head

en-au-a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.ogg

Calque of Latin plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis (“a bird in the hands is worth more than two in the forest”), possibly deriving from sources as old as the ancient Middle East, with the 6th century BCE Proverbs of Ahiqar including "a sparrow in thy hand is better than a thousand sparrows flying".

bor

It is more sykyr a bryd in youre fyste
Than to have thre in the sky above

15th c., John Capgrave, Life of St Katherine, Bodleian MS Rawlinson poet. 118, Bk. II

May. No, but the Sides are going to be changed ; and Sir Harry is to be ſome very great Man ; and as ſoon as he is, I am to be made an Embaſſador of.
Mrs. May. Made an Aſs of! Will you never learn of me, that a Bird in the Hand is worth two in the Buſh ?

1737, Henry Fielding, Pasquin, Act II, Scene I, p. 27

[An] acquaintance ... proposed to pay a ... proportion of the cost of the cellar provided he should have as his own everything of value that might be found [excavating]. A bird in the hand, thought Bardolph, is worth two in the bush, so he ... accepted the proposal.

1864, William W. Story, “The Campagna”, in Roba Di Roma, volume II, page 8:

A sure thing is preferable to the mere chance at something more.

flaka të djeg, prushi të ngroh

small but certain advantage is preferable

ʕuṣfūrun fī l-yadi ʔafḍalu min ʕuṣfūrīna ʕalā š-šajarati

عُصْفُورٌ فِي ٱلْيَدِ أَفْضَلُ مِنْ عُصْفُورِينَ عَلَى ٱلشَّجَرَةِ

pʻorjvac tʻanə anpʻorj macuni het čʻen pʻoxi

փորձված թանը անփորձ մածունի հետ չեն փոխի

ljepš vjerabjej u ruce, čym žóraŭ pad njebam

лепш верабей у руцэ, чым жораў пад небам

по́-добре́ врабче́ в ръка́та, отко́лкото за́ек в гора́та (pó-dobré vrabčé v rǎkáta, otkólkoto záek v goráta, literally “better a sparrow in the hand than a rabbit in the forest”)

一鳥在手勝於十鳥在林 /一鸟在手胜于十鸟在林

yī niǎo zài shǒu shèngyú shí niǎo zài lín

lepší vrabec v hrsti, nežli holub na střeše

en fugl i hånden er bedre end ti på taget

beter een vogel in de hand dan tien in de lucht

parempi pyy pivossa kuin kymmenen oksalla

moineau à la main vaut mieux que grue qui vole

l'è miôr un ûf vuê che une gjaline doman

vale máis paxaro na man que cento voando

დღევანდელი კვერცხი ჯობია ხვალინდელ ქათამს (dɣevandeli ḳvercxi ǯobia xvalindel katams, literally “today's egg is better than tomorrow's children”)

besser ein Spatz in der Hand als eine Taube auf dem Dach

κάλλιο πέντε και στο χέρι παρά δέκα και καρτέρει (kállio pénte kai sto chéri pará déka kai kartérei, literally “rather hold five in hand than wait for ten to come”)

טוב ציפור אחת ביד משתיים על העץ

tov tzippór aḥát bayád mishtáim 'al ha'étz

jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok

betri er einn fugl í hendi en tveir í skógi

is fearr breac sa láimh ná bradán sa linn

is fearr áirithe na srathrach ná iasacht na diallaite

meglio un uovo oggi che una gallina domani

明日の百より今日の五十 (asu-no hyaku-yori kyō-no gojū, literally “today's 50 rather than tomorrow's 100”)

ចាបមួយនៅដៃប្រសើរក្រៃ ជាងចាបដប់នៅលើឈើ

chaap muəy nɨv day prɑsaə kray, jieng chaap dɑp nɨv ləə cʰəə

손안에 있는 새가 숲속에 있는 두 마리보다 낫다.

sonane inneun saega supsoge inneun du mariboda natda.

labāk zīle, kas man ir rokā, nekā mednis, kas vēl sēd kokā

l'è mej un üsèll in man che cent che vola

Léiwer e Spatz an der Hand wei eng Dauf um Daach

poarno vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka

поарно врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка

podobro vrapče na raka otkolku gulab na granka

подобро врапче на рака отколку гулаб на гранка

هارڤکن ݢوروه د لاڠيت, اءير د تمڤاين دچورهکن

yang kejar tak dapat, yang dikendong berciciran

harapkan guruh di langit, air di tempayan dicurahkan

én fugl i hånden er bedre enn ti på taket

ein fugl i handa er betre enn ti på taket

лєпше тащок у руки як голуб на древе (ljepše taščok u ruki jak holub na dreve, literally “better a sparrow in the hand than a pigeon in the tree”)

lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu

lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku

mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois voando

nu da vrabia din mână pe cioara de pe gard

не сули́ журавля́ в не́бе, дай сини́цу в ру́ки (ne sulí žuravljá v nébe, daj sinícu v rúki, literally “do not promise a crane in the sky, rather give a titmouse into my hands”)

lučše sinica v rukax, čem žuravlʹ v nebe

лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе

's fhearr eun san làimh na deich air iteig

's fhearr iasg beag na bhith gun iasg idir

lepší vrabec v hrsti ako holub na streche

más vale pájaro en mano que ciento volando

bättre en fågel i handen än tio i skogen

bir eldeki kuş çalıdakinin iki misli değerdir

krašče synycja v žmeni, niž žuravelʹ v nebi

краще синиця в жмені, ніж журавель в небі

một con chim trong tay có giá trị hơn hai con trong bụi cây

våt mî èn oujhea el mwin ki deus sol håye

the grass is always greener on the other side


life is not all beer and skittles

beer and skittles refers to the carefree, indulgent bar life, skittles being a British pub game.

(UK) Not everything about life is pleasurable.

人生不是吃喝玩樂 /人生不是吃喝玩乐

life's not (all) eat, drink and be merry

la vie n'est pas toujours une partie de plaisir

das Leben ist nicht nur eitel Sonnenschein

elloo tulloo kaikkia, a kaikkia pittää terppiä

人生はおもしろおかしいことばかりではない

jinsei wa omoshirookashii koto bakari de wa nai

ne vsjo kotú máslenica, búdet i velíkij post

не всё коту́ ма́сленица, бу́дет и вели́кий пост


God works in mysterious ways

Possibly originating from a poem by William Cowper (who lived 1731–1800), whose first stanza reads: God moves in a mysterious way / His wonders to perform; / He plants His footsteps in the sea / And rides upon the storm.

Expressing confidence that a conundrum has a solution despite it not being apparent.

Person A: It seems that I'm about to be fired from my job.

Person B: Well, God works in mysterious ways — maybe it'll be the kick you need to apply to university...

Commenting that a seemingly unfortunate or unfavourable situation or change may be beneficial later or in the long run.

les voies du Seigneur sont impénétrables

ईश्वर रहस्यमयी तरीकों से काम करता है

īśvar rahasyamyī tarīkõ se kām kartā hai

神は独特で奇妙なやり方をする

kami wa dokutoku de kimyō na yarikata o suru


two heads are better than one

"Mr. Francis Osbaldistone is an innocent man, Rashleigh," said Miss Vernon, "and he demands an investigation of the charge against him, and I intend to support him in it."
"You do, my pretty cousin?—I should think, now, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone was likely to be as effectually, and rather more delicately, supported by my presence than by yours."
"Oh, certainly; but two heads are better than one, you know."

1818, Sir Walter Scott, chapter 8, in Rob Roy:

On the principle that two heads are better than one, he resolved to take his companion, Jones, into his confidence and ask him to make a suggestion.

1882, Horatio Alger, chapter 23, in Ben's Nugget:

Two heads are better than one, sir. We will prosecute our investigations together.

1906, Arthur Quiller-Couch, chapter 17, in The Mayor of Troy:

Collaboration is great for screenwriting. It's not as simple as two heads are better than one, but if you find the right person, you can feed off each other.

2003 November 9, Nancy Meyers as told to Amy Barrett, “Sex and the Single Older Woman”, in New York Times, retrieved 2013-02-25:

Some tasks may be accomplished more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.

胜过诸葛亮

sān ge chòupíjiàng shèng guò Zhūgé Liàng

il y a plus dans deux têtes que dans une

三人寄れば文珠の知恵

three people together have the wisdom of a Buddha

одна́ голова́ — хорошо́, а две — лу́чше (odná golová — xorošó, a dve — lúčše)

một cây làm chẳng nên non, ba cây chụm lại nên hòn núi cao


a bad workman always blames his tools

a bad carpenter blames his tools (alternative)
a poor workman blames his tools (alternative)

Never had ill workman good tools.

1881, John Wurtle Lovell, “Jacula Prudentum”, in The Works of George Herbert in Prose and Verse, New York, page 440

An ill labourer quarrels with his tools.

1881, John Wurtle Lovell, “Jacula Prudentum”, in The Works of George Herbert in Prose and Verse, New York, page 454

It is not the tools we use that make us good, but rather how we employ them.

唔会赚钱怨屋场

m̀ sṳt-sṳ yen yà-ngiòng, m̀-voi chhon-chhièn yen vuk-chhòng

een kwaad werkman heeft altijd slecht getuig

kyllä sika syitä löytää, välillä on maa jäässä, välillä kärsä kipeä

un mauvais ouvrier a toujours de mauvais outils

if the rider is no good, it's the horse's fault

wenn der Reiter nichts taugt, hat das Pferd Schuld

ein schlechter Handwerker schimpft immer auf sein Werkzeug

droch-cheardaí a chuireann an milleán ar a chuid uirlisí

ní thig a sháith de chorrán a thabhairt do dhrochbhuanaí

나쁜 일꾼은 제 공구를 탓한다

nappeun ilkkuneun je gonggureul tathanda

تق تاهو مناري دکاتاکن لنتاي جوڠکڠ-جوڠکيت

tak tahu menari dikatakan lantai jongkang-jongket

tak tahu menari dikatakan tanah tinggi rendah

złej baletnicy przeszkadza rąbek spódnicy

плохо́му танцо́ру и я́йца меша́ют

bad dancer is impeded even by (his own) balls

don't blame the mirror if your mug is skewed

néča na zérkalo penjátʹ, kóli róža krivá

не́ча на зе́ркало пеня́ть, ко́ли ро́жа крива́

ма́стер глуп — нож туп (máster glup — nož tup) (if the worker is stupid, his knife is blunt)

cha d'fhuair droch-bhuannaiche a-riamh deagh-chorran

cha d'fhuair droch-ràmhaich ràmh math a-riamh

Upon failure, it is easier to blame the tools used rather than how they were employed.


no pain, no gain

Came into prominence around 1982 through the American actress Jane Fonda's aerobic workout videos.

no pains, no gains (alternative)
no gain without pain (alternative)

One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals.

discomfort is necessary to achieve goals

مَنْ طَلَبَ الْعُلَى سَهِرَ اللَّيَالِي (man ṭalaba l-ʕulā sahira l-layālī, literally “who wants to reach the heights, stays awake at nights”)

man jadda wajada waman zaraʕa ḥaṣada waman sāra ʕalā d-darbi waṣala

مَنْ جَدَّ وَجَدَ وَمَنْ زَرَعَ حَصَدَ وَمَنْ سَارَ عَلَى ٱلدَّرْبِ وَصَلَ

কষ্ট না করলে কেষ্ট মিলে না (kośṭo na korle keśṭo mile na, literally “if one doesn’t go through trials, he/she cannot meet his/her Lord (Krishna)”)

без мъка няма сполука (bez mǎka njama spoluka, literally “without effort there is no success”)

不入虎穴，焉得虎子 (bú rù hǔxué, yāndé hǔzǐ, literally “if you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you get the tiger's cub?”)

non se collen troitas coas bragas enxoitas

τα αγαθά κόποις κτώνται (ta agathá kópois któntai, literally “good things come after works”)

τα καλά κόποις κτώνται (ta kalá kópois któntai, literally “good things come after works”)

berakit-rakit ke hulu, berenang-renang ke tepian

苦は楽の種 (くはらくのたね, ku wa raku no tane, literally “cares are the seeds of ease”)

虎穴に入らずんば虎子を得ず (こけつにいらずんばこじをえず, koketsu ni irazunba koji o ezu, literally “if you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you get the tiger's cub?”)

