दूर के ढोल सुहावने होते हैं

hi-proverb

दूर के ढोल सुहावने होते हैं • (dūr ke ḍhol suhāvne hote ha͠i)

dūr ke ḍhol suhāvne hote ha͠i (romanization)

/d̪uːɾ keː ɖʱoːl sʊ.ɦɑːʋ.neː ɦoː.t̪eː ɦɛ̃ː/

[d̪uːɾ‿keː‿ɖʱoːl‿sʊ.ɦäːʋ.neː‿ɦoː.t̪eː‿ɦɛ̃ː]

the grass is always greener on the other side (literally, “From far away, the drums are better”)

en-दूर_के_ढोल_सुहावने_होते_हैं-hi-proverb-LFI0JdHo


the dogs bark, but the caravan moves on

the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on#English

Alternative form of the dogs bark, but the caravan goes on


物似主人形

/mɐt̚² t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

/mɐt̚² t͡sʰiː¹³ t͡syː³⁵ jɐn²¹ jɪŋ²¹/

(Cantonese) possessions reflect their owner


a straw shows which way the wind blows

a straw shows how the wind blows#English

Alternative form of a straw shows how the wind blows


a straw shows how the wind blows

A general situation can be inferred from minor indications.


Ehr is Dwang gnog

Literally, “honour is compulsion enough.”

lit

an honest person will do their duty out of their own accord and thus need not be forced


sex sells

Victoria's Secret, the American retailer that once parlayed a “sex sells” strategy into a $7bn-revenue-empire of underwear, is heading back to TV screens.

2023 September 30, Chantal Fernandez, “Changing the formula”, in FT Weekend, Life & Arts, page 5:

The use of sex appeal is a successful marketing tactic.


在家千日好，出門一時難

ㄗㄞˋ ㄐㄧㄚ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄖˋ ㄏㄠˇ

ㄔㄨ ㄇㄣˊ ㄧ ㄕˊ ㄋㄢˊ

zoi⁶ gaa¹ cin¹ jat⁶ hou², ceot¹ mun⁴ jat¹ si⁴ naan⁴

chūmén yīshí nán [Phonetic:zàijiā qiānrì hǎo

цзайцзя цяньжи хао

чумэнь иши нань

/t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ t͡ɕi̯ä⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ʐ̩⁵¹ xɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ mən³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ nän³⁵/

joih gā chīn yaht hóu, chēut mùhn yāt sìh nàahn

dzoi⁶ gaa¹ tsin¹ jat⁹ hou², tsoet⁷ mun⁴ jat⁷ si⁴ naan⁴

zoi⁶ ga¹ qin¹ yed⁶ hou², cêd¹ mun⁴ yed¹ xi⁴ nan⁴

/t͡sɔːi̯²² kaː⁵⁵ t͡sʰiːn⁵⁵ jɐt̚² hou̯³⁵ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ muːn²¹ jɐt̚⁵ siː²¹ naːn²¹/

It is good to stay at home, but there are many difficulties outside.


పిచ్చుక మీద బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము

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పిచ్చుక మీద బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము • (piccuka mīda brahmāstramu)

piccuka mīda brahmāstramu (romanization)

పిచ్చుక (piccuka) + మీద (mīda) + బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము (brahmāstramu), literally "using the brahmāstra against a sparrow".

com

బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము

మీరు తలుచుకుంటే ఈభూమిని స్వాధీనం చేసుచేసుకో డానికి ఎంతో సేపుపట్టదు, పిచ్చుక మీద బ్రహ్మాస్త్రం వెయ్య కండి!

1964, Ande Narayana Swamy, Andē Nārāyaṇasvāmi, Idduru tallulu:

mīru talucukuṇṭē ībhūmini svādhīnaṁ cēsucēsukō ḍāniki entō sēpupaṭṭadu, piccuka mīda brahmāstraṁ veyya kaṇḍi!

using a sledgehammer to crack a nut
use a sledgehammer to crack a nut

using a sledgehammer to crack a nut; tackling a simple task with an unnecessarily powerful tool

en-పిచ్చుక_మీద_బ్రహ్మాస్త్రము-te-proverb-v4h7QAMS


the winner takes it all

to the victor go the spoils
to the victor go the spoils#English


не святі горшки ліплять

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не святі́ горшки́ лі́плять

не святі́ горшки́ лі́плять • (ne svjatí horšký lípljatʹ)

не святі́ горшки́ лі́плять (canonical)
ne svjatí horšký lípljatʹ (romanization)

[nɛ sʲʋʲɐˈtʲi ɦɔrʃˈkɪ ˈlʲiplʲɐtʲ]

Literally, “pots aren't sculpted by saints”

lit

anyone can learn to do anything if they wish to

en-не_святі_горшки_ліплять-uk-proverb-8EueD2kU


non c'è fumo senza arrosto

/non ˌt͡ʃ‿ɛ‿fˈfu.mo ˈsɛn.t͡sa arˈro.sto/

Literally, “there is no smoke without roast”.

no smoke without fire
no smoke without fire


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the strong do what they can, the weak suffer what they must

the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must#English

Alternative form of the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must


Borrowed from Latin quidquid Latine dictum sit altum videtur (literally “whatever is said in Latin seems profound”).

bor+

(humorous, ironic) Used to mockingly describe people who seem to use Latin phrases and quotations only to make themselves sound more important or "educated".


is binn guth an eòin far an do rugadh e

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

there's no place like home; literally "sweet is the voice of the bird where it was born"


al hierro caliente batir de repente

Literally, “at the hot iron, strike quickly”

lit

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

(idiomatic) strike while the iron is hot


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Calque of Ancient Greek δυνατὰ δὲ οἱ προύχοντες πράσσουσι καὶ οἱ ἀσθενεῖς ξυγχωροῦσιν (dunatà dè hoi proúkhontes prássousi kaì hoi astheneîs xunkhōroûsin) in Thucydides’s History of the Peloponnesian War 5.89 (the Melian dialogue). Thucydides presents the sentence as part of an ultimatum from Athens to the city of Melos demanding tribute. The Melians having rejected the order, their city was taken by force and their population enslaved and massacred by the Athenians. The wording that has become standard is from Richard Crawley’s 1874 translation.

calque

Bitter is the necessity of it. It knows no law. In the world the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must.

1924 November, Arthur W. Wheen, “Two Masters”, in The London Mercury, volume 11, number 61, page 35:

But the present organisation of society, national and international, works on the principle that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

1970, Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan, Radhakrishnan: Selected Writings on Philosophy, Religion and Culture, →ISBN, page 48:

I felt then, as I do now, that the growth of the United Nations into a truly effective world organization was our best, perhaps our last, hope of bringing about enduring and creative peace if mankind was to end a savage tradition that the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must.

1972, Lester B. Pearson, Memoirs, 1897–1948: Through Diplomacy to Politics, →ISBN, page 283:

But for the weak, power – the power of others – is largely a source of inequality and subordination. The strong do what they can. The weak suffer what they must, including hierarchic subordination.

2000, Jack Donnelly, Realism in International Relations, →ISBN, page 101:

The unilateral actions on the part of the United States, as in Iraq, threaten not so much the integrity of the Concert as the foundational norms of international society, such as sovereignty and non-intervention, which had provided the basis for that society in the first place. If this trend continues, we may end up with a hyper-realist world in which “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”.

2006, Mohammed Ayoob, Matthew Zierler, “The unipolar concert: Unipolarity and multilateralism in the age of globalization”, in Ramesh Thakur, Waheguru Pal Singh Sidhu, editors, The Iraq Crisis and the World Order: Structural, Institutional and Normative Challenges, →ISBN, pages 52–3:

The overall argument is that powerful states and wealthy capitalists use what power they have to gain even more power. They save the lucrative parts of the production process for themselves, and force weaker actors into the parts that yield relatively little reward. ¶ In this respect, economic structuralism fully agrees with the realist statement that “the strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must”.

2021, Paul D’Anieri, International Politics: Power and Purpose in Global Affairs, 5th edition, →ISBN, pages 90, 92:

international relations
international relations

(chiefly international relations) The weak cannot resist the decisions of the strong; power, not morality, decides the outcome of any dispute.

History of the Peloponnesian War
Melian dialogue
Richard Crawley
Thucydides


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the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long

the flame that burns twice as bright burns half as long

the light that burns twice as bright burns half as long

The more intensely someone or something works or acts, the more quickly that person will burn out or that thing will end.


hair today, gone tomorrow

JOHN DONNELLY—brilliant advertiser for Noonan's Hair Restorer, says it makes you look "Neet" and causes your hair to "come out" fine. But he forgets the old saying, "Hair today, gone tomorrow."

1934, Louis F. Musco, “Prophecies of the Class of '34”, in The 1934 Sub Turri, Chestnut Hill, M.A.: Boston College, page 518:

Snip, snip, snip, I went, and watched it tumble to the floor. Snip, snip, snip. Cut, cut, cut. Bye, bye. Slán leat. And as they say in France, au revoir. Hair today, gone tomorrow. That's the way things were these days.

2017, Alan McMonagle, Ithaca, London: Picador, →ISBN, page 283:

Hair is only temporary, so it is not a big deal for it to be cut.


十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人

ja-pos

とお で しんどう じゅうご で さいし はたち すぎれば ただ の ひと

十(とお)で神(しん)童(どう)十(じゅう)五(ご)で才(さい)子(し)二十(はたち)過(す)ぎればただの人(ひと) • (tō de shindō jūgo de saishi hatachi sugireba tada no hito)

十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人 (canonical)

Literally, a child prodigy by the age of ten, a savant by the age of fifteen, yet just a man by his twenties.

en-十で神童十五で才子二十過ぎればただの人-ja-proverb-47DEQpj8


一筋縄じゃ行かない

ひとすじなわ じゃ いかない

一(ひと)筋(すじ)縄(なわ)じゃ行(い)かない • (hitosujinawa ja ikanai)

一筋縄じゃ行かない (canonical)
hitosujinawa ja ikanai (romanization)

一筋縄では行かない 一筋縄では行かない#Japanese

Alternative form of 一筋縄では行かない (hitosujinawa de wa ikanai)


en-proverb

he who fails to prepare, prepares to fail

failure to prepare is preparing to fail#English

Alternative form of failure to prepare is preparing to fail


by failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail


if it ain't busted, don't fix it

if it ain't broke, don't fix it
if it ain't broke, don't fix it#English

Synonym of if it ain't broke, don't fix it


practice makes progress

In analogy with practice makes perfect; this proverb states instead that progress must be made before one can perfect something, eliciting patience.

There is a fine balance between asking too many questions and becoming an irritant, asking too few and knowing insufficient. But practice makes progress even if it is not possible to claim perfect.

1987, Michael C. Jackson, Paul Keys, editor, New Directions in Management Science, Gower Publishing, →ISBN, page 50:

Although people may not be good at suppressing unwanted thoughts and derailing unbidden ruminations, practice makes progress.

2010, Susan Fiske, Social Beings: Core Motives in Social Psychology, Wiley, →ISBN, page 171:

But what I find the most inspiring is "Practice makes progress." Whether your progress is a yard or an inch — distance is distance.

2023, Sarah-Kate Duran, “Consistency”, in Paso Robles Press:

If one practices an activity enough, one will steadily make progress and eventually be able to master it in time.

practice makes progress, progress makes perfect


it's not what you know but whom you know

it's not what you know but who you know#English

Alternative form of it's not what you know but who you know


you have to be in it to win it

you've got to be in it to win it#English

Alternative form of you've got to be in it to win it


mulutmu harimaumu

From Malay [Term?]. Literally "your mouth (is) your tiger".


東家唔打打西家

/tʊŋ⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵ m̩²¹ taː³⁵ taː³⁵ sɐi̯⁵⁵ kaː⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) one does not need to stick to the same company; jobs are always available somewhere


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berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian, bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian#Indonesian

Ellipsis of berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian, bersakit-sakit dahulu, bersenang-senang kemudian.


az ördög a részletekben rejlik

devil is in the details
devil is in the details


facts speak louder than words

Facts are stronger than rhetoric; facts are more convincing than eloquent theories.


羹に懲りて膾を吹く

ja-pos

あつもの に こり て なます を ふく

羹(あつもの)に懲(こ)りて膾(なます)を吹(ふ)く • (atsumono ni kori te namasu o fuku)

羹に懲りて膾を吹く (canonical)
atsumono ni kori te namasu o fuku (romanization)

Calque of Chinese 懲羹吹齏／惩羹吹齑 (chénggēngchuījī, literally “Once burnt by hot soup, one would blow at cold food”), from The Verses of Chu.

cal

あつものにこりてなますをふく

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy


貪字貧字殼

From the graphical similarity between 貪 (“to be greedy; greed”) and 貧 (“to be poor; poverty”).

the character 'greed' is shelled in the character'poverty'

(Southern Min) Do not be greedy or you will suffer losses


蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じる

ja-pos

へび に かまれて くちなわ に おじる

蛇(へび)に噛(か)まれて朽(く)ち縄(なわ)に怖(お)じる • (hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru)

蛇に噛まれて朽ち縄に怖じる (canonical)
hebi ni kamarete kuchinawa ni ojiru (romanization)


głupich nie sieją

Literally, “the foolish are not sown”. Ellipsis of głupich nie sieją, sami się rodzą.

ellipsis

głupich nie sieją, sami się rodzą#Polish

(derogatory, idiomatic) Alternative form of głupich nie sieją, sami się rodzą


en-proverb

there are more horses' asses than horses

(Canada, US, slang, humorous) There are plenty of obnoxious people (in the world, or in a specified place or situation). Apparently it can also refer to political situations.

there are more horses' asses than there are horses


all that glitters

all that glitters is not gold
all that glitters is not gold#English

Short for all that glitters is not gold.


on ne prête qu'aux riches

/ɔ̃ nə pʁɛt k‿o ʁiʃ/

Literally, “one lends only to the rich.”

(figuratively) the rich get richer; to every one who has will more be given


ciągnie swój do swego

/ˈt͡ɕɔŋ.ɡɲɛ sfuj dɔ ˈsfɛ.ɡɔ/

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

(idiomatic) birds of a feather flock together


ní breac é go raibh sé ar an bport

Literally, 'it's not fish until it's in the port'.

don't count your chickens before they're hatched


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ekki er sopið kálið þó í ausuna sé komið

Literally, "the cabbage hasn't been sipped though it's in the ladle".

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


is fearr beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas

Literally, “better a little kinship than a lot of charity”.

lit

blood is thicker than water
blood is thicker than water


thất bại là mẹ thành công

[tʰət̚˧˦ ʔɓaːj˧˨ʔ laː˨˩ mɛ˧˨ʔ tʰajŋ̟˨˩ kəwŋ͡m˧˧]

[tʰək̚˦˧˥ ʔɓaːj˨˩ʔ laː˦˩ mɛ˨˩ʔ tʰɛɲ˦˩ kəwŋ͡m˧˧]

[tʰək̚˦˥ ʔɓaːj˨˩˨ laː˨˩ mɛ˨˩˨ tʰan˨˩ kəwŋ͡m˧˧]

thất bại (“failure”) + là (“to be”) + mẹ (“mother”) + thành công (“success”), calque of Chinese 失敗是成功之母／失败是成功之母 (thất bại thị thành công chi mẫu)

cal

Đừng có bỏ cuộc! Thất bại là mẹ thành công mà!

Don't give up! Fail this time and you'll succeed next time!


tego kwiatu jest pół światu

Rhyme, literally, “of this flower there is half of the world”, however, this phrase is ungrammatical as the genitive singular of świat is świata, but światu is used to make the rhyme work.

lit

there are plenty of fish in the sea
there are plenty of fish in the sea

(idiomatic) there are plenty of fish in the sea


water finds its level

water seeks its own level
water seeks its own level#English

Alternative form of water seeks its own level


water seeks its own level

People of similar interests, abilities, morals, etc. tend to end up in each other's company.


