en-proverb

the grass is always greener on the other side

the grass is always greener (alternative)

The circumstances of others seem more desirable than one's own but in reality often are not.

طبيخ الجارة نوارة، وطبيخ أهل الدار مرار

others' circumstances seem more desirable than one's own but in reality often are not.

l'herba sempre és més verda a l'altra banda

隔籬飯香 /隔篱饭香 (gaak³ lei⁴ faan⁶ hoeng¹, literally “next door's rice smells good”)

這山望著那山高 /这山望着那山高 (zhè shān wàng zhe nà shān gāo, literally “the next mountain looks taller”)

græsset er altid grønnere på den anden side af hækken

het gras is altijd groener aan de overkant

herbaro ĉiam aspektas pli verda trans barilo

ruoho on aina vihreämpää aidan toisella puolella

l'herbe est toujours plus verte ailleurs

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

die Kirschen aus Nachbars Garten schmecken immer besser

die Kirschen aus Nachbars Garten schmecken immer noch am besten

ha-déshe shel ha-shakhén tamíd yarók yotér

הַדֶּשֶׁא שֶׁל הַשָּׁכֵן תָּמִיד יָרֹק יוֹתֵר

दूर के ढोल सुहावने लगते हैं (dūr ke ḍhol suhāvne lagte ha͠i, literally “from far away, the drums sound better”)

दूसरे की थाली में घी अधिक दिखाई देता है

dūsre kī thālī mẽ ghī adhik dikhāī detā hai

rumput tetangga selalu terlihat lebih hijau

隣の芝生は青く見える (となりのしばふはあおくみえる, tonari no shibafu wa aoku mieru, literally “the neighbor's lawn seems green”)

隣の芝生は青い (となりのしばふはあおい, tonari no shibafu wa aoi, literally “the neighbor's lawn is green”)

隣の花は赤い (となりのはなはあかい, tonari no hana wa akai, literally “the neighbor's flowers are red”)

남의 떡이 더 커 보인다 (namui tteogi deo keo boinda, literally “the other person's rice cake seems bigger”)

먼 무당이 용하다 (meon mudang'i yonghada, literally “the shaman from far away is more skilled”)

hujan emas di negeri orang, hujan batu di negeri sendiri, baik juga di negeri sendiri

അക്കരെ നിന്നാൽ ഇക്കരെ പച്ച (akkare ninnāl ikkare pacca, literally “if you stand on the other shore, this side is greener”)

gresset er alltid grønnere på den andre siden

graset er alltid grønare på den andre sida

a galinha da vizinha é melhor que a minha

сосе́дняя о́чередь всегда́ дви́жется быстре́е (sosédnjaja óčeredʹ vsegdá dvížetsja bystréje, literally “the other queue always moves faster”)

там хорошо́, где нас нет (tam xorošó, gde nas net, literally “it is good everywhere where we are not”)

's e miann na lacha an loch air nach bi i

tha iteagan bòidheach air na h-eòin a tha fad às

la hierba siempre es más verde del otro lado

el pasto siempre es más verde del otro lado

இக்கரைக்கு அக்கரை பச்சை (ikkaraikku akkarai paccai, literally “To this shore, the other shore always looks greener”)

இக்கரை மாட்டுக்கு அக்கரை பச்சை

To the cow on this shore, the other shore would look greener

до́бре там, де нас нема́ (dóbre tam, de nas nemá, literally “it is better there, where we are not”)


carpe diem

Learned borrowing from Latin carpe diem (“enjoy the day”, literally “pluck (or harvest) the day”).

lbor

It is the carpe diem religion; but the carpe diem religion is not the religion of happy people, but of very unhappy people.

1905, G. K. Chesterton, Heretics, New York: John Lane, →OL:

Indeed, in an extreme carpe diem society, children are raised without being given any sense that they have a transgenerational duty to the as yet unborn— the duty to leave them a better world.

2007 July 30, Lee Harris, “Can Carpe Diem Societies Survive?”, in The Suicide of Reason: Radical Islam's Threat to the West, New York: Basic Books, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 241:

Just grab those opportunities when you see 'em / Cause every day's a brand new day, you gotta carpe diem

2011 January 29, “Rollercoaster: The Musical!” (“Carpe Diem” (song)), in Phineas and Ferb, season 2, episode 38:

Enjoy the present, make the most of today, (common mistranslation) seize the day.


you can't get a quart into a pint pot

you can't fit a quart into a pint pot (alternative)
you can't put a quart into a pint pot (alternative)

(literally) You cannot fit a large object or amount in something smaller.

They've asked me to get from London to New York by five o'clock, but it's half past four now, and you can't get a quart into a pint pot!

The centenary of Britain's most famous train has called for a commemorative and descriptive work and in this 40-page illustrated booklet the author has tried—with some success, to pour a quart into a pint pot.

1962 October, “New Reading on Railways: The Flying Scotsman 1862-1962. By C. Hamilton Ellis. Allen & Unwin. 6s.”, in Modern Railways, unnumbered page:

(figurative) One cannot achieve the impossible.


e pluribus unum

"out of many, one" or "from many, one" (alternatively translated as "one out of many" or "one from many”)

из мно́гих — еди́ное n (iz mnógix — jedínoje)


birds of the feather flock together

birds of a feather flock together#English

Alternative form of birds of a feather flock together.


there's more than one way to skin a cat

there are many ways to skin a cat (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-there's more than one way to skin a cat.wav

Origin unknown. Other proverbs with the same meaning referencing the killing of animals are also attested, some as early as the 17th century; see, for example, “there are more ways to kill a dog than hanging” (1678), “there is more than one way to kill a cat” (1833), and “more ways of killing a cat than choking her with cream” (1855).

nb...

Digested into a Convenient Method for the Speedy Finding Any One upon Occasion; with Short Annotations. Whereunto are Added Local Proverbs with Their Explications, Old Proverbial Rhythmes, Less Known or Exotick Proverbial Sentences, and Scottish Proverbs. The Second Edition Enlarged by the Addition of Many Hundred English, and an Appendix of Hebrew Proverbs, with Annotations and Parallels.

To which is Added, the History of a Steam Doctor. In Two Volumes. 􂀿...􂁀 By the Author of “A Yankee among the Nullifiers.”

of Burrough, in the County of Devon, in the Reign of Her Most Glorious Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Rendered into Modern English by Charles Kingsley.

