ːs‿näː‿bɐ.d͡ʒeː.ɡiː‿bä̃ː.sʊ.ɾiː]

Literally: the flute cannot play if there is no bamboo in the first place.

eliminating the source of the problem rids one of the problem

en-न_रहेगा_बाँस_न_बजेगी_बाँसुरी-hi-proverb-G-A9O4g6


hổ phụ sinh hổ tử

[ho˧˩ fu˧˨ʔ sïŋ˧˧ ho˧˩ tɨ˧˩]

[how˧˨ fʊw˨˩ʔ ʂɨn˧˧ how˧˨ tɨ˧˨]

[how˧˨ fʊw˨˩ʔ sɨn˧˧ how˧˨ tɨ˧˨]

[how˨˩˦ fʊw˨˩˨ ʂɨn˧˧ how˨˩˦ tɨ˨˩˦]

[how˨˩˦ fʊw˨˩˨ sɨn˧˧ how˨˩˦ tɨ˨˩˦]

Sino-Vietnamese word from 虎父生虎子. Compare Chinese 虎父無犬子／虎父无犬子 (hổ phụ vô khuyển tử).

cog

(literal) father tigers produce child tigers

like great father, like great son
like father, like son#English

(figurative) like great father, like great son


fr-proverb

la pomme ne tombe jamais loin de l’arbre

la pomme ne tombe jamais loin de l'arbre

the apple does not fall far from the tree

le fruit ne tombe jamais loin de l'arbre


head

maayo pa ang kwarta naay tawo, ang tawo wala

one may experience hard times; money will run out

maayo pang kwarta naay tawo, ang tawo wala


les chiens ne font pas des chats

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-les chiens ne font pas des chats.wav

a wild goose never laid a tame egg
a wild goose never laid a tame egg

the apple does not fall far from the tree, a wild goose never laid a tame egg


nhập gia tùy tục, nhập giang tùy khúc

nhập gia tuỳ tục, đáo giang tuỳ khúc#Vietnamese

Alternative spelling of nhập gia tuỳ tục, đáo giang tuỳ khúc


der Geist ist willig, aber das Fleisch ist schwach

[dɛɐ̯ ˈɡaɪ̯st ɪst ˈvɪlɪç ˈaːbɐ das ˈflaɪ̯ʃ ɪst ˈʃʋaχ]

the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak


de huid niet verkopen voor de beer geschoten is

/də ˌɦœy̯t ˈnit fɛrˈkoː.pə(n)ˌvoːr də ˈbeːr ɣəˈsxoː.tə(n)ˌɪs/

Literally, “not to sell the hide before the bear has been shot”. Compare French il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué.

cog

il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


der Esel nennt sich immer zuerst

Literally, “the donkey always mentions himself first”. Probably an alteration of the variant der Esel geht immer voran (“the donkey always comes first”), from the idea that the donkey walks in front of the carriage but is of lesser value than the people on it.

lit

Said when someone mentions themselves first in an enumeration of people (like “I and you”, “I and my friend”), which is considered unmannered in the German-speaking (and some other) countries

Spanish el burro delante, para que no se espante


der Esel nennt sich immer zuletzt

Literally, “the donkey always mentions himself last”, apparently the exact opposite of the original form, but with the same meaning. See the usage note in the main entry for more.

lit

der Esel nennt sich immer zuerst
der Esel nennt sich immer zuerst#German

(originally erroneous, but now somewhat common) Alternative form of der Esel nennt sich immer zuerst


der Esel geht immer voran

Literally, “the donkey always comes first”. Probably from the idea that the donkey walks in front of the carriage but is of lesser value than the people on it.


head

por fora, bela viola; por dentro, pão bolorento

Rhythmic proverb. Literal meaning: "Outside, a nice viola. Inside, mouldy bread."

beauty is only skin deep
beauty is only skin deep

beauty is only skin deep (a person’s character is more important than their outward appearance)

a person appears to have good intentions, but in fact has not


quem tem boca vai a Roma

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈtẽɪ̯̃ ˈbo.kɐ ˈvaɪ̯ a ˈhõ.mɐ]

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈtẽɪ̯̃ ˈbo.kɐ ˈvaɪ̯ a ˈhõ.mɐ]

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈtẽɪ̯̃ ˈbo.kɐ ˈvaɪ̯ a ˈχõ.mɐ]

[ˈkɐ̃j̃ ˈtɐ̃j̃ ˈbo.kɐ ˈβaj ɐ ˈʁo.mɐ]

Literally, “those who have a mouth go to Rome”. Akin to Spanish preguntando se va a Roma and French qui langue a, à Rome va.

lit

if one keeps asking, they will eventually find the way


ناچ نہ جانے آنگن ٹیڑھا

ur-proverb

नाच न जाने आंगन टेढ़ा

ناچ نہ جانے آنگن ٹیڑھا • (nāc na jāne ā̃gan ṭeṛhā) (Hindi spelling नाच न जाने आंगन टेढ़ा)

nāc na jāne ā̃gan ṭeṛhā (romanization)
नाच न जाने आंगन टेढ़ा (Hindi)

/nɑːt͡ʃ nə .d͡ʒɑː.neː ɑ̃ː.ɡən ʈeː.ɽʱɑː/

a bad workman always blames his tools
a bad workman always blames his tools

en-ناچ_نہ_جانے_آنگن_ٹیڑھا-ur-proverb-jwgs6DJ-


鱧も一期、海老も一期

ja-pos

はも も いちご、えび も いちご

鱧(はも)も一(いち)期(ご)、海老(えび)も一(いち)期(ご) • (hamo mo ichigo, ebi mo ichigo)

鱧も一期、海老も一期 (canonical)
hamo mo ichigo, ebi mo ichigo (romanization)

Literally "a pike conger has its lifetime, a shrimp has its lifetime".

each person has one life, regardless of social class or circumstances


虎落平陽被犬欺

ㄏㄨˇ ㄌㄨㄛˋ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄧㄤˊ ㄅㄟˋ ㄑㄩㄢˇ ㄑㄧ

ху ло пинъян бэй цюань ци

/xu²¹⁴⁻²¹ lu̯ɔ⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ jɑŋ³⁵ peɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕʰy̯ɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/fuː³⁵ lɔːk̚² pʰɪŋ²¹ jœːŋ²¹ pei̯²² hyːn³⁵ hei̯⁵⁵/

a man who loses position and influence may be subjected to much indignity


en-proverb

don't get your meat where you get your bread

you don't dip your pen in company ink#English

Synonym of you don't dip your pen in company ink


man hat schon Pferde kotzen sehen

Literally, “horses have been seen vomiting before”. Based on the fact that horses, due to the form of their gastrointestinal tract, virtually never vomit.

lit

(mildly vulgar) nothing is impossible; even a very unexpected event might occur


只要目的正當，可以不擇手段

head

只要目的正當，可以不擇手段

只要目的正当，可以不择手段

ㄓˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄇㄨˋ ㄉㄧˋ ㄓㄥˋ ㄉㄤˋ

ㄎㄜˇ ㄧˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄜˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄉㄨㄢˋ

zi² jiu³ muk⁶ dik¹ zing³ dong³, ho² ji⁵ bat¹ zaak⁶ sau² dyun⁶

чжияо муди чжэндан

кэи буцзэшоудуань

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mu⁵¹⁻⁵³ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɤŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ tɑŋ⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ i²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡sɤ³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tu̯än⁵¹/

jí yiu muhk dīk jing dong, hó yíh bāt jaahk sáu dyuhn

dzi² jiu³ muk⁹ dik⁷ dzing³ dong³, ho² ji⁵ bat⁷ dzaak⁹ sau² dyn⁶

ji² yiu³ mug⁶ dig¹ jing³ dong³, ho² yi⁵ bed¹ zag⁶ seo² dün⁶

/t͡siː³⁵ jiːu̯³³ mʊk̚² tɪk̚⁵ t͡sɪŋ³³ tɔːŋ³³ hɔː³⁵ jiː¹³ pɐt̚⁵ t͡saːk̚² sɐu̯³⁵ tyːn²²/

The end justifies the means
the end justifies the means

all's fair in love and war
all's fair in love and war

The end justifies the means; all's fair in love and war.


bolje vrabac u ruci nego golub na grani

sh-proverb

bolje vrabac u ruci nego golub na grani (Cyrillic spelling боље врабац у руци него голуб на грани)

боље врабац у руци него голуб на грани (Cyrillic)

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush#English

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (literally “better a sparrow in the hand than a dove on the branch”)


wo kein Kläger, da kein Richter

De-wo kein Kläger%2C da kein Richter.ogg

Literally, “where there's no plaintiff, there's no judge”.

lit

for there to be justice, a legal complaint must be filed


ahneus kunnian pettää

being too greedy may easily ruin one's reputation and dignity


ei haukkuva koira pure

a barking dog never bites
a barking dog never bites


auta miestä mäessä, älä mäen alla

help someone when they are in trouble or need, not when they don't need help


ei auta itku markkinoilla

there's no point crying over spilt milk
there's no point crying over spilt milk

there's no point crying over spilt milk (some things have to be accepted if one doesn't want to)


ei haukku haavaa tee

Alternative form: ei haukku haavaa tee, jos ei koira purra saa

sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me (words cause no physical harm)


ei oppi ojaan kaada

ei oppi ojaan kaada, eikä tieto tieltä työnnä


hätä ei ole tämän näköinen

things, especially perceived emergencies, may seem worse at first than they actually are


ei Roomaakaan päivässä rakennettu

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


ei omena kauas puusta putoa

the apple does not fall far from the tree


huipulla tuulee

someone who reaches a powerful position must keep working hard lest they lose that position to someone else


ei kukaan ole seppä syntyessään

kukaan ei ole seppä syntyessään
kukaan ei ole seppä syntyessään#Finnish

Alternative form of kukaan ei ole seppä syntyessään


ei kannata lähteä merta edemmäs kalaan

get ahead of themselves
get ahead of oneself

one should not get ahead of themselves when doing something


harjoitus tekee mestarin

practice makes perfect
practice makes perfect


ei vara venettä kaada

better safe than sorry
better safe than sorry

better safe than sorry (being cautious does not cause any harm)


head

ei nimi miestä pahenna, jos ei mies nimeä

people cannot be judged by names, unless one makes themselves infamous

ei nimi miestä pahenna, ellei mies nimeä


hyvin suunniteltu on puoleksi tehty

hyvin suunniteltu on puoliksi tehty#Finnish

Alternative form of hyvin suunniteltu on puoliksi tehty


kuolema kuittaa univelat

death makes up for the lack of sleep, as one can sleep for a long time when dead; cynical response to claims that someone isn't sleeping enough


ei tyhjä säkki pystyssä pysy

a hungry person cannot do their job properly


hätä ei lue lakia

necessity knows no law
necessity knows no law

needs must when the devil drives
needs must when the devil drives

necessity knows no law; needs must when the devil drives


jaettu ilo on kaksinkertainen ilo

sharing the joy of a positive event with someone else, like a friend, brings joy to both


ilta on aamua viisaampi

one attains knowledge and wisdom during the day

putting something off until a bit later can be a good decision, especially if you are acting sentimentally


lopussa kiitos seisoo

good things will come to those who work for them


joka leikkiin ryhtyy, se leikin kestäköön

in for a penny, in for a pound
in for a penny, in for a pound

if you get involved in something, you better stand it; in for a penny, in for a pound, if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen


jokainen on oman onnensa seppä

Literally, “everyone is the smith of their own fortune”. Probably ultimately a calque of Latin faber est quisque fortunae suae.