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geschenkt ist geschenkt, wiederholen ist gestohlen

Literally, “given is given, taking back is stealing”.

lit

(chiefly childish) you can’t take back what you gave as a present


it wasn't only only

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it wasn't only only (present tense it isn't only only, present tense it's not only only)

it isn't only only (present)
it's not only only (present)

From a quote by World Rally Championship ex-driver Henning Solberg, in turn a literal translation of Norwegian Bokmål Men men, det er ikke bare bare.

bor

But but, it wasn't only only.

Sometime between February 2004 and 9 May 2008, exact date unknown, Sigve Kvamme, quoting Henning Solberg, WRC TV / Dagbladet, retrieved 2023-10-16:

Then you could use http client again 🙂 still a bit hacky, but but it isn’t only only

2017 April 12, Christian Westgaard, Enomic Community Forum, retrieved 2023-12-26:

It wasn't only only, but but.

2017 September 2, Folk som liker bøker (team), Apple Podcasts, retrieved 2023-10-16:

It's not only only, but but

2023 October 7, Cecilie Bolander, Instagram, retrieved 2023-10-16:

(slang, Norway) An act or task was harder to do than it might seem.


a jó kezdet fél siker

Literally, “the good beginning is half success”

lit

well begun is half done
well begun is half done


akit a kígyó megmart, a gyíktól is fél

[ˈɒkit ɒ ˈkiːɟoː ˈmɛɡmɒrt ɒ ˈɟiːktoːliʃfeːl]

Literally, “who was bitten by the snake, is afraid even of the lizard”


head

düğün değil bayram değil, eniştem beni niye öptü

Literally, “It isn't a wedding, it isn't a holiday, why did my brother-in-law kiss me?”

lit

a phrase used when thinking that someone's compliments may have a hidden reason

bayram değil seyran değil, eniştem beni niye öptü


kettőn áll a vásár

[ˈkɛtːøːn ˈaːlː ɒ ˈvaːʃaːr]

LL-Q9067 (hun)-Ewithu-kettőn áll a vásár.wav

Literally, “the bargain depends on two (it takes two to make a bargain)”

lit

it takes two to tango
it takes two to tango


a hallgatás beleegyezés

[ɒ ˈhɒlɡɒtaːʃ ˈbɛlɛɛɟɛzeːʃ]

silence is consent (a lack of response to an action is a tacit approval of that action)


akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára

[ˈɒkinɛk ˈnɛm iŋɡɛ ˈnɛ vɛɟɛ ˈmɒɡaːrɒ]

Literally, “if it is not your shirt, don't wear it”

lit

if the shoe fits, wear it
if the shoe fits, wear it

if the shoe fits, wear it (those who are not at fault in the matter should not apply the rebuke or warning to themselves)


az idő minden sebet begyógyít

[ɒz ˈidøː ˈmindɛn ˈʃɛbɛt ˈbɛɟoːɟiːt]

time heals all wounds
time heals all wounds

time is a great healer
time is a great healer

time heals all wounds, time is a great healer


az ígéret szép szó

Ellipsis of az ígéret szép szó, ha megtartják, úgy jó. Literally, “a promise is a nice word, it is good if it is kept”.

lit

a promise made is a promise kept
a promise made is a promise kept

a promise made is a promise kept (the promise is only worthy if it is fulfilled)


a harag rossz tanácsadó

[ɒ ˈhɒrɒɡ ˈrosː ˈtɒnaːt͡ʃɒdoː]

Decisions and actions made in anger will be later regretted.


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bayram değil seyran değil, eniştem beni niye öptü

Literally, “It isn't a holiday, it isn't a stroll, why did my brother-in-law kiss me?”.

lit

düğün değil bayram değil, eniştem beni niye öptü#Turkish

Alternative form of düğün değil bayram değil, eniştem beni niye öptü


mindenkinek megvan a maga keresztje

Literally, “everyone has his/her own cross”.

everyone has his/her own cross to bear (everybody has problems)


ahány ház, annyi szokás

[ˈɒɦaːɲ ˈhaːz ˈɒɲːi ˈsokaːʃ]

Literally, “as many house, that many custom, (there are different customs in every house)”.

lit

so many countries, so many customs
so many countries, so many customs

so many countries, so many customs (customs differ from community to community)


ebül szerzett jószág ebül vész el

[ˈɛbyl ˈsɛrzɛtː ˈjoːsaːɡ ˈɛbyl ˈveːs ˈɛl]

Literally, “dishonestly gained wealth is lost dishonestly”

lit

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

ill-gotten gains never prosper (wealth acquired by dishonest means is easily lost)


gwynt teg ar ei ôl

/ˌɡwɨ̞nt ˈtɛɡ ar ɪ ˈoːl/


rhoi llaw ar yr aradr

From the Bible, Luke 9:62, see quotation.

[…] nid oes neb a'r a rydd ei law ar yr aradr, ac a edrycho ar ei ôl yn gymmwys i deyrnas Dduw.

1588, William Morgan, transl., Y Beibl : Y Beibl cyssegr-lan, 1st edition, London: Humphrey Toy, Yr Efengyl sanctaidd yn ôl S. Lᴠᴄ 9:1:

[…] No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

put one's hand to the plough
put one's hand to the plough

(idiomatic) to put one's hand to the plough, to begin an undertaking


w przyrodzie nic nie ginie

/f pʂɘˈrɔ.d͡ʑɛ ɲit͡s ɲɛ ˈɡi.ɲɛ/

(idiomatic) used as a form of consolation that what has disappeared will be found, because, after all, it has to be somewhere


事実は小説より奇なり

ja-pos

じじつ は しょうせつ より き なり

事(じ)実(じつ)は小(しょう)説(せつ)より奇(き)なり • (jijitsu wa shōsetsu yori ki nari)

事実は小説より奇なり (canonical)
jijitsu wa shōsetsu yori ki nari (romanization)

truth is stranger than fiction
truth is stranger than fiction


złego diabli nie biorą

Literally, “[the] devils do not take [the] bad [one]”.

m-g

􂀿the􂁀 devils do not take 􂀿the􂁀 bad 􂀿one􂁀


head

elloo tulloo kaikkia, a kaikkia pittää terppiä

Literally: "Everything comes to life, and it's necessary to endure everything".

life is not all beer and skittles
life is not all beer and skittles


wat de boer niet kent, dat eet hij niet

Literally, “what the farmer does not know, he does not eat”.


praatjes vullen geen gaatjes

fine words butter no parsnips
fine words butter no parsnips

actions speak louder than words
actions speak louder than words

fine words butter no parsnips, actions speak louder than words


temreman oso no abi bangi

Literally, “the carpenter's house doesn't have a bench”.

lit

the shoemaker's children go barefoot#English


samaki mkunje yungali mbichi

samaki mkunje angali mbichi
samaki mkunje angali mbichi#Swahili

Alternative form of samaki mkunje angali mbichi


samaki mkunje angali mbichi

Literally, “tie up the fish while still fresh”.

as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined; morals and good behaviour should be taught young


head

hoe dichter bij Dordt, hoe rotter het wordt

One should stay far away from the city of Dordrecht.


hoes before bros

"Well, I just happened to mention you were a little depressed about the whole Trent thing and needed some girl support, yadda yadda, and my mom totally swallowed it whole. She's all about the hoes before bros," Jen said with a shrug.

2011, Quinn Loftis, Leslie McKee, Prince of Wolves:

After contemplating the friendship code for a situation like this, I knew hoes before bros was the correct answer. Hoes being a term of endearment in this case, of course.

No! I would never date him after this! Hoes before bros, right?

2017, Lele Pons, Melissa de la Cruz, Surviving High School, page 238:

At the moment, so many of the terms and phrases we use around female friendship are either twee or ultimately a bit meaningless: sisterhood, sisters before misters, tribe, girl squad, hoes before bros, hovaries before brovaries, life force, power posse, BFF.

2022, Claire Cohen, BFF?: The truth about female friendship:

chicks before dicks
chicks before dicks#English

(US, vulgar, slang) Synonym of chicks before dicks

'He always puts hoes before bros,' Layla moaned.

I think there is something perverse about this request but if I say no Osama will tell the boys tomorrow I'm a dog, that I'm always putting hoes before bros, and it's not worth copping that for Nada, who doesn't even seem to like me.

I admit it, sure: the world definitely wouldn't feel great if the saying were hoes before bros. But. It's not.

(US, vulgar, slang, rare) Said of a man who is willing to sacrifice a friendship for sex.


尺有所短，寸有所長

ㄔˇ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄘㄨㄣˋ ㄧㄡˇ ㄙㄨㄛˇ ㄔㄤˊ

cek³ jau⁵ so² dyun², cyun³ jau⁵ so² coeng⁴

/ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰu̯ən⁵¹ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ su̯ɔ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

chek yáuh só dyún, chyun yáuh só chèuhng

tsek⁸ jau⁵ so² dyn², tsyn³ jau⁵ so² tsoeng⁴

/t͡sʰɛːk̚³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ tyːn³⁵ t͡sʰyːn³³ jɐu̯¹³ sɔː³⁵ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

Sometimes a foot may lack the strength, While an inch is just fit in length, Things have their flaws, and the wise may Sometimes prove to be dim in sight. Divining may not all reveal; All oracles not be applied.

The Verses of Chu, 4ᵗʰ century BCE – 2ⁿᵈ century CE

Fū chǐ yǒu suǒ duǎn, cùn yǒu suǒ cháng, wù yǒu suǒ bùzú, zhì yǒu suǒ bùmíng, shù yǒusuǒ bùdài, shén yǒusuǒ bùtōng.

夫尺有所短，寸有所長，物有所不足，智有所不明，數有所不逮，神有所不通。

夫尺有所短，寸有所长，物有所不足，智有所不明，数有所不逮，神有所不通。

(figurative) everyone has their weak points as well as their strong ones; Everybody has their own merits and demerits


عين الرضا عن كل عيب كليلة

عَيْنُ الرِضَا عَن كُلِّ عَيْبٍ كَلِيلةٌ • (ʕaynu r-riḍā ʕan kulli ʕaybin kalīlatun)

ʕaynu r-riḍā ʕan kulli ʕaybin kalīlatun (romanization)

Literally, “the eye of fondness is weak-sighted for any blemish.”

lit

People tend not to notice, or to ignore, the faults of those whom they like and favour.

en-عين_الرضا_عن_كل_عيب_كليلة-ar-proverb-S4BbxIyx


താൻ കുഴിച്ച കുഴിയിൽ താൻ തന്നെ വീഴും

head

താൻ കുഴിച്ച കുഴിയിൽ താൻ തന്നെ വീഴും • (tāṉ kuḻicca kuḻiyil tāṉ tanne vīḻuṁ)

tāṉ kuḻicca kuḻiyil tāṉ tanne vīḻuṁ (romanization)

/t̪aːn kuɻit͡ʃt͡ʃɐ kuɻijil t̪aːn t̪ɐn̪n̪e ʋiːɻum/

[t̪aːn kuɻit̚t͡ʃɐ kuɻijil t̪aːn t̪ɐn̪n̪e ʋiːɻum]

LL-Q36236 (mal)-Vis M-താൻ കുഴിച്ച്കുഴിയിൽ താൻ തന്നെ വീഴും.wav

Literally, "One will fall into the pit that one has dug".

he who digs a pit for others falls in himself

en-താൻ_കുഴിച്ച_കുഴിയിൽ_താൻ_തന്നെ_വീഴും-ml-proverb-3pFxXDob


fire is a good servant but a bad master

Fire is useful when kept under control but dangerous in other situations.


칼을 뽑았으면 무라도 썰어라

칼-을 뽑-았--으면 무-라도 썰-어라

칼을 뽑았으면 무라도 썰어라 • (kar-eul ppob-ass-eumyeon mu-rado sseor-eora)

[kʰa̠ɾɯɭ p͈o̞ba̠s͈ɯmjʌ̹n mu(ː)ɾa̠do̞ s͈ʌ̹ɾʌ̹ɾa̠]

카를뽀바쓰면무(ː)라도써러라

[카를뽀바쓰면무(ː)라도써러라]

"Once you've taken out your knife/sword, cut something, even a radish"; once you've begun something, you ought to produce some kind of result, no matter how trivial or little; don't give up halfway


唔怕生壞命，最怕改壞名

fear not born to be unlucky, but fear most for giving one a bad name

m⁴ paa³ saang¹ waai⁶ meng⁶, zeoi³ paa³ goi² waai⁶ meng⁴⁻²

m̀h pa sāang waaih mehng, jeui pa gói waaih méng

m⁴ paa³ saang¹ waai⁶ meng⁶, dzoey³ paa³ goi² waai⁶ meng⁴⁻²

m⁴ pa³ sang¹ wai⁶ méng⁶, zêu³ pa³ goi² wai⁶ méng⁴⁻²

/m̩²¹ pʰaː³³ saːŋ⁵⁵ waːi̯²² mɛːŋ²² t͡sɵy̯³³ pʰaː³³ kɔːi̯³⁵ waːi̯²² mɛːŋ²¹⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) Giving a bad name to a child may affect his/her fate.


വിദ്യാ ധനം സർവ്വ ധനാൽ പ്രധാനം

വിദ്യാ ധനം സർവ്വ ധനാൽ പ്രധാനം • (vidyā dhanaṁ saṟvva dhanāl pradhānaṁ)

vidyā dhanaṁ saṟvva dhanāl pradhānaṁ (romanization)

/ʋid̪jaː d̪(ʱ)ɐnɐm sɐrʋʋɐ d̪(ʱ)ɐnaːl prɐd̪(ʱ)aːnɐm/

[ʋid̪jaː d̪(ʱ)ɐnɐm sɐrʋʋʷɐ d̪(ʱ)ɐnaːl prɐd̪(ʱ)aːnɐm]

Literally, "education is more important than all other wealth".

en-വിദ്യാ_ധനം_സർവ്വ_ധനാൽ_പ്രധാനം-ml-proverb-er6KiHS~


മൂത്തവർ ചൊല്ലും, മുതു നെല്ലിക്ക ആദ്യം കയ്ക്കും, പിന്നെ മധുരിക്കും • (mūttavaṟ colluṁ, mutu nellikka ādyaṁ kaykkuṁ, pinne madhurikkuṁ)

mūttavaṟ colluṁ (romanization)
mutu nellikka ādyaṁ kaykkuṁ (romanization)
pinne madhurikkuṁ (romanization)

Literally, "elders will say, a ripe gooseberry will first be bitter, then sweeten".

good work might be hard but it will pay off

en-മൂത്തവർ_ചൊല്ലും,_മുതു_നെല്ലിക്ക_ആദ്യം_കയ്ക്കും,_പിന്നെ_മധുരിക്കും-ml-proverb-DEde~BzN


악화가 양화를 구축한다

ko-proverb

악화-가 양화-를 구축한다

惡貨가 良貨를 驅逐한다

악화가 양화를 구축한다 • (akhwa-ga yanghwa-reul guchukhanda) (hanja 惡貨가 良貨를 驅逐한다)

akhwa-ga yanghwa-reul guchukhanda (romanization)
惡貨가 良貨를 驅逐한다 (hanja)

[a̠kʰwa̠ɡa̠ ja̠ŋβwa̠ɾɯɭ kut͡ɕʰukʰa̠nda̠]

[아콰가양화를구추칸다]

Probably calque of English bad money drives out good: the principle of Gresham's law, formulated in 1860. A figurative use of the phrase is common in East Asia, cf. Chinese 劣幣驅逐良幣／劣币驱逐良币 (lièbì qūzhú liángbì), Japanese 悪貨(あっか)は良貨(りょうか)を駆逐(くちく)する (akka wa ryōka o kuchiku suru).

ja-r

あっか は りょうか を くちく する

bad money drives out good
bad money drives out good

(literal, economics) bad money drives out good

(figurative) people of mediocre talent, or items of mediocre value, drive out real talent or value


head

den som ger sig in i leken får leken tåla

Literally, "The one who enters into the game/play may (must) endure the game/play" – "He who enters into the game must endure the game."