At any rate, thought I, there's more than one way to skin a cat, as a butcher would say.

1835 November 11, the New York Transcript, quotee, “Eccentricities of a Mad Man”, in Benj[amin] Kingsbury, Jr., editor, Zion’s Herald, volume VI, number 45, Boston, Mass.: Boston Wesleyan Association, →OCLC, page 180, column 2:

This is a money digging world of ours; and, as it is said, "there are more ways than one to skin a cat," so are there more ways than one of digging for money. But, in some mode or other, this seems to be the universal occupation of the sons of Adam.

[1854, Seba Smith, “The Money-diggers and Old Nick”, in ’Way Down East; or, Portraitures of Yankee Life, New York, N.Y.: J[ames] C[ephas] Derby, […]; Boston, Mass.: Phillips, Sampson & Co. […], →OCLC, page 169:

But then the Church came to the front, with an axe to grind; and she was wise, subtle, and knew more than one way to skin a cat—or a nation; […]

1889, Mark Twain [pseudonym; Samuel Langhorne Clemens], “The Boss”, in A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, New York, N.Y.: Charles L. Webster & Company, →OCLC, page 100:

Relator was, undoubtedly, at this point reminded of the old saying: "There is more than one way to skin a cat"; because he was saying the same thing in different terminology and tied it in with his original statement by saying "as I stated".

1947 December 8, “Ex Parte Joe Fisher, Relator: Respondent’s Answer to Relator’s Motion for Rehearing”, in Joe J. Fisher, Petitioner, vs. R. C. Pace, Sheriff of Jasper County, Texas: Transcript of Record (Supreme Court of the United States, October Term, 1948; no. 45), Washington, D.C.: Judd & Detweiler, […], folio 90, page 65:

Nissan has elected to concentrate its European operations in Sunderland, including battery development, precisely because Boris Johnson has brought forward the phase-out date for petrol and diesel vehicles to 2030. […] However, there is more than one way to skin a cat, and cheaper options for ultra-low emitting vehicles are just around the corner.

2021 January 25, Robin Russell-Jones, “Electric cars are not the only green solution”, in Katharine Viner, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 2022-03-22:

there's more than one way to cook an egg

there's more than one way to crack an egg

there's more than one way to peel an orange

(originally US) A problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal.

هناك أكثر من طريقَة لسلخ القط

a problem generally has more than one solution; there is more than one way to achieve a goal

konstit on monet sanoi mummo, kun kissalla pöytää pyyhki

il y a plusieurs façons de plumer un canard

to kaló to palikári xérei ki állo monopáti

το καλό το παλικάρι ξέρει κι άλλο μονοπάτι

is iomaí bealach le cat a mharú seachas é a thachtadh le him

все доро́ги веду́т в Рим (vse dorógi vedút v Rim, literally “all roads lead to Rome”)

cada quien tiene su manera de matar pulgas

mae llawer ffordd i ladd ci heblaw ei grogi

mae mwy nag un ffordd i gael Wil i'w wely

if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail


every dog has its day

every dog has his day (alternative)
every dog must have his day (alternative)
every dog must have its day (alternative)

cæsar [...] Yes, Rufio: I am an old man—worn out now—true, quite true. [...] Well, every dog has his day; and I have had mine: I cannot complain.

1898, [George] Bernard Shaw, “Cæsar and Cleopatra”, in Three Plays for Puritans: The Devil’s Disciple, Cæsar and Cleopatra, & Captain Brassbound’s Conversion, London: Grant Richards, […], published 1901, →OCLC, Act III, page 153:

"[T]o lose, it hurt. But I learned from that. I learned that every dog has its day. I learned patience."

1987 November 5, Thomas George, “Football: First Down, Many Goals to Go”, in New York Times, retrieved 2015-07-13:

The Hearts manager John McGlynn was thrilled to be drawn against Liverpool in the Europa League play-offs. McGlynn said: ". . . . I would imagine the bookmakers would favour Liverpool but every dog has its day."

2012 August 11, “Europa League: Hearts delight at Liverpool tie”, in Independent, UK, retrieved 2015-07-13:

Everyone, at some point, experiences some degree of success, impact, or influence in life.

做总统你嘛有机会

Chhàu-thâu-á mā ē chò hông-tè, chò chóng-thóng lí mā ū ki-hōe

auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn

бу́дет и на на́шей у́лице пра́здник (búdet i na nášej úlice prázdnik, literally “and in our street there will be holiday too”)

even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while


when the cat's away the mice will play

when the cat’s away the mice will play (canonical)
when the cat’s away the mice play (alternative)
when the cat's away (alternative)

In the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances.

as die kat weg is, is die muis baas

in the absence of a controlling entity, subordinates will take advantage of circumstances

når katten er ude, spiller musene på bordet

als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel

kun kissa on poissa, hiiret hyppivät pöydällä

quand le chat n'est pas là, les souris dansent

ist die Katze aus dem Haus, tanzen die Mäuse auf dem Tisch

όταν λείπει η γάτα χορεύουν τα ποντίκια

ótan leípei i gáta chorévoun ta pontíkia

ha nincs otthon a macska, cincognak az egerek

þegar kötturinn er frá fara mýsnar á stjá

nuair a bhíonn an cat amuigh, bíonn na lucha ag rince

鼬無き間の貂誇り

いたちなきまのてんほこり

고양이가 없으면 쥐가 살판이 난다

goyang'iga eopseumyeon jwiga salpani nanda

quō nōn versantur cattī mures dominantur

wann d’Kaz fort ass, sinn d’Mais Meeschter

when the cat’s away, the mice are dancing on the table

når katten er borte, danser musene på bordet

quando o gato sai, os ratos fazem a festa

când pisica nu-i acasă, joacă șoarecii pe masă

tha fios aig an luch nach eil an cat a-staigh

где мачке у кући нема ту мишеви коло воде

gde mačke u kući nema tu miševi kolo vode

gaž jo kócor z domu, ga maju myšy swóju wólu

cuando el gato no está, bailan los ratones

cuando el gato no está los ratones están de fiesta

cuando el gato no está, los ratones bailan

när katten är borta, dansar råttorna på bordet

kapag wala ang pusa, naglalaro ang mga daga

kapag wala ang pusa ay pista ng mga daga

rautu mettanaitē gurraṁ mūḍu kāḷḷa mīda parigettutundi

రౌతు మెత్తనైతే గుర్రం మూడు కాళ్ళ మీద పరిగెత్తుతుంది

kedi olmayan yerde meydan farelere kalır


head

power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely

power corrupts (canonical)
absolute power corrupts absolutely (canonical)