cal

every man is the architect of his own fortune


maltti on valttia

patience is a virtue
patience is a virtue


kätketyllä kullalla ei ole hintaa

one's wealth or positive qualities may not be apparent until revealed


kyllä routa porsaan kotiin ajaa

a stray or runaway will come back home when the reality sets in


rehellisyys maan perii

honesty is the best policy
honesty is the best policy


omena päivässä pitää lääkärin loitolla

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


head

puhuminen on hopeaa, vaikeneminen kultaa

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

vaikeneminen on kultaa, puhuminen hopeaa


joukossa tyhmyys tiivistyy

in a group, people will do (reckless) things they would not do if they were alone


jos tädillä ois munat, niin täti olis setä

jos tädillä olisi munat, se olisi setä#Finnish

(colloquial) Alternative form of jos tädillä olisi munat, se olisi setä


mitä isot edellä, sitä pienet perässä

like father, like son
like father, like son

like mother, like daughter
like mother, like daughter

like father, like son; like mother, like daughter


salama ei iske kahta kertaa samaan paikkaan

lightning never strikes twice in the same place


luulo ei ole tiedon väärti

It is much better to know for sure than to just guess or presume.


rahalla saa ja hevosella pääsee

makes the world go around
make the world go around


senteissä tuhannen alku

take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves


tekevälle sattuu

whoever does something is bound to suffer some kind of misfortune (used in a comforting or reassuring way)


nauru pidentää ikää

laughter is the best medicine
laughter is the best medicine


vahinko ei tule kello kaulassa

bad things may happen suddenly without any warning


minkä nuorena oppii, sen vanhana taitaa

one does not often forget skills when growing up


nuorena vitsa väännettävä

as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined (good manners or traits must be taught at a young age)


vanhassa vara parempi

old things with which one is familiar are better when one wishes to be cautious


vanha suola janottaa

one may still have romantic feelings for a romantic partner from times past


niin metsä vastaa kuin sinne huudetaan

what goes around comes around
what goes around comes around

you reap what you sow
you reap what you sow

what goes around comes around, you reap what you sow (the way someone is treated is like how that person treats others)


happamia, sanoi kettu pihlajanmarjoista

Literally, “they're sour, said the fox about the rowanberries”. Ultimately of the same origin as with English sour grapes (see it for more); referring to rowanberries instead of grapes is calqued from Swedish (compare Swedish surt sa räven om rönnbären).

lit

those who cannot obtain things become jealous of them; sour grapes


head

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret hyppivät pöydällä

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

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret hyppivät pöydillä

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret tanssivat pöydällä

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret tanssivat pöydillä


suo siellä, vetelä täällä

stuck between a rock and a hard place
stuck between a rock and a hard place

damned if one does and damned if one doesn't; stuck between a rock and a hard place (used of a desperate situation where no solution is ideal)


sopu sijaa antaa

Literally, “concord gives a place”. Compare Karelian šopu šijua antau.

those who are amicable and friendly to each other can live well together, certainly better than those who bicker all the time


joskus se sokeakin kana jyvän löytää

Literally, “a blind hen too sometimes finds a grain”. Compare Swedish även en blind höna kan finna ett korn.

cog

even a blind pig can find an acorn once in a while


head

kun antaa pahalle pikkusormen, se vie koko käden

Literally, “when you give the evil a little finger, it'll take the whole hand”.

lit

give them an inch and they'll take a mile

jos antaa pahalle pikkusormen, se vie koko käden

jos antaa pirulle pikkusormen, se vie koko käden


head

se koira älähtää, johon kalikka kalahtaa

the lady doth protest too much
the lady doth protest too much

a hit dog will holler
a hit dog will holler

the lady doth protest too much; a hit dog will holler


sitä kuusta kuuleminen, jonka juurella asunto

one must be obedient to the environment in which one lives


vanha konsti parempi kuin pussillinen uusia

it is wise to rely on a familiar and well-known method than try to something new

vanha konsti on parempi kuin pussillinen uusia


yksi mätä omena pilaa koko korin

one bad apple spoils the barrel
one bad apple spoils the barrel

one bad apple spoils the barrel (actions of one person can ruin an entire group)


älä nuolaise ennen kuin tipahtaa

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


yksi hullu kysyy enemmän kuin kymmenen viisasta ehtii vastata

a fool may ask more questions in an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years

used sarcastically by or of a person who asks many questions

one person can cause damage (either intentionally or not) a lot faster than multiple people can fix it


ylpeys käy lankeemuksen edellä

pride comes before a fall
pride comes before a fall


non tutto il male viene per nuocere

Literally, “not all the evil comes to harm”.

lit

blessing in disguise
blessing in disguise

sometimes there's a blessing in disguise or silver lining


tyhjästä on paha nyhjäistä

starting from scratch can be very difficult (used especially when one has no money)

tyhjästä on paha nyhjästä

colloquial/dialectal, but otherwise quite common too due to the rhyme


misfortunes never come alone

misfortunes never come singly
misfortunes never come singly#English

Alternative form of misfortunes never come singly


th-proverb

ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น • (kwaam-pá-yaa-yaam-yùu-tîi-nǎi kwaam-sǎm-rét-yùu-tîi-nân)

/kʰwaːm˧.pʰa˦˥.jaː˧.jaːm˧.juː˨˩.tʰiː˥˩.naj˩˩˦.kʰwaːm˧.sam˩˩˦.ret̚˦˥.juː˨˩.tʰiː˥˩.nan˥˩/

Where there is a will, there is a way.
where there is a will there is a way

en-ความพยายามอยู่ที่ไหน_ความสำเร็จอยู่ที่นั่น-th-proverb-W9e7O7f~


tuli on hyvä renki, mutta huono isäntä

fire is a good servant but a bad master
fire is a good servant but a bad master

fire is a good servant but a bad master (fire is useful for many purposes but also dangerous, so one must exercise caution)


nie rozdrapuj starych ran

let sleeping dogs lie
let sleeping dogs lie

(idiomatic) let sleeping dogs lie (literally: don't open old wounds)


nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu

Literally, “don't divide the pelt of the bear [not yet killed]”.

m-g

don't divide the pelt of the bear 􂀿not yet killed􂁀

lit

(idiomatic) don't count your chickens before they're hatched


bez pracy nie ma kołaczy

Rhyme, literally, “no work, no kalaches”. Compare Czech bez práce nejsou koláče.


nie chwal dnia przed zachodem słońca

/ˈɲɛx.fal dɲa pʂɛd.zaˈxɔ.dɛm ˈswɔɲ.t͡sa/

Literally, “don't praise the day before sunset”.


the grey mare is the better horse

The wife, not the husband, is in charge of the household.


chien qui aboie ne mord pas

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-chien qui aboie ne mord pas.wav

barking dogs seldom bite
barking dogs seldom bite

one's bark is worse than one's bite
one's bark is worse than one's bite

barking dogs seldom bite, one's bark is worse than one's bite, all talk no bite


đứng núi này trông núi kia

[ʔɗɨŋ˧˦ nuj˧˦ naj˨˩ t͡ɕəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˧˦ kiə˧˧]

[ʔɗɨŋ˦˧˥ nuj˨˩˦ naj˦˩ ʈəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˨˩˦ kiə˧˧]

[ʔɗɨŋ˦˥ nuj˦˥ na(ː)j˨˩ ʈəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˦˥ kiə˧˧]

đứng núi này trông núi nọ
đứng núi này trông núi nọ#Vietnamese

Alternative form of đứng núi này trông núi nọ


đứng núi này trông núi nọ

[ʔɗɨŋ˧˦ nuj˧˦ naj˨˩ t͡ɕəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˧˦ nɔ˧˨ʔ]

[ʔɗɨŋ˦˧˥ nuj˨˩˦ naj˦˩ ʈəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˨˩˦ nɔ˨˩ʔ]

[ʔɗɨŋ˦˥ nuj˦˥ na(ː)j˨˩ ʈəwŋ͡m˧˧ nuj˦˥ nɔ˨˩˨]

Literally “standing on one mountain, gazing at another”. Compare Chinese 這山望著那山高／这山望著那山高 (zhè shān wàng zhe nà shān gāo).

ncog

the grass is always greener on the other side.


gleda kao tele u šarena vrata

sh-proverb

gleda kao tele u šarena vrata (Cyrillic spelling гледа као теле у шарена врата)

гледа као теле у шарена врата (Cyrillic)

he looks completely baffled
he looks completely baffled#English

he looks completely baffled (literally “looking like a calf staring at a colored door”)


mi o vuku

Literally, “we (are talking) about the wolf”, with the verb implied but left unexpressed, an ellipsis of mi o vuku a vuk na vrata (literally “we(’re talking) about the wolf and the wolf is at the door”).


poklonjenom konju se ne gleda u zube

sh-proverb

poklonjenom konju se ne gleda u zube (Cyrillic spelling поклоњеном коњу се не гледа у зубе)

поклоњеном коњу се не гледа у зубе (Cyrillic)

don't look a gift horse in the mouth
don't look a gift horse in the mouth


head

lieber eine Stumme im Bett als eine Taube auf dem Dach

Satirical from besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach. Pun with Taube, which can mean either "deaf woman" or "dove", so the sentence is not more comparing a sparrow to a dove but rather a mute woman in the bed to a deaf one on the roof.

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


à malin, malin et demi

Literally, “to a clever person, a one and a half as clever person”; "to each clever person, there is a corresponding one and a half as clever person".

lit

one will always find a cleverer or stronger person than oneself


tel qui rit vendredi, dimanche pleurera

/tɛl ki ʁi vɑ̃.dʁə.di | di.mɑ̃ʃ plœ.ʁə.ʁa/

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


ดูช้างให้ดูหาง ดูนางให้ดูแม่

th-proverb

ดูช้างให้ดูหาง ดูนางให้ดูแม่

ดูช้างให้ดูหาง ดูนางให้ดูแม่ • (duu-cháang-hâi-duu-hǎang duu-naang-hâi-duu-mɛ̂ɛ)

/duː˧.t͡ɕʰaːŋ˦˥.haj˥˩.duː˧.haːŋ˩˩˦.duː˧.naːŋ˧.haj˥˩.duː˧.mɛː˥˩/

Literally, “When you look over an elephant, look at its tail; when you look over a girl, look at her mother.”