불입호혈 부득호자 (buriphohyeol budeukhoja, literally “if you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you get the tiger's cub?”)

호혈호자 (hohyeolhoja, literally “if you don't enter the tiger's den, how will you get the tiger's cub?”)

kalau tidak dipecahkan ruyung, manakan dapat sagunya

tchi s'tcheint à la preunmié broque né tchèrra janmais d'bein haut

هر که طاووس خواهد جور هندوستان کشد (har ke tâvus xâhad jowr-e hendustân kešad, literally “Whoever wants a peacock shall suffer the torments of India”)

kto ma ręce do pracy, ten się naje kołaczy

без труда́ не вы́тащишь и ры́бку из пруда́ (bez trudá ne výtaščišʹ i rýbku iz prudá, literally “without effort you cannot even pull a fish from the pond”)

терпи́ каза́к, атама́ном бу́дешь (terpí kazák, atamánom búdešʹ, literally “bear this, Cossack, and you’ll be an ataman”)

кто не риску́ет, тот не пьёт шампа́нское (kto ne riskújet, tot ne pʹjot šampánskoje, literally “who doesn't risk, doesn't drink champagne”) лес ру́бят — ще́пки летя́т (les rúbjat — ščépki letját, literally “once the wood is cut, the chips fly”)

без труда́ не вы́тянешь и ры́бку из пруда́ (bez trudá ne výtjanešʹ i rýbku iz prudá, literally “you will not catch a fish out of pond without labor”)

без труда́ не вы́ловишь и ры́бку из пруда́ (bez trudá ne výlovišʹ i rýbku iz prudá, literally “you will not catch a fish out of pond without labor”)

нет бо́ли, нет побе́д (net bóli, net pobéd, literally “no pain, no gain”)

кто не се́ет, тот не жнёт (kto ne séjet, tot ne žnjot, literally “who doesn't seed, doesn't reap”)

любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить (ljubišʹ katatʹsja, ljubi i sanočki vozitʹ, literally “if you like to ride, you like to pull a sled”)

am fear nach dèan cur rè latha fuar, cha dèan e buain rè latha teth

gheibh cearc an sgrìobain rudeigin, chan fhaigh cearc a' chrùbain dad idir

bonnach air bois, cha bhruich e is cha loisg

el que quiera peces, que se moje el culo

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs


the world is someone's oyster

/ðə ˈwɜːld‿ɪz ˌsʌmwʌnz ˈɔɪstə/

/ðə ˈwɜɹld‿ɪz ˌsʌmwʌnz ˈɔɪstəɹ/

From the version of the play The Merry Wives of Windsor published in the First Folio (1623) of the works of the English playwright William Shakespeare (baptized 1564; died 1616): see the quotation. The original context was that Ancient Pistol would use force to obtain a loan from Sir John Falstaff, like prising open an oyster with a sword to obtain a pearl.

nb...

A Most Pleasaunt and Excellent Conceited Comedie, of Syr Iohn Falstaffe, and

Entermixed with Sundrie Variable and Pleasing Humors, of Syr Hugh the Welch Knight, Iustice Shallow, and His Wife Cousin M. Slender. With the Swaggering Vaine of Auncient Pistoll, and Corporall Nym. By William Shakespeare. As It hath bene Diuers Times Acted by the Right Honorable My Lord Chamberlaines Seruants. Both before Her Maiestie, and Else-where.

and are to be sold at his shop in Powles Church-yard, at the signe of the Flower de Leuse and the Crowne.

Fal[staff]. I vvill not lend thee a penny. / Piſt[ol]. VVhy then the vvorld's mine Oyſter, vvhich I, vvith ſvvord vvill open.

c. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, […] [T]he Merrie Wiues of Windsor. […] (First Quarto), London: […] T[homas] C[reede] for Arthur Ihonson, […], published 1602, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii], signature C2, verso:

But his wants were not at first great; and though his ambition was perhaps high, it was not of an impatient nature. The world was his oyster; but, circumstanced as he was, he knew it was not for him to open it with his lancet all at once.

1858, Anthony Trollope, “Dr. Thorne”, in Doctor Thorne. […], volume I, London: Chapman & Hall, […], →OCLC, page 58:

Irregular gentlemen, to whom the world's their oyster,—said oyster does suddenly snap-to on them, by a chance.

1865, Thomas Carlyle, “Peace of Hubertsburg”, in History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Called Frederick the Great, volume VI, London: Chapman and Hall, […], →OCLC, book XX, page 328:

The world may be your oyster, but that doesn't mean you've found the pearl.

2008, Nick Clayton, “Introduction”, in The Guardian Guide to Working Abroad, London: A[dam] & C[harles] Black Publishers, →ISBN, page 15:

All opportunities are open to someone; the world is theirs.

Ancient Pistol
First Folio
The Merry Wives of Windsor
William Shakespeare

世界屬於你 /世界属于你 (shìjiè shǔyú nǐ, literally “the world is yours”)

све́тот е твој (svétot e tvoj, literally “the world is yours”)

сѐ е во тво́и ра́це (sè e vo tvói ráce, literally “everything is in your hands”)

весь мир к твои́м услу́гам (vesʹ mir k tvoím uslúgam, literally “the whole world is at your service”)

всё в твои́х рука́х (vsjo v tvoíx rukáx, literally “everything is in your hands”)

el mundo es tuyo, te vas a comer el mundo


time flies when you're having fun

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-time flies when you're having fun.wav

"Time flies when you're having fun!" said one of the skiers in our party. "Yeah, but time's more fun when you're flying," Jay one-upped.

1991, Ski, volume 56, number 3, page 102:

Time seems to pass more quickly when one is enjoying oneself.

il tempo vola quando ci si diverte

time seems to pass more quickly when enjoying oneself

신선놀음에 도낏자루 썩는 줄 모른다 (sinseonnoreum-e dokkitjaru sseongneun jul moreunda, literally “Caught up in the Daoist immortals' game [of Go], you forget that the handle of your hatchet is rotting”)


en-proverb

you never know what you've got till it's gone

take things for granted
take for granted

you never miss the water till the well runs dry

People tend to take things for granted while they are available.

people tend to take things for granted while they are available and they only notice what they had when it is taken away

что име́ем — не храни́м, потеря́вши — пла́чем (što iméjem — ne xraním, poterjávši — pláčem, literally “we don't care about things we have, but bewail having lost them”)


that's how the cookie crumbles

that's the way the cookie crumbles#English

Alternative form of that's the way the cookie crumbles.


money doesn't grow on trees

Perhaps it was a Scotsman who, in response to an idea for lavish expenditure, first said "Money doesn't grow on trees".

1943, William Budington Duryee, Farming for security, page 187:

Today's money worries certainly should make it easier for parents to teach their children that money doesn't grow on trees.

1975, Kiplinger's Personal Finance, page 39:

Money doesn't grow on trees — and even the paper for money isn't made of wood!

2005, Kathie Rechkemmer, I Want to Teach My Child about Money, page 28:

Wealth cannot be obtained without some effort; hence currency is not always available for a prospective purchase.

اَلْسَمَاء لَا تُمْطِرُ ذَهَبًا وَلَا فِضَّة (al-samāʔ lā tumṭiru ḏahaban walā fiḍḍa, literally “the sky doesn't rain gold or silver”)

땅을 파봐라, 돈이 나오나 (ttang'eul pabwara, doni naona, literally “try digging in the earth and see if you can find money”)

де́ньги с не́ба не па́дают (dénʹgi s néba ne pádajut, literally “money doesn't fall from the sky”)


proverbs hunt in pairs

proverbs run in pairs
proverbs run in pairs#English

Alternative form of proverbs run in pairs.


head

Possibly based on a technique of building wattle and daub walls by throwing daub (mud mixed with straw) at the wattle, throwing hard enough that some obtained a good key and remained in place; compare slapdash, a pebbledash effect produced by throwing pebbles at a rendered wall. The second sense is probably influenced by throw dirt enough, and some will stick.

a lie can run around the world before the truth can get its boots on

2001, And still no one is shouting stop. read in The Kingdom archives at https://web.archive.org/web/20060117103951/http://archives.tcm.ie/thekingdom/2001/01/19/story7064.asp on 02 Nov 06,
Many team managers are of the philosophy that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. They believe that team preparation is all about physical fitness. They run the players into the ground and they believe they will be "flying on the day".

2001, Robert McCrum, Let them eat cake, in The Observer 16 Dec 01, read on Guardian Unlimited site at http://books.guardian.co.uk/critics/reviews/0,5917,619266,00.html on 02 Nov 06,
Australian publishing boomed and in the past 10 years the country's literary culture has undergone a mini golden age, capped by Carey's triumph at the 2001 Booker Prize. As one Australian arts administrator said to me many years ago: 'Listen, mate, if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.'

2001, Chris Collin, Re: 2-cp speys on The Strathspey Server mailing list archive at https://web.archive.org/web/20071031152521/http://www.strathspey.org/archive/msg?m=28513 on 02 Nov 06,
I am finding that "if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick". It doesn't always work of course (especially on the nights when the class is mostly the beginners), but the class seems to thrive on the challange.

2005, Ray Craft (poster on The right scale blog), Fitzhooie and his Burden, read at http://dickmcdonald.blogspot.com/2005_10_01_dickmcdonald_archive.html on 02 Nov 06,
Prosecutors everywhere have bad habits of overcharging lots of cases, knowing that if the throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.

2005, Sean Kelleher, Spike Milligan: His part in our downfall in Business 07 Aug 05, read at http://www.financial-partners.biz/web/web/Mondial070805.pdf on 02 Nov 06,
As long as there is negligible regulation and enforcement anyone can actually try and do the job...Weak regulation allows the industry to build strategies on full time recruitment. The theory goes: throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.

c2005, Everything You've Learned About Marketing Is Wrong, read on LINC Performance website at http://www.lincperformance.com/newsletters/newsletter/1098105/13140.htm on 02 Nov 06,
They have the money to continue to believe in the repetition side of the equation. You throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick. But it still isn’t the way to maximize your return.

c2005, on talent website read at https://web.archive.org/web/20060813131721/http://talentmc.co.uk/index.aspx?page=talented on 02 Nov 06,
Dancing dollar bill syndrome, where candidates are picked up and dropped like hot potatoes, and sold into interviews, is common. If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick, and this is the approach of many recruitment agencies.

2006, "marieclaire66" (poster on Blogit), Just a quick hello!, in Comments on Keep Paddling Until You See The Truth, read at http://www.blogit.com/Blogs/Comments.aspx/411956#c1677337 on 02 Nov 06,
I admire your perseverance. If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick eventually, paddling would sound more fun than throwing mud, however...anyway all the best.

2006, Ashley Latter, March 2006 -- Tips and ideas to improve your sales, read at http://www.thesellingcoach.com/pdfs/2006_march_sales.pdf on 02 Nov 06,
There used to be a saying that if you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick. Be enthusiastic and you will always sell.

To attempt the same strategy or technique (or similar ones) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.

1997, Brent St. Denis, speaking in the Canadian House of Commons, read in Hansard at https://web.archive.org/web/20071104044633/http://www2.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?DocId=2332720&Language=E&Mode=1&Parl=36&Ses=1 on 02 Nov 06,
They go on and on about the CPP increase being a tax. If we throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick....How can they unfavourably compare that to 9% plus is beyond my comprehension.