From a letter written by Lord Acton in 1887.

power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely

The corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total.

the corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total

władza korumpuje, a władza absolutna korumpuje absolutnie

o poder corrompe, o poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente

vlastʹ razvraščájet, absoljútnaja vlastʹ razvraščájet absoljútno

власть развраща́ет, абсолю́тная власть развраща́ет абсолю́тно

el poder corrompe, el poder absoluto corrompe absolutamente

vláda rozbéščuje, a absoljútna vláda rozbéščuje absoljútno

вла́да розбе́щує, а абсолю́тна вла́да розбе́щує абсолю́тно


that's the way the cookie crumbles

that's how the cookie crumbles (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-that's the way the cookie crumbles.wav

Are you up to par with the hep talk that is going around schools like Norwood High? […] While standing by the H2o spurt (water fountain) we overheard the following conversation between two really gone (neat) guys. “[…] It was a blind date, and boy did I flip (go mad) when I got a gaze at her! That dirty bird (guy that pulls a dirty trick) that fixed me up with her! I spent a whole chlorophyl George (one dollar bill) on her. Oh well, that’s the way the cookie crumbles (that’s life!)[…]” (Taken from N. H. S. Mirror)

1955 February 2, “Dig This Man--The Craziest!”, in The Cincinnati Post, volume 74, number 16, Cincinnati, Oh., page 19:

That is the way things happen; that's life.


that's the way the ball bounces

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-that's the way the ball bounces.wav


that's the way life is

That's the way life is, and there's no use trying to go against it.

1935, Louis Bromfield, The Man Who Had Everything, page 279:

There are no standards, no values; that's the way life is. Learn to accept it and slide with it. Stop fighting it.

1979, Jay Edward Abrams, A Theology of Christian Counseling: More Than Redemption, →ISBN, page 45:

Shit happens; that's the way life is. In fact, I want you to take an additional thousand for your efforts.

2002, B. Eugene Ellison, Rings of the Templars, →ISBN, page 337:

Certain things cannot be changed, helped or improved; struggle and objection are pointless.


that's the way the mop flops

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-that's the way the mop flops.wav


en-proverb

you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

You can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it.

ja pots xiular si l'ase no vol beure

you can show someone how to do something, but you can't make them do it

madala nimo ang baka sa suba apan dili nimo mainom

牛唔飲水唔撳得牛頭低 /牛唔饮水唔揿得牛头低 (ngau⁴ m⁴ jam² seoi² m⁴ gam⁶ dak¹ ngau⁴ tau⁴ dai¹, literally “if a cow does not drink water, one cannot press its head down”)

man kan tvinge hesten til truget, men man kan ikke tvinge den til at drikke

It's bad to catch hares with unwilling dogs

met onwillige honden is het slecht hazen vangen

voit viedä hevosen veden ääreen, mutta et voi pakottaa sitä juomaan

You can't force a donkey to drink when he's not thirsty

on ne saurait faire boire un âne qui n'a pas soif

man kann den Gaul zur Tränke führen, aber saufen muss er selber

ham kisī ko kuch karne kā avsar de sakte par unapar use karne ke lie dabāv nahī̃ banā sakte

हम किसी को कुछ करने का अवसर दे सकते पर उनपर उसे करने के लिए दबाव नहीं बना सकते

puoi portare un cavallo all'acqua ma non puoi farlo bere

馬を水辺に導く事は出来るが馬に水を飲ませる事は出来ない

うまをみずべにみちびくことはできるがうまにみずをのませることはできない

uma o mizube ni michibikukoto wa dekiru ga uma ni mizu o nomaserukoto-wa dekinai

du kan lede en hest til vannet, men du kan ikke tvinge den til å drikke

możesz konia doprowadzić do wodopoju, lecz pić za niego się nie da

você pode levar um cavalo até a água, mas não pode fazê-lo beber

móžno privestí lóšadʹ k vodé, no nelʹzjá zastávitʹ jejó pitʹ

мо́жно привести́ ло́шадь к воде́, но нельзя́ заста́вить её пить

ged a bheirte a' bhó dhan doras mhór rachadh i fhéin dhan bhàthaich

gurrānni ceruvudākā lākkeḷḷavaccu gāni, dānicēta nīḷḷu tāgiñcalēmu

గుర్రాన్ని చెరువుదాకా లాక్కెళ్ళవచ్చు గాని, దానిచేత నీళ్ళు తాగించలేము

there are none so blind as those who will not see


you can't teach an old dog new tricks

A form of (obsolete) “An old dog will learn no tricks”.

It is impossible to change people's habits, traits, or mindset.

ne móže da naúčiš stáro kúče na nóvi nomerá

не мо́же да нау́чиш ста́ро ку́че на но́ви номера́

man kan ikke lære en gammel hund nye kunster

vanale koerale juba uusi trikke ei õpeta

vanhalle koiralle ei voi opettaa uusia temppuja

il faut ployer l'arbre pendant qu'il est jeune

was Hänschen nicht lernt, lernt Hans nimmermehr

παλιός γάιδαρος καινούρια περπατησιά δε μαθαίνει (paliós gáidaros kainoúria perpatisiá de mathaínei, literally “the old donkey cannot learn a new walk”)

öreg/vén muzsikusnak/zenésznek nem lehet új nótát tanítani (már)

það er erfitt að kenna gömlum hundi að sitja

nuair a chríonann an tslat is deacair í a lúbadh

il cane vecchio non si abitua più alla catena

przyzwyczajenie jest drugą naturą człowieka

czego Jaś się nie nauczy, tego Jan nie będzie umiał

горба́того моги́ла испра́вит (gorbátovo mogíla isprávit, literally “a hunchback will be corrected by the grave”)

an t-aon nach teagaisgear ris a' ghlùin chan fhoghlamar ris an uilinn

you can't put an old head on young shoulders


you can't judge a book by its cover

you can’t tell a book by its cover (alternative)
don’t judge a book by its cover (alternative)

En-au-you can't judge a book by its cover.ogg

(idiomatic, figurative) It is not possible to make reliable judgments about things or people by considering external appearances alone.

it is not possible to judge things by external appearances alone

لَا تَحْكُم عَلَى كِتَابِ مِِنْ غِلَافِهِ

אַל תִּסְתַּכֵּל בַּקַּנְקַן אֶלָּא בַמֶּה שֶׁיֵּשׁ בּוֹ (ál tistakél baqanqán, éla bamé sheyésh bó, literally “Don't look at the jug, but at what's inside it.”)