Like mother, like daughter.
like mother, like daughter

en-ดูช้างให้ดูหาง_ดูนางให้ดูแม่-th-proverb-S6QsSsa5


fr-proverb

la parole est d’argent, le silence est d’or

la parole est d’argent (canonical)
le silence est d’ or (canonical)

la parole est d'argent, le silence est d'or

/la pa.ʁɔ.l‿ɛ d‿aʁ.ʒɑ̃ | lə si.lɑ̃.s‿ɛ d‿ɔʁ/

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

la parole est d’argent et le silence est d’or


คับที่อยู่ได้คับใจอยู่ยาก

th-proverb

คับที่อยู่ได้คับใจอยู่ยาก • (káp-tîi-yùu-dâai-káp-jai-yùu-yâak)

/kʰap̚˦˥.tʰiː˥˩.juː˨˩.daːj˥˩.kʰap̚˦˥.t͡ɕaj˧.juː˨˩.jaːk̚˥˩/

From คับ (káp, “tight”) + ที่ (tîi, “place”) + อยู่ (yùu, “to live; to stay; to reside”) + ได้ (dâai, “able; successfully; easily”) + คับ (káp, “idem”) + ใจ (jai, “heart; mind; feeling; emotion”) + อยู่ (yùu, “idem”) + ยาก (yâak, “hard; difficult”).

com

(idiomatic) it is hard to live in a place which makes you feel uncomfortable or unhappy, though it is a big or luxurious place; but a place which provides ease or happiness can be lived in, though it is a tight or small place.

en-คับที่อยู่ได้คับใจอยู่ยาก-th-proverb-ZV13QgOP


fr-proverb

la parole est d'argent et le silence est d'or

la parole est d’argent et le silence est d’or

/la pa.ʁɔ.l‿ɛ d‿aʁ.ʒɑ̃ e l(ə) si.lɑ̃.s‿ɛ d‿ɔʁ/

la parole est d'argent, le silence est d'or#French

Alternative form of la parole est d’argent, le silence est d’or


chassez le naturel, il revient au galop

/ʃa.se l(ə) na.ty.ʁɛl | il ʁə.vjɛ̃ o ɡa.lo/

/ʃa.se l(ə) na.ty.ʁɛl | il ʁə.vjɛ̃.t‿o ɡa.lo/

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-chassez le naturel, il revient au galop.wav

"Drive off character, it comes back galloping", a quote from the drama "Le Glorieux" (1732) by Philippe Néricault, also named Destouches. Likely inspired by a similar phrase by Horace in his 10th epistle: "Naturam expelles furca, tamen usque recurret." ("Though you drive out nature with a pitchfork, she will keep coming back.")

a leopard cannot change its spots
a leopard cannot change its spots


qui fait le malin tombe dans le ravin

/ki fɛ l(ə) ma.lɛ̃ tɔ̃b dɑ̃ l(ə) ʁa.vɛ̃/

Literally, “he who gets cute falls into the ravine”.

lit

pride comes before a fall
pride comes before a fall


bien mal acquis ne profite jamais

LL-Q150 (fra)-Jules78120-bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-M2D2V2 (Kvardek du)-bien mal acquis ne profite jamais.wav

ill-gotten gains never prosper
ill-gotten gains never prosper


સોનાંની થાળીમાં લોઢાંની મેખ

head

સોનાંની થાળીમાં લોઢાંની મેખ

સોનાંની થાળીમાં લોઢાંની મેખ • (sonā̃nī thāḷīmā̃ loḍhā̃nī mekh)

sonā̃nī thāḷīmā̃ loḍhā̃nī mekh (romanization)

for there to be something unfortunate or unpleasant in something otherwise quite pleasing

en-સોનાંની_થાળીમાં_લોઢાંની_મેખ-gu-proverb-y3wuqmpt


τα εν οίκω μη εν δήμω

τα εν οίκω μη εν δήμω

τα εν οίκω μη εν δήμω • (ta en oíko mi en dímo)

From Byzantine Greek τὰ ἐν οἴκῳ μὴ ἐν δήμῳ (tà en oíkōi mḕ en dḗmōi, “that which is in the house, not to the town people”).

inh

τὰ ἐν οἴκῳ μὴ ἐν δήμῳ

air your dirty linen in public
air one's dirty laundry in public

(archaic, literary, set phrase) don't air your dirty linen in public (private matters should remain so)


head

αν βάζεις τον κώλο σου να σου κάνει δουλειά, σκατά δουλειά θα κάνει • (an vázeis ton kólo sou na sou kánei douleiá, skatá douleiá tha kánei)

skatá douleiá tha kánei (romanization)
if you make your arse do a job (literally)

if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys
if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys

(colloquial, humorous, vulgar) if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys (if one gives a task to someone incompetent, they will receive results of the same standard)

en-αν_βάζεις_τον_κώλο_σου_να_σου_κάνει_δουλειά,_σκατά_δουλειά_θα_κάνει-el-proverb-pQ9498Hk

ton kólo vázeis mágeira, skatá tha mageirépsei

τον κώλο βάζεις μάγειρα, σκατά θα μαγειρέψει


沒有金剛鑽，別攬瓷器活

If you don't have adiamond, stay out of the porcelain business.

ㄇㄟˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄍㄤ ㄗㄨㄢˋ

ㄅㄧㄝˊ ㄌㄢˇ ㄘˊ ㄑㄧˋ ㄏㄨㄛˊ

мэйю цзиньганцзуань

бе лань цыцихо

/meɪ̯³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ kɑŋ⁵⁵ t͡su̯än⁵¹ pi̯ɛ³⁵ län²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰz̩³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵/

if you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen


Dei vos condeuze au veing meûr

Literally, “May God lead you to the ripe wine”.


Dei vos condeuze an veigne meûre

Literally May God lead you to a good vineyard


兄弟如手足，妻子如衣服

desc

→ Vietnamese: anh em như tay chân, vợ con như quần áo (calque) (and numerous similar expressions)

ㄒㄩㄥ ㄉㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄕㄡˇ ㄗㄨˊ

ㄑㄧ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄧ ˙ㄈㄨ

hing¹ dai⁶ jyu⁴ sau² zuk¹, cai¹ zi² jyu⁴ ji¹ fuk⁶

сюнди жу шоуцзу

цицзы жу ифу

/ɕi̯ʊŋ⁵⁵ ti⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡su³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ i⁵⁵ fu²/

hīng daih yùh sáu jūk, chāi jí yùh yī fuhk

hing¹ dai⁶ jy⁴ sau² dzuk⁷, tsai¹ dzi² jy⁴ ji¹ fuk⁹

hing¹ dei⁶ yu⁴ seo² zug¹, cei¹ ji² yu⁴ yi¹ fug⁶

/hɪŋ⁵⁵ tɐi̯²² jyː²¹ sɐu̯³⁵ t͡sʊk̚⁵ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ jiː⁵⁵ fʊk̚²/

Popularised by Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Chapter 15, where this ancient saying was quoted by Liu Bei. The concept of brethren being limb-like was preexisting; compare 兄弟手足.

兄弟如手足，妻子似衣服
兄弟如手足，女人如衣服
兄弟如手足，女人似衣服
兄弟如手足，老婆如衣服
兄弟如手足，老婆似衣服

Brothers are like one's arms and legs, but wives and children (or women) are only like one's apparel (i.e. readily replaceable).


dlaka u jajetu

sh-proverb

dlaka u jajetu (Cyrillic spelling длака у јајету)

длака у јајету (Cyrillic)

fly in the ointment
fly in the ointment#English

fly in the ointment (literally “hair in the egg”)


длака у јајету

длака у јајету (Latin spelling dlaka u jajetu)


en-proverb

give them an inch and they'll take an ell

give them an inch and they'll take a mile#English

Dated form of give them an inch and they'll take a mile.


needs must

“Needs must,” and the haughty summons of Britain rings even in the impregnable heart of Thibet. This is the mission of Empire, the will of a dominant people bent on advancing the interests of trade.

1905, The Chronicle of the London Missionary Society, page 199:

"Needs must and all that – and the devil so often does, doesn't he?" “Excuse me?" "Drives – the devil. Such a relentless old bugger."

1999, Jill Laurimore, Going to Pot, Macmillan, →ISBN, page 155:

needs must when the devil drives#English

Short for needs must when the devil drives.


temet nosce

[ˈt̪ɛːmet̪ ˈnɔʃːe]


朋友妻不可欺

ㄆㄥˊ ˙ㄧㄡ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧ

ㄆㄥˊ ㄧㄡˇ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄨˋ ㄎㄜˇ ㄑㄧ

пэнъю ци букэ ци

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯³ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/pʰɤŋ³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ kʰɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵/

/pʰɐŋ²¹ jɐu̯¹³ t͡sʰɐi̯⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ hɔː³⁵ hei̯⁵⁵/

朋友之妻不可欺
朋友之妻不可戲
朋友妻不可戲
朋友妻，不可欺
朋友之妻，不可欺

A man should not covet his friend's wife. / A friend's wife is not to be flirted with.


mũceera na mũkũndũ akũndũkaga taguo

he who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl like a wolf (lit. one who walks with a scoundrel turns bad like him)


you can't get something for nothing

you don't get something for nothing#English

Alternative form of you don't get something for nothing


you don't get something for nothing

There's half the fight won, first off."
"Osterman bribed him, I suppose," observed Magnus.
Annixter raised a shoulder vexatiously.
"You've got to pay for what you get," he returned. "You don't get something for nothing, I guess."

1901, Frank Norris, chapter 5, in The Octopus:

"You don't get something for nothing," said Richard Hannah, an analyst for Phillips & Drew, a London brokerage house. "For the 40 percent return, you take one bloody huge risk."

1987 November 15, Steve Lohr, “Eurotunnel's Day of Reckoning”, in New York Times, retrieved 2018-09-20:

As the saying goes, you don't get something for nothing—especially not where sex is concerned. Just as the terrors of HIV followed the joys of the sexual revolution, so it seems that Pfizer's anti-impotence wonder drug, Viagra, carries with it more health risks than anyone suspected.

1998 September 3, Chris Taylor, “The Blue Pill Blues”, in Time, retrieved 2018-09-20:

Melanie Phillips, who defends the institution of marriage and is not keen to extend property rights to cohabiting couples, says: "The law is based on justice; justice requires that you don't get something for nothing. You don't claim rights if you don't enter into obligations."

2007 August 20, Stuart Jeffries, “To have and to hold”, in Guardian, UK, retrieved 2018-09-20:

One cannot expect to receive some benefit if one does not pay for it in some way or does not face a counterbalancing hazard or harm.

the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs


gatinyinyiraga gatarĩ gakunye

no smoke without fire
no smoke without fire

no smoke without fire (lit. little one does not squeak without being pinched)


Kamau mwerũ nĩ airaga

Literally “White Kamau turns black.” Kamau was typical Kikuyu male name at least before 1960.


más se perdió en Cuba

Literally, “more was lost in Cuba”, referring to the Spanish-American war.

worse things happen at sea
worse things happen at sea

(idiomatic) worse things happen at sea; could be worse; things ain't as bad as they might be


青は藍より出でて藍より青し

ja-pos

青は藍より出でて藍より青し

あお は あい より いでて あい より あおし

あを は あゐ より いでて あゐ より あをし

青(あお)は藍(あい)より出(い)でて藍(あい)より青(あお)し • (ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi) ^(←あをはあゐよりいでてあゐよりあをし (awo fa awi yori idete awi yori awosi)?)