2004, "bashos_frog" (poster on MetaFilter community weblog), re: Oh, You Mean Those Records read at http://www.metafilter.com/mefi/34530 on 02 Nov 06,
The Clinton years proved that if you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick.

2004, Steve Story, The Fall: The Cause sermon at Windy City Community Church on 14 Nov 04, read at https://web.archive.org/web/20070214001349/http://www.windycitycommunitychurch.org/sermons/html/nov14.04.html on 02 Nov 06,
It doesn’t matter that the bulk of the charges are distortions of what is real. If you throw enough mud at the wall some of it will stick.

2006, The Goldfish (poster on bloggingmone blog), re: "A Hero in Slippers" or: "Don't Go Outside When It Is Raining Ribbons", read at https://web.archive.org/web/20070520163355/http://bloggingmone.blogspot.com/2006/08/hero-in-slippers-or-dont-go-outside.html on 02 Nov 06,
Perhaps If you stuff both of them into a sack and beat on it, you'll always hit the right one! is a bit like our "If you throw enough mud at the wall, some of it will stick." If you attack something enough, then something is bound to take effect (although the mud and the wall one is generally about a person's reputation).

If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against a person (or an organization), their reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved.

calumnia, que algo queda

If enough accusations are made, reputation will suffer


throw dirt enough, and some will stick

This proverb dates from c1650, and was popularised by Voltaire [François-Marie Arouet] in the 18th century.

1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at https://web.archive.org/web/20060903061313/http://wesley.nnu.edu/john_wesley/letters/1766.htm on 14 Oct 06.
I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'

1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,
But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.

Archbishop Whately used to say ‘Throw dirt enough, and some will stick;' well, will stick, but not, will stain. I think he used to mean ‘stain,' and I do not agree with him.

1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics, published 1994, page 10:

If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.


nearly never bulled a cow

(Ireland) Near enough is not good enough.


time and tide

time and tide wait for no man
time and tide wait for no man

(shortened form) time and tide wait for no man


Possibly based on a technique of building wattle and daub walls by throwing daub (mud mixed with straw) at the wattle, throwing hard enough that some obtained a good key and remained in place, (compare slapdash, a pebbledash effect produced by throwing pebbles at a rendered wall). Sense 2 is probably influenced by throw dirt enough, and some will stick.

2005, Mike Busson (poster on UKScreen forum) Re: Voiceovers!, read at http://www.ukscreen.com/board/General/0/28899 on 02 Nov 06,
In terms of places to send your URL or CD's, there's no easy answer. It really is a case of throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.

2005, "forwardone" (administrator posting on the HYIPForum), re: Alertpay phishing email, read at https://web.archive.org/web/20071208195751/http://www.thehyipforum.com/message15022-alertpay-phishing-email.html on 02 Nov 06,
I also think that sometimes they send out phishing e-mails in the hope that it`ll hit people who do have an account with a particular organization. You know, throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick theory.

2006, Rob Manuel, How to be funny, read in Comedy Soup on the BBC website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/comedysoup/robmanuel on 02 Nov 06,
Throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick. Be prolific and don't be afraid to make stuff that's rubbish. If you keep trying eventually you'll get there.

2006, Rex Pierce, Re: [303rd-Talk] D Day read on 303rd Bomb Group Talk Forum at http://seven.pairlist.net/pipermail/303rd-talk/2006-June/002689.html on 02 Nov 06,
Believe the planners worked on the principle of "throw enough mud at the wall, and some of it will stick".

Try the same thing (or similar things) often enough, and, even if the general standard is poor, sometimes one will be successful.

2006, "money" (poster on eTalk Money), Some thoughts about compact surfing, read at http://www.etalkmoney.com/category/closed-scam-folder/page/2/ on 02 Nov 06,
Word of advice NVUS time to distance yourself from LuukH as quickly as possible and dish some dirt, otherwise well the saying goes - throw enough mud at the wall and some of it will stick.

If enough (perhaps false or reckless) accusations are made against someone, his reputation will suffer, whether or not this is deserved


no smoke without fire

there's no smoke without fire (alternative)
where there's smoke, there's fire (alternative)

Gossip and accusations are often substantiated by fact.

if dah no so, dah naily so

gossip and accusations are often substantiated by fact

quan els gossos lladren, alguna cosa senten

nem zörög a haraszt, ha a szél nem fújja


finders, keepers

Whoever finds something is allowed to keep it.

من سبق لبق

whoever finds something is allowed to keep it

chi lo trova se lo tiene chi lo perde lo rimpiange

finner'n er vinner'n (finneren er vinneren)


necessity is the mother of invention

necessity is the mother of innovation (alternative)

The primary driving force for most new inventions is a need.

اَلْحَاجَة أَمّ اَلاِخْتِرَاع

the primary driving force for most new inventions is a need

কাজ আটকালে বুদ্ধি জোগায়

কাজ আটকালে বুদ্ধি জোগায়

nød lærer nøgen kvinde at spinde

need teaches (a) naked woman how to spin

Notwendigkeit ist die Mutter der Erfindung


time heals all wounds

Traditional sentiment, in the form “time is the healer of all necessary evils” used by Greek dramatist Menander (c. 342–290 BCE).

“We quarrelled long ago, did we not, and many years have passed since we met, but Time heals all wounds and—welcome, son of my father. I need not ask if you are well,” and he glanced enviously at the great-framed man who knelt before him.

1910, H[enry] Rider Haggard, chapter II, in Morning Star:

시간은 모든 상처를 치료 해준다

siganeun modeun sangcheoreul chiryo haejunda

די צײַט איז דער בעסטער דאָקטער (di tsayt iz der bester dokter, literally “time is the best doctor”)


early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, weathly and wise.wav

A person who goes to bed early and wakes up early will lead a more successful life.

使人健康、富裕和聪颖

zǎoshuìzǎoqǐ, shǐrén jiànkāng, fùyù hé cōngyǐng

early up and early to bed, that is healthy for a little boy

tidligt op og tidligt i seng, det er sundt for en lille dreng

Illan torkku, aamun virkku, se tapa talon pystyssä pitää

coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau

tidur awal bangun awal, diri cergas dan cerdas

early sleep and early wake up, gives health and makes you grow

deitar cedo e cedo erguer dá saúde e faz crescer


a chain is only as strong as its weakest link

First appeared in Thomas Reid’s Essays on the Intellectual Powers of Man, published in 1786. The full idiom a chain is no stronger than its weakest link was first printed in Cornhill Magazine in 1868.

An organization is only as strong or powerful as its weakest person; a group of associates is only as strong as its laziest member.

en kæde kun så stærk som det svageste led

de keten is zo sterk als haar zwakste schakel

ketju on vain niin vahva kuin sen heikoin lenkki

eine Kette ist nur so stark wie ihr schwächstes Glied

mia alysída eínai óso dynatí óso o pio adýnamós tis kríkos

μια αλυσίδα είναι όσο δυνατή όσο ο πιο αδύναμός της κρίκος

una catena è forte quanto il suo anello più debole

en kjede er aldri sterkere enn sitt svakeste ledd

ei kjede er aldri sterkare enn det svakaste ledd

uma corrente é tão forte quanto seu elo mais fraco

uma corrente é tão forte quanto o seu elo mais fraco

una cadena es tan fuerte como su eslabón más débil

en kedja är aldrig starkare än dess svagaste länk


empty vessels make the most sound

empty vessels make the most noise (alternative)
empty barrels make the most noise (alternative)
empty cans make the most noise (alternative)

Talkative, opinionated people are often ignorant.

אִסְתְּרָא בְּלָגֵינָא קִישׁ קִישׁ קָרְיָא

半瓶水晃荡

mǎn píng shuǐ bù xiǎng, bàn píng shuǐ huàng dàng

c'est pas parce qu'on n'a rien à dire qu'il faut fermer sa gueule

la culture c'est comme la confiture : moins on en a plus on l'étale

niṟai kuṭam nīr taḷumpātu kuṟai kuṭam kūttāṭum

நிறை குடம் நீர் தளும்பாது குறை குடம் கூத்தாடும்

the nail that sticks out gets hammered down


en-proverb

you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

Everybody's hustling for a buck and a dime / I'll scratch your back and you scratch mine

1974, “Nobody Loves You (When You're Down And Out)”, in John Lennon (lyrics), Walls and Bridges, performed by John Lennon:

If you do me a favor then I will do you a favor; quid pro quo.

əl əli yuyar, əl də üzü

if you do me a favor then I will do you a favor

du klør meg på ryggen, og jeg klør deg på ryggen

ты — мне, я — тебе́ (ty — mne, ja — tebé, literally “you (give something) to me, I (give something) to you”)

рука́ ру́ку мо́ет (ruká rúku mójet, literally “one hand washes another”)

am fear a thèid san droigheann dhomh, thèid mi san dris dha


there's no time like the present

Near-synonyms: he who hesitates is lost, never put off until tomorrow what you can do today, procrastination is the thief of time

Now is an appropriate time to take a particular action.


a picture paints a thousand words

If a picture paints a thousand words
Then why can't I paint you;
The words will never show
The you I've come to know.

1971, David Gates (of Bread), If, from Manna album

Most human beings, no matter how familiar they are with abstract symbols, respond to voice and images better than written language. In other words, A picture paints a thousand words.

1989, Alan Kay, quoted in Kʻo-tung Huang, Timothy D. Huang, Introduction to Chinese, Japanese and Korean Computing, World Scientific, p. 9

See accompanying diagram: a picture paints a thousand words, and all that!

2006, Paul Shakespeare, Building a Dune Buggy: The Essential Manual, →ISBN, page 52:

a picture is worth a thousand words#English

Alternative form of a picture is worth a thousand words.


love is blind

A person who is in love can see no faults or imperfections in the person whom they love.

あばたもえくぼ

(when in love) even pockmarks are dimples

любо́вь зла — полю́бишь и козла́ (ljubóvʹ zla — poljúbišʹ i kozlá) (love is evil, you'll fall even for a he-goat (i.e. bastard))


haste makes waste

Being too hasty leads to wasteful mistakes.

فِي الْعَجَلَة اَلنَّدَامَة

being too hasty leads to wasteful mistakes

欲速則不達 /欲速则不达

yù sù zé bù dá

ei ole hoppu hyväksi, eikä kiire kunniaksi

la gatta frettolosa fece i gattini ciechi

gdy się człowiek spieszy, to się diabeł cieszy

поспеши́шь — люде́й насмеши́шь (pospešíšʹ — ljudéj nasmešíšʹ)

ny moh nist cy byhend, do der daj at ny śent


a stitch in time saves nine

From the practice of mending a small tear in cloth when first noticed ("in time"), before it becomes a larger one requiring more stitches.

A little effort expended sooner to fix a small problem prevents it from becoming a larger problem requiring more effort to fix later.

小洞不補，大洞吃苦 /小洞不补

a timely effort can prevent larger problems

udsæt ikke til i morgen, det du kan gøre i dag

was du heute kannst besorgen, das verschiebe nicht auf morgen

호미로 막을 것을 가래로 막는다 (homiro mageul geoseul garaero mangneunda, literally “what can be stopped up with a short-handled hoe must be done with a shovel later”)

utsett ikke til i morgen, det du kan gjøre i dag

odín stežók, sdélannyj vóvremja, stóit devjatí

оди́н стежо́к, сде́ланный во́время, сто́ит девяти́

ono što možeš učiniti danas, ne ostavljaj za sutra

bir mıh nal kurtarır, bir nal bir at kurtarır

never put off until tomorrow what you can do today

an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure


the devil is in the details

the devil is in the detail (alternative)

Krupp already has an agreement in principle for the deal, but precise details are still being worked out by Polish officials and a Krupp bargaining team ("The devil is in the details," Beitz says).