जाति ना पूछो साधु की; पूछ लीजिए ज्ञान (jāti nā pūcho sādhu kī; pūch lījie jñān, literally “Ask not a saint of his caste; rather, of his knowledge.”)

þú getur ekki rannsakað hund eftir hárinu

go minic bíonn croí geal i gcraiceann donn

's tric a bhios cridhe gheal ann an seiche dhonn

hayvanın alacası dışında, insanın alacası içinde

не судіть про книгу за її обкладинкою

ne suditʹ pro knyhu za jiji obkladynkoju

anything essential is invisible to the eyes


don't teach your grandmother how to milk ducks

don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs#English

Alternative form of don't teach your grandmother how to suck eggs.


don't teach your grandmother to steal sheep


it takes two to tango

From the song Takes Two to Tango, written and composed in 1952 by Al Hoffman and Dick Manning.

I can't do it by myself, and neither can you – it takes two to tango.

He started it! Well, it takes two to tango.

(idiomatic) Some things need the active cooperation of two parties; blame is to be laid on both parties in a conflict.

انها رقصَة التانغو تتطلب شخصين

some things need the active cooperation of two parties


the more the merrier

First recorded in the 14th-century poem Pearl, line 850. The phrase contains an instance of the comparative correlative use of the.

minél többen vagyunk, annál jobban érezzük magunkat

minél többen vannak, annál jobban érzik magukat

pus çk' on-z est d' sots, pus çk' on reye

A greater amount of something is better.

minél több, annál jobb (van / van belőle)

Used to welcome another person into a group activity or encourage them to join in, suggesting that they will be easily accommodated.


too many cooks spoil the broth

too many cooks spoils the broth (alternative uncommon)
too many chefs spoil the broth (alternative)
too many cooks spoil the soup (alternative)
too many cooks spoil the stew (alternative)
too many skippers sink the ship (alternative)

She professes to keep her own counsel; she says, and truly enough, that “Too many cooks spoil the broth.”

c. 1803–1805, Jane Austen, “The Watsons”, in J[ames] E[dward] Austen[-]Leigh, A Memoir of Jane Austen: […] to which is Added Lady Susan and Fragments of Two Other Unfinished Tales by Miss Austen, 2nd edition, London: Richard Bentley and Son, […], published 1871, →OCLC, pages 301–302:

If too many people participate in a task, especially in a leading role, the task will not be done very well.

المركب اللي ليها ريسين تغرق

with too many people a task won't be done very well

ópou laloún polloí kokóroi argeí na ximerósei

όπου λαλούν πολλοί κοκόροι αργεί να ξημερώσει

with many naval officers the ships will drown

בְּרֹב חוֹבְלִים תְּטְבַּעְנָה הַסְּפִינוֹת

जितने मुँह उतनी बातें (jitne mũh utnī bātẽ, literally “As many opinions/talks as there are people”)

船頭多くして船山に登る

せんどうおおくしてふねやまにのぼる

âšpaz ke do-tâ šod, âš yâ šur mišavad, yâ bi-namak

آشپز که دوتا شد، آش یا شور میشود، یا بینمک

gdzie kucharek sześć, tam nie ma co jeść

copilul cu mai multe moașe rămâne cu buricul netăiat

у семи́ ня́нек дитя́ без гла́за

seven nannies leave a child without care

muchas manos en un plato causan arrebato

a camel is a horse designed by a committee


two can play that game

two can play at that game (alternative)
two can play at this game (alternative)

The tactics or strategies of an adversary can also be used against them.


turnabout is fair play

My Endeavours were used to perplex their Thoughts and Judgments; I told them, that at next Wednesday’s Dinner I hoped we would be informed who were to rule the Roast, that hitherto honest Men were kept from shuffling the Cards, because they would cast Knaves out from the Company of Kings, but we would make them know, Turn about was fair Play, and that two and three made five, though many Words did not fill a Bushel.

1755, Dudley Bradstreet, The Life and Uncommon Adventures of Captain Dudley Bradstreet, S. Powell, Dublin, p. 216

No, I won't, — I went to my bed last, — let my bed come to me now, turn about is fair play.

1795, Archibald MacLaren, The Scottish Volunteers, page 23:

It is allowable to retaliate against an enemy's dirty tricks by using the same ones against them.

A good way to get started on a little sexual assertiveness training is to agree to take turns being “dominant.” One evening the man takes ... Well, turnabout is fair play, and it's time for the woman to do the work, to try to please her man. . . and to take pleasure from him in any way she can.

1996, Doctor James White, Peter Kent, The Best Sex of Your Life, page 214:

For both mayor parties rotation in office came to embrace the doctrine of taking turns in the distribution of prizes. More than once in his quest for the Whig nomination to Congress Lincoln employed the slogan, “turnabout is fair play." By fair play he referred not to the Youngian antipower notions but to the context for the prize of office.

1998, Hugh Douglas Price, Nelson W. Polsby, Explorations in the Evolution of Congress, page 92:

Turnabout is fair play, right? We'll start it low and take turns, I'll tase you, and then you can tase me, and we'll see who the last man standing is.

2015, Richard Thomas, Disintegration: A Novel:

Most of us, I suspect, first learn about fair play in the context of games. One of the first things we learn, even in such simple games as tag and hide-and-seek, is that “turnabout is fair play.”

2018, Richard Dagger, Playing Fair: Political Obligation and the Problems of Punishment, page 47:

what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander


to thine own self be true

From a monologue delivered by the character Polonius in Act I Scene III of Hamlet by William Shakespeare.

This aboue all, to thy owne ſelfe be true,
And it muſt follow as the night the day,
Thou canſt not then be falſe to any one, […]

c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shake-speare, The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke: […] (First Quarto), London: […] [Valentine Simmes] for N[icholas] L[ing] and Iohn Trundell, published 1603, →OCLC, [Act I, scene iii], signatures C2, recto – C2, verso:

"To thine own self be true," I saw, was what produced vitality, confidence, and genuine expression in one's interpersonal relations.