青は藍より出でて藍より青し (canonical)
ao wa ai yori idete ai yori aoshi (romanization)
awo fa awi yori idete awi yori awosi (romanization)
あをはあゐよりいでてあゐよりあをし (hiragana historical)

From the 荀子 (Junji, “Xunzi”), a calque of Literary Chinese 青出於藍，而青於藍 (qīng chū yú lán, ér qīng yú lán, “blue comes from the indigo plant but is bluer than the plant itself”).

cal

the student has surpassed his or her teacher

氷は水より出でて水よりも寒し

kōri wa mizu yori idete mizu yori mo samushi


head

σηκώθηκαν τα πόδια να χτυπήσουν το κεφάλι • (sikóthikan ta pódia na chtypísoun to kefáli)

the feet rose up to hit the head (literally)

Said of cases where those of a lower standing rise up against their superiors - implies failure or lack of strength.

en-σηκώθηκαν_τα_πόδια_να_χτυπήσουν_το_κεφάλι-el-proverb-P9VYPvcF

sikothíkane t' angoúria na gamísoun to manávi

the cucumbers rose up to fuck the greengrocer

σηκωθήκανε τ' αγγούρια να γαμήσουν το μανάβη


σηκωθήκανε τ' αγγούρια να γαμήσουν το μανάβη • (sikothíkane t' angoúria na gamísoun to manávi)

(colloquial, vulgar) Said of cases where those of a lower standing rise up against their superiors - implies failure or lack of strength.

en-σηκωθήκανε_τ'_αγγούρια_να_γαμήσουν_το_μανάβη-el-proverb-P9VYPvcF

sikóthikan ta pódia na chtypísoun to kefáli


σήκωσε κι η μύγα κώλο να χέσει τον κόσμο όλο • (síkose ki i mýga kólo na chései ton kósmo ólo)

(colloquial, vulgar) Said of those who have risen above their station, often in an arrogant manner.

en-σήκωσε_κι_η_μύγα_κώλο_να_χέσει_τον_κόσμο_όλο-el-proverb-7tZ3~fPE

ékane ki i mýga kólo ki échese ton kósmo ólo

έκανε κι η μύγα κώλο κι έχεσε τον κόσμο όλο


έκανε κι η μύγα κώλο κι έχεσε τον κόσμο όλο • (ékane ki i mýga kólo ki échese ton kósmo ólo)

en-έκανε_κι_η_μύγα_κώλο_κι_έχεσε_τον_κόσμο_όλο-el-proverb-7tZ3~fPE

síkose ki i mýga kólo na chései ton kósmo ólo


devil lies in the details

devil is in the details
devil is in the details#English

(idiomatic) Synonym of devil is in the details


της καλομοίρας το παιδί το πρώτο κόρη να 'ναι • (tis kalomoíras to paidí to próto kóri na 'nai)

της καλομοίρας το παιδί το πρώτο να 'ναι κόρη#Greek

Alternative form of της καλομοίρας το παιδί το πρώτο να 'ναι κόρη (tis kalomoíras to paidí to próto na 'nai kóri)

en-της_καλομοίρας_το_παιδί_το_πρώτο_κόρη_να_'ναι-el-proverb-9zqMFt~M


της καλομάνας το παιδί το πρώτο να 'ναι κόρη • (tis kalománas to paidí to próto na 'nai kóri)

/tis‿kaloˈmanas to‿peˈði to‿ˈproto ˈna‿ne ˈkori/

(literally) may the good mother's firstborn be a daughter

consoling proverb for women whose firstborn was female, in times when a male, a son, was highly desired

en-της_καλομάνας_το_παιδί_το_πρώτο_να_'ναι_κόρη-el-proverb-iIrx8upH

tis kalomoíras to paidí to próto na 'nai kóri

τῆς καλομάνας τὸ παιδί τὸ πρῶτο νά 'ναι κόρη

τῆς καλομάννας τὸ παιδί τὸ πρῶτο νἆναι κόρη


της καλομοίρας το παιδί το πρώτο να 'ναι κόρη • (tis kalomoíras to paidí to próto na 'nai kóri)

/tis‿kaloˈmiras to‿peˈði to‿ˈproto ˈna‿ne ˈkori/

Alternative form of της καλομάνας το παιδί το πρώτο να 'ναι κόρη (tis kalománas to paidí to próto na 'nai kóri)

(literally) may the good mother's firstborn be a daughter

en-της_καλομοίρας_το_παιδί_το_πρώτο_να_'ναι_κόρη-el-proverb-sm1WfHzk


en-proverb

there's many a slip between the cup and the lip

there's many a slip twixt cup and lip#English

Alternative form of there's many a slip twixt cup and lip


ein gebranntes Kind scheut das Feuer

a burnt child dreads the fire
a burnt child dreads the fire

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy

a burnt child dreads the fire; once bitten, twice shy


thương người như thể thương thân

[tʰɨəŋ˧˧ ŋɨəj˨˩ ɲɨ˧˧ tʰe˧˩ tʰɨəŋ˧˧ tʰən˧˧]

[tʰɨəŋ˧˧ ŋɨj˦˩ ɲɨ˧˧ tʰej˧˨ tʰɨəŋ˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧]

[tʰɨəŋ˧˧ ŋɨj˨˩ ɲɨ˧˧ tʰej˨˩˦ tʰɨəŋ˧˧ tʰəŋ˧˧]


claret would be port if it could

Everybody would change their circumstances if it were possible.


ไก่งามเพราะขน คนงามเพราะแต่ง

th-proverb

ไก่งามเพราะขน คนงามเพราะแต่ง

ไก่งามเพราะขน คนงามเพราะแต่ง • (gài-ngaam-prɔ́-kǒn kon-ngaam-prɔ́-dtɛ̀ng)

/kaj˨˩.ŋaːm˧.pʰrɔʔ˦˥.kʰon˩˩˦.kʰon˧.ŋaːm˧.pʰrɔʔ˦˥.tɛŋ˨˩/

Literally “A chicken is beautiful because of its feathers; people are beautiful because they are dressed up.”

Fine features make fine birds.
fine features make fine birds

Good clothes open all doors.
good clothes open all doors

(idiomatic) Fine features make fine birds. / Good clothes open all doors.

en-ไก่งามเพราะขน_คนงามเพราะแต่ง-th-proverb-O3sYhZ0v


夫婦喧嘩は犬も食べない

ja-pos

ふうふげんか は いぬ も たべない

夫(ふう)婦(ふ)喧(げん)嘩(か)は犬(いぬ)も食(た)べない • (fūfugenka wa inu mo tabenai)

夫婦喧嘩は犬も食べない (canonical)
fūfugenka wa inu mo tabenai (romanization)

[ɸɯ̟ːɸɯ̟ɡẽ̞ŋka̠ β̞a̠ inɯ̟ mo̞ ta̠be̞na̠i]

Comprised of 夫婦喧嘩 (fūfu-genka, “marital dispute”) + は (wa, topic particle) + 犬 (inu, “dog”) + も (mo, “even, also”, inclusive particle) + 食べない (tabenai, “not eat”, negative of verb 食べる (taberu, “to eat”)).
Alternative and uncommon form of 夫(ふう)婦(ふ)喧(げん)嘩(か)は犬(いぬ)も食(く)わない (fūfu-genka wa inu mo kuwanai, literally “even dogs wouldn't eat a marital dispute”), replacing verb 食う (kuu, “to eat”, informal) with 食べる (taberu, “to eat”, neutral).

ja-r

夫%婦%喧%嘩は犬も食わない

ふう%ふ%-げん%か は いぬ も くわない

you should not interfere in a marital dispute


ผิดเป็นครู

Experience is the mother of wisdom.
experience is the mother of wisdom

(idiomatic, figurative) Blunders are lessons. / Experience is the mother of wisdom.


กองทัพเดินด้วยท้อง

th-proverb

กองทัพเดินด้วยท้อง

กองทัพเดินด้วยท้อง • (gɔɔng-táp-dəən-dûai-tɔ́ɔng)

/kɔːŋ˧.tʰap̚˦˥.dɤːn˧.dua̯j˥˩.tʰɔːŋ˦˥/

An army marches on its stomach.
an army marches on its stomach

(idiomatic, hyperbolic) An army marches on its stomach.


zucca vuota fa rumore

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


wins on Sunday, sells on Monday

what wins on Sunday sells on Monday#English

Alternative form of what wins on Sunday sells on Monday


khôn ba năm, dại một giờ

[xon˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧ nam˧˧ zaːj˧˨ʔ mot̚˧˨ʔ zəː˨˩]

[kʰoŋ˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧ nam˧˧ jaːj˨˩ʔ mok̚˨˩ʔ jəː˦˩]

[xoŋ˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧ nam˧˧ jaːj˨˩ʔ mok̚˨˩ʔ jəː˦˩]

[kʰoŋ˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧ nam˧˧ jaːj˨˩˨ mok̚˨˩˨ jəː˨˩]

[xoŋ˧˧ ʔɓaː˧˧ nam˧˧ jaːj˨˩˨ mok̚˨˩˨ jəː˨˩]

Calque of Chinese 聰明一世，糊塗一時／聪明一世，糊涂一时 (thông minh nhất thế, hồ đồ nhất thời) (or similar proverbs).

calque

Even Homer sometimes nods
even Homer sometimes nods

Even smart people can have a momentary lapse in judgement. / Even Homer sometimes nods.

It only takes an hour of stupidity (dại một giờ) to negate the smartness of three years (khôn ba năm)


what wins on Sunday sells on Monday

Doesn't anyone remember the axiom that what wins on Sunday sells on Monday? Automotive execs may wonder whether that still applies, but you can bet they know who won before they go to bed each Sunday night.

1991 July 3, Al Pearce, “General Motors likely to reduce NASCAR funds”, in Daily Press, Virginia, US, retrieved 2018-10-15:

"The automakers have provided a lot of money and support for NASCAR," Baker said. "They believe that what wins on Sunday sells on Monday."

2008 December 20, Don Crinklaw, “Life in the fast lane”, in Sun-Sentinel, Florida, US, retrieved 2018-10-15:

"Chevrolet wants to have an engine running after midyear so by July we want to be running it on the track in car tests," Penske said. "They say what wins on Sunday sells on Monday."

2011 April 8, Bruce Martin, “Penske talks future in IndyCar, Danica's foray in NASCAR, more”, in Sports Illustrated, retrieved 2018-10-15:

Auto racing was a glamorous extension of Detroit's iconic position in American life, where "win on Sunday, sell on Monday" was gospel truth.

2012 May 22, Micheline Maynard, “'Mad Men' And The Glory Of Mid-1960s Cars”, in Forbes, retrieved 2018-10-15:

(chiefly US, marketing, motor sports) A brand of automobile that performs well in racing competitions will be popular with retail purchasers.

There's an old saying in the golf industry: What wins on Sunday sells on Monday. Golfers are the ultimate copycats.