The country has developed a strong consensus for peace, but the devil is in the details over what concessions should be made.

1998 December 16, Alain L. Sanders, “Israel: Let the People Speak”, in Time, archived from the original on 2009-04-08:

“The devil will be in the details,” said Sarah Myers West, managing director of AI Now Institute, a policy research center.

2023 May 16, Cecilia Kang, quoting Sarah Myers West, “OpenAI’s Sam Altman Urges A.I. Regulation in Senate Hearing”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

(idiomatic) The specific provisions of, or particular steps for implementing, a general plan, policy, or contract may be complicated, controversial, or unworkable.

關鍵在細節，細節決定成敗 /关键在细节

specific provisions of something may be complicated

细节决定成败

guānjiàn zài xìjié, xìjié juédìng chéngbài

teoria ca teoria, dar practica ne omoară

socoteala de acasă nu se potrivește cu cea din târg

rhyme: it was smooth on paper, but the ravines were forgotten

gládko býlo na bumáge, da zabýli pro ovrági

гла́дко бы́ло на бума́ге, да забы́ли про овра́ги


head

it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog

The ancient Prouerbe will be well effected,
A Staffe is quickly found to beat a Dogge.

1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:

For all this, however, poor Tom smarted in the flesh; for though Thwackum had been inhibited to exercise his arm on the foregoing account, yet, as the proverb says, It is easy to find a stick, &c. So was it easy to find a rod; and, indeed, the not being able to find one was the only thing which could have kept Thwackum any long time from chastising poor Jones.

1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume III, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V:

(rare or obsolete) If a person is determined to punish or blame someone, they will find a way or a reason to do so.

jak się chce psa uderzyć, kij się znajdzie


two wrongs make a right

(logic, ethics) A logical informal fallacy whereby a wrongful action is justified by the commission of another.


all that glitters is not gold

Calque of Latin nōn omne quod nitet aurum est (“not all that shines is gold”). Popularized by William Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice, see quotations.

cal

all that glisters is not gold (alternative)
all that glitters (alternative)

All that gliſters is not gold,
 Often haue you heard that told, […]

c. 1596–1598 (date written), W[illiam] Shakespeare, The Excellent History of the Merchant of Venice. […] (First Quarto), [London]: […] J[ames] Roberts [for Thomas Heyes], published 1600, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vii], signature [D4], recto:

Things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so; things that appear nice might not be as good as they appear.

لَيْسَ كُلُّ مَا يَلْمَعُ ذَهَبًا

things that appear valuable or worthwhile might not actually be so

wah sweet nanny goat a guh run 'im belly


any press is good press

Being mentioned in the media, even in the context of a scandal or controversy, is beneficial to the subject because it brings publicity.

it doesn't matter what they say about you as long as they spell your name right


never change a running system

From the field of computing, likely from German never change a running system.

That is, applying a specialised new policy to only improve a temporary capacity extension may be unsuitable (“Never change a running system!”).

2007, Xing Zhou, Thomas Dreibholz, Erwin P. Rathgeb, “Improving the Load Balancing Performance of Reliable Server Pooling in Heterogeneous Capacity Environments”, in Serge Fdida, Kazunori Sugiura, editors, Sustainable Internet: Third Asian Internet Engineering Conference, AINTEC 2007 […], →ISBN, page 126:

This is the weakest point of the current practice: the deployment of complex systems on a heterogeneous, distributed platform is typically a nightmare, the required system-level testing is virtually unsupported, and maintenance and upgrading very often turn out to be extremely time consuming and expensive, de facto responsible for the slogan “never change a running system”.

2012, Tiziana Margaria, Bernhard Steffen, “Service-Orientation: Conquering Complexity with XMDD”, in Mike Hinchey, Lorcan Coyle, editors, Conquering Complexity, →ISBN, page 224:

“Never change a running system” is a widely used statement in software development, and it is also applicable when you consider moving your application to the cloud.

2019, Boris Scholl, Trent Swanson, Peter Jausovec, Cloud Native: Using Containers, Functions, and Data to Build Next-Generation Applications, →ISBN:

It’s not a coincidence that the following saying offers insight into the CIOs’ minds: ‘Never change a running system.’ However, just keeping the lights on seems to prevent innovation.

2021, Andreas Graesser, Escape the Change Dilemma: Transformation to a Smart Data-Driven World, →ISBN:

Do not change something while it is working (because there is a risk of breaking it).


tempus fugit

Borrowed from Latin tempus fugit, from the third book of the Georgics by the Roman poet Virgil (70–19 BCE): sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile tempus (“meanwhile, the irreplaceable time escapes”, literally “but it flees meanwhile: irretrievable time flees”).

Suddenly the assemblage began to sing. "Let the flag of the kingdom, so graceful and fair, / Be raised while its citizens sing, / 'Hurrah! Tempus Fugit!' the national air, / And kneel to our glorious king!

1908, Percy Keese Fitzhugh, King Time: Or The Mystical Land of the Hours, a Fantasy, New York and Boston: H.M. Caldwell Company, page 181:

Expressing concern that one's limited time is being consumed by something which may have little intrinsic substance or importance at that moment; often, synonym of life is short..


mocking is catching

Be careful of making fun of others, lest others make fun of you.


in for a penny, in for a pound

if you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging

It's never the wrong time to make the right decision

en-au-in for a penny, in for a pound.ogg

Originally with reference to the fact that if one owed a penny, one might as well owe a pound (pound sterling, UK currency) as the penalties for non-payment were virtually identical in severity.

Having tripped the bank's alarms, he simply uttered: "in for a penny, in for a pound", and continued on.

Well than, O'er shooes, o'er boots. And In for a Penny, in for a Pound. Whee—ho— Toby.

1695, Edward Ravenscroft, The Canterbury Guests, or, a Bargain Broken a Comedy: Acted at the Theatre-Royal, London: Daniel Brown, John Walthoe, →OCLC, act V, scene i, page 50:

“Well, this a pretty go, is this here!—an uncommon pretty go! Here have I been a matter of how many weeks—hard upon six—a-follering up this here blessed old dowager, petty lareenerer […] and Dotheboys Hall a-running itself regularly to seed the while! That's the worst of ever being in with a ow-dacious chap like that old Nickleby; you never know when he's done with you, and if you're in for a penny, you're in for a pound.”

1838 March – 1839 October, Charles Dickens, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published 1839, →OCLC, page 565:

Nothing venture, nothing win - / Blood is thick, but water's thin - / In for a penny, in for a pound - / It's love that makes the world go round!

1882, November 25 (first performance), W[illiam] S[chwenck] Gilbert, Arthur Sullivan, music, […] Iolanthe; or, The Peer and the Peri, London: Chappell & Co., published [1885?], act II, page 36:

Under the circumstances it seemed to be a case of ‘in for a penny, in for a pound’. If the Institute’s team were still prepared to accept the challenge, the Administration was willing to do likewise…

1964, J. F. Holleman, Experiment in Swaziland: report of the Swaziland sample survey, 1960, page 9:

…in for a penny, in for a pound: if one undertakes something, it must be carried through at whatever cost.

1964, Sanki Ichikawa, The Kenkyusha Dictionary of Current English Idioms, page 509:

Turning before the mirror, she studied the gown she’d spent much of her savings on in Belle Terre. “Okay, but not great. In for a penny, in for a pound. Soon I have to get a job.”

2001, B. J. James, A Lady for Lincoln Cade, page 159:

I rummaged in my bag for Miss Addie’s keys, turned off the car, and marched purposefully toward the building.
“‘In for a penny, in for a pound’”, I mumbled under my breath as I pushed open the door and headed for the elevator.

2002, Kathryn Wall, In for a Penny: A Bay Tanner Mystery, page 123:

It appears to be a situation where the greenhouse proponents are in for a penny, in for a pound. As long as the myth needs to be kept alive, this is the inescapable conclusion.

2004, M. Mihkel Mathiesen, Global Warming in a Politically Correct Climate: How Truth Became Controversial, page 133:

(chiefly British) Expressing that, having begun something (that involves significant risk or effort), one intends to see it to completion rather than stopping short.

perdut per perdut, la manta al coll

Expressing recognition that one must, having started something, see it through to its end, rather than stopping short thereof

joka leikkiin ryhtyy, se leikin kestäköön

कोशिश से बाज न आना (kośiś se bāj na ānā, literally “never stop at trying”)

ó loisc mé an choinneal loiscfidh mé an t-orlach

chi ha fatto trenta può fare anche trentuno

毒を食らわば皿まで (どくをくらわばさらまで, doku wo kurawaba sara made, literally “if you have eaten the poison, [lick] even the plate”)

jak się powiedziało A, to trzeba powiedzieć B

взя́лся за гуж — не говори́, что не дюж (vzjálsja za guž — ne govorí, što ne djuž)

har man tagit fan i båten får man ro honom i land

one may as well hang for a sheep as a lamb


in for a dime, in for a dollar

/ɪn fɔɹ ə ˈdaɪm ɪn fɔɹ ə ˈdɒ.lɚ/

en-au-in for a dime, in for a dollar.ogg

Alteration of “in for a penny, in for a pound”, adapted to the denominations of the American currency (£ & d → $ & ¢). Nevertheless, “in for a penny, in for a pound” is used in the United States as well.

In for a dime, in for a dollar, he thought crazily, and said what he had to say in a voice he forced to stay level and calm.

In for a dime, in for a dollar. I whispered to Gerry, “Count me in”. Heroin was unromantic, neither sacred nor satanic; it was simply inevitable.

1998, Ellen Miller, Like Being Killed, page 47:

This obligation flows from the principle recognized in virtually all jurisdictions that when the policyholder is required to defend any one claim, all elements of the case must be defended (i.e., “in for a dime, in for a dollar”).

1999, David A. Gauntlett, Insurance Coverage for Intellectual Property Assets, page CCXCI:

I had bought some of Cemp’s MGM stock for myself. “Listen”, I told Edgar, “in for a dime, in for a dollar”. There was no point in selling at $8. If we were going to lose we might as well lose the whole thing.

2003, Leo Kolber, Leo: a life, page 183:

in for a penny, in for a pound
in for a penny, in for a pound#English

(US) Synonym of in for a penny, in for a pound.


time and tide wait for no man

A figura etymologica – time and tide respectively derive from Proto-Germanic *tīmô and *tīdiz, which are ultimately related.

"And now", said Daniel, looking at his watch, "as time and tide wait for no man, my trusty partner, and as I am ready for starting, bag and baggage, at the gate below, let me say a last word".

1857, Charles Dickens, chapter 22, in Little Dorrit:

"Do you not think, my dear lad, that you had better begin? Time and tide, as you are aware, wait for no man".

1903, P. G. Wodehouse, “Work”, in Tales of St. Austin's:

Opportunities will not wait; action should be undertaken without delay.

세월은 사람을 기다려 주지 않는다

sewor-eun saram-eul gidaryeo juji anneunda

o tempo e a maré não esperam por ninguém

ஐயர் வரும் வரை அம்மாவாசை காத்திருக்காது

aiyar varum varai ammāvācai kāttirukkātu


April showers bring May flowers

The month of April, traditionally a rainy period, gives way to May, when flowers will bloom because of the water provided to them by the April rains.

marzo ventoso y abril lluvioso sacan a mayo florido y hermoso

(by extension, figurative) A period of discomfort or hardship can provide the basis for a period of happiness and joy.


beauty is only skin deep

First use appears c. 1809, although beauty is but skin-deep appears much earlier.

"Handsome those that handsome do say I; beauty is only skin deep; it is the principle of the heart I consider.