1977, Robert P Marinelli, Arthur E. Dell Orto, editors, The Psychological and Social Impact of Physical Disability, Springer Publishing Co., →ISBN, page 306:

Know thyself. To thine own self be true. For the man or woman who can confront the demon within, there is a hopeful prognosis.

1986 August, Gary Diedrichs, “Bewitched”, in Orange Coast:

Several of these women said simply, "to each her own," while others like Sue were only slighty more verbose: "Each of us has a right and a responsibility 'to thine own self be true.' Another person's sexual preference is not my business or concern."

1995, Paula C. Rust, Bisexuality and the Challenge to Lesbian Politics: Sex, Loyalty, and Revolution, New York University Press, published 1995, →ISBN, page 51:

"To thine own self be true" whatever the consequences was taken as the principle of true freedom and humanity by the romantics.

2004, James M. Morris, Andrea L. Kross, Historical Dictionary of Utopianism, Scarecrow Press, published 2004, →ISBN, page 262:

As Shakespeare wrote, "To thine own self be true," at least according to what kind of person you believe yourself to be.

2012, Mark D. White, “The Sound and the Fury Behind 'One More Day'”, in Jonathan J. Sanford, editor, Spider-Man and Philosophy: The Web of Inquiry, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, page 241:

Be yourself; be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception.


great minds think alike

head

great minds think alike (fools seldom differ)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-great minds think alike.wav

Person A: He looks a bit like David Beckham...

Person B: I was just thinking that!

Person A: Great minds think alike, eh?

Person C: More like fools seldom differ in this case...

(often humorous) Used to remark upon the fact that someone else has had the same thought or idea as you, implying that both of you are clever or astute.

used to emphasize two people reaching the same conclusion

grants ments tenen els mateixos pensaments

賢人は皆同じように考えるものだ

けんじんはみんなおなじようにかんがえるものだ

kenjin wa minna onaji yō ni kangaeru mono da

у дурако́в мы́сли схо́дятся (u durakóv mýsli sxódjatsja, literally “fools' thoughts converge”)


when in Rome, do as the Romans do

The first attestation is Medieval Latin si fueris Rōmae, Rōmānō vīvitō mōre; si fueris alibī, vīvitō sīcut ibī (“if you should be in Rome, live in the Roman manner; if you should be elsewhere, live as they do there”), which is attributed to St Ambrose. Robert Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) uses the phrase “When they are at Rome, they doe there as they see done.”

der

when in Rome, do as the Romans (alternative)
when in Rome, do like the Romans do (alternative)

ʕindamā takūn fī rūmā, ifʕal mā yafʕalah ar-rūmān

عِنْدَمَا تَكُون فِي رُومَا، اِفْعَل مَا يَفْعَلَه الرُّومَان

入鄉隨俗 /入乡随俗 (ji̍p-hiong-sûi-sio̍k, literally “when entering a village, follow the customs”)

入境隨俗 /入境随俗 (rùjìngsuísú, literally “when entering an area, follow the customs”)

kies gasto mi estas, ties feston mi festas

ha Rómában élsz, élj úgy, mint a rómaiak

di mana bumi dipijak, di situ langit dijunjung

郷に入っては郷に従え

ごうにいってはごうにしたがえ

郷に入りては郷に従え

ごうにいりてはごうにしたがえ

입향순속(入郷循俗) (iphyangsunsok, literally “enter the country, follow custom”)

고을에 들어가면 고을 풍속을 따르라

go'eure deureogamyeon go'eul pungsogeul ttareura

li gorî derdor û adetên xwecihî tevgeriyan

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

jeśli wejdziesz między wrony, musisz krakać jak i one

w czyim chlebie smakujemy, tego i pochlebujemy

с волка́ми жить — по-во́лчьи выть (s volkámi žitʹ — po-vólčʹi vytʹ, literally “to live amongst wolves, you should howl like a wolf”)

со свои́м уста́вом в чужо́й монасты́рь не хо́дят (so svoím ustávom v čužój monastýrʹ ne xódjat, literally “don’t go with your own rules to someone else’s monastery”)

beus na tuath, far am bithear 's e a nithear

meel Il laga la'yahay ishaa layska tuura

si entre burros te ves, rebuzna alguna vez

เข้าเมืองตาหลิ่ว ต้องหลิ่วตาตาม (kâo meuang dtaa lìw dtông lìw dtaa dtaam, literally “to enter the town of squint-eyed people and need to squint one's own eyes like them”)

literally “enter the house [and] follow customs, enter river [and] follow bends”

nhập gia tùy tục, nhập giang tùy khúc (入家隨俗，入江隨曲, nhập hương tùy tục, đi nước Lào ăn mắm ngoé

pan foch yn Rhufain, gwnewch fel y Rhufeiniaid

[…] but, as I seated myself at table, I thought how my friends in Scotland would stare to see stewed monkey, roasted mermaid, and a pepper-pot of macaws, set down on table for their repast. But my plan always has been when in Rome to do as Rome does; and we found our food both delicate and cooked in such a manner, with every savoury spice, that it would have tickled the palate of the most fastidious gastronome.

1834, Thomas Staunton St. Clair, A Soldier's Recollections of the West Indies and America, with a Narrative of the Expedition to the Island of Walcheren, volume 1, London: Richard Bentley, page 345:

It will be observed that the document is written in the ordinary style of English correspondence, for Mehemet Ali endeavours to adopt European habits as far as he possibly can, and, as when in Rome he would do as Rome does, so his son, being in this country, is addressed as an Englishman.

1846, “A Letter from Mehemet Ali to Ibrahim Pacha”, in Punch, or the London Charivari, volume 11, London, page 35:

But it is hardly an act of hostility to make people improve their social or work skills; it happens to all schoolchildren. And to most of the native Dutch, this was simply a reasonable “when in Rome do as the Romans do”, and a recognition that this acculturation was not happening fast enough, but needed to be pushed.

2003 May 8, “Forget Asylum-Seekers: It's the People Inside Who Count”, in The Economist:

(strictly) When situated in a foreign place, it is wise to follow the local customs.