2006 April 13, Ed Sherman, “Dual-driver bag is not for duffers”, in Chicago Tribune, retrieved 2018-10-15:

(chiefly US, marketing, by extension) Any equipment available to consumers that performs well in widely-viewed public events on weekends can be expected to receive higher retail sales subsequently.


một giọt máu đào hơn ao nước lã

[mot̚˧˨ʔ zɔt̚˧˨ʔ maw˧˦ ʔɗaːw˨˩ həːn˧˧ ʔaːw˧˧ nɨək̚˧˦ laː˦ˀ˥]

[mok̚˨˩ʔ jɔk̚˨˩ʔ maw˨˩˦ ʔɗaːw˦˩ həːŋ˧˧ ʔaːw˧˧ nɨək̚˦˧˥ laː˧˨]

[mok̚˨˩˨ jɔk̚˨˩˨ ma(ː)w˦˥ ʔɗaːw˨˩ həːŋ˧˧ ʔaːw˧˧ nɨək̚˦˥ laː˨˩˦]

(literal) a peachy drop of blood is more precious than well water

blood is thicker than water
blood is thicker than water

(figurative) blood is thicker than water


謀事在人，成事在天

ㄇㄡˊ ㄕˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄖㄣˊ

ㄔㄥˊ ㄕˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄊㄧㄢ

моуши цзай жэнь

чэнши цзай тянь

/moʊ̯³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵/

mau⁴ si⁶ dzoi⁶ jan⁴, sing⁴ si⁶ dzoi⁶ tin¹

/mɐu̯²¹ siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²² jɐn²¹ sɪŋ²¹ siː²² t͡sɔːi̯²² tʰiːn⁵⁵/

man proposes, God disposes
man proposes, God disposes


盡信書不如無書

ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄒㄧㄣˋ ㄕㄨ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄨˊ ㄕㄨ

цзинь синь шу бужу у шу

/t͡ɕin⁵¹⁻⁵³ ɕin⁵¹ ʂu⁵⁵ pu⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ u³⁵ ʂu⁵⁵/

/t͡sɵn²² sɵn³³ syː⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ jyː²¹ mou̯²¹ syː⁵⁵/

Mencius said, "It would be better to be without the Book of Documents than to give entire credit to it. In the 'Completion of the War', I select two or three passages only, which I believe. The benevolent man has no enemy under heaven. When the prince the most benevolent was engaged against him who was the most the opposite, how could the blood of the people have flowed till it floated the pestles of the mortars?"

Mèngzǐ yuē: “Jìn xìn “shū”, zé bùrú wú “shū”. Wú yú “Wǔchéng”, qǔ èrsān cè éryǐ yǐ. Rénrén wúdí yú tiānxià. Yǐ zhì rén fá zhì bùrén, ér héqí xuè zhī liú chǔ yě?”

孟子曰：「盡信《書》，則不如無《書》。吾於《武成》，取二三策而已矣。仁人無敵於天下。以至仁伐至不仁，而何其血之流杵也？」

孟子曰：「尽信《书》，则不如无《书》。吾于《武成》，取二三策而已矣。仁人无敌于天下。以至仁伐至不仁，而何其血之流杵也？」

Believing everything in the Book of Documents is worse than without that book.

Do not blindly believe everything written in books


飯後百步走，活到九十九

ㄈㄢˋ ㄏㄡˋ ㄅㄞˇ ㄅㄨˋ ㄗㄡˇ

ㄏㄨㄛˊ ㄉㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

faan⁶ hau⁶ baak³ bou⁶ zau², wut⁶ dou³ gau² sap⁶ gu²

фаньхоубайбуцзоу

ходаоцзюшицзю

/fän⁵¹⁻⁵³ xoʊ̯⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ pu⁵¹ t͡soʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ɔ³⁵ tɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

faahn hauh baak bouh jáu, wuht dou gáu sahp gú

faan⁶ hau⁶ baak⁸ bou⁶ dzau², wut⁹ dou³ gau² sap⁹ gu²

fan⁶ heo⁶ bag³ bou⁶ zeo², wud⁶ dou³ geo² seb⁶ gu²

/faːn²² hɐu̯²² paːk̚³ pou̯²² t͡sɐu̯³⁵ wuːt̚² tou̯³³ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐp̚² kuː³⁵/

Walk a hundred steps after each meal and you will live a long life.


il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres

LL-Q150 (fra)-DenisdeShawi-il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.wav

there's many a slip twixt cup and lip
there's many a slip twixt cup and lip

il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l’ours avant de l’avoir tué


del senno di poi son piene le fosse

twenty-twenty hindsight
twenty-twenty hindsight


có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim

[kɔ˧˦ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ maːj˨˩ sat̚˧˦ kɔ˧˦ ŋaj˨˩ nen˧˧ kim˧˧]

[kɔ˨˩˦ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ maːj˦˩ ʂak̚˦˧˥ kɔ˨˩˦ ŋaj˦˩ nen˧˧ kim˧˧]

[kɔ˨˩˦ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ maːj˦˩ sak̚˦˧˥ kɔ˨˩˦ ŋaj˦˩ nen˧˧ kim˧˧]

[kɔ˦˥ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ maːj˨˩ ʂak̚˦˥ kɔ˦˥ ŋa(ː)j˨˩ nəːn˧˧ kim˧˧]

[kɔ˦˥ kəwŋ͡m˧˧ maːj˨˩ sak̚˦˥ kɔ˦˥ ŋa(ː)j˨˩ nəːn˧˧ kim˧˧]

Calque of Chinese 只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針／只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针 (chỉ yếu công phu thâm, thiết xử ma thành châm).

(literal) if one grinds iron long enough, some day it will become a needle

Practice makes perfect.
practice makes perfect

Diligence is the mother of success.
diligence is the mother of success

(figurative) Practice makes perfect. / Diligence is the mother of success.


只要功夫深，鐵杵磨成針

desc

→ Vietnamese: có công mài sắt có ngày nên kim (calque)

ㄓˇ ㄧㄠˋ ㄍㄨㄥ ˙ㄈㄨ ㄕㄣ

ㄊㄧㄝˇ ㄔㄨˇ ㄇㄛˊ ㄔㄥˊ ㄓㄣ

zi² jiu³ gung¹ fu¹ sam¹, tit³ cyu⁵ mo⁴ sing⁴ zam¹

tiěchǔ mó chéng zhēn [Phonetic:zhǐyàogōngfushēn

чжияо гунфу шэнь

течу мо чэн чжэнь

teču mo čɛn čžɛnʹ

/ʈ͡ʂʐ̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ jɑʊ̯⁵¹ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fu² ʂən⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰu²¹⁴⁻²¹ mu̯ɔ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɤŋ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵/

jí yiu gūng fū sām, tit chyúh mòh sìhng jām

dzi² jiu³ gung¹ fu¹ sam¹, tit⁸ tsy⁵ mo⁴ sing⁴ dzam¹

ji² yiu³ gung¹ fu¹ sem¹, tid³ qu⁵ mo⁴ xing⁴ zem¹

/t͡siː³⁵ jiːu̯³³ kʊŋ⁵⁵ fuː⁵⁵ sɐm⁵⁵ tʰiːt̚³ t͡sʰyː¹³ mɔː²¹ sɪŋ²¹ t͡sɐm⁵⁵/

From a story about poet Li Bai, recorded in Fangyu Shenglan (《方輿勝覽》).

只要功夫深，铁杵磨成针
只要工夫深，鐵杵磨成針
只要有恆心，鐵杵磨成針
只要功夫深鐵杵磨成針
只要工夫深鐵杵磨成針
只要有恆心鐵杵磨成針
鐵杵磨成針
鐵杵磨針
鐵杵成針

If you work at it hard enough, you can grind an iron bar into a needle.

Diligence is the mother of success. / Practice makes perfect.


wo gehobelt wird, da fallen Späne

Literally, “when [wood] is planed, chips will fall off”.

m-g

when 􂀿wood􂁀 is planed, chips will fall off

lit

a revolution is not a dinner party
a revolution is not a dinner party

collateral damage
collateral damage#English

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette; a revolution is not a dinner party (some endeavours inevitably involve momentary hardships or collateral damage)


head

a casa d'un penjat no hi anomenis cordes

Literally, “in the house of a hanged man, don't mention (the) ropes”.

lit

don't talk about an uncomfortable situation in the presence of someone affected by it


一個蘿蔔一個坑

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄎㄥ

yī gè luóbo yī gè kēng [Phonetic:yí gè luóbo yí gè kēng]

и гэ лобо и гэ кэн

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ kʰɤŋ⁵⁵/

ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄌㄨㄛˊ ˙ㄅㄛ ㄧ ㄍㄜˋ ㄎㄥㄦ

игэлобоигэкэнр

/i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ lu̯ɔ³⁵ b̥u̯ɔ³ i⁵⁵⁻³⁵ kɤ⁵¹ kʰɤ̃ɻ⁵⁵/

/jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ lɔː²¹ paːk̚² jɐt̚⁵ kɔː³³ haːŋ⁵⁵/

(figurative) each has his or her own task, and there is nobody to spare


head

se mia nonna avesse le ruote, sarebbe una carriola

Literally, “if my grandmother had wheels, she'd be a wheelbarrow”.

lit

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle


คนในอยากออก คนนอกอยากเข้า

th-proverb

คนในอยากออก คนนอกอยากเข้า

คนในอยากออก คนนอกอยากเข้า • (kon-nai-yàak-ɔ̀ɔk kon-nɔ̂ɔk-yàak-kâo)

/kʰon˧.naj˧.jaːk̚˨˩.ʔɔːk̚˨˩.kʰon˧.nɔːk̚˥˩.jaːk̚˨˩.kʰaw˥˩/

(idiomatic) People inside want to get out, and people outside want to get in.

en-คนในอยากออก_คนนอกอยากเข้า-th-proverb-lVgioits


every law has its loophole

There is always a way to work around the restrictions imposed by rules.

закон — что дышло: куда повернёшь — туда и вышло (zakon — što dyšlo: kuda povernjóšʹ — tuda i vyšlo)


裡面的人想出去，外面的人想進來

head

裡面的人想出去，外面的人想進來

ㄌㄧˇ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄔㄨ ㄑㄩˋ

ㄨㄞˋ ㄇㄧㄢˋ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄖㄣˊ ㄒㄧㄤˇ ㄐㄧㄣˋ ㄌㄞˊ

leoi⁵ min⁶ dik¹ jan⁴ soeng² ceot¹ heoi³, ngoi⁶ min⁶ dik¹ jan⁴ soeng² zeon³ loi⁴

лимянь дэ жэнь сян чуцюй

ваймянь дэ жэнь сян цзиньлай

/li²¹⁴⁻²¹ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰy⁵¹⁻⁵³ waɪ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛn⁵¹ d̥ə¹ ʐən³⁵ ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕin⁵¹ laɪ̯³⁵/

léuih mihn dīk yàhn séung chēut heui, ngoih mihn dīk yàhn séung jeun lòih

loey⁵ min⁶ dik⁷ jan⁴ soeng² tsoet⁷ hoey³, ngoi⁶ min⁶ dik⁷ jan⁴ soeng² dzoen³ loi⁴

lêu⁵ min⁶ dig¹ yen⁴ sêng² cêd¹ hêu³, ngoi⁶ min⁶ dig¹ yen⁴ sêng² zên³ loi⁴

/lɵy̯¹³ miːn²² tɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ hɵy̯³³ ŋɔːi̯²² miːn²² tɪk̚⁵ jɐn²¹ sœːŋ³⁵ t͡sɵn³³ lɔːi̯²¹/

A phrase attributed to Qian Zhongshu's novel Fortress Besieged, although similar proverbs appeared to have existed in 17th-century Europe (cf. John Davies).