den som sig i leken ger, får leken tåla#Swedish

Alternative form of den som sig i leken ger, får leken tåla


den som sig i leken ger, får leken tåla

From den (“the one”) + som (“that”) + sig (“themselves”) + i (“in”) + leken (“the game/play”) + ger (“gives”) + får (“may”) + leken (“the game/play”) + tåla (“(be able to) stand”). Roughly, "He who enters into the game must endure the game," with literary/old-fashioned phrasing.

af

Somliga avfärdade kritiken att roasten av kändisen gått för långt med "Den som sig i leken ger, får leken tåla"

Some people dismissed the criticism that the roasting of the celebrity had gone too far with "He who enters into the game must endure the game"

a person who willingly enters into an activity or circumstance that involves risk or unpleasant things should be prepared to deal with any negative consequences


alla goda ting är tre

good things come in threes
good things come in threes


머리가 나쁘면 몸이 고생한다

head

머리-가 나쁘-면 몸-이 고생한다

머리가 나쁘면 몸이 고생한다 • (meori-ga nappeu-myeon mom-i gosaenghanda)

[mʌ̹ɾiɡa̠ na̠p͈ɯmjʌ̹n mo̞mi ko̞sʰɛŋɦa̠nda̠]

[mʌ̹ɾiɡa̠ na̠p͈ɯmjʌ̹n mo̞mi ko̞sʰe̞ŋɦa̠nda̠]

머리가나쁘면모미고생한다

머리가나쁘면모미고셍한다

Literally, “If you are stupid, it's the body that suffers”: if you do not think things out, you will have to resort to physical force to do something


is fearr an tsláinte ná na táinte

health is your first wealth
health is your first wealth


quem não chora, não mama

/ˈkẽj̃ nũˈʃɔ.ɾɐ nũˈmɐ̃.mɐ/

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ nũˈʃɔ.ɾɐ nũˈmɐ̃.mɐ]

/ˈkẽj̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈmɐ̃.mɐ/

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈmɐ̃.mɐ]

/ˈkẽj̃ nũˈʃɔ.ɾɐ nũˈmɐ̃.mɐ/

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ nũˈʃɔ.ɾɐ nũˈmɐ̃.mɐ]

/ˈkẽj̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈmɐ̃.mɐ/

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈmɐ̃.mɐ]

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ nũˈʃɔ.ɾa nũˈmɐ.ma]

/ˈkẽj̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾa ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈmɐ.ma/

[ˈkẽɪ̯̃ ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾa ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ ˈmɐ.ma]

/ˈkɐ̃j̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈmɐ.mɐ/

/ˈkɐ̃j̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈmɐ.mɐ/

/ˈkɐ̃j̃ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈt͡ʃɔ.ɾɐ ˈnɐ̃w̃ ˈma.mɐ/

Roughly, "those who don't cry, don't get breastfed".

O cachorro pede para arrumar água e ração, porque quem não chora, não mama.

The dog asks to get water and food, because the squeaky wheel gets the grease.

the squeaky wheel gets the grease
the squeaky wheel gets the grease


attitude reflects leadership

Uttered by the character Julius Campbell in the film Remember the Titans.

Lower subordinates in an organization practice the behavior that is tolerated and encouraged by their superiors.


em time que está ganhando, não se mexe

/ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki isˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki isˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki esˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki esˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki isˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki isˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki esˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki esˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki iʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki iʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki eʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki eʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki iʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki iʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki eʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈɲɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃w̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi/

[ĩ ˈt͡ʃĩ.mi ki eʃˈta ɡɐ̃ˈj̃ɐ̃.du ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ si ˈmɛ.ʃi]

/ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃi.me ke esˈta ɡɐˈɲɐ̃.do ˈnɐ̃w̃ se ˈmɛ.ʃe/

[ẽj̃ ˈt͡ʃi.me ke esˈta ɡɐˈɲɐ̃.do ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ se ˈmɛ.ʃe]

/ĩ ˈt͡ʃi.me ke esˈta ɡɐˈɲɐ̃.do ˈnɐ̃w̃ se ˈmɛ.ʃe/

[ĩ ˈt͡ʃi.me ke esˈta ɡɐˈɲɐ̃.do ˈnɐ̃ʊ̯̃ se ˈmɛ.ʃe]

“Em time que está ganhando, não se mexe”. Nessa frase significa que se tudo está dando certo, nada deve mudar. Parece certo, não é? Por que mudar se tudo está bem? Temo te dizer, mas enquanto você não muda, os demais mudam — avançam, felizmente para eles e infelizmente para você.

2017, Carol Correia, ““Em time que está vencendo não se mexe” e em time que está perdendo?”, in Medium:

if it ain't broke, don't fix it
if it ain't broke, don't fix it

(Brazil) if it ain't broke, don't fix it


your face, your fate

Calque of Cantonese 你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何／你的样子如何，你的命运也必如何 (nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴, “And as thy face, so shall thy fate be”), modified from a verse in the Bible 你的日子如何，你的力量也必如何 (“And as thy days, so shall thy strength be”).

calque

你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

(Hong Kong) One's fate and how one is treated in life depends on one's looks.

你的日子也必如何

nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ jat⁶ zi² jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴


你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

head

你的樣子如何，你的命運也必如何

你的样子如何，你的命运也必如何

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄧㄤˋ ㄗˇ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

ㄋㄧˇ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄇㄧㄥˋ ㄩㄣˋ ㄧㄝˇ ㄅㄧˋ ㄖㄨˊ ㄏㄜˊ

nei⁵ dik¹ joeng⁶ zi² jyu⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik¹ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit¹ jyu⁴ ho⁴

ни дэ янцзы жухэ

ни дэмин юнь е бижу хэ

/ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ jɑŋ⁵¹ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵ ni²¹⁴ d̥ə⁴ miŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ yn⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi⁵¹ ʐu³⁵ xɤ³⁵/

néih dīk yeuhng jí yùh hòh, néih dīk mihng wahn yáh bīt yùh hòh

nei⁵ dik⁷ joeng⁶ dzi² jy⁴ ho⁴, nei⁵ dik⁷ ming⁶ wan⁶ jaa⁵ bit⁷ jy⁴ ho⁴

néi⁵ dig¹ yêng⁶ ji² yu⁴ ho⁴, néi⁵ dig¹ ming⁶ wen⁶ ya⁵ bid¹ yu⁴ ho⁴

/nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ jœːŋ²² t͡siː³⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹ nei̯¹³ tɪk̚⁵ mɪŋ²² wɐn²² jaː¹³ piːt̚⁵ jyː²¹ hɔː²¹/

你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何#Chinese

your face, your fate
your face, your fate

(Hong Kong, neologism) Synonym of 你的樣子如何，你的日子也必如何／你的样子如何，你的日子也必如何 (nǐ de yàngzǐ rúhé, nǐ de rìzǐ yě bì rúhé, “your face, your fate”)


um dia da caça, outro do caçador

/ũ ˈd͡ʒi.ɐ da ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(w).tɾu du ka.saˈdoʁ/

[ũ ˈd͡ʒi.ɐ da ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(ʊ̯).tɾu du ka.saˈdoh]

/ũ ˈd͡ʒi.ɐ da ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(w).tɾu du ka.saˈdoɾ/

[ũ ˈd͡ʒi.ɐ da ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(ʊ̯).tɾu du ka.saˈdoɾ]

[ũ ˈd͡ʒi.ɐ da ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(ʊ̯).tɾu du ka.saˈdoχ]

/ũ ˈd͡ʒi.a da ˈka.sa | ˈo(w).tɾo do ka.saˈdoɻ/

[ũ ˈd͡ʒi.a da ˈka.sa | ˈo(ʊ̯).tɾo do ka.saˈdoɻ]

/ũ ˈdi.ɐ dɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(w).tɾu du kɐ.sɐˈdoɾ/

[ũ ˈdi.ɐ ðɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈo(w).tɾu ðu kɐ.sɐˈðoɾ]

/ũ ˈdi.ɐ dɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈow.tɾu du kɐ.sɐˈdoɾ/

[ũ ˈdi.ɐ ðɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈow.tɾu ðu kɐ.sɐˈðoɾ]

/ũ ˈdi.ɐ dɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈo.tɾu du kɐ.sɐˈdo.ɾi/

[ũ ˈdi.ɐ ðɐ ˈka.sɐ | ˈo.tɾu ðu kɐ.sɐˈðo.ɾi]

every dog has its day
every dog has its day


murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść

/ˈmu.ʐɘn ˈzrɔ.biw sfɔjɛˌ ˈmu.ʐɘn ˈmɔ.ʐɛ ˈɔ.dɛjɕt͡ɕ/

Literally, “[the] Negro has done his job, [the] Negro can go”. Calque of German der Mohr hat seine Schuldigkeit getan, der Mohr kann gehen. From Friedrich Schiller's play Fiesco (1782).

m-g

􂀿the􂁀 Negro has done his job, 􂀿the􂁀 Negro can go

cal

(idiomatic, possibly offensive) used to describe a situation where someone has been used to do something and then dismissed or abandoned


Murzyn zrobił swoje, Murzyn może odejść

murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść#Polish

(idiomatic, possibly offensive) Alternative letter-case form of murzyn zrobił swoje, murzyn może odejść


惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

head

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著赤查某

惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹着赤查某
惹熊惹虎，毋通惹著刺查某

One may mess with a bear or a tiger, but should never mess with a shrew

/zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ him²³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ hɔ⁴¹ m̩³³⁻²¹ tʰaŋ⁴⁴⁻³³ zia⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ tiɤ(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ t͡sa⁴⁴⁻³³ bɔ⁴¹/


來說是非者，便是是非人

ㄌㄞˊ ㄕㄨㄛ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄓㄜˇ

ㄅㄧㄢˋ ㄕˋ ㄕˋ ㄈㄟ ㄖㄣˊ

loi⁴ syut³ si⁶ fei¹ ze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

лай шо шифэй чжэ

бянь ши шифэй жэнь

/laɪ̯³⁵ ʂu̯ɔ⁵⁵ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂɤ²¹⁴⁻²¹ pi̯ɛn⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʂʐ̩⁵¹ feɪ̯⁵⁵ ʐən³⁵/

lòih syut sih fēi jé, bihn sih sih fēi yàhn

loi⁴ syt⁸ si⁶ fei¹ dze², bin⁶ si⁶ si⁶ fei¹ jan⁴

loi⁴ xud³ xi⁶ féi¹ zé², bin⁶ xi⁶ xi⁶ féi¹ yen⁴

/lɔːi̯²¹ syːt̚³ siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ t͡sɛː³⁵ piːn²² siː²² siː²² fei̯⁵⁵ jɐn²¹/

People who like to talk about rumours are those who create rumours.


tl-head

kung hinagis ka ng bakal / gantihan mo ng tinapay

kung hinagis ka ng bakal, gantihán mo ng tinapay (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜑᜒᜈᜄᜒᜐ᜔ ᜃ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜊᜃᜎ᜔ ᜵ ᜄᜈ᜔ᜆᜒᜑᜈ᜔ ᜋᜓ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜆᜒᜈᜉᜌ᜔)

kung hinagis ka ng bakal (canonical)
gantihán mo ng tinapay (canonical)

/kuŋ hiˌnaɡis ka naŋ ˌbakal | ɡantiˌhan mo naŋ tiˈnapaj/

[kʊŋ hɪˌn̪aː.ɣɪs kɐ n̪ɐm ˌbaː.xɐl | ɡɐn̪.t̪ɪˌhan̪ mo n̪ɐn̪ t̪ɪˈn̪aː.paɪ̯]

Literally, “if someone throws steel at you, reciprocate with bread”.

lit

kung hinagis ka ng bakal, gantihan mo ng tinapay

kapag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay#Tagalog

Alternative form of kapag binato ka ng bato, batuhin mo ng tinapay


jak cię widzą, tak cię piszą

Rhyme, literally, “as they see you, so they write you”.

fine feathers make fine birds
fine feathers make fine birds

(idiomatic) fine feathers make fine birds (something that appears beautiful or good is by definition beautiful or good)


failure is the best teacher

Failing at something is the best way to learn how to succeed at it.


mata sa mata

tl-head

matá sa matá (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜆ ᜐ ᜋᜆ)

matá sa matá (canonical)
ᜋᜆ ᜐ ᜋᜆ (Baybayin)


三仆六坐九扶籬

/saːm⁵⁵ pʰʊk̚⁵ lʊk̚² t͡sʰɔː¹³ kɐu̯³⁵ fuː²¹ lei̯²¹/

(Cantonese) a baby can roll over at three months of age, sit at six months of age, and pull to stand at nine months of age


臺上一分鐘，臺下十年功

台上一分钟，台下十年功
台上一分鐘，台下十年功

ㄊㄞˊ ㄕㄤˋ ㄧ ㄈㄣ ㄓㄨㄥ

ㄊㄞˊ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄕˊ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄍㄨㄥ

táixià shínián gōng [Phonetic:tái shàng yì fēnzhōng

тай шан и фэньчжун

тайся шинянь гун

/tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ʂɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ fən⁵⁵ ʈ͡ʂʊŋ⁵⁵ tʰaɪ̯³⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵/

a minute performing on stage represents a decade of work off-stage


saco vazio não pára em pé

saco vazio não para em pé
saco vazio não para em pé#Portuguese

Pre-reform spelling (until 1990) of saco vazio não para em pé. Still used in countries where the agreement hasn't come into effect; may occur as a sporadic misspelling.


saco vazio não para em pé

Literally, “empty sack does not stay standing”, or more loosely translated as “empty sacks do not stand upright”. The "sack" in the phrase is an allusion to the human stomach.

lit

Deixa o trabalho aí e vai comer; saco vazio não para em pé, cê sabe, né?

Leave your work right there and go eat; empty sacks don't stand upright, you know that, don'tcha?

(Brazil) one needs food in order to function well.


care killed a cat

“Come, come,” said Silver; “stow this talk. He’s dead, and he don’t walk, that I know; leastways, he won’t walk by day, and you may lay to that. Care killed a cat. Fetch ahead for the doubloons.”

1883, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island:

curiosity killed the cat
curiosity killed the cat#English

(archaic) Synonym of curiosity killed the cat


szlachcic na zagrodzie równy wojewodzie

/ˈʂlax.t͡ɕit͡s na zaɡˈrɔ.d͡ʑɛ ˈruv.nɘ vɔ.jɛˈvɔ.d͡ʑɛ/

Rhyme, literally, “[a] nobleman at [his] croft is equal to [a] voivode”.

m-g

􂀿a􂁀 nobleman at 􂀿his􂁀 croft is equal to 􂀿a􂁀 voivode

lit

(historical, idiomatic) every member of the szlachta (Polish nobility) has equal rights, regardless of his wealth

co wolno wojewodzie, to nie tobie, smrodzie

an Englishman's home is his castle
an Englishman's home is his castle

a man's home is his castle
a man's home is his castle

(derogatory, idiomatic) an Englishman's home is his castle, a man's home is his castle (owner can do whatever he wants with his property, disregarding the opinion of others)


kufagia usiku kunakimbiza baraka

Literally, “to sweep at night is to chase away blessings”.


kula gizani ni kula na shetani

Literally, “to eat in the dark is to eat with the devil”.


sumu ya neno ni neno

Literally, “the poison of a word is a word”.


el último mono es el que se ahoga

devil take the hindmost
devil take the hindmost


a grandes males, grandes remedios

desperate times call for desperate measures


consejos vendo y para mí no tengo

do as I say and not as I do
do as I say and not as I do


una cosa es predicar, y otra dar trigo

easier said than done
easier said than done


as you have brewed, so you must drink

“So, Jim,” said the doctor sadly, “here you are. As you have brewed, so shall you drink, my boy. Heaven knows, I cannot find it in my heart to blame you, but this much I will say, be it kind or unkind: when Captain Smollett was well, you dared not have gone off; and when he was ill and couldn’t help it, by George, it was downright cowardly!”