But my friend says, ‘when in Rome, we must do as Rome does,’ Ah! this is the very principle of an ungodly world; and Christians have caught the spirit, and are acting up to it. Peter and Paul were in Rome.—If they had done as Rome did, they would not have suffered death there. If we were in Rome, and must do as Rome does, we must become idolaters, and papists, or lose Rome's favor, and suffer her displeasure. But we must separate ourselves from Rome, and from the world, and their wicked and God-robbing practices. We must not be conformed to the world. We must be Christians in deed and in truth.

1842 July, “The Opinion of the Apostle Peter Respecting Trifles”, in Barton W. Stone, editor, The Christian Messenger, volume 12, number 9, Jacksonville, IL, page 282:

I know of many instances where such persons have been under the necessity of buying or hiring slaves, just to preserve their reputation and keep up appearances; and even among a class of people who profess to be opposed to Slavery, have I known instances of the same kind, and have heard them apologize for their conduct by saying that “when in Rome, we must do as the Romans do.”

1857, Austin Steward, Twenty-two Years a Slave, and Forty Years a Freeman; Embracing a Correspondence of Several Years, While President of Wilberforce Colony, London, Canada West, Rochester, NY: William Alling, page 101:

The good intentions of the individual cannot control the evil operations of an organization which is essentially wrong. Men when in Rome are apt to do as the Romans do, however evil it may be; and the member of a Lodge is not likely to remain for a long time better than the Lodge itself.

1873, J. W. Phelps, editor, Secret Societies, Ancient and Modern; an Outline of Their Rise, Progress, and Character with Respect to the Christian Religion and Republican Government, Chicago: Ezra A. Cook, page 224:

(loosely, idiomatic) It is wise to adapt to the circumstances; it is wise to follow common custom.


there's no I in team

As Mr. Sloan always says, there is no "I" in "team", but there is an "I" in "pie". And there's an "I" in "meat pie". Anagram of "meat" is "team"… I don't know what he's talking about.

2004, Simon Pegg, Edgar Wright, Shaun of the Dead, spoken by Shaun (Simon Pegg):

Teamwork should focus on the needs of the team, not on the individual.


Rome wasn't built in a day

Rome was not built in a day (alternative)

/ˈɹəʊm ˌwɒzənt ˈbɪlt‿ɪn‿ə ˈdeɪ/

/ˈɹoʊm ˌwʌzənt ˈbɪlt‿ɪn‿ə ˈdeɪ/

Probably a calque of Middle French Rome ne fut pas faite toute en un jour (literally “Rome was not made all in one day”); compare modern French Rome ne s'est pas faite en un jour.

cog

I know this project is a big undertaking, but you need to have patience and be hopeful. Remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day.

[O]ne daye or lytle tyme is not ynoughe for the acheuinge of a great matter. Which is al one with this in engliſhe: Rome was not buylt in one day.

1545 August 20 (Gregorian calendar), Erasmus, “Vna hirundo non facit ver [One swallow does not make it spring]”, in Richard Taverner, transl., Proverbes or Adagies Gathered out of the Chiliades of Erasmus […], new edition, London: Edwardus Whytchurche […]; to be sel […] by Wyllyam Telotson, →OCLC, folio xxv, verso:

Rome was not built in one day (quoth he), and yet stood / Till it was finisht, as some say, full fayre.

1546, John Heywood, chapter XI, in Julian Sharman, editor, The Proverbs of John Heywood. […], London: George Bell and Sons, […], published 1874, →OCLC, part I, pages 64–65:

The Reformation you haue made of the many and maine corruptions of the Romiſh Ch[urch] vve do ingenuouſly acknovvledge, and doe vvithall imbrace vvith you all the truths vvhich to our knovvledge you haue receiued in ſtead of them. But Rome vvas not built all in a day.

1610, Jos[eph] Hall, “Section XXV. What Separation England hath Made.”, in A Common Apologie of the Church of England: Against the Uniust Challenges of the Ouer-iust Sect, Commonly Called Brownists. […], London: […] [William Stansby] for Samuel Macham, […], →OCLC, marginal note, page 63:

[…] Rome''' vvas not built in a day, nor is a Reformation in the true Lavv-ſenſe effectable preſently; […]

1663, Edward Waterhous[e], chapter XXIX, in Fortescutus Illustratus; or A Commentary on that Nervous Treatise De Laudibus Legum Angliæ, Written by Sir John Fortescue Knight, […], London: […] Tho[mas] Roycroft for Thomas Dicas […], →OCLC, page 375:

[Y]ou muſt lay your account vvith mounting by gradual ſteps to the ſummit of your fortune.—Rome vvas not built in a day,— […]

1748, [Tobias Smollett], “I Cultivate an Acquaintance with Two Noblemen […]”, in The Adventures of Roderick Random. […], volume II, London: […] [William Strahan] for J[ohn] Osborn […], →OCLC, page 173:

But, "Rome wasent built in a day," nor will one thump of the pate make a soldier.

1804, W[illiam] Dunlap, “The Wife of Two Husbands. A Drama, […]”, in The English and American Stage, volume III, New York, N.Y.: […] D. Longworth, […], published 1807, →OCLC, Act I, scene i, page 4:

[T]hou must have patience. Rome was not built in a day—you cannot become used to your court-suit in a month's time, any more than when you changed your long coat for a doublet and hose; […]

1822 May 29, [Walter Scott], chapter X, in The Fortunes of Nigel. […], volume II, Edinburgh: […] [James Ballantyne and Co.] for Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co., →OCLC, pages 237–238:

Rome wasn't built in a day, nor, for that matter, Templetown 'ither, though it may be said to be a quick-growing place.

1823, [James Fenimore Cooper], chapter I, in The Pioneers, or The Sources of the Susquehanna; […], volume II, New York, N.Y.: Charles Wiley; […], →OCLC, page 17:

"As Rome," it was suggested, "had not been built in a day,["] so neither had Mademoiselle Gérard Moore's education been completed in a week, or by merely wishing to be clever. It was effort that had accomplished that great work: […]

1849, Currer Bell [pseudonym; Charlotte Brontë], “Coriolanus”, in Shirley. A Tale. […], volume I, London: Smith, Elder and Co., […], →OCLC, page 123:

Rome wasn't built in a day and the path of black and white relationships in the South won't be solved overnight, either.

1960 March 7, George Todt, “George Todt’s opinion: Civil rights fate uncertain”, in Valley Times, home edition, volume 23, number 57, North Hollywood, Calif.: Robert N. Weed, →OCLC, page 14, column 6:

I feel like Rome wasn't built in a day, and I know that everybody is really impatient, but I know that with time things can be turned around.