1809, Francis Lathom, London, Or, Truth Without Treason, A Novel, page 2:

And she graced the transition. Beauty is only skin-deep, but the nerves lie very near to the skin. Nerve—but just here will you oblige by perusing again the quotation with which this story begins?

1910, O. Henry [pseudonym; William Sydney Porter], “The Girl and the Habit”, in Strictly Business:

Isn’t it time the marketing budgets were reapportioned to the bones and muscles of the building themselves? At present, the beauty in London’s building boom is barely skin deep.

2014 September 25, Hugo Macdonald, “Could those utopian hoardings for new developments get any more nauseating?”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

A person's character matters more than their appearance.

الجمال جمال الروح

a person's character is more important than their outward appearance

laksana bunga dadap, sungguh merah berbau tidak

más peaca bheith buí tá na mílte damanta

ní hí an bhreáthacht a bhruitheann na prátaí

美人というも皮一重

びじん と いう も かわ ひとえ

laksana buah dedap, sungguh merah berbau tidak

buah masak merah belum tentu manis rasanya


what goes around comes around

First attested in the 1950s in sense 1, originally in African-American English.

what go round come round (alternative)
what goes round comes round (alternative)
what comes around goes around (alternative)

So lonely in your bed / Does breakin' me make you feel good? / Guess you don't understand / What goes around, comes around

2020, Ava Max, Madison Love, Måns Wredenberg, Noonie Bao, Cirkut, Linus Wiklund, “Who's Laughing Now”, in Heaven & Hell, performed by Ava Max:

A person's actions, whether good or bad, will often have consequences for that person.

لَا تَحْصِدُ إِلَّا مَا زَرَعْتَهُ (lā taḥṣidu ʔillā mā zaraʕtahu, literally “you reap only what you sow”)

na kakvoto si posteleš, na takova šte legneš

на каквото си постелеш, на такова ще легнеш

jak se do lesa volá, tak se z lesa ozývá

wie de bal kaatst, moet hem terug verwachten

minkä taakseen jättää, sen edestään löytää

wie man in den Wald hineinruft, so schallt es heraus

שלח לחמך על פני המים כי ברבות הימים תמצאנו

amilyen az adjonisten, olyan a fogadjisten

buat baik dibalas baik, buat jahat dibalas jahat

از هر دست بدهی از همان دست میگیری

az har dast bedahi, az hamân dast migiri

sve se vraća, sve se plaća; kako siješ tako žanješ

başkasına fenalık eden kendine etmiş olur

Unfortunately, the main proposal in the current XML era bears a striking resemblance to the CODASYL proposal from the early 1970’s, which failed because of its complexity. Hence, the current era is replaying history, and “what goes around comes around”. Hopefully the next era will be smarter.

2005, Michael Stonebraker, Joseph M. Hellerstein, “What Goes Around Comes Around”, in Joseph M. Hellerstein, Michael Stonebraker, editors, Readings in Database Systems, 4th edition, →ISBN, page 2:

The most important one is the end of the Ajax hype. I’m not sure when it will happen, but I know that it will. What goes around comes around—what once was cool and modern will become old hat and boring.

2006, Peter-Paul Koch, “Afterword”, in ppk on JavaScript, →ISBN:

Equally, what goes around, comes around. When it comes to investment theories, nothing new under the sun exists because ideas go stale and then get reinvented.

2015, Tony Levene, Investing for Dummies, 4th edition, →ISBN, page 93:


a dumb priest never got a parish

(Ireland) Those who fail to speak up will fail to get what they desire.


all roads lead to Rome

Modern wording of medieval sentiment; apparently originally a reference to Roman roads generally and the Milliarium Aureum (Golden Milestone) specifically.
Appears in the Latin form mīlle viae dūcunt hominēs per saecula Rōmam (“a thousand roads lead men forever to Rome”) in Liber Parabolarum, 591 (1175), by Alain de Lille.
The earliest English form appears to be “right as diverse pathes leden the folk the righte wey to Rome”, in A Treatise on the Astrolabe (Prologue, ll. 39–40), 1391, by Geoffrey Chaucer.

(idiomatic) Different paths can take one to the same goal.

A Treatise on the Astrolabe
Alain de Lille
Geoffrey Chaucer
Milliarium Aureum
Roman roads
all roads lead to Rome

كُلُّ الطُّرُقِ تُؤَدِّي إِلَى رُومَا

different paths can take to the same goal

လမ်းတိုင်းဟာ ရောမမြို့ဆီကို ဦးတည်နေကြတယ်

全ての道はローマに通ず

すべてのみちはローマにつうず

ada banyak pilihan bagi mencapai matlamat sama

lahat ng daan ay magdadala sa'yo sa Roma


a man's home is his castle

Traditional; the sentiment dates back to Roman times:
: quid enim sanctius, quid omni religione munitius, quam domus unusquisque civium?
: What more sacred, what more strongly guarded by every holy feeling, than a man's own home?
: —Cicero
In English, see Book 4, Chapter 16 of William Blackstone's Commentaries on the Laws of England:
: And the law of England has so particular and tender a regard to the immunity of a man's house, that it stiles it his castle, and will never suffer it to be violated with immunity: agreeing herein with the sentiments of ancient Rome, as expressed in the works of Tully; quid enim sanctius, quid omni religione munitius, quam domus unusquisque civium?

A proverbial expression of personal privacy and security.


plus ça change

A short form (specifically, an anapodoton) of French plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose (“the more it changes, the more it's the same thing”).

der

(literally) The more it changes, the more it's the same thing (sometimes loosely translated as the more things change, the more they stay the same).

Although the outward appearance may change, fundamentals are constant.


all cats are grey in the dark

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-all cats are grey in the dark.wav

Calque of French la nuit, tous les chats sont gris (“at night, all cats are grey”), sometimes understood with vulgar reference to secondary senses of cat and pussy.

calque

all cats are gray in the dark (alternative)
all cats are gray at night (alternative)
all cats are grey at night (alternative)
all cats are grey by night (alternative)

[Of a widow:] And to make carnall appetite content,
To take lacke of beautie but as an eye ſore.
The fayre and the foule, by darke are lyke ſtore.
When all candels be out, all cats be grey,
All thingis are then of one colour, as who ſey.
And this prouerbe ſaith, for quenching hot deſyre,
Foule water as ſoone as fayre, will quenche hot fyre.

1562, John Heywood, A Dialogue Conteynyng the Number of the Effectuall Proverbes in the Englishe Tounge..., page 10:

‘When all candles be out all catts be gray:’
This none but careless leachers will say.

1611, John Davies, "Vpon Englishe Prouerbs", Scourge of Folly, §387

There's as good Bread bak'd here as in France, and Joan’s as good as my Lady in the Dark. In the Night all Cats are grey. Unhappy's he that wants his Breakfaſt at Two in the Afternoon... Sancho’s proverbial aphoriſms, and the ſimple Waiting-Woman's Comment upon the Text, were no ſmall Diverſion to the Dutcheſs.

1719, Peter Motteux & al. translating Miguel de Cervantes as The History of the Renowed Don Quixote de la Mancha, Vol. III, p. 307

The Face first grows lank and wrinkled; then the Neck; then the Breast and Arms; the lower Parts continuing to the last as plump as ever: So that covering all above with a Basket, and regarding only what is below the Girdle, it is impossible of two Women to know an old from a young one. And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior, every Knack being by Practice capable of Improvement.

1745 June 25, Benjamin Franklin, "Advice to a Friend on Choosing a Mistress"

... at laft [King Croquignolet] gained intelligence of a famous wizard in the land of Gotham, a very prodigy of ſcience, to whom the world is indebted for old Robin's Almanack, the Court Calendar, the Attorney's Vade-Mecum, the Lady's Diary, and the Gentleman's Magazine... He firſt made known to mankind that after a ſtorm comes a calm; that it is day when the ſun is riſen; that dead men tell no tales; that ſhops ſhut are a ſure ſign of Sunday; that all cats are grey in the dark; that as ſoon as the ſun is ſet, there are many beaſts in the ſhade.

1796, "R.C." translating Marguerite de Lubert as Princess Coquedoeuf and Prince Bonbon: A History..., p. 8

However—the Frenchman's a practical man... He's trained to spot the redeeming graces as adroitly as a highly bred pig sniffs truffles. And faced with the homeliest dame he'll work over her until he can say, "Yes—she's certainly homely, but she has 'delightful ears'"; or "and exciting back to her neck"; or "provocative biceps." And the worst he cares to admit about any woman is "Yes, she is very ugly, but she has 'something' (Elle a quelque chose)." And if you get him in a cynical but wholesome mood he'll indicate that after all, "All cats are grey at night!"

1937, "They Order It Better in France", Esquire, Vol. 8, No. 3, p. 209

In one poem, unjustly attributed to Voltaire, the regent was accused of conducting an affaire with his eldest daughter, the Duchesse de Berry, which seems to have been true. The libertine regent loved women, but none more than his remarkable mother Liselotte, and it was to her that he uttered the famous rebuke when she complained he chose such ugly mistresses: "Bah! Mama, all cats look gray in the dark!"

1991, Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, Cupid and the King, p. 56

"All Japanese look alike" is the racist counterpart to the sexist "In the dark, all cats are gray."

2011, Wendy Doniger, The Uninvited Spider, page 31:

(UK, sometimes vulgar and offensive) Sex is enjoyable regardless of the physical attractiveness or social station of one's partner.

dans la nuit, tous les chats sont gris (Cajun)

en tiempos de guerra cualquier agujero es trinchera

นารีงามสรรพเมื่อดับเทียน (naa-ree ngaam sàp mêua dàp tian, literally “women are beautiful when candles are extinguished”)

In such a darkness, in which all cats are grey, Lucrezia Borgia might well seem as white as a blue-eyed Persian. But the paradox remains that Corvo might not impossibly be right. As, but for superhuman strainings, Dreyfus might have gone down to history as a traitor to France, so may the Borgian Lucrezia have been as blameless as the Tarquinian to whom indeed Ariosto boldly compares her. The woman who protected the Jews during a famine, provided poor girls with dowries, passed evenings over her embroidery frame and held the esteem of the greatest poet and the greatest stylist of her day, may really have lived up to that washing list.

1907, Israel Zangwill, Italian Fantasies, page 167:

No matter how capable and cultivated the mind, how subtle and sensitive the spirit, the individual Negro is still not free. "All cats are grey at night," and it is still long hours to go before dawn, over much of America. They order these things better in France. Double the honor, then, when a Negro succeeds, for half the strength of his genius must be spent in raising himself to the level of his inferiors, in overcoming the handicap of color.

1937, Arnold Gingrich, “Another Salute to the Living”, in Esquire, volume 8, number 3, page 5:

Technical assistance operations were also a part of the aid the Economic Cooperation Administration was offering to Europe and Asia. Therefore, under the influence of what Philip Glick has called the "at-night-all-cats-are-grey argument" Point 4 was lumped together with economic and military assistance.

1961, Richard W. Gable, Plan for Research and Publications in Public Administration, page 12:

(uncommon) Under some circumstances, individual distinctions are not relevant.


all cats are grey at night

all cats are grey in the dark
all cats are grey in the dark#English

(UK) Alternative form of all cats are grey in the dark.


all cats are gray at night

(US) Alternative form of all cats are grey in the dark.


all cats are gray in the dark

(US) Standard spelling of all cats are grey in the dark.


a new broom sweeps clean

(figurative) New management will often make radical changes.

càntir nou fa l'aigua fresca

new management will often make radical changes

a new broom sweeps clean, but an old broom knows the corners


head

En-us-take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.oga

Old Mr. Lowndes, the famous Secretary of the Treasury, ‥used to say‥Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.

1750, Chesterfield, letter 5 Feb. (1932) IV. 1500

It is these little things that matter, Pickering. Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves is as true of personal habits as of money.