1881–1882, Robert Louis Stevenson, Treasure Island, London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 14 November 1883, →OCLC:

as you sow, so shall you reap
as you sow, so shall you reap#English

(archaic) Synonym of as you sow, so shall you reap


vuodet eivät ole veljeksiä

no two years are the same (e.g. about weather that is different from one year to another)


donde hay confianza, da asco

familiarity breeds contempt
familiarity breeds contempt


en-proverb

the more one learns about people, the more one likes one's pet

familiarity breeds contempt
familiarity breeds contempt#English


bad facts make bad law

The tired adage "bad facts make bad law" is given new life in a recent decision by the North Carolina Supreme Court.

2004, Eugene Soar, “McKinney v. Richitelli: Abandoning Parents and Presumptive Penalties”, in North Carolina Central Law Review, volume 26, number 2, retrieved 2014-12-13:

Just as "bad facts make bad law," so too odd facts make odd law.

1992, Clarence Thomas, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

There is an adage among lawyers that "bad facts make bad law." By the 1950s, the "bad facts" that came from ignoring LaRue, Stabler, and Silbert—the disconnect between the paper allocations of the Law and the River and the wet water of the actual Colorado—were driving the basin towards bad law.

2019, Eric Kuhn and John Fleck, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

Unusual circumstances can lead lawmakers or judges to set precedent that applies poorly to most situations.


a falta de pan, buenas son tortas

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

half a loaf is better than none
half a loaf is better than none

beggars can't be choosers; half a loaf is better than none


the grass is always greener on the other side of the road

the grass is always greener on the other side#English

Alternative form of the grass is always greener on the other side


ruin señor cría ruin servidor

[ˌrwĩn seˌɲoɾ ˌkɾi.a ˌrwĩn seɾ.β̞iˈð̞oɾ]

(figurative) a bad master makes a bad servant; if leadership sets a bad example, their subordinates will follow suit


кръвта вода не става

head

кръвта вода не става • (krǎvta voda ne stava)

blood is thicker than water
blood is thicker than water

en-кръвта_вода_не_става-bg-proverb-86ku8o82


از ماست که بر ماست

از ماست که بر ماست

از ماست که بر ماست • (az mâ-st ke bar mâ-st)

[ʔäz mɑ́ːst̪ kʰɪ bäɾ mɑ́ːst̪]

[ʔäz mɑ́ːst̪ kʰɪ bäɾ mɑ́ːst̪]

[ʔäz mɑ́ːst̪ kʰɪ bäɾ mɑ́ːst̪]

[ʔäz mɔ́ːst̪ kʰi bäɾ mɔ́ːst̪]

[ʔæz mɒ́ːst̪ kʰʲe bæɹ mɒ́ːst̪]

Literally, “What falls upon us is from us.” A famous quotation from a poem by the eleventh-century philosopher Nāṣir-i Khusraw, in which an arrogant eagle is struck down by an arrow with eagle feather fletches.

lit

you reap what you sow
you reap what you sow


健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る

ja-pos

けんぜん なる せいしん は けんぜん なる しんたい に やどる

健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る

健(けん)全(ぜん)なる精(せい)神(しん)は健(けん)全(ぜん)なる身(しん)体(たい)に宿(やど)る • (kenzen naru seishin wa kenzen naru shintai ni yadoru)

健全なる精神は健全なる身体に宿る (canonical)

[kẽ̞nd͡zẽ̞nːa̠ɾɯ̟ se̞ːɕĩɰ̃ha̠ kẽ̞nd͡zẽ̞nːa̠ɾɯ̟ ɕĩnta̠iɲ̟i ja̠do̞ɾɯ̟]

Calque of Latin mēns sāna in corpore sānō from the Roman poet Juvenal's tenth Satire. However, the original Latin phrase does not include the verb 宿(やど)る (yadoru, “dwells”).

calque

mens sana in corpore sano
mens sana in corpore sano

A sound mind dwells in a sound body (mens sana in corpore sano)

Satires_(Juvenal)#Satire X: Wrong Desire is the Source of Suffering


lepiej późno niż wcale

Literally, “better late than not at all”.

lit

better late than never
better late than never


es kann nicht sein, was nicht sein darf

/əs ˈkan nɪçt ˌzaɪ̯n vas ˌnɪçt zaɪ̯n ˈdaʁf/

Literally, “what must not be, cannot be”. From the 1909 poem Die unmögliche Tatsache by Christian Morgenstern.

Obwohl man den Krieg längst verloren wusste, führte man ihn weiter nach dem Prinzip: Es kann nicht sein, was nicht sein darf!

Although it had long been known that the war was lost, it was continued true to the principle: What must not be, cannot be!

people find it extremely hard to accept facts when they go against their firmly held conviction or are otherwise devastating to them

weil nicht sein kann, was nicht sein darf


veri on vettä sakeampaa

(idiomatic) blood is thicker than water (family relations and loyalties tend to be stronger than relationships with people who are not family members)


misery enjoys company

misery loves company
misery loves company#English

Alternative form of misery loves company


aslan yattığı yerden belli olur

* Literally: "a lion can be identified from where it lies"

cleanliness is next to godliness
cleanliness is next to godliness

(idiomatic) cleanliness is next to godliness


小財唔出，大財唔入

síu chòih m̀h chēut, daaih chòih m̀h yahp

siu² tsoi⁴ m⁴ tsoet⁷, daai⁶ tsoi⁴ m⁴ jap⁹

/siːu̯³⁵ t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ m̩²¹ t͡sʰɵt̚⁵ taːi̯²² t͡sʰɔːi̯²¹ m̩²¹ jɐp̚²/

(Cantonese) One must sacrifice a small amount of money to earn big money.


小財不出，大財不入

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄔㄨ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄘㄞˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄖㄨˋ

/ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰu⁵⁵ tä⁵¹ t͡sʰaɪ̯³⁵ pu⁵¹⁻³⁵ ʐu⁵¹/


the freaks come out at night

Inspired by the 1984 song Freaks Come Out at Night by the American rap group Whodini.

Those who are inclined to engage in mischievous or criminal behavior prefer to commit such activity during the evening.


är huvudet dumt får kroppen lida

Literally, "If the head is stupid, the body gets to suffer."

Jag borde haft knäskydd. Är huvudet dumt får kroppen lida.

I should have worn knee pads. If the head is stupid, the body suffers.

play stupid games, win stupid prizes
play stupid games, win stupid prizes

a stupid decision or the like can lead to physical harm to oneself, play stupid games, win stupid prizes


тише едешь, дальше будешь

head

ти́ше е́дешь, да́льше бу́дешь

ти́ше е́дешь, да́льше бу́дешь • (tíše jédešʹ, dálʹše búdešʹ)

ти́ше е́дешь (canonical)
да́льше бу́дешь (canonical)
tíše jédešʹ (romanization)
dálʹše búdešʹ (romanization)

[ˈtʲiʂɨ ˈjedʲɪʐ ˈdalʲʂɨ ˈbudʲɪʂ]

Literally, “the slower you ride, the further you will be”.

lit

en-тише_едешь,_дальше_будешь-ru-proverb-LOL0PlWn


дурная голова ногам покоя не даёт

head

дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт

дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт • (durnája golová nogám pokója ne dajót)

дурна́я голова́ нога́м поко́я не даёт (canonical)
durnája golová nogám pokója ne dajót (romanization)

[dʊrˈnajə ɡəɫɐˈva nɐˈɡam pɐˈkojə nʲɪ‿dɐˈjɵt]

Literally, “foolish head gives no rest to the feet”

lit

a stupid decision creates problems which require a lot of actions from the person who made the decision

en-дурная_голова_ногам_покоя_не_даёт-ru-proverb-wj1~FZUy


خرس در کوه بوعلی سینا است

head

خرس در کوه بوعلی سینا است

خرس در کوه بوعلی سینا است • (xers dar kuh bu'ali sinâ ast)

xers dar kuh bu'ali sinâ ast (romanization)

[ˈxiɾs daɾ ˈkoːh buː ʔa.liː siː.nɑː ʔast]

[xɪ́ɹs d̪äɾ kʰóːʱ buː ʔä.liː siː.nɑː ʔäst̪]

[xɪ́ɹs d̪äɾ kʰóː buː ʔä.liː siː.nɑː ʔäst̪]

[xéɹs d̪æɹ kʰúːʰ buː ʔæ.liː siː.nɒː ʔæst̪]

[χíɹs d̪äɾ kʰɵ́ʰ bu ʔä.li si.nɔ ʔäst̪]

Literally, “In the mountains, the bear is Avicenna.”

lit

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

en-خرس_در_کوه_بوعلی_سینا_است-fa-proverb-xsGf2e8X


هر که طاووس خواهد جور هندوستان کشد

head

هر که طاووس خواهد جور هندوستان کشد • (har ke tâvus xâhad jowr-e hendustân kešad)

[häɾ kʰɪ t̪ʰɑː.wúːs xɑ́ː.ɦäd̪ d͡ʒǽw.ɾɪ hɪn̪.d̪uːs.t̪ʰɑ́ːn kʰǽ.ʃäd̪]

[hæɹ kʰʲe t̪ʰɒː.vúːs xɒ́ː.hæd̪̥ d͡ʒów.ɹe hen̪.d̪uːs.t̪ʰɒ́ːn kʰʲé.ʃæd̪̥]

Literally, “Whoever wants a peacock shall suffer the torments of India”: no pain, no gain

en-هر_که_طاووس_خواهد_جور_هندوستان_کشد-fa-proverb-mRZvMX6N


en-proverb

Coined by George Orwell in 1945 in Animal Farm.

But Musk's concept of what constitutes democracy is way off of what it is by definition, hence this classic "all animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" move.

2023 April 25, Melanie Mcfarland, “"What a sad, muddled place this has become": The madness of Twitter's blue checkpocalypse”, in Salon:

Dear @FIDE_chess and organisers of the Championship! As known, all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others. Is it fair to provide @MagnusCarlsen a personal lounge where he can rest and prepare to the game using a laptop, while nobody else has such an opportunity?

2023 December 26, Ian Nepomniachtchi (@lachesisq), Twitter:

Used to satirize the hypocrisy of unequal political hierarchies in societies that profess equality for all.


醜婦終須見家翁

an ugly woman eventually has to see her father-in-law

/t͡sʰɐu̯³⁵ fuː¹³ t͡sʊŋ⁵⁵ sɵy̯⁵⁵ kiːn³³ kaː⁵⁵ jʊŋ⁵⁵/

(Cantonese) if one has an undesirable thing to do (e.g., revealing something embarrassing), one eventually still has to do it


君子喻於義，小人喻於利

ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄧˋ

ㄒㄧㄠˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄩˋ ㄩˊ ㄌㄧˋ

gwan¹ zi² jyu⁶ jyu¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jyu⁶ jyu¹ lei⁶

chün¹-tzŭ³ yü⁴ yü² i⁴

цзюньцзы юй юй и

сяожэнь юй юй ли

/t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ y⁵¹ y³⁵ i⁵¹ ɕi̯ɑʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ y⁵¹ y³⁵ li⁵¹/

gwān jí yuh yū yih, síu yàhn yuh yū leih

gwan¹ dzi² jy⁶ jy¹ ji⁶, siu² jan⁴ jy⁶ jy¹ lei⁶

guen¹ ji² yu⁶ yu¹ yi⁶, xiu² yen⁴ yu⁶ yu¹ léi⁶

/kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ jiː²² siːu̯³⁵ jɐn²¹ jyː²² jyː⁵⁵ lei̯²²/

The Master said, "The mind of the superior man is conversant with righteousness; the mind of the mean man is conversant with gain."

The Analects of Confucius, c. 475 – 221 BCE, translated based on James Legge's version

Zǐ yuē, jūnzǐ yù yú yì, xiǎorén yù yú lì.

子曰、君子喻於義、小人喻於利。

子曰、君子喻于义、小人喻于利。

A high-minded person knows with regard to righteousness, a small-minded person knows with regard to profit

High-minded people value doing the right thing, but low-minded people value doing the profitable thing


trafił swój na swego

it takes one to know one
it takes one to know one

(idiomatic) diamond cut diamond; it takes one to know one (someone steadfast and relentless has come to face a similar opponent)


head

wer einmal lügt, dem glaubt man nicht, und wenn er auch die Wahrheit spricht

Literally, “he who lies once, will not be believed even when he speaks the truth”.

lit

once a liar, always a liar
once a liar, always a liar

it is hard to trust someone who has been caught in a lie before; once a liar, always a liar


trafiła kosa na kamień

Literally, “[a] scythe has hit [a] stone”.


jaettu suru on puolikas suru

a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved
a sorrow shared is a sorrow halved


kapag may tiyaga, may nilaga

tl-head

kapág may tiyagâ, may nilagà (Baybayin spelling ᜃᜉᜄ᜔ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜒᜌᜄ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜈᜒᜎᜄ)

kapág may tiyagâ (canonical)
may nilagà (canonical)
ᜃᜉᜄ᜔ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜒᜌᜄ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜈᜒᜎᜄ (Baybayin)

[kɐˌpaɡ maɪ̯ t͡ʃɐˌɣaʔ | maɪ̯ n̪ɪˈlaː.ɣɐʔ]

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


食四面風，講五色話

eat winds from every direction and speaking languages of various colors

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ su¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ su²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁵³ bin²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue²²/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻¹¹ si¹¹⁻⁵³ bin³³⁻¹¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁵³⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ si²¹⁻⁴¹ bin³³⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴ kɔŋ⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ ŋɔ̃⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ siɪk̚³²⁻⁴ ue³³/

/t͡sia(ʔ)²⁴⁻² si⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ bin⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ ɡɔ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ siak̚⁵⁻²⁴ ue⁴¹/

(Southern Min) to be flexible and know what to say in different situations and to different people

見人說人話，見鬼說鬼話／见人说人话，见鬼说鬼话

jiàn rén shuō rénhuà, jiàn guǐ shuō guǐhuà


here we are

From here + we (“the speaker and the person being addressed”) + are.

compound

And I don’t have a nose, and yet here we are.

2017, Lee Unkrich, Adrian Molina, directors, Coco, spoken by Clerk (Gabriel Iglesias), Pixar:

Indicates ambivalence or resignation about the present circumstances; dismisses the previous observations as irrelevant.