2010 January 22, [unidentified questioner], “Remarks at a Town Hall Meeting and a Question-and-answer Session in Elyria, Ohio”, in Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: Barack Obama: 2010 […], book I (January 1 to June 30, 2010), Washington, D.C.: Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration; United States Government Printing Office, published 2013, →OCLC, page 61, column 1:

I actually believe in some respects we may be in danger of working too quickly, simply to address that perception. As the ridiculously over-used cliché notes, Rome was not built in a day. What I do accept is that the 100-day project that saw the new city plan designed was done at breakneck speed. This was a phenomenally challenging time frame but absolutely crucial. For a community still suffering, still shocked, and literally still shaking, there clearly needed to be a plan put in place as quickly as possible.

2014 August, Roger Sutton, “A Blank Canvas for New Beginnings”, in Barnaby Bennett, James Dann, Emma Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, editors, Once in a Lifetime: City-building after Disaster in Christchurch, Christchurch: Freerange Press, →ISBN, page 54:

(idiomatic) It takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive.

ሮም፡በአንድ፡ቀን፡አልተገነባችም

it takes a long time to create something complicated or impressive

dilî tanáng butang sili nga mohaláng dayon

非一日之寒 (bīngdòng sān chǐ, fēi yīrì zhī hán, literally “three feet of ice is not the result of one cold day”)

Keulen en Aken zijn niet op één dag gebouwd

Rom ist nicht an einem Tag erbaut worden

ઉતાવળે આંબા ન પાકે (utāvaḷe ā̃bā na pāke, literally “mangos will not ripen with haste”)

i ndiaidh a chéile a thógtar na caisleáin

로마는 하루 아침에 이루어지지 않았다

Roma-neun haru achim-e irueo-jiji anatda

Москва́ не сра́зу стро́илась (Moskvá ne srázu stróilasʹ, literally “Moscow wasn’t built at once”)

chan ann leis a’ chiad bhuille a thuiteas a’ chraobh

Київ не відразу збудований (Kyjiv ne vidrazu zbudovanyj, literally “Kyiv was not built immediately”)

a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step


you are what you eat

Semi-Calque of German Der Mensch ist, was er ißt (literally “The human/man is what he eats”), coined in 1850 by Ludwig Feuerbach in a review of Jacob Moleschott’s Lehre der Nahrungsmittel. Für das Volk (Erlangen, 1850). Compare German man ist, was man isst.

clq

Personal health and wellbeing is determined by one's eating habits, in both positive and negative ways.


the early bird gets the worm

desc

→ Chinese: 早起的鳥兒有蟲吃 /早起的鸟儿有虫吃 (zǎoqǐ de niǎor yǒu chóng chī) (calque)

→ German: der frühe Vogel fängt den Wurm (calque)

the early bird catches the worm (alternative)

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-the early bird gets the worm.wav

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-the early bird gets the worm.wav

Whoever arrives first has the best chance of success; some opportunities are available only to the first competitors.

die oggendstond het goud in die mond

whoever arrives first has the best chance of success

xto rána ŭstajé tamú Boh dajé, a xto spicʹ da sónca, tamú xljeb u katómcy

хто ра́на ўстае́ таму́ Бог дае́, а хто спіць да со́нца, таму́ хлеб у като́мцы

l'avenir appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt

le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt

la vache la première au pré, lèche toute la rosée

일찍 일어나는 새가 벌레를 잡는다

iljjik ireonaneun saega beollereul jamneunda

hashkééł ndaakaiígíí ayóo baa daʼneedééh

l'heûsi n'a janmais ieu à emprunter du tardi

cine se trezește de dimineață, departe ajunge

ранні пташки росу п'ють, а пізні слізки ллють (ranni ptašky rosu pʺjutʹ, a pizni slizky lljutʹ, literally “early birds drink the dew, late ones shed tears”)


a friend in need is a friend indeed

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-a friend in need is a friend indeed.wav

The idea that false friends will abandon a person in times of adversity while true friends will reveal themselves and provide help is ancient: the Greek playwright Euripides (c. 480 – c. 406 BC) wrote in Hecuba (424 BC), ἐν τοῖς κακοῖς γὰρ ἁγαθοὶ σαφέστατοι φίλοι: τὰ χρηστὰ δ’ αὔθ’ ἕκαστ’ ἔχει φίλους (en toîs kakoîs gàr hagathoì saphéstatoi phíloi: tà khrēstà d’ aúth’ hékast’ ékhei phílous, “it is in trouble’s hour that the good most clearly show their friendship; though prosperity by itself in every case finds friends”), and the Roman poet Ennius (c. 239 – c. 169 BC) observed in his Tragedies that amicus certus in re incerta cernitur (“a sure friend is known in unsure times”).

A friend in need is a friend indeed, Een vrient in noot / is een vrient in der daet.

1658, The English Schole-master; or Certaine Rules and Helpes, whereby the Natives of the Netherlandes, may bee, in a Short Time, Taught to Read, Understand, and Speake the English Tongue. […], Amsterdam: […] Iohn Bouman, →OCLC, page 96:

Every one is a kinſman to him that is proſperous, but a friend in need is a friend indeed.

1661 May 3, John Bramhall, “Discourse III. A Sermon Preached at Dublin, upon the 23. of April, 1661 [Julian calendar], being the Day Appointed for His Majesties Coronation; […]”, in Jo[hn] Lymeric [pseudonym; John Vesey], editor, The Works of the Most Reverend Father in God, John Bramhall D.D. […], Dublin: […] His Majesties Printing-House, published 1676, →OCLC, tome IV, page 955:

It is a true ſaying, my Ingenio, that a Friend in need, is a Friend indeed, as I doubt not but you will be fully apprized, upon peruſal of what I here ſend you.

1756, “Sect. XVI.”, in The Fortune-teller; or, The Footman Ennobled. […], volume II, London: […] F. Noble […]; and J. Noble, […], →OCLC, page 235:

A friend in need is a friend indeed, ſay I;—but you can't judge of it.—No,—unleſs you had the rope about your neck, and were walking all alive to your grave.