1912 (date written), [George] Bernard Shaw, “Pygmalion”, in Androcles and the Lion, Overruled, Pygmalion, London: Constable and Company, published 1916, →OCLC, Act II, page 132:

Little things, Master Mally. Look after the pennies, Master Mally, and the pounds will look after themselves.

1979, R. Cassilis, Arrow of God, iv. xvii:

‘Yes, it sounds on the melodramatic side,’ he said cheerfully, ‘but in wartime you can't be too careful about the smallest detail. Think of it as along the lines of taking care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves.’

1999, ‘H. Crane’, Miss Seeton's Finest Hour, xi. 92

If one takes care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things.

積少成多 /积少成多

if you take care of little things one at a time, they can add up to big things

les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières

wer den Pfennig nicht ehrt, ist des Talers nicht wert

is é cosaint na pingine a chruachas na puint

푼돈을 아끼면 큰돈은 저절로 모인다

pundoneul akkimyeon keundoneun jeojeollo moinda

kopéjka rublʹ berežót, a rublʹ gólovu sterežót

копе́йка рубль бережёт, а рубль го́лову стережёт

zrno na zrno pogača, kámen na kámen palača

un grano no hace granero, pero ayuda al compañero

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step


one who hesitates is lost

One who hesitates is lost, goes the old saw, but so is one who plunges blindly ahead along a fixed path.

2009, Ruggero J. Aldisert, Opinion Writing, →ISBN, page 52:

he who hesitates is lost
he who hesitates is lost#English

Alternative form of he who hesitates is lost.


there's nowt so queer as folk

Well (shakes her head with a little smile as she goes on knitting)—there's nowt so queer as folk! (Shakes her head again.)

1893, Florence Eveleen Eleanore Bell, Elizabeth Robins, Alan's Wife, act 1, scene 1, pages 11–12:

'Theer's Miss So-and-so bin doon here and gaan on ivver so and glen me sic a blackin' as never was, becos I telt her I cudn't git her intil t' auld grund noa-ways, and I telt her she mud just lig in t' new grund and mud be weel content, an aw, for it was a deal sweeter.' 'And,' added old Joe, ' theer's nowt so queer as folk, specially wick uns.'

1911, Hardwicke Drummond Rawnsley, “Sexton Joe”, in By Fell and Dale at the English Lakes, pages 87–88:

Long ago Aristotle said that you cannot expect to find the same accuracy in all thought as in mathematics—you can only get it as far as the nature of the subject allows. The human factor has to be reckoned with and, as they say in Yorkshire: "There's nowt so queer as folk."

c. 1936, Clement Francis Rogers, “Are Miracles Possible?”, in The Case for Miracle, pages 26–27:

The really remarkable thing about ALBION is the amazing number of people it continues to hoodwink. Nearly 100 subscribers now, all persisting in sending their cash to the Editorial Permanence In Drunkenness Fund. A growth-rate of approximately one new subscriber per week! How you can all tolerate this I cannot understand; however, as they say across the frontier into Yorkshire - 'There's nowt so queer as folk' (being married to a Yorkshirewoman, I subscribe whole-heartedly to this view)

1971 July 1, Don Turnbull, “Ye Second Birthday Editorial”, in Albion, number 30, page 2:

(simile, colloquial, Yorkshire, Lancashire) Nothing is as strange as people can be; people can behave very oddly sometimes.


timing is everything

- Telling the old joke about a butt-crack was not a good idea, just as the plumber arrived, Bob.
- You know what they say: "timing is everything." I'm sure we can find another plumber before the house floods.

“Timing Is Everything”. It certainly has been true in my life and chances are it's probably played a role in your life as well. As I look back there were moments where I missed out on something special because I either made the wrong ...

2015, Rob Couty, Timing Is Everything!: Joining The Right Company At The Right Time!, Rob Couty:

So when I'd hear people tell me – in many contexts – that timing is everything, I'd naturally feel uncomfortably constrained. Choked sometimes. Because I knew that I personally possessed virtually no sense of timing in the clock sense of time.

2017, Janice Presser, Timing Isn't Everything. Teaming Is., Lulu.com, →ISBN, page 35:

... partnership in the new forest policy was one ingredient; but it was the pressing demands on government forestry from an increasingly vocal civil society – that brought a hesitant. Forestry tactics 9 Why now? Why this way? Timing is everything.

2001, Forestry Tactics: Lessons from Malawi's National Forestry Programme, IIED, →ISBN, page 9:

Consideration of other events can greatly influence some desired outcome (such as whether a joke is well received).

timing er alt

consideration of events can influence the outcome


a cat may look at a king

A purported inferior has certain rights or prerogatives, even in the presence of a purported superior.

un chien regarde bien un évêque

faigheann an cat cead amharc ar an rí is ní fhaigheann an rí cead é a chaitheamh


one can run but one can't hide

There is nothing someone can do to evade something.


ignorance is bliss

From Thomas Gray's poem, Ode on a Distant Prospect of Eton College (1742): "Where ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise."

wsource

A lack of knowledge results in happiness; it is more comfortable to not know certain things.

bienheureux celui qui ne connaît pas la vérité

was ich nicht weiß, macht mich nicht heiß

ме́ньше зна́ешь — кре́пче спишь (ménʹše znáješʹ — krépče spišʹ)

незна́ние — блаже́нство (neznánije — blažénstvo)

многие зна́ния — многие печа́ли (mnogije znánija — mnogije pečáli)


a closed mouth gathers no feet

/ə ˈkləʊzd ˌmaʊθ ˈɡæ.ðəz nəʊ ˈfiːt/

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-a closed mouth gathers no feet.wav

From put one's foot in one's mouth (“to say something embarrassing or wrong, or to make a mistake in public, or a social blunder, that is embarrassing or offensive”), adopting the structure of a rolling stone gathers no moss and a closed mouth catches no flies.

From the wall of a New York bar: "A closed mouth gathers no feet."

1958, “Wall Signs Dept.”, in Advertising Agency, volume 51, Bristol, Conn.: Moore Publishing Company, →OCLC, page 9:

A closed mouth gathers no feet.

1972, American Eagle, San Francisco, Calif.: American Forest Products Corporation, →ISSN, →OCLC, column 2:

Now disinflation is conventional wisdom on Wall Street, and Rutledge makes no apologies for his flamboyance: "A closed mouth gathers no feet," he says.

1987, Forbes, volume 139, New York, N.Y.: Forbes, Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, page 71:

Or just keep your mouth shut. As sex therapist Marty Klein says, "A closed mouth gathers no feet."

1993 April, “The Playboy Advisor”, in Hugh M[arston] Hefner, editor, Playboy, volume 40, number 4, Chicago, Ill.: Playboy Enterprises, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 39, column 1:

So open your mouth to speak about what is good. And above all remember that "a closed mouth gathers no feet!"

1996, Marvin Phillips, “A Closed Mouth Gathers No Feet”, in Never Lick a Moving Blender!: Humorous Insights that Motivate and Encourage, West Monroe, La.: Howard Publishing, →ISBN; republished New York, N.Y.: Howard Books, 2010, →ISBN, page 72:

Bubba said he would like to go along. Leonard said, "That's okay, Bubba, but please allow me to do the talking. Remember, a closed mouth gathers no feet."

2001, Gary W. Carter, “The Role of a Tax Consultant”, in Getting Started in Tax Consulting, New York, N.Y.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 21:

(humorous) One who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing.

one who does not speak can be sure of not saying anything embarrassing

ceux qui ne disent rien n’ont jamais tort


experience is the best teacher

A calque translation of Latin usus magister est optimus Cicero, Oration for Rabirius.

Lessons learned from experience are the most lasting.

käytäntö on paras opettaja

lessons learned from experience are the most lasting

la experiencia es la madre de la ciencia


two wrongs don't make a right

"But when it comes to taking what belongs to another—well, a thief is a thief. . . . After all, two wrongs don't make a right, do they?"

1915, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 15, in The Highgrader:

"Late in the fight, Roger told me Zab was going to do something dirty, and he did it," Mayweather said after the fight. "I didn't return it, because two wrongs don't make a right."

2006 April 9, Clifton Brown, “Boxing: Mayweather Is Crowned, but not without a Fight”, in New York Times, retrieved 2009-06-17:

I have no doubt that while the industry loses a great deal of revenue owing to fraudulent travel, it probably more than makes up for it by allowing journey planners to charge too much for journeys - and two wrongs don't make a right.

2023 May 31, Barry Doe, “A potential downside of ticket reform needs consideration”, in RAIL, number 984, page 58:

(ethics) A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.

冤冤相報永無完了 /冤冤相报永无完了

a wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action

az egyik fél vétsége nem teszi a másik vétségét semmissé

an eye for an eye makes the whole world blind


the map is not the territory

From general semantics; coined by Alfred Korzybski.

Our models of the world, and our sensations of the world, are not the true world.


en-proverb

/ə ˈspuːnfəl əv ˈʃʊɡə(ɹ)ˌhɛlps ðə ˈmɛdɪsɪn ɡoʊ ˌdaʊn/

From the Sherman Brothers' 1964 song "A Spoonful of Sugar".

One is known as the "sweetening parable," that is to say a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down. Thus, when the aim is to preach to the people, to guide them along the "bitter," arduous path of upholding burdensome precepts and prohibitions, a tale can lighten the load, make the "medicine" easier "to swallow."

1999, Eli Yassif, The Hebrew Folktale: History, Genre, Meaning, Indiana University Press, →ISBN, page 372:

It put some fun into the tedious business of preparing for a presidential debate. A spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, right?

2001, Maureen Reagan, First Father, First Daughter: A Memoir, Little, Brown, →ISBN, page 319:

2004, John Hoover, How to Work for an Idiot: Survive & Thrive... Without Killing Your Boss, Career Press, →ISBN, page 11,
If a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, a barrel of laughs can wash down the big pills you might need to swallow.

An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant when a pleasant aspect is deliberately introduced.

An otherwise unpleasant situation can be pleasant.

lidt sukker i skeen, hvis din medicin er sur

een klein schepje suiker wordt een bittere pil zoet

lääkkeen karvaan sä sokerilla makeaksi saat

un morceau de sucre aide la médecine à couler

ein Löffelchen voll Zucker bittre Medizin versüßt

smá sykur hjálpar til við að halda lækninum frá

un poquito de azúcar toda purga endulzará


all things come to those who wait

patience is a virtue
patience is a virtue

(dated) A patient person will be satisfied in due time; patience is a virtue.


there but for the grace of God go I

There are several variants of this phrase, but all make reference to the same concept: an admission of humility that were it not for the work of God's grace (and perhaps also one's upbringing among those also formed in God's grace), any number of trials or tribulations could have befallen a person. The original is most often attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, who may well have been quoting or paraphrasing the words of the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:8–10, which states, "Last of all, as to one born abnormally, he appeared to me. For I am the least of the apostles, not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am..."
It has also been attributed to a mid-16th-century statement by a Protestant, John Bradford: "There but for the grace of God, goes John Bradford", in reference to a group of prisoners being led to execution.

I been turned out of places all over town
My smile is a frown turned upside down
There but for the grace of God go I

2001, J. G. Thirlwell, “Grace of God”, in Flow, performed by Foetus:

A recognition that others' misfortune could be one's own, if it weren't for the blessing of the Divine, or for fortune or fate.


sow the wind, reap the whirlwind

sow the wind and reap the whirlwind (alternative)
reap the whirlwind (alternative)

Before the attack started, Senator Mitch McConnell, the majority leader, decried efforts by his fellow Republicans to overturn the results of the election. But his eloquence was the very definition of a gesture both too little and too late. They who sow the wind, reap the whirlwind.