見人講人話，見鬼講鬼話

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

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄖㄣˊ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

ㄐㄧㄢˋ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄐㄧㄤˇ ㄍㄨㄟˇ ㄏㄨㄚˋ

gin³ jan⁴ gong² jan⁴ waa⁶⁻², gin³ gwai² gong² gwai² waa⁶⁻²

jiàn rén jiǎng rénhuà, jiàn guǐ jiǎng guǐhuà [Phonetic:jiànrénjiǎngrénhuà,jiànguíjiángguǐhuà]

цзянь жэнь цзян жэньхуа

цзянь гуй цзян гуйхуа

/t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʐən³⁵ xu̯ä⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi̯ɛn⁵¹ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕi̯ɑŋ²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ku̯eɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ xu̯ä⁵¹/

gin yàhn góng yàhn wá, gin gwái góng gwái wá

gin³ yen⁴ gong² yen⁴ wa⁶⁻², gin³ guei² gong² guei² wa⁶⁻²

/kiːn³³ jɐn²¹ kɔːŋ³⁵ jɐn²¹ waː²²⁻³⁵ kiːn³³ kʷɐi̯³⁵ kɔːŋ³⁵ kʷɐi̯³⁵ waː²²⁻³⁵/

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


head

the highest branch is not the safest roost

A coveted position of power does not guarantee safety to the holder.

the bigger they are, the harder they fall


అంత్య నిష్టూరం కన్నా, ఆది నిష్టూరం మేలు

అంత్య నిష్టూరం కన్నా, ఆది నిష్టూరం మేలు • (antya niṣṭūraṁ kannā, ādi niṣṭūraṁ mēlu)

antya niṣṭūraṁ kannā (romanization)
ādi niṣṭūraṁ mēlu (romanization)

LL-Q8097 (tel)-Pavan santhosh.s-అంత్య నిష్టూరం కన్నా, ఆది నిష్టూరం మేలు.wav

Annoying in the beginning itself is better than annoying at the end.

en-అంత్య_నిష్టూరం_కన్నా,_ఆది_నిష్టూరం_మేలు-te-proverb-QznTKQbD


ఆలు లేదు, చూలు లేదు కాని కొడుకు పేరు సోమలింగం • (ālu lēdu, cūlu lēdu kāni koḍuku pēru sōmaliṅgaṁ)

ālu lēdu (romanization)
cūlu lēdu kāni koḍuku pēru sōmaliṅgaṁ (romanization)

LL-Q8097 (tel)-Pavan santhosh.s-ఆలు లేదు, చూలు లేదు కాని కొడుకు పేరు సోమలింగం..wav

No wife, no pregnancy, son's name Somalingam.

en-ఆలు_లేదు,_చూలు_లేదు_కాని_కొడుకు_పేరు_సోమలింగం-te-proverb-Qpdwl26~


教識徒弟冇師傅

教识徒弟冇师傅
教識徒弟冇師父
教識徒弟無師傅
教識徒弟無師父

teach a disciple and they will not need the teacher

/kaːu̯³³ sɪk̚⁵ tʰou̯²¹ tɐi̯²²⁻³⁵ mou̯¹³ siː⁵⁵ fuː²²⁻³⁵/

(Cantonese) Do not teach everything you know to your disciples


児孫のために美田を買わず

ja-pos

児孫のために美田を買わず

じそん の ために びでん を かわず

児(じ)孫(そん)のために美(び)田(でん)を買(か)わず • (jison no tameni biden o kawazu)

児孫のために美田を買わず (canonical)
jison no tameni biden o kawazu (romanization)

[d͡ʑiso̞n no̞ ta̠me̞ɲ̟i bʲide̞ɰ̃ o̞ ka̠β̞a̠zɨ]

From the following poem:
:
1871 January 20, Saigō Takamori, 偶成 [Impromptu]:
幾歴辛酸志始堅（幾たびか辛酸を歴て志始めて堅し）/丈夫玉碎恥甎全（丈夫は玉碎するも甎全を恥づ）/一家遺事人知否（一家の遺事人知るや否や）/不爲兒孫買美田（児孫の為に美田を買わず）
Ikutabika shinsan o hete kokorozashi hajimete katashi / Jōbu wa gyokusai suru mo senzen o hazu / Ikka no iji hitoshiru ya ina ya / Jison no tame ni biden o kawazu
It is not until one faces several hardships that one's resolve hardens. / Even though a hero dies honourably, he would be ashamed of a meaningless existence. / Whether or not men know my family's words of wisdom from the deceased, / Do not buy and leave fertile, productive rice paddies for one's children and grandchildren.

quote-book

偶成

leave no property for your descendants; I won't leave my property to my kids


అడకత్తెరలో పోకచెక్క

head

అడకత్తెరలో పోకచెక్క • (aḍakatteralō pōkacekka)

LL-Q8097 (tel)-Vjsuseela-అడకత్తెరలో పోకచెక్క.wav

A piece of betel nut is kept in a nutcracker and cut further into small pieces. (Describes the situation of a person who is stuck between two people / problems where he is not able to get out.)

en-అడకత్తెరలో_పోకచెక్క-te-proverb-PbHre~43


chacun est l'artisan de sa fortune

chacun est l’ artisan de sa fortune (canonical)

LL-Q150 (fra)-Lepticed7-chacun est l’artisan de sa fortune.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-LoquaxFR-chacun est l’artisan de sa fortune.wav

LL-Q150 (fra)-Jérémy-Günther-Heinz Jähnick-chacun est l’artisan de sa fortune.wav

Literally, “everyone is the architect of their own fortune”.

lit

every man is the architect of his own fortune


different clowns, same circus

same shit, different toilet
same shit, different toilet#English

(derogatory) Synonym of same shit, different toilet.

not my circus, not my monkeys

likewise a circus metaphor emphasizing human folly


ang taong gipit, sa patalim kumakapit

tl-head

ang taong nagigipit / sa patalim kumakapit

ang taong gipít, sa patalím kumakapit (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜆᜂᜅ᜔ ᜈᜄᜒᜄᜒᜉᜒᜆ᜔ ᜵ ᜐ ᜉᜆᜎᜒᜋ᜔ ᜃᜓᜋᜃᜉᜒᜆ᜔)

ang taong gipít (canonical)
sa patalím kumakapit (canonical)
ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜆᜂᜅ᜔ ᜈᜄᜒᜄᜒᜉᜒᜆ᜔ ᜵ ᜐ ᜉᜆᜎᜒᜋ᜔ ᜃᜓᜋᜃᜉᜒᜆ᜔ (Baybayin)

/ʔaŋ ˌtaʔoŋ ɡiˌpit | sa pataˌlim kumaˈkapit/

[ʔɐn̪ ˌt̪aː.ʔoŋ ɡɪˌpit̪̚ | sɐ pɐ.t̪ɐˌlim kʊ.mɐˈxaː.pɪt̪̚]

Literally, “the person that runs short clutches on a blade”.

lit

ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit#Tagalog

Alternative form of ang taong nagigipit, sa patalim kumakapit


isang kahig, isang tuka

tl-head

isáng kahig, isáng tukâ (Baybayin spelling ᜁᜐᜅ᜔ ᜃᜑᜒᜄ᜔ ᜵ ᜁᜐᜅ᜔ ᜆᜓᜃ)

isáng kahig (canonical)
isáng tukâ (canonical)
ᜁᜐᜅ᜔ ᜃᜑᜒᜄ᜔ ᜵ ᜁᜐᜅ᜔ ᜆᜓᜃ (Baybayin)

[ʔɪˌsaŋ ˌkaː.hɪɡ̚ | ʔɪˌsan̪ t̪ʊˈxaʔ]

Literally, “one scratch, one peck”, referring to how chickens scratch the ground in search of seeds and peck at them to eat.

said of poor people: if one cannot work, one cannot eat; one's daily wage is enough just for food


head

rikas ellää suureel rahal, a köyhä selkänahal

Literally: "A rich man lives with big money, and a poor man with back skin", referring to the lashing of those who couldn't pay bills.
Compare Finnish rikas maksaa rahallaan, köyhä selkänahallaan.


ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜁᜅ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜎᜓᜉ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜉᜃ᜔ᜉᜃ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜊᜎᜒᜆ

tl-head

ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜁᜅ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜎᜓᜉ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜉᜃ᜔ᜉᜃ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜊᜎᜒᜆ • (may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita)

may tainga ang lupa (romanization)
may pakpak ang balita (romanization)

may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita#Tagalog

Baybayin spelling of may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita

en-ᜋᜌ᜔_ᜆᜁᜅ_ᜀᜅ᜔_ᜎᜓᜉ_᜵_ᜋᜌ᜔_ᜉᜃ᜔ᜉᜃ᜔_ᜀᜅ᜔_ᜊᜎᜒᜆ-tl-proverb-eF69yujV


ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜄᜏᜒ ᜐ ᜉᜄ᜔ᜃᜊᜆ ᜀᜌ᜔ ᜇᜎ ᜑᜅ᜔ᜄᜅ᜔ ᜐ ᜉᜄ᜔ᜆᜈ᜔ᜇ • (ang gawi sa pagkabata ay dala hanggang sa pagtanda)

ang gawi sa pagkabata ay dala hanggang sa pagtanda#Tagalog

Baybayin spelling of ang gawi sa pagkabata ay dala hanggang sa pagtanda

en-ᜀᜅ᜔_ᜄᜏᜒ_ᜐ_ᜉᜄ᜔ᜃᜊᜆ_ᜀᜌ᜔_ᜇᜎ_ᜑᜅ᜔ᜄᜅ᜔_ᜐ_ᜉᜄ᜔ᜆᜈ᜔ᜇ-tl-proverb-0lHfQfRn


palabra de boca, piedra de honda

[paˌla.β̞ɾa ð̞e ˌβ̞o.ka | ˌpje.ð̞ɾa ð̞e ˈõn̪.d̪a]

Literally, “word from the mouth, stone from a slingshot”.

lit

loose lips sink ships
loose lips sink ships


palabra y piedra suelta no tiene vuelta

desc

→ Tagalog: wika at batong ihagis, di na muling babalik (calque)

/paˌlabɾa i ˌpjedɾa ˌswelta ˌno ˌtjene ˈbwelta/

[paˌla.β̞ɾa i ˌpje.ð̞ɾa ˌswel̪.t̪a ˌno ˌt̪je.ne ˈβ̞wel̪.t̪a]

Literally, “a word and stone once launched cannot return”.


head

mitä rikkail ono vikkaa, ku ono viis sikkaa: yhen mööp, toisen sööp ja kolt veel jääp

Literally: "What trouble do rich men have, when he has five pigs: One he sells, another he eats and three remain still".


lo que se aprende en la cuna siempre dura

/lo ke se aˌpɾende en la ˌkuna ˌsjempɾe ˈduɾa/

[lo ke se aˌpɾẽn̪.d̪e ẽn la ˌku.na ˌsjẽm.pɾe ˈð̞u.ɾa]

lo que se aprende en la cuna, siempre dura#Spanish

Alternative form of lo que se aprende en la cuna, siempre dura


van lekker lag, kom lekker huil

Literally “from hearty laughter, comes hearty crying”.

it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye


lo que se aprende en la cuna, siempre dura

/lo ke se aˌpɾende en la ˌkuna | ˌsjempɾe ˈduɾa/

[lo ke se aˌpɾẽn̪.d̪e ẽn la ˌku.na | ˌsjẽm.pɾe ˈð̞u.ɾa]

Literally, “what you learned in the crib always lasts”.

lit

what's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh


tl-head

may tayinga ang lupa / may pakpak ang balita

may taingá ang lupà, may pakpák ang balità (Baybayin spelling ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜌᜒᜅ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜎᜓᜉ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜉᜃ᜔ᜉᜃ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜊᜎᜒᜆ)

may taingá ang lupà (canonical)
may pakpák ang balità (canonical)
ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜆᜌᜒᜅ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜎᜓᜉ ᜵ ᜋᜌ᜔ ᜉᜃ᜔ᜉᜃ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜊᜎᜒᜆ (Baybayin)

/maj taiˌŋa ʔaŋ ˌlupaʔ | maj pakˌpak ʔaŋ baˈlitaʔ/

[maɪ̯ t̪ɐ.ɪˌŋa ʔɐn̪ ˌluː.pɐʔ | maɪ̯ pɐkˌpak ʔɐm bɐˈliː.t̪ɐʔ]

Literally, “the earth has ears, the news have wings”.

lit

may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita

no secret remains secret; walls have ears


quien más tiene, más quiere

those who have wealth will desire more; greed never satisfies


en arca abierta el justo peca

[ẽn ˌaɾ.ka aˌβ̞jeɾ.t̪a el ˌxus.t̪o ˈpe.ka]

Literally, “when the chest is open the righteous sins”.

lit

opportunity makes a thief
opportunity makes a thief


la ocasión hace ladrón

Literally, “the occasion makes the thief”.


la unión hace fuerza

la unión hace la fuerza
la unión hace la fuerza#Spanish

Alternative form of la unión hace la fuerza (“unity is strength”)


el que adelante no mira, atrás se queda

/el ke adeˌlante ˌno ˌmiɾa | aˌtɾas se ˈkeda/

[el ke a.ð̞eˌlãn̪.t̪e ˌno ˌmi.ɾa | aˌt̪ɾas se ˈke.ð̞a]

Literally, “one who does not look forward stays behind”.

lit

one who does not plan ahead will be left behind; do not do things unprepared


tl-head

ang gawî sa pagkabatà ay dalá hanggáng sa pagtandâ (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜄᜏᜒ ᜐ ᜉᜄ᜔ᜃᜊᜆ ᜀᜌ᜔ ᜇᜎ ᜑᜅ᜔ᜄᜅ᜔ ᜐ ᜉᜄ᜔ᜆᜈ᜔ᜇ)

/ʔaŋ ɡaˌwiʔ sa paɡkaˌbataʔ ʔaj daˌla haŋˌɡaŋ sa paɡtanˈdaʔ/

[ʔɐŋ ɡɐˌwiʔ sɐ pɐɡ.kɐˌbaː.t̪ɐʔ ʔaɪ̯ d̪ɐˌla hɐŋˌɡan̪ sɐ pɐɡ.t̪ɐn̪ˈd̪aʔ]

/ʔaŋ ɡaˌwi(ʔ) sa paɡkaˌbata(ʔ) ʔaj daˌla haŋˌɡaŋ sa paɡtanˈdaʔ/

[ʔɐŋ ɡɐˌwiː sɐ pɐɡ.kɐˌbaː.t̪aː ʔaɪ̯ d̪ɐˌla hɐŋˌɡan̪ sɐ pɐɡ.t̪ɐn̪ˈd̪aʔ]

Literally, “childhood habits are carried on to adulthood”.

lit

ang gawi sa pagkabata, dala hanggang sa tumanda


head

manos besa el hombre, que querría ver cortadas

/ˌmanos ˌbesa el ˌombɾe | ke keˌria ˌbeɾ koɾˈtadas/

[ˌma.noz ˌβ̞e.sa el ˌõm.bɾe | ke keˌri.a ˌβ̞eɾ koɾˈt̪a.ð̞as]

Literally, “the man kisses the hands he wants to see cut”.


la unión constituye la fuerza

Literally, “unity constitutes strength”.


tl-head

sa lupa ng mga bulag / ang naghahari ay pisak

sa lupà ng mga bulág, ang naghaharì ay pisák (Baybayin spelling ᜐ ᜎᜓᜉ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜋᜅ ᜊᜓᜎᜄ᜔ ᜵ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜈᜄ᜔ᜑᜑᜇᜒ ᜀᜌ᜔ ᜉᜒᜐᜃ᜔)

sa lupà ng mga bulág (canonical)
ang naghaharì ay pisák (canonical)

/sa ˌlupaʔ naŋ maˌŋa buˌlaɡ | ʔaŋ naɡhaˌhaɾiʔ ʔaj piˈsak/

[sɐ ˌluː.pɐʔ n̪ɐŋ mɐˌŋa bʊˌlaɡ̚ | ʔɐŋ n̪ɐɡ.hɐˌhaː.ɾɪʔ ʔaɪ̯ pɪˈsak̚]

/sa ˌlupa(ʔ) naŋ maˌŋa buˌlaɡ | ʔaŋ naɡhaˌhaɾi(ʔ) ʔaj piˈsak/

[sɐ ˌluː.paː n̪ɐŋ mɐˌŋa bʊˌlaɡ̚ | ʔɐŋ n̪ɐɡ.hɐˌhaː.ɾiː ʔaɪ̯ pɪˈsak̚]

Literally, “in the land of the blind, the one-eyed reigns”, a translation of Spanish en tierra de los ciegos, el que tiene un ojo es rey and en el reino de los ciegos, el tuerto es el rey, a calque of Latin in regione caecorum rex est luscus.

der

sa lupa ng mga bulag, ang naghahari ay pisak

in the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

sa bayang walang marunong, ang naghahari ay ulol

sa lupa ng mga bulag, ang naghahari ang pisak


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quien hace un cesto hará ciento, si le dan mimbres y tiempo

/ˌkjen ˌaθe un ˌθesto aˌɾa ˌθjento | si le ˌdam ˌmimbɾes i ˈtjempo/

[ˌkjẽn ˌa.θe ũn̟ ˌθes.t̪o aˌɾa ˌθjẽn̪.t̪o | si le ˌð̞ãm ˌmĩm.bɾes i ˈt̪jẽm.po]

/ˌkjen ˌase un ˌsesto aˌɾa ˌsjento | si le ˌdam ˌmimbɾes i ˈtjempo/

[ˌkjẽn ˌa.se ũn ˌses.t̪o aˌɾa ˌsjẽn̪.t̪o | si le ˌð̞ãm ˌmĩm.bɾes i ˈt̪jẽm.po]

Literally, “whoever makes a basket will make a hundred, if they are given wickers and time”.


há males que vêm para o bem

/ˈa ˈma.lɨʃ kɨ ˈvɐ̃j̃.ɐ̃j̃ pɐ.ɾɐ u ˈbɐ̃j̃/

[ˈa ˈma.lɨʃ kɨ ˈvɐ̃j̃.ɐ̃j̃ pɐ.ɾɐ u ˈβɐ̃j̃]

/ˈa ˈma.lɨʃ kɨ ˈbɐ̃j̃.ɐ̃j̃ pɐ.ɾɐ u ˈbɐ̃j̃/

[ˈa ˈma.lɨʃ kɨ ˈβɐ̃j̃.ɐ̃j̃ pɐ.ɾɐ u ˈβɐ̃j̃]

Literally, “there are evils that come for the good”.

lit

A negative event may have a later positive effect.