里面的人想出去，外面的人想进来

People inside want to get out, and people outside want to get in. (often said of marriage)


en la guerra y en el amor todo vale

Literally, “in love and war all's fair”.

all's fair in love and war
all's fair in love and war


qui sème le vent, récolte la tempête

qui sème le vent récolte la tempête#French

Alternative spelling of qui sème le vent récolte la tempête


做一天和尚撞一天鐘

to toll the bell for as long as one is a monk

ㄗㄨㄛˋ ㄧ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄏㄜˊ ˙ㄕㄤ ㄓㄨㄤˋ ㄧ ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨㄥ

zou⁶ jat¹ tin¹ wo⁴ soeng⁶⁻² zong⁶ jat¹ tin¹ zung¹

zuò yītiān héshang zhuàng yītiān zhōng [Phonetic:zuò yìtiān héshang zhuàng yìtiān zhōng]

tso⁴ i¹-tʻien¹ ho²-shang⁵ chuang⁴ i¹-tʻien¹ chung¹

dzwò yī-tyān hé-shang jwàng yī-tyān jūng

цзо итянь хэшан чжуан итянь чжун

/t͡su̯ɔ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ xɤ³⁵ ʂɑŋ³ ʈ͡ʂu̯ɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵/

jouh yāt tīn wòh séung johng yāt tīn jūng

dzou⁶ jat⁷ tin¹ wo⁴ soeng⁶⁻² dzong⁶ jat⁷ tin¹ dzung¹

zou⁶ yed¹ tin¹ wo⁴ sêng⁶⁻² zong⁶ yed¹ tin¹ zung¹

/t͡sou̯²² jɐt̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ wɔː²¹ sœːŋ²²⁻³⁵ t͡sɔːŋ²² jɐt̚⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵/

[Phonetic: zuò yìtiān héshang zhuàng yìtiān zhōng]

to do the least that is expected; to do the absolute minimum; to not put oneself out


床頭吵架床尾和

床头吵架床尾和
牀頭吵架牀尾和

ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄊㄡˊ ㄔㄠˇ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄔㄨㄤˊ ㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄜˊ

chʻuang²-tʻou² chʻao³-chia⁴ chʻuang²-wei³ ho²

чуантоу чаоцзя чуанвэй хэ

/ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ tʰoʊ̯³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʰɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu̯ɑŋ³⁵ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xɤ³⁵/

(of a married couple) to quarrel with each other at the head of the bed and compromise at the end of it; to fight getting into bed and make up before falling asleep; to quickly make up after a quarrel; (sometimes specifically) to end an intense argument with make-up sex


fr-proverb

tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se casse

tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se casse

/tɑ̃ va la kʁyʃ a l‿o k‿a la fɛ̃ ɛl sə kas/

the jug goes to the well until it breaks, the pitcher goes so often to the well that it is broken at last

tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se brise


μπρος γκρεμός και πίσω ρέμα

head

μπρος γκρεμός και πίσω ρέμα • (bros gkremós kai píso réma)

bros gkremós kai píso réma (romanization)
cliff in front (literally)

between a rock and a hard place
between a rock and a hard place

en-μπρος_γκρεμός_και_πίσω_ρέμα-el-proverb-cV5W7EUw


fr-proverb

tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se brise

tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se brise

/tɑ̃ va la kʁyʃ a l‿o k‿a la fɛ̃ ɛl sə bʁiz/

tant va la cruche à l'eau qu'à la fin elle se casse#French

Alternative form of tant va la cruche à l’eau qu’à la fin elle se casse


you can't go home again

From the novel You Can't Go Home Again by Thomas Wolfe (1900–1938), published posthumously in 1940. Wolfe took the title from a conversation with the writer Ella Winter, who remarked to Wolfe: "Don't you know you can't go home again?" Wolfe then asked Winter for permission to use the phrase as the title of his book.

The organizers of a surprisingly refreshing program called "Judson Dance Theater Reconstruction" know that you can't go home again. Instead, they have tried to re-create that home if ever so briefly—even if it was a home these same young organizers never knew.

1982 April 18, Anna Kisselgoff, “Dance: Judson Theater Remembered”, in New York Times, retrieved 2018-11-05:

As novelist Thomas Wolfe (1930s, not 1960s, version) declared in one of his book titles, You Can't Go Home Again—because home isn't there anymore.

2001 June 24, George J. Church, “Jobs in an Age of Insecurity”, in Time, retrieved 2018-11-05:

The Americans have a phrase for it: you can't go home again. Once you leave, that is it. […] [H]is time has come and gone, as he confessed when he retired from Test cricket three years ago. And gone means gone.

2009 August 12, Michael Henderson, “The Ashes: Marcus Trescothick's health is more important than England winning”, in Telegraph (UK), retrieved 2018-11-05:

Past times which are fondly remembered are irrecoverably in the past and cannot be relived.

Ella Winter
Thomas Wolfe
You Can't Go Home Again


每日一蘋果，醫生遠離我

ㄇㄟˇ ㄖˋ ㄧ ㄆㄧㄥˊ ㄍㄨㄛˇ

ㄧ ㄕㄥ ㄩㄢˇ ㄌㄧˊ ㄨㄛˇ

yīshēng yuǎnlí wǒ [Phonetic:měirì yì píngguǒ

мэйжи и пинго

ишэн юаньли во

/meɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ pʰiŋ³⁵ ku̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ i⁵⁵ ʂɤŋ⁵⁵ ɥɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ li³⁵ wɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

Calque of English an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

calque

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


show, don't tell

The second flaw is a flagrant violation of “show, don't tell.” Don't tell readers that she's sad and he's mad. Show the reader what they do. Worst of all, don't do both!

1999, Kendall Haven, Write Right!: Creative Writing Using Storytelling Techniques, Bloomsbury, page 186:

In “Steve Jobs,” Oscar-winning writer Aaron Sorkin “Sorkins” the hell out of an unconventional adaptation of Walter Isaacson’s best-selling biography by daring to break the cardinal rule of show don’t tell.

2015 October 21, Dana Barbuto, “Review: Aaron Sorkin makes ‘Steve Jobs’ work”, in Northwest Herald:

Advice to writers: convey an impression by the way that events are described in the narrative, and not by explicitly stating facts.


you can't step in the same river twice

En-au-you can't step in the same river twice.ogg

Direct translation from Heraclitus, "δὶς ἐς τὸν αὐτὸν ποταμὸν οὐκ ἂν ἐμβαίης."

(idiomatic) It is not possible to repeat past experiences, as time changes all things.


head

/ˌveːr den ˈʃaːdən hat ˌbraʊ̯xt fyːr den ˈʃpɔt nɪçt tsu ˌzɔrɡən/

De-wer den Schaden hat, braucht für den Spott nicht zu sorgen.ogg

Literally, “he who has loss (or harm), need not arrange for mockery”, meaning that he will get it automatically.

lit

when something bad happens to you, expect people to mock you on top of that


nunca llueve a gusto de todos

One man's meat is another man's poison
one man's meat is another man's poison

One man's meat is another man's poison; one can't please everybody.


tout travail mérite salaire

all work deserves payment, no job should go unpaid


une image vaut mille mots

a picture is worth a thousand words
a picture is worth a thousand words

a picture is worth a thousand words, seeing is believing


it takes all sorts to make a world

it takes all kinds to make a world#English

Alternative form of it takes all kinds to make a world


il faut de tout pour faire un monde

it takes all kinds to make a world
it takes all kinds to make a world

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

it takes all kinds to make a world, it takes all sorts, variety is the spice of life


it takes all sorts

it takes all sorts to make a world#English

Ellipsis of it takes all sorts to make a world.


見人說人話，見鬼說鬼話

speaking the language of humans when seeing a human, and speaking the language of devils when seeing a devil

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

цзянь жэнь шо жэньхуа

цзянь гуй шо гуйхуа

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

(figurative) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people; (derogatory) to be crafty and two-faced

見人講人話，見鬼講鬼話／见人讲人话，见鬼讲鬼话

jiàn rén jiǎng rénhuà, jiàn guǐ jiǎng guǐhuà


en-proverb

one hair of a woman can draw more than a hundred pair of oxen

Women have great influence on their male partners or husbands and can have anything done for them.

women have great influence on their male partners

estira més un pèl de figa que una maroma de vaixell

tira più un pelo di fica che un carro di buoi

un pelo de concha tira más que una yunta de bueyes


the fox may grow grey but never good

One cannot change one's nature, no matter how much time passes.

les loups peuvent perdre leurs dents, mais non le naturel

der Wolf ändert wohl sein Haar, aber er bleibt, wie er war

o lýkos ki an egérase ki ásprise to mallí tou, míte ti gnómi állaxe, míte tin kefalí tou

ο λύκος κι αν εγέρασε κι άσπρισε το μαλλί του, μήτε τη γνώμη άλλαξε, μήτε την κεφαλή του

volk každyj god linjajet, da obyčaja ne menjajet

волк каждый год линяет, да обычая не меняет

the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature


the wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature

ḳuzians samare gaasc̣orebs da zogǯer isic verao

კუზიანს სამარე გაასწორებს და ზოგჯერ ისიც ვერაო

virs bevri scemes, magram tavisi ar moišalao

ვირს ბევრი სცემეს, მაგრამ თავისი არ მოიშალაო

datvs anbans asc̣avlidnen da is baṭḳnisḳen iq̇urebodao

დათვს ანბანს ასწავლიდნენ და ის ბატკნისკენ იყურებოდაო


nhất gái hơn hai, nhì trai hơn một

[ɲət̚˧˦ ɣaːj˧˦ həːn˧˧ haːj˧˧ ɲi˨˩ t͡ɕaːj˧˧ həːn˧˧ mot̚˧˨ʔ]

[ɲək̚˦˧˥ ɣaːj˨˩˦ həːŋ˧˧ haːj˧˧ ɲɪj˦˩ ʈaːj˧˧ həːŋ˧˧ mok̚˨˩ʔ]

[ɲək̚˦˥ ɣaːj˦˥ həːŋ˧˧ haːj˧˧ ɲɪj˨˩ ʈaːj˧˧ həːŋ˧˧ mok̚˨˩˨]

A husband who is two years older than the wife, or a wife one year older than the husband, is desirable.


女大三抱金磚

woman older [by] three [years] carries gold bricks

ㄋㄩˇ ㄉㄚˋ ㄙㄢ ㄅㄠˋ ㄐㄧㄣ ㄓㄨㄢ

нюй да сань бао цзиньчжуань

/ny²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pɑʊ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕin⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu̯än⁵⁵/

A wife three years older than the husband ensures a richer life. (rhyming saying)


仔大仔世界

/t͡sɐi̯³⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sɐi̯³⁵ sɐi̯³³ kaːi̯³³/

(Cantonese) when children grow up, they have their own way of living and make their own decisions (and parents should not impose their ideas on them)


qui peut le plus, peut le moins

qui peut le plus peut le moins
qui peut le plus peut le moins#French

Alternative spelling of qui peut le plus peut le moins


eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die

A conflation of two Biblical references:
* Then I commended mirth, because a man hath no better thing under the sun, than to eat, and to drink, and to be merry
* Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we [shall] die
A direct quote from the Book of Mormon:
* Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us.