2021 January 7, “Trump Is to Blame for Capitol Attack”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:

Every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to them; if one starts trouble or takes actions in spite of the discontent they cause, one will incur negative consequences.

ко́йто се́е вя́тър, жъ́не бу́ри

every decision has consequences; a person's actions will come back to them

quien siembra vientos recoge tempestades


divide and conquer

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-divide and conquer.wav

In order to rule securely, do not allow alliances between your enemies.


it never rains but it pours

Attested as early as the early 18th century. The modern form of the expression first appeared in print as early as 1772. For quotations using this term, see Citations:it never rains but it pours.

seeCites

it never rains but that it pours (alternative)
when it rains, it pours (alternative)

الْمَصَائِبُ لَا تَأْتِي فُرَادَى (al-maṣāʔibu lā taʔtī furādā, literally “misfortunes do not come alone”)

har ein skriðan er lopin er onnur væntandi

צָרוֹת בָּאוֹת בִּצְרוֹרוֹת (tzarót ba'ót bi-tz'rorót, literally “misfortunes come in packages”)

踏んだり蹴ったり (ふんだりけったり, fundari-kettari, literally “we often tread on and we often bump off”)

泣きっ面に蜂 (なきっつらにはち, nakittsura ni hachi, literally “a wasp on a tearful face”)

弱り目に祟り目 (よわりめにたたりめ, yowari me ni tatari me, literally “in times of weakness, evil eyes”)

降れば土砂降り (ふればどしゃぶり, fureba doshaburi, literally “if it rains, it pours”)

불행은 겹친다 (bulhaeng'eun gyeopchinda, literally “misfortunes pile up”)

пришла́ беда́ — отворя́й воро́та (prišlá bedá — otvorjáj voróta, literally “when the trouble comes, open the gate”)

беда́ одна́ не хо́дит (bedá odná ne xódit, literally “trouble does not come alone”)

¿no querías caldo? ¡pues toma dos tazas!

ความวัวไม่ทันหาย ความควายเข้ามาแทรก (kwaam-wuua-mâi-tan-hǎai kwaam-kwaai-kâo-maa-sɛ̂ɛk, literally “the condition of cows does not yet cease, the condition of buffaloes comes in to join”)

бі́да ні́коли сама́ не хо́дить (bída níkoly samá ne xódytʹ, literally “trouble does not come alone”)


spare the rod and spoil the child

Commonly claimed to have come from the King James Version of the Bible, Book of Proverbs, 13:24: “He that spareth his rod hateth his son: but he that loveth him chasteneth him betimes.”
Due to the associated “spoil" concept which is not in the Bible, it more likely came from a 17th-century poem by Samuel Butler called Hudibras. In the poem, a love affair is likened to a child, and spanking is mockingly commended as a way to make the love grow stronger. The actual verse reads:
: What medicine else can cure the fits
Of lovers when they lose their wits?
Love is a boy by poets styled
Then spare the rod and spoil the child.

spare the rod, spoil the child (alternative)

If one does not discipline a child, it will never learn obedience and good manners.

Book of Proverbs
King James Version of the Bible
Samuel Butler (poet)
spare the rod and spoil the child

不打不成器

if one does not discipline a child he or she will never learn respect or humility

wer mit der Rute spart, verzieht das Kind

hòs pheídetai tês baktērías miseî tòn huiòn autoû, ho dè agapôn epimelôs paideúei

ὃς φείδεται τῆς βακτηρίας μισεῖ τὸν υἱὸν αὐτοῦ, ὁ δὲ ἀγαπῶν ἐπιμελῶς παιδεύει

пожале́ешь ро́згу — испо́ртишь ребёнка (požaléješʹ rózgu — ispórtišʹ rebjónka)

кого́ люблю́ — того́ и бью (kovó ljubljú — tovó i bʹju)

aga din son medan han är liten, annars agar han dig när han blir stor

thương cho roi cho vọt, ghét cho ngọt cho bùi

give someone enough rope and they'll hang themself


as you sow, so shall you reap

/əz‿ju ˈsəʊ səʊ‿ʃəl‿ju ˈɹiːp/

From Galatians 6:7 in the Bible (King James Version; spelling modernized): “Be not deceived, God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.”

Near-synonyms: as you make your bed, so you must lie in it; (archaic) as you have brewed, so you must drink

every man is the architect of his own fortune

The consequences of one's actions to oneself are in proportion to one's good or bad intentions towards others.

كَمَا تَدِينَ تُدَانُ

consequences of one’s actions to oneself are in proportion to one‘s good or bad intentions towards others

كَمَا تَزْرَعَ تَحْصِدُ

悪事身に返る (akuji mi ni kaeru, literally “your evil deeds come back to you”)

콩 심은 데 콩 나고 팥 심은 데 팥 난다

kong simeun de kong nago pat simeun de pat nanda

کسی که خربزه میخورد، پای لرزش هم مینشیند


pride comes before a fall

pride goes before a fall (alternative)
pride goeth before a fall (alternative)
pride wenteth before a fall (alternative)
pride cometh before a fall (alternative)
pride comes before the fall (alternative)

A person who is excessively proud will often suffer a setback or failure.

驕兵必敗 /骄兵必败

a person who is excessively proud will often suffer a setback or failure

Satan was proud and fell from heaven; the pharaoh was proud but sank in the sea; and when we are proud, what are we worth?

Satana gordilsja, s neba svalilsja; faraon gordilsja, v more utopilsja; a my gordimsja - kuda godimsja?

Сатана гордился, с неба свалился; фараон гордился, в море утопился; а мы гордимся - куда годимся?

the bigger they are, the harder they fall


pride goeth before a fall

pride comes before a fall
pride comes before a fall#English

Alternative form of pride comes before a fall.


hindsight is 20/20

From the term 20/20 referring to normal visual acuity.

Another common error dealing with memory is that of "hindsight bias." This is the tendency to exaggerate what could have been anticipated in the past. This is also known as "Monday morning quarter backing" or "hindsight is 20/20" where the "right" decision as to what should have been done appears to be more obvious now than it was in the past.

2009, Joseph Grcic, Facing Reality: An Introduction to Philosophy, Revised edition, Bloomington, IN: AuthorHouse, page 57:

Honestly? If you would have told me that becoming a professional tennis player might net me a decent supply of free pasta, I would have never begged my mom to quit my lessons. 😭 Hindsight = 20/20.

2023 July 30, Gretty Garcia, “Coco Gauff Is Still a Teenager, but Her Net Worth Reveals That She’s Already a Millionaire”, in Cosmopolitan:

(idiomatic) In hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset; one is able to evaluate past choices more clearly than at the time of the choice.

馬後炮 /马后炮

in hindsight things are obvious that were not obvious from the outset

冇乞儿 (jau⁵ zou² zi¹, mou⁵ hat¹ ji⁴⁻¹, literally “there would be no homeless people if everyone knows beforehand”)

事後孔明 /事后孔明 (si⁶ hou⁶ hung² ming⁴, literally “everyone can be Kongming in hindsight”)

depois que a onça já está morta, todo caçador é valente

за́дним умо́м всяк кре́пок (zádnim umóm vsjak krépok, literally “everyone is strong by one's hindmind”)

пото́м и Семён умён (potóm i Semjón umjón, literally “afterwards, even Semyon is wise”)

догада́лся, как проигра́лся (dogadálsja, kak proigrálsja, literally “(he) guessed it after (he) lost”)

мужи́к не перекре́стится ((poká) grom ne grjánet, mužík ne perekréstitsja, literally “until it thunders the man won't cross himself”)

después de la batalla somos todos generales


only fools and horses work

A philosophy of life, holding that people who do not look for (and find) an easy way of earning a living are foolish.


live by the sword, die by the sword

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-live by the sword, die by the sword.wav

Gospel of Matthew
King James Version of the Bible
Live by the sword, die by the sword

1611, King James Version of the Bible, Gospel of Matthew, 26:52
:* Then said Jesus unto him, "Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword."

One who uses violence can expect a violent response; it is better to try to use peaceful means wherever possible.

one who uses violence can expect a violent response

usje, što vózʹmucʹ mječ, ad mjača i zahinucʹ

усе, што возьмуць меч, ад мяча і загінуць

vsički, koito se zalavjat za nož, ot nož šte poginat

всички, които се залавят за нож, от нож ще погинат

wie leeft bij het zwaard, zal sterven bij het zwaard

joka miekkaan tarttuu, se miekkaan hukkuu

wer das Schwert ergreift, der soll durchs Schwert umkommen

pántes ósoi piásosi máchairan diá machaíras thélousin apolesthí

πάντες όσοι πιάσωσι μάχαιραν διά μαχαίρας θέλουσιν απολεσθή

pántes gàr hoi labóntes mákhairan en makhaírēi apoloûntai

πάντες γὰρ οἱ λαβόντες μάχαιραν ἐν μαχαίρῃ ἀπολοῦνται

(a)ki kardot fog/ránt/ragad, kard által vész

alle som griper til sverd, skal falle for sverd

quem vive pela espada, morre pela espada

toți cei ce scot sabia, de sabie vor pieri

kto s mečóm k nam pridjót, tot ot mečá i pogíbnet

кто с мечо́м к нам придёт, тот от меча́ и поги́бнет

alla som griper till svärd skall dödas med svärd

vsi, xto vizʹme meča, vid meča i zahynutʹ

всі, хто візьме меча, від меча і загинуть

(figuratively) One can expect dire outcomes from any vice; used to convey a sense that poetic justice is inevitable.

And in Dirk Diggler's most anguished scene, as he shouts at Jack Horner, "I'm ready to shoot my scene RIGHT NOW!" we learn that those who live by the sword can also die by it.

1997 October 17, Roger Ebert, “Boogie Nights (1997) review”, in Chicago Sun-Times:

In the “live by the sword, die by the sword” category of ironic litigation, consider the fate of struggling hardware and software maker Sun Microsystems.

2009, Larry Downes, The Laws of Disruption: Harnessing the New Forces That Govern Life and Business in the Digital Age, Basic Books, →ISBN:

(figuratively) The means of one's success can become the means of one's downfall.


en-proverb

you pays your money and you takes your choice

You can get there by bus, or train, or taxi. Whatever. You pays your money and you takes your choice.

Showman. On your right you will perceive a Prime Minister a Bolishing of hisself. And over your left is another Prime Minister a Bolishing of the Corn-Laws. / Master John Bull. But which is the Prime Minister? / Showman. Which ever you please, my little dear. You pays your money, and you takes your choice.

1846, “THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.[cartoon]”, in Punch, page 17:

Each person can make his or her own decisions.

you pays your money and you takes your chances


hic Rhodus, hic salta

The phrase arises from the Latin form of Aesop's Fables (Gibbs 209; Perry 33; Chambry 51), as translated from Ancient Greek "Αὐτοῦ γὰρ καὶ Ῥόδος καὶ πήδημα" (literally) "Here is Rhodes, jump here!". In the fable, a boastful athlete brags that he once achieved a stupendous long jump in competition on the island of Rhodes. A bystander challenges him to dispense with the reports of the witnesses and simply repeat his accomplishment on the spot: "Here is Rhodes, jump here!"

1820, Hegel, “Philosophy of Right”, Preface, from SW Dyde 1896 translation
As a philosophic writing, it must be on its guard against constructing a state as it ought to be. Philosophy cannot teach the state what it should be, but only how it, the ethical universe, is to be known. Idou Podos, idou kai to pidima / Hic Rhodus, hic saltus.

On the other hand, proletarian revolutions, like those of the nineteenth century, constantly criticize themselves, constantly interrupt themselves in their own course, return to the apparently accomplished, in order to begin anew; they deride with cruel thoroughness the half-measures, weaknesses, and paltriness of their first attempts, seem to throw down their opponents only so the latter may draw new strength from the earth and rise before them again more gigantic than ever, recoil constantly from the indefinite colossalness of their own goals – until a situation is created which makes all turning back impossible, and the conditions themselves call out: Hic Rhodus, hic salta!