An overall negative event may have a positive side effect.

Enduring negative experiences will eventually pay off.


lintik lang ang walang ganti

tl-head

lintík lang ang waláng gantí (Baybayin spelling ᜎᜒᜈ᜔ᜆᜒᜃ᜔ ᜎᜅ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜏᜎᜅ᜔ ᜄᜈ᜔ᜆᜒ)

lintík lang ang waláng gantí (canonical)
ᜎᜒᜈ᜔ᜆᜒᜃ᜔ ᜎᜅ᜔ ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜏᜎᜅ᜔ ᜄᜈ᜔ᜆᜒ (Baybayin)

[lɪn̪ˌt̪ik ˌlaŋ ʔɐŋ wɐˌlaŋ ɡɐn̪ˈt̪i]

Literally, “only lightning seeks no vengeance”.

lit

said by someone vowing revenge: someone who has been wronged will seek revenge, no matter the consequences are


tl-head

ang maglakad nang tulin / kung matinik ay malalim

ang maglakád nang matulin, kung matiník ay malalim (Baybayin spelling ᜀᜅ᜔ ᜋᜄ᜔ᜎᜃᜇ᜔ ᜈᜅ᜔ ᜆᜓᜎᜒᜈ᜔ ᜵ ᜃᜓᜅ᜔ ᜋᜆᜒᜈᜒᜃ᜔ ᜀᜌ᜔ ᜋᜎᜎᜒᜋ᜔)

ang maglakád nang matulin (canonical)
kung matiník ay malalim (canonical)

ang maglakad nang matulin, kung matinik ay malalim

/ʔaŋ maɡlaˌkad naŋ maˌtulin | kuŋ matiˌnik ʔaj maˈlalim/

[ʔɐŋ mɐɡ.lɐˌxad̪ n̪ɐŋ mɐˌt̪uː.lɪn̪ | kʊŋ mɐ.t̪ɪˌn̪ik ʔaɪ̯ mɐˈlaː.lɪm]

more haste, less speed
more haste, less speed


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más vale pájaro en mano que buitre volando

/ˌmas ˌbale ˌpaxaɾo em ˌmano ke ˌbwitɾe boˈlando/

[ˌmaz ˌβ̞a.le ˌpa.xa.ɾo ẽm ˌma.no ke ˌβ̞wi.t̪ɾe β̞oˈlãn̪.d̪o]

Literally, “a bird in hand is better than a vulture in flight”.

lit

más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando#Spanish

Alternative form of más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando


觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

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觀棋不語真君子，起手無回大丈夫

观棋不语真君子，起手无回大丈夫

ㄍㄨㄢ ㄑㄧˊ ㄅㄨˋ ㄩˇ ㄓㄣ ㄐㄩㄣ ㄗˇ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ˙ㄈㄨ

ㄑㄧˇ ㄕㄡˇ ㄨˊ ㄏㄨㄟˊ ㄉㄚˋ ㄓㄤˋ ㄈㄨ

gun¹ kei⁴ bat¹ jyu⁵ zan¹ gwan¹ zi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ zoeng⁶ fu¹

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfu [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

гуань ци бу юй чжэнь цзюньцзы

цишоу у хуэй дачжанфу

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu¹/

qǐshǒu wú huí dàzhàngfū [Phonetic:guānqíbùyǔzhēnjūnzǐ

/ku̯än⁵⁵ t͡ɕʰi³⁵ pu⁵¹ y²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂən⁵⁵ t͡ɕyn⁵⁵ t͡sz̩²¹⁴⁻³⁵ t͡ɕʰi²¹⁴⁻³⁵ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ u³⁵ xu̯eɪ̯³⁵ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ ʈ͡ʂɑŋ⁵¹ fu⁵⁵/

gūn kèih bāt yúh jān gwān jí, héi sáu mòuh wùih daaih jeuhng fū

gun¹ kei⁴ bat⁷ jy⁵ dzan¹ gwan¹ dzi², hei² sau² mou⁴ wui⁴ daai⁶ dzoeng⁶ fu¹

gun¹ kéi⁴ bed¹ yu⁵ zen¹ guen¹ ji², héi² seo² mou⁴ wui⁴ dai⁶ zêng⁶ fu¹

/kuːn⁵⁵ kʰei̯²¹ pɐt̚⁵ jyː¹³ t͡sɐn⁵⁵ kʷɐn⁵⁵ t͡siː³⁵ hei̯³⁵ sɐu̯³⁵ mou̯²¹ wuːi̯²¹ taːi̯²² t͡sœːŋ²² fuː⁵⁵/

Do not make any comments on a chess game when watching it, and do not regret your move when playing a chess game.


kažile kiža, a hiirele rida

Literally: "A game for a cat, and a trap for a mouse".

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


squadra che vince non si cambia

Literally, “team that wins one does not change it.”

lit

Ricordando il detto “squadra che vince non si cambia”.... La famiglia tradizionale è stata sottoposta negli ultimi 50 anni da una moltitudine di soggetti che propongono modelli diversi, a volte originali e stravaganti, che vorrebbero soppiantare un’istituzione che invece per secoli si è dimostrata all’altezza del compito.

2023, Roberto Vannacci, Il Mondo al Contrario [The World in Reverse], independently published:

Remembering the saying "don't change horses in midstream".... The traditional family has been under attack over the last fifty years from a variety of groups who promote different family models, some of which are original and extravagant, that would like to supplant an institution that for centuries has shown itself to be up to the task.

don't change a winning team
don't change a winning team

don't change horses in midstream
don't change horses in midstream

don't change a winning team, don't change horses in midstream


mae gan foch bach glustiau

mae gan foch bach glustiau mawr
mae gan foch bach glustiau mawr#Welsh

(idiomatic) alternative form of "mae gan foch bach glustiau mawr"


mae clustiau gan foch bach

mae clustiau mawr gan foch bach
mae clustiau mawr gan foch bach#Welsh

(idiomatic) alternative form of "mae clustiau mawr gan foch bach"


mae gan foch bach glustiau mawr

little pitchers have big ears
little pitchers have big ears

(idiomatic) little pitchers have big ears (observation that small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire)


penye nia pana njia

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


ala piri tifi a no lafu

Literally, "not all teeth baring is smiling".

appearances are deceptive
appearances are deceptive#English

all that glitters is not gold
all that glitters is not gold#English

appearances are deceptive, all that glitters is not gold


the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest

forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest (canonical)

forbidden fruit is the sweetest
forbidden fruit is the sweetest#English

Alternative form of forbidden fruit is the sweetest


the labourer is worthy of his hire

the laborer is worthy of his hire#English

Alternative form of the laborer is worthy of his hire


夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

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夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也

ㄈㄨˊ ㄙㄢ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄓ ㄙㄤ

ㄊㄧㄢ ㄒㄧㄚˋ ㄓ ㄊㄨㄥ ㄙㄤˋ ㄧㄝˇ

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ zi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ zi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

фу сань нянь чжи сан

тянься чжи тунсан е

/fu³⁵ sän⁵⁵ ni̯ɛn³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵⁵ tʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ ɕi̯ä⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɑŋ⁵¹ jɛ²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

fùh sāam nìhn jī sōng, tīn hah jī tūng sohng yáh

fu⁴ saam¹ nin⁴ dzi¹ song¹, tin¹ haa⁶ dzi¹ tung¹ song⁶ jaa⁵

fu⁴ sam¹ nin⁴ ji¹ song¹, tin¹ ha⁶ ji¹ tung¹ song⁶ ya⁵

/fuː²¹ saːm⁵⁵ niːn²¹ t͡siː⁵⁵ sɔːŋ⁵⁵ tʰiːn⁵⁵ haː²² t͡siː⁵⁵ tʰʊŋ⁵⁵ sɔːŋ²² jaː¹³/

Zai Wo asked about the three years' mourning for parents, saying that one year was long enough. "If the superior man abstains for three years from the observances of propriety, those observances will be quite lost. If for three years he abstains from music, music will be ruined. Within a year the old grain is exhausted, and the new grain has sprung up, and, in procuring fire by friction, we go through all the changes of wood for that purpose. After a complete year, the mourning may stop." The Master said, "If you were, after a year, to eat good rice, and wear embroidered clothes, would you feel at ease?" "I should," replied Wo. The Master said, "If you can feel at ease, do it. But a superior man, during the whole period of mourning, does not enjoy pleasant food which he may eat, nor derive pleasure from music which he may hear. He also does not feel at ease, if he is comfortably lodged. Therefore he does not do what you propose. But now you feel at ease and may do it." Zai Wo then went out, and the Master said, "This shows Yu's want of virtue. It is not till a child is three years old that it is allowed to leave the arms of its parents. And the three years' mourning is universally observed throughout the empire. Did Yu enjoy the three years' love of his parents?"

Zǎi Wǒ wèn: “Sān nián zhī sàng, qī yǐjiǔ yǐ. Jūnzǐ sān nián bùwèi lǐ, lǐ bì huài; sān nián bùwèi yuè, yuè bì bēng. Jiù gǔ jì méi, xīn gǔ jì shēng, zuàn suì gǎi huǒ, qī kě yǐ yǐ.” Zǐ yuē: “Shí fū dào, yī fū jǐn, yú nǚ ān hū?” Yuē: “Ān.” “Nǚ ān zé wèi zhī! Fū jūnzǐ zhī jūsàng, shí zhǐ bùgān, wén yuè bùyuè, jūchù bù'ān, gù bùwèi yě. Jīn nǚ ān, zé wèi zhī!” Zǎi Wǒ chū. Zǐ yuē: “Yǔ zhī bùrén yě! Zǐ shēng sān nián, ránhòu miǎn yú fùmǔ zhī huái. Fū sān nián zhī sàng, tiānxià zhī tōngsàng yě. Yǔ yě, yǒu sān nián zhī ài yú qí fùmǔ hū?”

宰我問：「三年之喪，期已久矣。君子三年不為禮，禮必壞；三年不為樂，樂必崩。舊穀既沒，新穀既升，鑽燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫錦，於女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安則為之！夫君子之居喪，食旨不甘，聞樂不樂，居處不安，故不為也。今女安，則為之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然後免於父母之懷。夫三年之喪，天下之通喪也。予也，有三年之愛於其父母乎？」

宰我问：「三年之丧，期已久矣。君子三年不为礼，礼必坏；三年不为乐，乐必崩。旧谷既没，新谷既升，钻燧改火，期可已矣。」子曰：「食夫稻，衣夫锦，于女安乎？」曰：「安。」「女安则为之！夫君子之居丧，食旨不甘，闻乐不乐，居处不安，故不为也。今女安，则为之！」宰我出。子曰：「予之不仁也！子生三年，然后免于父母之怀。夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也。予也，有三年之爱于其父母乎？」

夫三年之丧，天下之通丧也

The three years' mourning is the common funeral rite of all under Heaven

One should mourn one's parents for three years when they die


ein bisschen Schwund ist immer

/aɪ̯n ˈbɪsçən ˌʃvʊnt ɪst ˈɪmɐ/

Literally, “there’s always a bit of wastage”.

lit

Leute! Ein bisschen Schwund ist immer. Aber wie schnell hier meine Büroklammern immer aufgebraucht sind, grenzt an Diebstahl!

Guys! There’s always a bit of wastage. But the speed at which my paper clips are being used up around here borders on theft!

You must allow for some unanticipated or unexplained losses. You should expect neither that things proceed perfectly, nor that they are perfectly documented.


the squeaky wheel gets the oil

the squeaky wheel gets the grease#English

Alternative form of the squeaky wheel gets the grease


tan tiri a no don

Literally, "staying silent isn't (the same as being) dumb".

speech is silver, silence is golden#English


watched toast never burns

a watched pot never boils
a watched pot never boils#English


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De-was du nicht willst, dass man dir tu, das füg auch keinem andern zu.ogg

Literally, “don’t do to others what you don’t want done to yourself”. The phrase is a calque of Latin quod tibi non vis fieri, alteri ne feceris, which has been ascribed to Severus Alexander. Possibly based on the golden rule (Matthew 7:12), but at least associated with it later on. Compare Dutch wat gij niet wilt dat u geschiedt, doe dat ook een ander niet.
The spelling of dass or das in the second clause varies in practice, but the correct form is the conjunction. Compare an alternative phrase with a preposition, such as wovon du nicht willst, dass man spricht, which shows that it cannot be an accusative pronoun. The form tu is third-person singular present subjunctive (short for tue).

cog

You should treat others as you want to be treated by them.


a healthy body is a healthy mind

Physical fitness leads to mental acuity.


head

wat gij niet wilt dat u geschiedt, doe dat ook een ander niet

Literally, “Don’t do to others what you don’t want to happen to yourself.” The phrase is a calque of Latin quod tibi non vis fieri, alteri ne feceris, which has been ascribed to Severus Alexander. Possibly based on the golden rule (Matthew 7:12), but at least associated with it later on. Compare German was du nicht willst, dass man dir tu, das füg auch keinem andern zu.

cog

you should treat others as you want to be treated by them

wat jij niet wilt dat jou geschiedt, doe dat ook een ander niet


mente sana in corpo sano

Calque of Latin mens sana in corpore sano. Compare French un esprit sain dans un corps sain.

cog

a healthy body is a healthy mind
a healthy body is a healthy mind


donde no hay mata no hay patata

Literally, “where there is no shrub, there is no potato”, i.e. you cannot have a potato without a potato plant.

lit

—Venga, Fernando, vámonos. Donde no hay mata no hay patata y con estos caguetas no hay nada que hacer—fue la despedida de Juan.

2022, Javier Fernández López, Mi abuelo, page 155:

—Come on, Fernando, let's go. Where there is no shrub, there is no potato, and with these cowards there is nothing to do—was Juan's farewell.

Busque. Busque y verá cómo algo queda. Si no, déjelo sin más dilaciones porque, como dicen en mi tierra, donde no hay mata, no hay patata...

2013, David Pérez, Cómo ser feliz en el trabajo cuando el jefe es tonto, page 82:

Search. Search and you will see how something is. If not, leave it without further delay because, as they say in my country, where there is no shrub, there is no potato...

Este ha sido el único escollo, íntimo, ínfimo, mínimo, que me ha hecho recapacitar en la persistencia de la memoria y en que donde no hay mata, no hay patata.

This has been the only obstacle, intimate, tiny, minimal, that has made me reconsider the persistence of memory and that where there is no shrub, there is no potato.

One cannot perform a task without having the necessary materials or skills to do so.


os cães ladram, a caravana passa

os cães ladram, mas a caravana passa#Portuguese

Alternative form of os cães ladram, mas a caravana passa


gods may do what cattle may not

Perhaps a modified calque of quod licet Iovi, non licet bovi.

For quotations using this term, see Citations:gods may do what cattle may not.

What is permitted to one important person or group is not permitted to everyone; there is a double standard.


어멍은 베 고팡 죽곡, 아인 베 터졍 죽곡

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^어멍은 베 고팡 죽곡, 아인 베 터졍 죽곡.

어멍은 베 고팡 죽곡, 아인 베 터졍 죽곡. (Eomeong'eun be gopang jukgok, ain be teojeong jukgok.)