But are more inclined to take for their guide the maxim of "a penny saved is a penny got" than that of "let us eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die."

1977, Bartlett Jere Whiting, Early American Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, →ISBN, page 127:

Eat, drink, and be merry / For tomorrow, we'll die / Cause we're tripping billies

1996, “Tripping Billies”, in Remember Two Things, performed by Dave Matthews Band:

Vovo said, only half arguing, "Who can you point out that ever profited by this moderation teaching? Who inhistory every got anywhere practicing moderation. Some say you must live to the hilt. Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die.”

2011, Mack Reynolds, Tomorrow Might Be Different, →ISBN:

The younger decided to leave and live the fast life and be carefree—eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

2013, Carvel Collins, Fighting With Purpose: I'm in It to Win It, →ISBN, page 106:

Life is short, so you should enjoy it while you can.

Instead of saying as the epicure, "let us eat drink and be merry for tomorrow we die;" or on the other hand, murmuring against the appointments of God, and indulging our vain objections; let us seek for a lively hope, a submissive will, and a contented mind

1815, Thomas Scott, The Holy Bible, containing the Old and New Testaments : with original notes, practical observation, and copious marginal references, page 35:

Yea, and there shall be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die; and it shall be well with us. And there shall also be many which shall say: Eat, drink, and be merry; nevertheless, fear God—he will justify in committing a little sin; yea, lie a little, take the advantage of one because of his words, dig a pit for thy neighbor; there is no harm in this; and do all these things, for tomorrow we die; and if it so be that we are guilty, God will beat us with a few stripes, and at last we shall be saved in the kingdom of God.

1830, Joseph Smith Jr., chapter 28, in The Book of Mormon^(https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Book_of_Mormon_(1981)/2_Nephi#Chapter_28), 2 Nephi:

In speaking pejoratively of epicurean beliefs.


the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette

In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some sacrifices be made.

ei makaavan kissan suuhun hiiri juokse

some sacrifices must be made for something to be achieved

xóčetsja rýbku sʺjestʹ, da ne xóčetsja v vódu leztʹ

хо́чется ры́бку съесть, да не хо́чется в во́ду лезть


traduttori, traditori

translators are traitors; a text can never be translated without some loss of nuance


fr-proverb

on n’est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même

on n'est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même

/ɔ̃ n‿ɛ ʒa.mɛ mjø sɛʁ.vi k(ə) paʁ swa.mɛm/

if you want a thing done well, do it yourself


好漢架不住三泡稀

ㄏㄠˇ ㄏㄢˋ ㄐㄧㄚˋ ㄅㄨˋ ㄓㄨˋ ㄙㄢ ㄆㄠ ㄒㄧ

hǎohàn jiàbùzhù sān pāo xī [Phonetic:hǎohàn jiàbúzhù sān pāo xī]

hao³-han⁴ chia⁴-pu⁴-chu⁴ san¹ pʻao¹ hsi¹

хаохань цзябучжу сань пао си

/xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xän⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵¹ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵¹ sän⁵⁵ pʰɑʊ̯⁵⁵ ɕi⁵⁵/

even a manly man cannot withstand three bouts of diarrhea


dat kan bruin niet trekken

Literally, “[the] brown [horse] can't pull that”. From older dat kan grauw niet trekken, which referred to a donkey (or a grey horse according to some authors). Several authors include daar moet een bruin voor wezen (“a brown [horse] has to be in front of that”) behind the variant about the donkey; this clause is otherwise unattested but could explain the shift from grey to brown.


fazer o bem sem ver a quem

A rhythmic saying meaning: "to do good things without seeing whom to".

when being altruist, one should not consider who is the person benefited, but the action itself (or the quality thereof) instead


fazer o bem sem olhar a quem

fazer o bem sem ver a quem
fazer o bem sem ver a quem#Portuguese

Alternative form of fazer o bem sem ver a quem


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)


minden jó, ha jó a vége

Literally: "everything is good if its end is good"

minden jó, ha a vége jó
minden jó, ha a vége jó#Hungarian

Alternative form of minden jó, ha a vége jó.


il n'y a pas de sot métier

all work is noble, no profession is without merit


fr-proverb

l’avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt

/l‿av.ni.ʁ‿a.paʁ.tjɛ̃ a sø ki s(ə) lɛv to/

Literally, “the future belongs to those who rise early”.

lit

l'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt

the early bird gets the worm
the early bird gets the worm


testis unus, testis nullus

head

testis unus, testis nullus (lit. one witness, no witness)

(law) A single witness or other evidence to an event is insufficient to establish that the event truly happened.


fr-proverb

/ʃa.ʁi.te bjɛ̃.n‿ɔʁ.dɔ.ne kɔ.mɑ̃s paʁ swa.mɛm/

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.wav

charity begins at home
charity begins at home


jeder ist seines Glückes Schmied

every man is the architect of his own fortune


wie man sich bettet, so schläft man

wie man sich bettet, so liegt man#German

Rare form of wie man sich bettet, so liegt man.


wie man sich bettet, so liegt man

Literally, “as one beds oneself is how one lies”.

lit

as you make your bed, so you must lie in it


как постелешь, так и поспишь

head

как посте́лешь, так и поспи́шь

как посте́лешь, так и поспи́шь • (kak postélešʹ, tak i pospíšʹ)

как посте́лешь (canonical)
так и поспи́шь (canonical)
kak postélešʹ (romanization)
tak i pospíšʹ (romanization)

en-как_постелешь,_так_и_поспишь-ru-proverb-BwWacApw


każdy jest kowalem swojego losu

/ˈkaʐ.dɘ jɛst kɔˈva.lɛm sfɔˈjɛ.ɡɔ ˈlɔ.su/

Literally, “everyone is the smith of their own fate”.

lit

każdy jest kowalem własnego losu
każdy jest kowalem własnego losu#Polish

(idiomatic) Alternative form of każdy jest kowalem własnego losu


comme on fait son lit on se couche

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-comme on fait son lit on se couche.wav


fr-proverb

la foudre ne tombe jamais deux fois au même endroit

/la fu.dʁə n(ə) tɔ̃b ʒa.mɛ dø fwa o mɛm ɑ̃.dʁwa/

lightning never strikes twice in the same place


head

every man is the architect of his own fortune

Each person is the chief cause of their success or failure in life.

každý svého štěstí strůjcem

each person is the chief cause of their success or failure

ĉiu kreas sian forton, ĉiu forĝas sian sorton

всяк своему́ сча́стью кузне́ц (vsjak svojemú sčástʹju kuznéc, literally “every man is the smith of his own fortune”)

as you make your bed, so you must lie in it


as you make your bed, so you must lie in it

You shall carry the negative consequences of your not having prepared properly.

jak si kdo ustele, tak si lehne

you shall carry the burden of your poor preparation

сам ка́шу завари́л, сам и ку́шай

You've cooked the porridge so eat it yourself

vi du vest dikh leygn, azoy vestu shlofn

ווי דו וועסט דיך לייגן, אַזוי וועסטו שלאָפֿן


qui part à la chasse perd sa place

you snooze, you lose
you snooze, you lose


on n'a rien sans rien

/ɔ̃ n‿a ʁjɛ̃ sɑ̃ ʁjɛ̃/

you don't get something for nothing
you don't get something for nothing

there's no such thing as a free lunch
there's no such thing as a free lunch

you don't get something for nothing, there's no such thing as a free lunch


fr-proverb

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.wav

Fr-Paris--si jeunesse savait, si vieillesse pouvait.ogg

Literally, “if [only] youth knew, if [only] old age could”.

m-g

if 􂀿only􂁀 youth knew, if 􂀿only􂁀 old age could

lit

youth is wasted on the young
youth is wasted on the young

youth is wasted on the young, you can't put an old head on young shoulders (it's too bad that young people lack the experience and wisdom which only come with age; at the same time, it's a pity that old people lack the physical wherewithal to take full advantage of their experience and wisdom)


qui va à la chasse perd sa place

LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-qui va à la chasse perd sa place.wav

Fr-Paris--qui va à la chasse perd sa place.ogg

qui part à la chasse perd sa place#French

Alternative form of qui part à la chasse perd sa place: you snooze, you lose


fr-proverb

on ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs

on ne fait pas d’omelette sans casser des œufs

/ɔ̃ n(ə) fɛ pa d‿ɔm.lɛt sɑ̃ ka.se de.z‿ø/

/ɔ̃ n(ə) fɛ pɑ d‿ɔm.lɛt sɑ̃ kɑ.se de.z‿ø/

you've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette


à cœur vaillant rien d'impossible

à cœur vaillant rien d’ impossible (canonical)

where there's a will, there's a way
where there's a will, there's a way


Kindermund tut Wahrheit kund

Literally, “child's mouth makes the truth known”.

lit

out of the mouths of babes
out of the mouths of babes

children have a pure heart and an original intuition, which makes them wise

(more often) children have no social inhibition and therefore speak their mind

Kinder und Betrunkene sagen immer die Wahrheit


人之將死，其言也善

ㄖㄣˊ ㄓ ㄐㄧㄤ ㄙˇ

ㄑㄧˊ ㄧㄢˊ ㄧㄝˇ ㄕㄢˋ

jan⁴ zi¹ zoeng¹ sei², kei⁴ jin⁴ jaa⁵ sin⁶

jên² chih¹ chiang¹ ssŭ³, chʻi² yen² yeh³ shan⁴

жэнь чжи цзян сы

ци янь е шань

/ʐən³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ⁵⁵ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ jɛn³⁵ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂän⁵¹/

jan⁴ dzi¹ dzoeng¹ sei², kei⁴ jin⁴ jaa⁵ sin⁶

/jɐn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ t͡sœːŋ⁵⁵ sei̯³⁵ kʰei̯²¹ jiːn²¹ jaː¹³ siːn²²/

The philosopher Zeng being ill, Meng Jing went to ask how he was. Zeng said to him, "When a bird is about to die, its notes are mournful; when a man is about to die, his words are good."