1852, Karl Marx, “The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte”, Chapter 1, from Saul K Padover English translation, published 1937

The repeated retreat of the mass of the European workers' movement in the face of the Hic Rhodus, hic salta of the 1918-1920 period, a retreat which included the violent destruction of its radical minority, favored the completion of the Bolshevik development and let this false result present itself to the world as the only proletarian solution.

1967, Guy Debord, “The Society of the Spectacle”, Chapter 4, from Black and Red translation, published 1970

1992, Francis Fukuyama, “The End of History and the Last Man”, Part IV, Leaping Over Rhodes (quoted as epigram).
Hic Rhodus, hic saltus

(politics) Prove what you can do, here and now.


spare the rod, spoil the child

spare the rod and spoil the child#English

Alternative form of spare the rod and spoil the child.


the ends justify the means

the end justifies the means
the end justifies the means#English

Alternative form of the end justifies the means.


an Englishman's home is his castle

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

(British) Synonym of a man's home is his castle.


you can't unring a bell

you can't put the shit back in the horse

you can't put the toothpaste back in the tube


don't look a gift horse in the mouth

en-au-don't look a gift horse in the mouth.ogg

Calque from Latin expressions such as equi dentes inspicere donati (“to inspect the teeth of a provided horse”) in St. Jerome's c. 400 Preface to the Commentaries of the Letter to the Ephesians (Commentariorum in Epistolam ad Ephesios Libri Tres), which designates it as a "common proverb" (vulgare proverbium). The ultimate referrent is inspection of horses' teeth as a way of ascertaining their age and value.

never look a gift horse in the mouth (alternative)

No man ought to looke a geuen hors in the mouth.

1546, John Heywood, (Please provide the book title or journal name):

He ne’er consider'd it, as loth
To look a Gift-horse in the mouth.

One should not unappreciatively question or inspect a gift too closely.

kalit të falur nuk i shikohen dhëmbët

a phrase referring to unappreciatively questioning of a gift or handout too closely

à cheval donné, on ne regarde pas la bouche

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas la bride

à cheval donné on ne regarde pas la denture

o cabalo regalado, cólleo con ollos pechados

a cabalo regalado no se lle mira o dente

einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul

einem geschenkten Gaul sieht man nicht ins Maul

einem geschenkten Gaul guckt man nicht ins Maul

tou charízane gáidaro kai ton koítaze sta dóntia

του χαρίζανε γάιδαρο και τον κοίταζε στα δόντια

engem geschenkte Gaul kuckt een net an d'Maul

darowanemu koniowi nie zagląda się w zęby

darowanemu koniowi w zęby się nie zagląda

darowanemu koniowi w zęby się nie patrzy

a caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes

a caballo regalado no le mires el diente

a caballo regalado, no le mires el dentado

a caballo regalado, no le mires el diente

a caballo regalado, no se le ve el colmillo

a caballo regalado no se le mira el diente

pāpamani pāta cīra istē gōḍa cāṭuku veḷḷi mūra vēsindaṭa

పాపమని పాత చీర ఇస్తే గోడ చాటుకు వెళ్ళి మూర వేసిందట

a geshenkt ferd kukt men nisht in di tseyner

אַ געשענקט פֿערד קוקט מען נישט אין די ציינער

a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


when in Rome, do as the Romans

when in Rome, do as the Romans do#English

(uncommon) Alternative form of when in Rome, do as the Romans do.


where there's smoke, there's fire

en-au-where there's smoke, there's fire.ogg

with a grain of salt
with a grain of salt

(UK, US, Australia, Canada, New Zealand) If there is a hint of something occurring it could indeed be true, but such rumors should be taken with a grain of salt.

لَا دُخَانَ بِلَا نَار

if there is a hint of something occurring it could indeed be true, but rumors should be handled with skepticism

All rumors are true
all rumors are true#English


today is a good day to die

/tʊˈdeɪ ɪz ə ˈɡʊd deɪ tə ˈdaɪ/

Crazy Horse
Leavenworth Times
Low Dog
Oglala Lakota
University of Oklahoma Press

The phrase is frequently attributed to the Oglala Lakota war leader Crazy Horse (c. 1842 – 1877), though this is inaccurate as the earliest published reference, in the 14 August 1881 edition of the Leavenworth Times, attributes it to the Oglala Lakota chief Low Dog (c. 1846 – 1894).

Junkies brag about the "rush" of mainlined heroin or inhaled crack cocaine; I'll put the rush of danger up against any drug. I wasn't kidding when I told Bouton it was a good day to die. Any day is a good day to die. As long as you go down fighting.

[1993, Stephen Solomita, chapter 12, in A Good Day to Die, New York, N.Y.: Otto Penzler Books, →ISBN:

We will keep safe the heritage of this country. And if someday we must die to serve this cause, well, then, it will be a good day to die.

[1997, Robert B[rown] Parker, chapter 26, in Night Passage: A Jesse Stone Novel, New York, N.Y.: G. P. Putnam's Sons, →ISBN:

Otherwise, small business owners like those in the construction industry will have to be prescient, as well as politically and financially astute, in deciding if today is a good day to die.

2001, Engineering News-Record: Top Construction Management Firms, volume 246, New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 72:

An expression of willingness, even eagerness, to give one’s life for a cause.

hoxe é un bo día para morrer

To be given the strength to live without regrets, without the feeling that you should be doing something more, something different. To make today''' a good day to die. To gain fulfillment not with length of time, but with quality.

[2002, Dave Collins, “Gains”, in Please Remain Seated until the Ride has Come to a Complete Stop: Dave Collins Memoir, Lincoln, Neb.: Writer's Showcase, iUniverse, →ISBN, pages 86–87:

The main thing is to die after having truly lived, after leaving behind a contribution. Socrates lived fully and was perfectly content to let go when the time came. As the Native American saying goes, "Today is a good day to die."

2006, Dan Millman, “On Chapter Four: The Sword is Sharpened”, in Wisdom of the Peaceful Warrior: A Companion to the Book that Changes Lives, Tilburon, Calif.: H. J. Kramer; Novato, Calif.: New World Library, →ISBN, page 111:

In the native tradition of the Pacific Northwest there is a saying: "Today is a good day to die." What it means, of course, is that today is a good day to live completely. If you were lying on that hospital bed right now, what would be on that short list?

2008, John Izzo, “The First Secret: Be True to Your Self”, in The Five Secrets You must Discover before You Die, San Francisco, Calif.: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, →ISBN, page 43:

An expression indicating that one should not live with any regrets, or tasks left undone.


ne'er cast a clout till May be out

cast not a clout till May be out (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-ne'er cast a clout till May be out.wav

Ne’er is a contraction of never; while clout is an archaic or dialectal word for a (worthless) piece of cloth or a rag, and is used to refer to clothing in a derogatory manner.

Leave not off a Clout, / Till May be out.

[1732, Thomas Fuller, compiler, Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings, Ancient and Modern, Foreign and British, London: […] B. Barker […]; and A. Bettesworth and C. Hitch, […], →OCLC, paragraph 6193, page 276:

There is another ungracious rhyme about this favourite month of the poets— / Till May be out / Change na a clout: / That is, thin not your winter-clothing till the end of May—a good maxim if we are to put faith in the great father of modern medicine, [Herman] Boerhaave, who, on being consulted as to the proper time for putting off flannel, is said to have answered, "On Midsummer night, and—put it on again next morning!"

[1834 February 8, “Popular Rhymes. The Weather.”, in William Chambers, Robert Chambers, editors, Chambers’ Edinburgh Journal, volume III, number 106, Edinburgh: William and Robert Chambers, […]; [William Somerville] Orr and Smith, […], published 1835, →OCLC, page 16, column 2:

Of old it was said,— / "Ne'er cast a clout / Till May is out." / More recently the version is, / "No garment cast / Till May be past." / The advice is the same, but how different the style!

1849 May 4, “To Correspondents. [Poetry.]”, in The Liverpool Mercury, and Lancashire, Cheshire, and General Advertiser, volume XXXIX, number 2088, Liverpool: Thomas Rogerson, […], and John Smith, […], at the Mercury and General Printing Establishment, […], →OCLC, page 286:

The defenses against him [the month of March] should be more carefully watched than those of the depth of Winter. Fires are left to smolder down in the warmth of the day until the house is thoroughly chilled, and a sudden damp wind springs up in the afternoon and carries disease and death into the open windows. "Till May be out, Ne'er cast a clout," is counsel as good as homely.

[1875 March 9, “March”, in New-York Tribune, volume XXXIV, number 10,588, New York, N.Y.: [s.n.], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 6, column 5:

In this sense the Boeotian poetry may be taken to have its germ in maxims similar to our English / "Till May be out, ne'er cast a clout," / or / "A rainbow in the morning / Is the Shepherd's warning."

[1914, Hugh G[erard] Evelyn-White, “Introduction”, in Hesiod, translated by Hugh G. Evelyn-White, Hesiod: The Homeric Hymns and Homerica […] (Loeb Classical Library; no. 57), London: William Heinemann; New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Co., →OCLC, page xi:

Proverbs emphasise the protective function of clothes, which are valued more highly if they protect from heat or cold, rain or sun: […] It was better to wear too much than too little, and one should not be in too much of a hurry to shed one's winter clothes at the first sign of fine weather: ‘Ne’er cast a clout till May be out.’

1994, Daniel Roche, “Caring for Clothes: From Propriety to Cleanliness”, in Jean Birrell, transl., The Culture of Clothing: Dress and Fashion in the ‘Ancien Régime’ (Past and Present Publications), Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, published 1999, →ISBN, part 3 (Producing, Selling and Stealing: The Distribution of Appearances), page 377:

The well-known phrase ‘Cast ne’er a clout [or ‘Ne’er cast a clout’] till May is out’ cautions people not to cast off their winter clothes until they are sure that summer is with us. In recent years it has been commonly stated that the phrase does not refer to the month of May but rather to the blossoming of the hawthorn, which in many parts is referred to as ‘may’, but many earlier references to the phrase make it perfectly clear that the month is what is meant. The saying was often extended to include other months, as in […] a rhyme printed in Notes & Queries in 1870 but claimed to be current in Yorkshire a hundred years before: / Don’t change a clout / Till May is out; / If you change in June / ’Twill be too soon.

2006, Steve Roud, “May”, in The English Year: A Month-by-month Guide to the Nation’s Customs and Festivals, from May Day to Mischief Night, paperback edition, London: Penguin Books, published 2008, →ISBN, pages 200–201:

May 31st is the day to look out and iron summer dresses, as our grandmothers used to say. / "Ne'er cast a clout / Till May be out."

2020, Elizabeth Wood, “May”, in Pancakes and Plum Pudding: A Pathway to the Past (Looking at Customs, Cooking, Saints’ Days and Superstitions), Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicestershire: Matador, →ISBN, page 87:

(UK, dialectal) Do not change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June, as there is often a sudden cold snap in May.

do not change from winter clothes to summer clothes until June (many are not direct translations but convey a similar sentiment)

the weather at the end of March bodes the weather when May begins

mitä Mariana katolla, sitä vappuna vaolla

en avril ne te découvre pas d’un fil, en mai fais ce qu’il te plaît

april, aprilone, non mi rifai metter giù il pelliccione

aprile, non ti scoprire; maggio, adagio adagio; giugno, allarga il pugno

kwiecień plecień, bo przeplata trochę zimy, trochę lata

первая ла́сточка весны не делает (pervaja lástočka vesny ne delajet, literally “the first swallow does not mean spring has come”)

si quieres criarte gordito y sano, la ropa del invierno gasta en verano