Eomeong'eun be gopang jukgok (romanization)
ain be teojeong jukgok. (romanization)

[əməŋɨn pe kopʰa̠ŋ t͡ɕuk̚k͈ok̚ a̠in pe tʰəd͡ʑəŋ t͡ɕuk̚k͈ok̚]

어멍은베고팡죽꼭아인베터정죽꼭

[어멍은베고팡죽꼭아인베터정죽꼭]

Literally, "A mother dies from being hungry, while her child dies from a stomach too full."

A mother will always put her child's needs first. One should always respect one's mother's efforts.


溫言在口，大棒在手

ㄨㄣ ㄧㄢˊ ㄗㄞˋ ㄎㄡˇ

ㄉㄚˋ ㄅㄤˋ ㄗㄞˋ ㄕㄡˇ

wan¹ jin⁴ zoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ zoi⁶ sau²

вэньянь цзай коу

дабан цзай шоу

/wən⁵⁵ jɛn³⁵ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ kʰoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ tä⁵¹⁻⁵³ pɑŋ⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡saɪ̯⁵¹ ʂoʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

wān yìhn joih háu, daaih páahng joih sáu

wan¹ jin⁴ dzoi⁶ hau², daai⁶ paang⁵ dzoi⁶ sau²

wen¹ yin⁴ zoi⁶ heo², dai⁶ pang⁵ zoi⁶ seo²

/wɐn⁵⁵ jiːn²¹ t͡sɔːi̯²² hɐu̯³⁵ taːi̯²² pʰaːŋ¹³ t͡sɔːi̯²² sɐu̯³⁵/

Calque of English speak softly and carry a big stick.

calque

gentle words in mouth, big stick on hand

2024 January 14, Lianhe Zaobao, 美学者提醒：台湾选后应保持克制同时加强备战 (American Scholar Reminds: Post-Election Taiwan Should Exercise Restraint while Enhance War-Preperation):

Larry Diamond also quotes the late U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt's famous quote "speak softly and carry a big stick". He says the Biden Administration follows this path by not pursuing provocation...

Dàiyǎmén yě yǐnshù měiguó yǐgù zǒngtǒng lǎo luósīfú míngyán “wēnyánzàikǒu, dàbàngzàishǒu”, zhǐ bàidēng zhèngfǔ zhèngshì yīxún cǐ lùxiàn, bù cǎiqǔ tiǎoxìn jǔcuò......

戴雅門也引述美國已故總統老羅斯福名言“溫言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路線，不採取挑釁舉措……

戴雅门也引述美国已故总统老罗斯福名言“温言在口，大棒在手”，指拜登政府正是依循此路线，不采取挑衅举措……

speak softly and carry a big stick
speak softly and carry a big stick


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con nhà tông không giống lông cũng giống cánh

[kɔn˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ təwŋ͡m˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ zəwŋ͡m˧˦ ləwŋ͡m˧˧ kʊwŋ͡m˦ˀ˥ zəwŋ͡m˧˦ kajŋ̟˧˦]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɲaː˦˩ təwŋ͡m˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ jəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ ləwŋ͡m˧˧ kʊwŋ͡m˧˨ jəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ kɛɲ˦˧˥]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɲaː˦˩ təwŋ͡m˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ jəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ ləwŋ͡m˧˧ kʊwŋ͡m˧˨ jəwŋ͡m˦˧˥ kɛɲ˦˧˥]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ təwŋ͡m˧˧ kʰəwŋ͡m˧˧ jəwŋ͡m˦˥ ləwŋ͡m˧˧ kʊwŋ͡m˨˩˦ jəwŋ͡m˦˥ kan˦˥]

[kɔŋ˧˧ ɲaː˨˩ təwŋ͡m˧˧ xəwŋ͡m˧˧ jəwŋ͡m˦˥ ləwŋ͡m˧˧ kʊwŋ͡m˨˩˦ jəwŋ͡m˦˥ kan˦˥]

One (obsolete) variant of this phrase is attested in the Dictionarium anamitico-latinum (1772 manuscript) as con công chẳng giống lông thì giống cánh (literally “even a peachick that is different in its plumage would still be similar in its wings”).
Considering that both variants contain lông (“feather”) and cánh (“wing”), it is likely that the obsolete one, which has công (“peafowl”), is more conservative of the two. The modern form arose from the substitution of công (“peafowl”) for its rhyme nhà tông (“(of) genuine lineage”).

like father, like son
like father, like son


brent barn skyr elden

brent barn skyr elden ("a burnt child shuns the fire")

One is more cautious if one has been hurt in the past

once bitten, twice shy
once bitten, twice shy

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

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


ăn cơm quốc gia, thờ ma cộng sản

[ʔan˧˧ kəːm˧˧ kuək̚˧˦ zaː˧˧ tʰəː˨˩ maː˧˧ kəwŋ͡m˧˨ʔ saːn˧˩]

[ʔaŋ˧˧ kəːm˧˧ kuək̚˦˧˥ jaː˧˧ tʰəː˦˩ maː˧˧ kəwŋ͡m˨˩ʔ ʂaːŋ˧˨]

[ʔaŋ˧˧ kəːm˧˧ kuək̚˦˧˥ jaː˧˧ tʰəː˦˩ maː˧˧ kəwŋ͡m˨˩ʔ saːŋ˧˨]

[ʔaŋ˧˧ kəːm˧˧ wək̚˦˥ jaː˧˧ tʰəː˨˩ maː˧˧ kəwŋ͡m˨˩˨ ʂaːŋ˨˩˦]

[ʔaŋ˧˧ kəːm˧˧ wək̚˦˥ jaː˧˧ tʰəː˨˩ maː˧˧ kəwŋ͡m˨˩˨ saːŋ˨˩˦]

(literally) to eat the nation's rice while worshiping the Communist spirits

Tuy nhiên Ấp Chiến-Lược một quốc-sách lợi-hại tốt đẹp đã rào xã, rào Ấp mà không rào lòng họ, còn ác cảm, e ngại rằng sinh nỗi thân hàn, tâm hán, ăn cơm Quốc-gia, thờ ma Cộng-sản thì có thể ảnh-hưởng không lợi cho Ấp Chiến-Lược.

1962 December 13, “Tiếp-tục thảo-luận và biểu-quyết dự-thảo-luật số 95/11 về ngân-sách quốc-gia tài-khóa 1963 [Continuing the deliberation and vote on bill number 95/11 on the national budget for fiscal year 1963]”, in Nội-san Quốc-hội, volume 2, number Special Issue, Sở Thông-tin Quốc-hội, page 112:

However much the Strategic Hamlet Program is a bad or good national policy, communes and hamlets have been fenced up but hearts cannot be hemmed in, and there is enmity and hesitation that beget feelings akin to being friendly with the Koreans but having a heart for the Chinese [wordplay on "body" and "heart"], eating the nation's rice while worshiping the Communists, which may have a detrimental effect on the Strategic Hamlet Program.

bite the hand that feeds one
bite the hand that feeds one

(figuratively, derogatory, idiomatic) to betray one's country; to bite the hand that feeds one


o mangi la minestra o salti la finestra

Literally, “either you eat the soup or you jump (out of) the window”.

lit

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

bitter pill to swallow
bitter pill to swallow

(colloquial) one must like it or lump it; beggars can't be choosers; one must take the bitter pill to swallow


ten się śmieje, kto się śmieje ostatni

/tɛn ɕɛ ɕmjɛjɛˌ ktɔ ɕɛ ˈɕmjɛ.jɛ ɔsˈtat.ɲi/

Literally, “that one laughs who laughs last”, or more loosely translated as “he who laughs last laughs best”.

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


al platu vendrás arbeyu

Literally, “You will come to the plate, pea”. This is an abbreviation of the complete saying: "al platu vendrás arbeyu, si nun ye de xoven será de vieyu".

(idiomatic) what is irremediable ends up happening, no matter how much one resists it.


lightning never strikes twice

An allusive shortening of lightning never strikes twice in the same place, usually used figuratively.


al perru flacu too son pulgues

Literally, “To a skinny dog everything is fleas”

(idiomatic) used when something bad happens to a poor or weak person


head

cuando xineru vien caliente, ye que trai’l diañu en vientre

Literally, “When January comes warm, it's because it brings the devil in the belly”

lit

(idiomatic) the heat in January heralds bad weather for the following months.


head

al platu vendrás arbeyu, si nun ye de xoven será de vieyu

Literally, “On the plate you’ll go, pea, if it’s not while you’re young it will be when you’re old”.


op een oude fiets moet je het leren

Literally, “you've got to learn it on an old bike”.

(humorous, somewhat vulgar) sex with an older woman can be instructive to inexperienced young men


en-proverb

lightning does not strike twice in the same place

lightning never strikes twice in the same place#English

Alternative form of lightning never strikes twice in the same place

lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place


lightning doesn't strike twice in the same place


寧欺白鬚公，莫欺少年窮

ㄋㄧㄥˋ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ㄇㄛˋ ㄑㄧ ㄕㄠˋ ㄋㄧㄢˊ ㄑㄩㄥˊ

ㄋㄧㄥˊ ㄑㄧ ㄅㄞˊ ㄒㄩ ㄍㄨㄥ

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁶ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

нин ци байсюй гун

мо ци шаонянь цюн

/niŋ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

/niŋ³⁵ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ paɪ̯³⁵ ɕy⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mu̯ɔ⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi⁵⁵ ʂɑʊ̯⁵¹ ni̯ɛn³⁵ t͡ɕʰi̯ʊŋ³⁵/

nìhng hēi baahk sōu gūng, mohk hēi siu nìhn kùhng

ning⁴ hei¹ baak⁹ sou¹ gung¹, mok⁹ hei¹ siu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

ning⁴ héi¹ bag⁶ sou¹ gung¹, mog⁶ héi¹ xiu³ nin⁴ kung⁴

/nɪŋ²¹ hei̯⁵⁵ paːk̚² sou̯⁵⁵ kʊŋ⁵⁵ mɔːk̚² hei̯⁵⁵ siːu̯³³ niːn²¹ kʰʊŋ²¹/

Originally Cantonese. First attested in the vernacular novel 廿載繁華夢 by Huang Shizhong (黃世仲／黄世仲) from Panyu, Guangdong.

Do not look down on a young person for being poor


會哭的孩子有奶吃

会哭的孩子有奶吃
會哭的孩子有奶喫

ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄎㄨ ˙ㄉㄜ ㄏㄞˊ ˙ㄗ ㄧㄡˇ ㄋㄞˇ ㄔ

huì kū de háizi yǒu nǎi chī [Phonetic:huìkūdeháiziyóunǎichī]

хуэй ку дэ хайцзы ю най чи

/xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ kʰu⁵⁵ d̥ə² xaɪ̯³⁵ d͡z̥z̩³ joʊ̯²¹⁴⁻³⁵ naɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʈ͡ʂʰʐ̩⁵⁵/

the squeaky wheel gets the grease
the squeaky wheel gets the grease


mwosha huoshwa

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours, quid pro quo


si tu veux la paix, prépare la guerre

si tu veux la paix prépare la guerre#French

Alternative spelling of si tu veux la paix prépare la guerre


faites l'amour, pas la guerre

faites l’amour (canonical)
pas la guerre (canonical)


si tu veux la paix prépare la guerre

Calque of Latin sī vīs pācem, parā bellum; literally, “if you want peace, prepare for war.”

clq

if you want peace, prepare for war
if you want peace, prepare for war


beauty fades, dumb is forever

Popularized by the American court-show arbitrator Judy Sheindlin.

One's attractiveness will diminish over time, but one's stupidity is perpetual.


if you want peace, prepare for war

Calque of Latin sī vīs pācem, parā bellum, an adage adapted from a statement found in 4th century AD Roman author Vegetius's tract De re militari, in which the actual phrasing is igitur quī dēsīderat pācem, praeparet bellum (“therefore let him who desires peace prepare for war”).

Visibly preparing for a fight can deter one's enemies from opening hostilities, by not giving the appearance of an easy target.

jeśli chcesz pokoju, przygotuj się do wojny


nid mewn undydd y codwyd Rhufain

Borrowed from English Rome wasn't built in a day.

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


terve sielu terveessä ruumiissa

a healthy body is a healthy mind
a healthy body is a healthy mind


行路倚壁邊，做事較大天

/kiã²³⁻³³ lɔ³³ ua⁴¹⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁴¹ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁴¹ tua³³⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻¹¹ lɔ³³ ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue¹¹⁻⁵³ su³³ kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua³³⁻¹¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

/kiã²⁴⁻²² lɔ²² ua⁵³⁻⁴⁴ pia(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ pĩ⁴⁴ t͡sue²¹⁻⁵³ su²² kʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ tua²²⁻²¹ tʰĩ⁴⁴/

(Hokkien) those who are humble and conceal their talents are often the ones who do great things


拍拳看勢，順風攑旗

拍拳看势，顺风𫽥旗
拍拳看勢，順風揭旗

Shadowboxing should be done in accordance with boxing postures, and the flag should be raised in the direction of the wind.

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ se²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)⁴⁻²¹ ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)⁵ kun²⁴⁻²² kʰuã⁴¹⁻⁵⁵⁴ se⁴¹ sun⁴¹⁻²² huaŋ³³ ka(ʔ)²⁴⁻² ki²⁴/

/pʰa(ʔ)³²⁻⁵³ kun¹³⁻²² kʰuã²¹⁻⁵³ si²¹ sun²²⁻²¹ hɔŋ⁴⁴⁻²² kia(ʔ)¹²¹⁻²¹ ki¹³/

(Hokkien) to speak and act in accordance to rules and laws and complying with the circumstances


신선놀음에 도낏자루 썩는 줄 모른다

head

신선놀음-에 도낏자루 썩는 줄 모른다

신선놀음에 도낏자루 썩는 줄 모른다 • (sinseonnoreum-e dokkitjaru sseongneun jul moreunda)

[ɕʰinsʰʌ̹nno̞ɾɯme̞ to̞k͈it̚t͡ɕ͈a̠ɾu s͈ʌ̹ŋnɯn t͡ɕuɭ mo̞ɾɯnda̠]

신선노르메도낃짜루썽는줄모른다

[신선노르메도낃짜루썽는줄모른다]

Literally, “Caught up in the Daoist immortals' game [of Go], you forget that the handle of your hatchet is rotting”. From the Shuyiji by Ren Fang (lived 460—508 AD), a Chinese writer

m-g

Caught up in the Daoist immortals' game 􂀿of Go􂁀, you forget that the handle of your hatchet is rotting

lit

In Mount Shishi in Xin'an County during the Jin dynasty, Wang Zhi went to fell timber and chanced upon a few children who were playing the game of Go and singing. So Wang Zhi listened to them. The children gave something to Zhi which looked like a jujube seed. Zhi held it in his mouth and was no longer conscious of hunger. A little while after, the children said: "Why aren't you leaving?" Zhi stood up and saw that the handle of his hatchet had rotted away to nothing. When he went back, there was nobody from his own time left.

Xìn'ān jùn Shíshì shān, jìn shí Wáng Zhì fámù, zhì jiàn tóngzǐ shù rén, qí ér gē, zhì yīn tīng zhī. Tóngzǐ yǐ yī wù yǔ zhì, rú zǎohé, zhì hán zhī bù jiào jī. Éqǐng, tóngzǐ wèi yuē: ‘Hé bù qù?’, zhì qǐ, shì fǔkē làn jìn, jì guī, wú fù shírén.

信安郡石室山，晉時王質伐木，至見童子數人，棋而歌，質因聽之。童子以一物與質，如棗核，質含之不覺饑。俄頃，童子謂曰：『何不去？』，質起，視斧柯爛盡，既歸，無復時人。

信安郡石室山，晋时王质伐木，至见童子数人，棋而歌，质因听之。童子以一物与质，如枣核，质含之不觉饥。俄顷，童子谓曰：『何不去？』，质起，视斧柯烂尽，既归，无复时人。

time flies when you're having fun
time flies when you're having fun

(as a warning) If one is too focused on entertainment, one might forget something important


head

dobrymi chęciami piekło jest wybrukowane

/dɔbˈrɘ.mi xɛɲˈt͡ɕa.mi ˈpjɛk.wɔ jɛst fɘb.ru.kɔˈva.nɛ/

Literally, “hell is paved with good intentions”.

lit

(idiomatic) the road to hell is paved with good intentions

dobrymi chęciami jest piekło wybrukowane


por São Clemente alça a mão da semente

Literally, “around S. Clement raise with the hand the seed”.

lit

1651, Antonio Delicado, Officina de Domingos Lopes Rosa, Adagios portuguezes reduzidos a lugares communs, page 13

(please add an English translation of this quotation)

Por S. Clemente alça a maõ da semente.