「曾子有疾，孟敬子問之。曾子言曰：『鳥之將死，其鳴也哀；人之將死，其言也善。[[#Chinese|]]

A person's words are kind when death is near.


c'est l'intention qui compte

c’est l’ intention qui compte (canonical)

it's the thought that counts
it's the thought that counts


head

Mädchen, die pfeifen, und Hühnern, die krähen, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehen

Literally, “girls that whistle and hens that crow, need their necks wrung in good time”.

lit

(dated when humorous, otherwise archaic) a whistling girl and a crowing hen always come to some bad end; used to discourage girls from whistling, which was formerly considered indecorous

dated when humorous; otherwise archaic; dated when humorous; otherwise archaic

reflecting the pronunciation according to the metre

Mädchen, die pfeifen, und Hühnern, die krähn, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehn

Mädchen, die flöten, und Hühnern, die krähen, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehen

Mädchen, die pfeifen, und Hennen, die krähen, soll man beizeiten, die Hälse umdrehen


head

Mädchen, die flöten, und Hühnern, die krähen, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehen

Mädchen, die pfeifen, und Hühnern, die krähen, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehen#German

Alternative form of Mädchen, die pfeifen, und Hühnern, die krähen, soll man beizeiten die Hälse umdrehen


demain est un autre jour

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-demain est un autre jour.wav

tomorrow is another day
tomorrow is another day


fr-proverb

l'herbe est toujours plus verte ailleurs

l’herbe est toujours plus verte ailleurs

the grass is always greener on the other side

l'herbe est toujours plus verte dans le pré du voisin


l’herbe est toujours plus verte dans le pré du voisin

/l‿ɛʁb ɛ tu.ʒuʁ ply vɛʁ.t(ə) dɑ̃ l(ə) pʁe dy vwa.zɛ̃/


ein Esel schimpft den anderen Langohr

ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr#German

Alternative form of ein Esel schimpft den andern Langohr


الغاية تبرر الوسيلة

head

اَلْغَايَةُ تُبَرِّرُ الْوَسِيلَة

اَلْغَايَةُ تُبَرِّرُ الْوَسِيلَة • (al-ḡāyatu tubarriru l-wasīla)

اَلْغَايَةُ تُبَرِّرُ الْوَسِيلَة (canonical)
al-ḡāyatu tubarriru l-wasīla (romanization)

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means


fr-proverb

rien ne sert de courir, il faut partir à point

/ʁjɛ̃ n(ə) sɛʁ də ku.ʁiʁ | il fo paʁ.tiʁ a pwɛ̃/

Literally, “it's no use running, one has to leave on time”. From the fable Le Lièvre et la Tortue by Jean de La Fontaine. From that same fable, see also train de sénateur.

lit

slow and steady wins the race
slow and steady wins the race

more haste, less speed
more haste, less speed

slow and steady wins the race; more haste, less speed

Jean de La Fontaine
fr:Le Lièvre et la Tortue (La Fontaine)


abondance de biens ne nuit pas

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-abondance de biens ne nuit pas.wav

too much of a good thing
too much of a good thing

plenty is no plague, you can never have too much of a good thing


head

bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen

Literally, "better a bird in one's hand than ten in the forest."

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


betri er einn fugl í hendi en tveir í skógi

Literally "one bird in a hand is better than two in the forest."


lepší vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche


én fugl i hånden er bedre enn ti på taket

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush (literally: a bird in the hand is better than ten on the roof)


لا حياء في الدين

لَا حَياءَ فِي الدِّينِ

لَا حَياءَ فِي الدِّينِ • (lā ḥayāʔa fī d-dīni)

لَا حَياءَ فِي الدِّينِ (canonical)
lā ḥayāʔa fī d-dīni (romanization)

Literally: “There is no abashment in religion”, meaning that there is no hindrance against speaking frankly of sensitive matters when these are relevant to questions of religious law.

naturalia non sunt turpia
naturalia non sunt turpia

One should not be ashamed of talking about bodily, sexual, or other sensitive matters if this is necessary; naturalia non sunt turpia


en-proverb

a creaking door hangs long on its hinges

a creaking door hangs longest
a creaking door hangs longest#English

Alternative form of a creaking door hangs longest


κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

head

κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει • (kakó skylí psófo den échei)

kakó skylí psófo den échei (romanization)
a bad dog has no death (literally)

a creaking door hangs longest
a creaking door hangs longest

(derogatory) a creaking door hangs longest, a creaking door hangs long on its hinges, the good die young (about evil or bad persons who hang on to life and refuse to die)

en-κακό_σκυλί_ψόφο_δεν_έχει-el-proverb-cHC5U2fK


a creaking door hangs longest

Someone who is apparently in poor health may well outlive the ostensibly-stronger.

Something annoying or bothersome lasts the longest.

κακό σκυλί ψόφο δεν έχει

something annoying or bothersome lasts the longest


en-proverb

if wishes were horses, beggars would ride

A response to someone wishing for something, conveying that merely wishing for something has no effect or is of no use.

if ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas


fr-proverb

si ma tante en avait, on l'appellerait mon oncle

si ma tante en avait, on l’appellerait mon oncle

si ma tante en avait (canonical)
on l’ appellerait mon oncle (canonical)

/si ma tɑ̃t ɑ̃.n‿a.vɛ | ɔ̃ l‿a.pɛl.ʁɛ mɔ̃.n‿ɔ̃kl/

Literally, “if my aunt had some [the word couilles is implied], she'd be called my uncle”.

m-g

if my aunt had some 􂀿the word <i class="Latn mention" lang="fr">couilles</i> is implied􂁀, she'd be called my uncle

lit

if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle
if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle

avec des si on mettrait Paris en bouteille

(vulgar) if my aunt had balls, she'd be my uncle; if wishes were horses, beggars would ride


il n'est si bon cheval qui ne bronche

il n’ est si bon cheval qui ne bronche (canonical)

il n'y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche#French

Alternative form of il n’y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche


à l'impossible nul n'est tenu

à l’ impossible nul n’ est tenu (canonical)

nobody can be expected to achieve the impossible


il n'y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche

il n’ y a si bon cheval qui ne bronche (canonical)

it's a good horse that never stumbles
it's a good horse that never stumbles

even Homer nods, it's a good horse that never stumbles


czas leczy rany

time heals all wounds
time heals all wounds


人不為己，天誅地滅

desc

→ Vietnamese: người không vì mình, trời tru đất diệt (calque)

ㄖㄣˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄨㄟˋ ㄐㄧˇ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄓㄨ ㄉㄧˋ ㄇㄧㄝˋ

jan⁴ bat¹ wai⁶ gei², tin¹ zyu¹ dei⁶ mit⁶

jên² pu⁴ wei⁴ chi³, tʻien¹ chu¹ ti⁴ mieh⁴

жэнь бу вэй цзи

тянь чжу ди ме

/ʐən³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ weɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi²¹⁴⁻²¹ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂu⁵⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ mi̯ɛ⁵¹/

jan⁴ bat⁷ wai⁶ gei², tin¹ dzy¹ dei⁶ mit⁹

/jɐn²¹ pɐt̚⁵ wɐi̯²² kei̯³⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ t͡syː⁵⁵ tei̯²² miːt̚²/

Attested earliest in Liu Shaoqi's How to be a Good Communist (《論共產黨員的修養》)

They want to grab all the good things of life, but when it comes to the "unpleasant things", they think these are for others. The heads of such people are stuffed with the ideology of the exploiting classes. They believe that "every man is for himself or that Heaven and Earth will destroy him", man is a "selfish animal", and "no one in the world is genuinely unselfish, unless he is a simpleton or an idiot". They even use such exploiting class rubbish to justify their own selfishness and individualism. There are such people in our Party.

1939, Liu Shaoqi (劉少奇), How to be a Good Communist 《論共產黨員的修養》, translation from 1984, Selected Works of Liu Shaoqi, Volume I

Yīqiè hǎo de shìqíng tā dōu qǐtú bàzhàn, dànshì, yīqiè “dǎoméi” de shìqíng, zǒng xiǎng shì méiyǒu tā. Zhè zhǒng rén de nǎojīn, jìntòu zhuó bōxuējiējí de sīxiǎngyìshí. Tā xiàngxìn zhèyàng de huà: “Rén bù wèi jǐ, tiān zhū dì miè”, “rén shì zìsīzìlì de dòngwù”, “shìjièshàng bùhuì yǒu zhēnzhèng dàgōngwúsī de rén, rúguǒ yǒu, nà yě shì chǔncái hé shǎguā”. Tā shènzhì yòng zhè yī dà tào bōxuējiējí de huà, lái wèi tā de zìsīzìlì hé gerénzhǔyì biànhù. Zài wǒmen dǎngnèi shì yǒu zhè zhǒng rén de.

一切好的事情他都企圖霸佔，但是，一切「倒霉」的事情，總想是沒有他。這種人的腦筋，浸透着剝削階級的思想意識。他相信這樣的話：「人不為己，天誅地滅」，「人是自私自利的動物」，「世界上不會有真正大公無私的人，如果有，那也是蠢才和傻瓜」。他甚至用這一大套剝削階級的話，來為他的自私自利和個人主義辯護。在我們黨內是有這種人的。

一切好的事情他都企图霸占，但是，一切「倒霉」的事情，总想是没有他。这种人的脑筋，浸透着剥削阶级的思想意识。他相信这样的话：「人不为己，天诛地灭」，「人是自私自利的动物」，「世界上不会有真正大公无私的人，如果有，那也是蠢才和傻瓜」。他甚至用这一大套剥削阶级的话，来为他的自私自利和个人主义辩护。在我们党内是有这种人的。

When I was interviewed on ATV Hong Kong, [the host] once said: “‘Every person serves themself or Heaven and Earth will destroy them’, as a proverb goes. Which person isn't selfish? Being selfish is reasonable.” I immediately explained to him that this proverb is wrong, is not the correct view, [and] has misled too many people. What is the correct view? People ought to serve society and be altruistic, that is the correct view and correct mindfulness. Don't be selfish!

2000, Chin Kung (淨空), “[Lectures on] ‘The Sutra Spoken by Buddha on the Way of Ten Meritorious Deeds’ (《佛說十善業道經》)”, Episode 24 (第二十四集)

Wǒ zhècì zài Xiānggǎng Yàshì fǎngwèn de shíhòu, céngjīng shuō le yī jù huà. Tā shuō: yànyǔ jiǎng “rén bù wèi jǐ, tiān zhū dì miè”, nǎge bù wèi zìjǐ? Tā shuō wèi zìjǐ shì zhèngdāng de. Wǒ dāngshí jiù gēn tā shuōmíng, zhè yī jù huà shì cuòwù de, zhè jù huà bùshì zhèngjiàn, wùdǎo le xǔxǔduōduō de zhòngshēng. Shénme shì zhèngjiàn? Rén yìngdāng wèi shèhuì, yìngdāng wèi zhòngshēng, zhè shì zhèngzhī zhèngjiàn, bùyào wèi zìjǐ.

我這次在香港亞視訪問的時候，曾經說了一句話。他說：諺語講「人不為己，天誅地滅」，哪個不為自己？他說為自己是正當的。我當時就跟他說明，這一句話是錯誤的，這句話不是正見，誤導了許許多多的眾生。什麼是正見？人應當為社會，應當為眾生，這是正知正見，不要為自己。

我这次在香港亚视访问的时候，曾经说了一句话。他说：谚语讲「人不为己，天诛地灭」，哪个不为自己？他说为自己是正当的。我当时就跟他说明，这一句话是错误的，这句话不是正见，误导了许许多多的众生。什么是正见？人应当为社会，应当为众生，这是正知正见，不要为自己。

devil take the hindmost
devil take the hindmost

unless a person looks out for themselves, Heaven and Earth will destroy them; everyone for themselves and the devil take the hindmost


qui vivra verra

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lyokoï-qui vivra verra.wav

Near-literally (slightly modified for English grammar), "who(ever) lives will see."