1780, Francisco Rolland, Typografia Rollandiana, Adagios, proverbios, rifãos, e anexins da lingua portugueza, page 260:

1867, Teophilo de Braga, Impressa da Universidade de Coimbra, Cancioneiro Popular, page 182

Por Sam Clemente / Alça a mão da semente.

(agriculture) around S. Clement's day, it's time to seed in some regions of Portugal


there's no business like show business

(literally) The domain of the entertainment industry is more dazzling and exciting than any other business.

(figuratively) One must keep going in life or continue in one's endeavors despite their many challenges.


蒼蠅附驥尾而致千里

The housefly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄘㄤ ˙ㄧㄥ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

tsʻang¹-ying⁵ fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

цанъин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/t͡sʰɑŋ⁵⁵ iŋ² fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

dwarf standing on the shoulders of giants

a dwarf stands on the shoulders of giants


蠅附驥尾而致千里

The fly on the tail of a noble steed travels a thousand miles.

ㄧㄥˊ ㄈㄨˋ ㄐㄧˋ ㄨㄟˇ ㄦˊ ㄓˋ ㄑㄧㄢ ㄌㄧˇ

ying² fu⁴ chi⁴ wei³ êrh² chih⁴ chʻien¹-li³

ин фу цзи вэй эр чжи цяньли

/iŋ³⁵ fu⁵¹⁻⁵³ t͡ɕi⁵¹ weɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ³⁵ ʈ͡ʂʐ̩⁵¹ t͡ɕʰi̯ɛn⁵⁵ li²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/


z dużej chmury mały deszcz

Literally, “out of a big cloud a little rain”.

much ado about nothing
much ado about nothing

great cry and little wool
great cry and little wool

all talk and no action
all talk and no action

all bark and no bite
all bark and no bite

(idiomatic) much ado about nothing; great cry and little wool; all talk and no action; all bark and no bite (big changes could have been expected, but they did not happen)


they'll do it every time

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-they'll do it every time.wav

(often humorous or sarcastic, uncommon) One must be vigilant and cognizant of challenging and hazardous surroundings or situations, or the usual events will occur.

That's women for you. If you don't cry they'll talk and if you cry they'll talk. They'll do it ever time, and New York women's no different from Holden.

1901, “The Widow's Story”, in San Francisco Daily Times, volume 10, page 18:

Used to assert the validity of a stereotype regarding the way people behave.


occhio per occhio, dente per dente

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


intet nytt under solen

intet (“nothing”) + nytt (“new”) + under (“under”) + solen (“the sun”)

af

nothing new under the sun
nothing new under the sun


inget nytt under solen

inget (“nothing”) + nytt (“new”) + under (“under”) + solen (“the sun”)


入鄉隨俗，入港隨灣

when entering a village, follow the customs, when entering a port, follow the bends

rib⁸ hion¹ sui⁵ sog⁸, rib⁸ gang² sui⁵ uang¹

/lip̚²⁴⁻² hiũ³³ sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚²⁴ lip̚²⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵⁵⁴⁻²⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan³³/

/lip̚⁴⁻³² hiũ⁴⁴⁻²² sui²⁴⁻²² siɔk̚⁴ lip̚⁴⁻³² kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui²⁴⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ hiɔ̃⁴⁴⁻²² sui¹³⁻²² siɔk̚¹²¹ d͡zip̚¹²¹⁻²¹ kaŋ⁵³⁻⁴⁴ sui¹³⁻²² uan⁴⁴/

/d͡zip̚⁴⁻² hĩõ³³⁻²³ sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ sok̚⁴ d͡zip̚⁴⁻² kaŋ⁵² sui⁵⁵⁻¹¹ uaŋ³³/

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

(Southern Min) when in Rome, do as the Romans do


head

there is a place and time for everything

there is a time and place for everything#English

Alternative form of there is a time and place for everything


養兒一百歲，長憂九十九

When a parent raises a child for 100 years, he/she would worry for him/her for 99 years

ㄧㄢˇ ㄍㄜˊㄦ ㄧ ㄅㄞˇ ㄙㄨㄟˋ

ㄔㄤˊ ㄧㄡ ㄐㄧㄡˇ ㄕˊ ㄐㄧㄡˇ

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat¹ baak³ seoi³, coeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁶ gau²

cháng yōu jiǔshíjiǔ [Phonetic:yǎngér yìbǎi suì

яньгэр ибай суй

чан ю цзюшицзю

/jɛn²¹⁴⁻²¹ kɤɻ³⁵ i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ paɪ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ su̯eɪ̯⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵ joʊ̯⁵⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩³⁵ t͡ɕi̯oʊ̯²¹⁴⁻²¹⁽⁴⁾/

yéuhng yìh yāt baak seui, chèuhng yāu gáu sahp gáu

joeng⁵ ji⁴ jat⁷ baak⁸ soey³, tsoeng⁴ jau¹ gau² sap⁹ gau²

yêng⁵ yi⁴ yed¹ bag³ sêu³, cêng⁴ yeo¹ geo² seb⁶ geo²

/jœːŋ¹³ jiː²¹ jɐt̚⁵ paːk̚³ sɵy̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹ jɐu̯⁵⁵ kɐu̯³⁵ sɐp̚² kɐu̯³⁵/

A parent always cares about their children no matter how old they are.


live fast, die young

An individual who chooses to live an exciting but dangerous lifestyle risks dying prematurely.


there's a time and a place for everything


there's a first time for everything

Something could happen even if it has not happened before.

It is wise to try different sorts of things or experiences that one is unaccustomed to or wary of.


tide nor time tarrieth no man

time and tide wait for no man
time and tide wait for no man#English

(dated, archaic) Synonym of time and tide wait for no man


bailíonn brobh beart

every little (bit) helps
every little helps

many a mickle makes a muckle
many a mickle makes a muckle

every little (bit) helps, many a mickle makes a muckle


is é cosaint na pingine a chruachas na puint

Literally, “It’s protecting the penny that piles up the pounds.”

lit

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


習うより慣れよ

習うより慣れよ (canonical)
narau yori nareyo (romanization)

習うより慣れろ 習うより慣れろ#Japanese


aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera

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

aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera
aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera#French

Alternative form of aide-toi, le ciel t’aidera


you can't outrun your fork

Exercise is not enough to counteract an unhealthy diet.


la musique adoucit les mœurs

desc

→ Dutch: muziek verzacht de zeden (calque)

music soothes the savage beast
music soothes the savage beast

music soothes the savage beast, music has charms to soothe the savage beast


wijn na bier geeft plezier

Literally, “wine after beer yields pleasure”. Currently the usage is literal, but originally the proverb is said to have been a metaphor for upwards social mobility (beer being associated with lower socioeconomic class, and wine with wealth).

lit

drinking wine following the consumption of beer is pleasurable compared to the reverse, which believed to cause greater discomfort (through excessive inebriation and hangovers)


bier na wijn geeft venijn

Literally, “beer after wine yields venom”. Currently the usage is literal, but originally the proverb is said to have been a metaphor for downwards social mobility (beer being associated with lower socioeconomic class, and wine with wealth).

drinking beer following the consumption of wine causes greater discomfort (through excessive inebriation and hangovers) than the reverse, namely drinking wine after beer


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zachte heelmeesters maken stinkende wonden

Literally, “gentle healers create stinking wounds”.

lit

overly cautious or halfhearted measures may cause larger problems down the line; often decisive or even drastic action is required to prevent further ills


muito cacique para pouco índio

too many chiefs and not enough Indians
too many chiefs and not enough Indians

(Brazil) too many chiefs and not enough Indians


can çıkar huy çıkmaz

* Literally: "life goes, habit doesn't".

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

(idiomatic) old habits die hard, a leopard cannot change its spots


낫 놓고 기역 자도 모른다

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낫 놓-고 기역 자-도 모른다

낫 놓고 기역 자도 모른다 • (nat no-ko giyeok ja-do moreunda)

nat no-ko giyeok ja-do moreunda (romanization)

[na̠t̚ no̞kʰo̞ kijʌ̹k̚ t͡ɕa̠do̞ mo̞ɾɯnda̠]

[낟노코기역자도모른다]

Literally, “Even if a sickle [which is shaped like the letter giyeok or "ㄱ"] were planted [in the ground], you wouldn't recognise or see it resembles the letter giyeok.”: hence, Used to indicate that one is very clueless or ignorant


il faut que jeunesse se fasse

il faut que jeunesse se passe
il faut que jeunesse se passe#French

Alternative form of il faut que jeunesse se passe


ein gutes Pferd springt nicht höher, als es muss

Literally, “a good horse never jumps higher than it needs to”.

lit

as long as one does the necessary, there is no need to do more; one should try to be efficient, but not perfectionist


la faim fait sortir le loup du bois

desperate times call for desperate measures; needs must


perro que ladra no muerde

Literally, “dog that barks doesn't bite”.

barking dogs seldom bite
barking dogs seldom bite


教會徒弟，餓死師傅

ㄐㄧㄠˋ ㄏㄨㄟˋ ㄊㄨˊ ㄉㄧˋ

цзяохуэй туди

/t͡ɕi̯ɑʊ̯⁵¹⁻⁵³ xu̯eɪ̯⁵¹ tʰu³⁵ ti⁵¹⁻⁵³ ˀɤ⁵¹ sz̩²¹⁴⁻²¹ ʂʐ̩⁵⁵ fu⁵¹/

If a master teaches his apprentice everything without reservation, the apprentice may surpass the master, causing the master to lose his livelihood


é de menino que se torce o pepino

Literally, “the cucumber must be twisted when still a boy”. Cucumber vines must twine arround a support to grow properly.

lit

as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined


entre gitanos no nos leemos la suerte

Literally, “among gypsies we don't read our luck”.

entre gitanos no nos leemos las cartas#Spanish

Synonym of entre gitanos no nos leemos las cartas


entre gitanos no nos leemos la mano

Literally, “among gypsies we don't read our hands”.


każdy orze, jak może

/ˈkaʐ.dɘ ɔʐɛˌ jak ˈmɔ.ʐɛ/

Rhyme, literally, “everyone ploughs as much as they can”.

(idiomatic) everyone copes with life as best as they can


無三不成幾

/mou̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵/

/mou̯²¹ saːm⁵⁵ pɐt̚⁵ sɪŋ²¹ kei̯³⁵/

(Cantonese) when 幾／几 (gei2) is used, the number it refers to should be at least three


一人計短，二人計長

ㄧ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄉㄨㄢˇ

ㄦˋ ㄖㄣˊ ㄐㄧˋ ㄔㄤˊ

jat¹ jan⁴ gai³ dyun², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ coeng⁴

èr rén jì cháng [Phonetic:yì rén jì duǎn

i¹ jên² chi⁴ tuan³, êrh⁴ jên² chi⁴ chʻang²

и жэнь цзи дуань

эр жэнь цзи чан

/i⁵⁵⁻⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ tu̯än²¹⁴⁻²¹ ˀɤɻ⁵¹ ʐən³⁵ t͡ɕi⁵¹ ʈ͡ʂʰɑŋ³⁵/

jat⁷ jan⁴ gai³ dyn², ji⁶ jan⁴ gai³ tsoeng⁴

yed¹ yen⁴ gei³ dün², yi⁶ yen⁴ gei³ cêng⁴

/jɐt̚⁵ jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ tyːn³⁵ jiː²² jɐn²¹ kɐi̯³³ t͡sʰœːŋ²¹/

two heads are better than one
two heads are better than one

two heads are better than one; it is easier for two people who help each other to solve a problem than it is for one person to solve a problem alone


raha ei kasva puussa

money doesn't grow on trees
money doesn't grow on trees

money doesn't grow on trees (wealth cannot be obtained without some effort)


one's time is one's own

(uncommon) A time when one’s work or efforts have not been exchanged as one’s labor time in the framework of industrial capitalism.

(uncommon) A time when one's work or efforts in a certain setting are free from constant supervision.


the devil takes care of his own

the devil looks after his own
the devil looks after his own#English

Alternative form of the devil looks after his own


a sucker is born every minute

there's a sucker born every minute#English

Alternative form of there's a sucker born every minute


het naaste bloed erft het goed

Literally, “the nearest blood inherits the goods”.

the nearest kin of a deceased person is entitled to that person's inheritance


buaian diguncang, anak dicubit

Literally, “the cradle is shaken, the child is pinched”.

lit

good actions and words cover up evil actions or intentions


air beriak tanda tak dalam

From Malay [Term?]. Literally "ripples on water indicates shallow depth.".

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


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cikaracak ninggang batu laun laun jadi legok

Literally, “water dripping [over a] rock [will] slowly dent [it]”. Compare unrelated Latin gutta cavat lapidem.

little strokes fell great oaks
little strokes fell great oaks

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

small but consistent efforts can lead to a desired result; little strokes fell great oaks; slow and steady wins the race


a leopard does not change its spots

My sother has been loved and respected since the day she was born. It is easy to see why she found it so damnably difficult to risk losing her mother's love. It is easy to see also why I knew she would not lose her mother's love. A leopard doesn't change its spots. If her mother was indeed the woman she had always been, then she would act accordingly no matter what.

1981 August 29, Nancy Walker, “Sother Says It”, in Gay Community News, volume 9, number 7, page 12:

a leopard cannot change its spots#English

Alternative form of a leopard cannot change its spots


chaque chose en son temps

/ʃak ʃo.z‿ɑ̃ sɔ̃ tɑ̃/

Literally, “each thing in its own time”.

one step at a time; everything in its own time; be patient

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


il y a un temps pour tout

Literally, “there is a time for everything”.

there is a time and place for everything; now is not the time


krause Haare, krauser Sinn

/ˌkʁaʊ̯zə ˈhaːʁə ˌkʁaʊ̯zɐ ˈzɪn/

Roughly, “twisted hair, twisted mind”. Compare similar stereotypes about red-haired people. Both from the notion that a person’s hair somehow expresses their personality.

(now chiefly humorous) People with curly hair are often unrestrained, stubborn, quirky etc.

krause Haare, krauser Sinn, mitten steckt der Teufel drin


voor wat hoort wat

Literally, “for something there needs to be something [in exchange].”.

m-g

for something there needs to be something 􂀿in exchange􂁀.

lit

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


яйки курицу не учат, яйки бизнес крутят

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яйки курицу не учат, яйки бизнес крутят • (jajki kuricu ne učat, jajki biznes krutjat) (я́йки ку́рицу не у́чат, я́йки би́знес кру́тят • (jájki kúricu ne účat, jájki bíznes krútjat)

jajki kuricu ne učat (romanization)
jajki biznes krutjat (romanization)
jájki kúricu ne účat (romanization)
jájki bíznes krútjat (romanization)

[ˈjæjkʲi ˈkurʲɪt͡sʊ nʲɪ‿ˈut͡ɕɪt ˈjæjkʲi ˈbʲiznɨs ˈkrutʲət]

Literally, “the eggs do not teach the hen, the eggs do business”. Expansion of я́йца ку́рицу не у́чат (jájca kúricu ne účat, literally “the eggs do not teach the hen”).

lit

(Tyumen, slang)) don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs

en-яйки_курицу_не_учат,_яйки_бизнес_крутят-ru-proverb-4WP8X4Nc


ohne Schweiß kein Preis

ohne Fleiß kein Preis
ohne Fleiß kein Preis#German

Alternative form of ohne Fleiß kein Preis


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is fheàrr a dhol a laighe gun suipeir na èirigh ann am fiachan

better to go to bed supperless than to rise in debt.