1795, Frederick Schiller [i.e., Friedrich Schiller], translated by [Alexander Fraser Tytler, Lord Woodhouselee], The Robbers. A Tragedy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] G. G. and J. Robinson, […], →OCLC, act II, page 57:

The gentlemen on the other side of the House have been peculiarly called the friends of the people; remember a friend in need is a friend indeed. Is there, then, no some one who will step out from among them to save this tottering branch of our Government from falling!

1802 February 3, Aaron Ogden, “Judiciary System [Third Reading of the bill to repeal certain acts respecting the organization of the Courts of the United States, and for other purposes]”, in The Debates and Proceedings in the Congress of the United States; […] (United States Senate, 7th Congress), Washington, D.C.: […] Gales and Seaton, published 1851, →OCLC, column 178:

Friends should be ready to assist each other. Kind offices ought never to be omitted, but they are especially called for in seasons of affliction. "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." "A friend in need is a friend indeed."

1875, J[ohn] Murdoch, “Companions and Neighbours”, in The Indian Student’s Manual. Hints on Studies, Moral Conduct, Religious Duties, and Success in Life, Madras, Tamil Nadu: The Christian Vernacular Education Society; […], →OCLC, page 172:

I had a flight plan to cancel so asked if there were a telephone near. Mr. Littrell said his neighbor across the way had one. He was happy to drive us there—about three miles across some fields that would shake your eye teeth out. […] They say “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Mr. Littrell proved it. I am grateful.

1958 September, Marvin L. Middlebrooks, “[Letter to the magazine]”, in Flying, volume 63, number 3, Chicago, Ill.: Ziff-Davis Publishing Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 8:

But I sat there trying to pretend that everything was OK, that this wasn't happening, trying to think instead of all the good things that happened to me in my life, trying to think of some important person I knew who could help me, but I couldn't think of anyone. A friend in need is a friend, indeed, and I sure could have used one then.

1999, Thomas William, chapter 20, in The Alaskan Saga of Thomas Churchill O’Brien, Lincoln, Neb.: toExcel, iUniverse, →ISBN, page 87:

[…] I'm going to turn over the chair to my friend, colleague, and at this point someone—a friend in need is a friend indeed—Senator [Amy] Klobuchar.

2007 March 8, Charles E[llis] Schumer, “Opening Statement of Hon. Charles E. Schumer, Chairman, a U.S. Senator from New York”, in Addressing the Problem of African-American Male Unemployment: Hearing before the Joint Economic Committee, Congress of the United States, One Hundred Tenth Congress, First Session […] (S. Hrg. 110-107), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, →ISBN, page 9:

There is a well-known proverb, "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Americans have always been our true friends. They stretched out warm helping hands to us when we were in direst need. The Fulbright Program, which was initiated in the throes of the Korean War, has been one such helping hand.

2010, Lee Myung-bak, “Foreword”, in Jai Ok Shim, James F. Larson, Frederick F. Carriere, Horace H. Underwood, Fulbright in Korea’s Future: A 60th Anniversary Commemorative History, Seoul, South Korea: Seoul Selection, →ISBN, page vii:

If a friend helps one when one is in need, that person is a true friend.

miku njihet në rrezik

if a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend

vrienden in de nood, hondert in een lood

c’est dans le besoin que l’on reconnaît ses amis

Freunde in der Not gehen hundert auf ein Lot

gli amici si vedono nel momento del bisogno

まさかの時の友こそ真の友

masaka no toki no tomo koso shin no tomo

صحابت يڠ سبنر سديا منولوڠ صحابت دالم کسوسهن

sahabat yang sebenar sedia menolong sahabat dalam kesusahan

āvaśyattinu upakarikkunnavāṇŭ yathāṟttha suhr̥ttŭ

ആവശ്യത്തിനു ഉപകരിക്കുന്നവാണ് യഥാർത്ഥ സുഹൃത്ത്

tenxlüün javaxad temeegeer tusalsnaas tevdež javaxad tevneer tusalsan nʹ deer

тэнхлүүн явахад тэмээгээр тусалснаас тэвдэж явахад тэвнээр тусалсан нь дээр

prawdziwych przyjaciół poznaje się w biedzie

en la mucha necesidad, se conoce al amigo de verdad

If a friend is in need of help, it is beneficial and wise to help them.

'Stan!' Ian replies, with a hurt look on his face. 'Would I do a thing like that? I'm just here to give you moral support. I reckon you're going to need all the help you can get. You know what they say; a friend in need is a friend indeed.'/ 'Or in your mind, a friend in need is a soft target. Now piss off!'

2011, Paul A. Rose, “Saturday; Love is in the Air”, in Los Hombres de Bolton (The Men from Bolton), Kibworth Beauchamp, Leicester: Matador, →ISBN, page 153:

"You know, they say a friend in need is a friend indeed. I donated blood, but others even donate hearts, so after all, I feel pretty good that my friend is now safe from the little blood I could drop," Katy said passionately.

2011, Appau Ama Tiwaa, Our Perfect Moment, [Bloomington, Ind.]: Xlibris, →ISBN, page 81:

An acquaintance who needs something from you will pretend to be your friend.


once bitten, twice shy

once burned, twice cautious (alternative)
once burned, twice shy (alternative)
once hurt, twice shy (alternative)

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

ঘর পোড়া গরু সিঁদুরে মেঘ দেখে ডরায়

one is cautious in the future if hurt in the past — see also a burnt child dreads the fire

十年怕井绳

yī zhāo bèi shé yǎo, shí nián pà jǐng shéng

een ezel stoot zich geen tweemaal aan dezelfde steen

ópoios kaeí me ton chyló, fysáei kai to giaoúrti

όποιος καεί με τον χυλό, φυσάει και το γιαούρτι

mi shenikhvá berotkhín niz'hár betzonenín

מִי שֶׁנִכְוָה בְּרוֹתְחִין נִזְהָר בְּצוֹנְנִין

दूध का जला छाँछ भी फूँक कर पीता है

dūdh kā jalā chā̃ch bhī phū̃k kar pītā hai

羮に懲りて膾を吹く

あつものにこりてなますをふく

koga ḱe se izgori od mlekoto, ḱe duva i na maštenicata

кога ќе се изгори од млекото, ќе дува и на маштеницата

kto się na gorącym sparzył, ten na zimne dmucha

cine s-a fript cu ciorbă, suflă și-n iaurt

обжёгшись на молоке́, бу́дешь дуть и на во́ду (obžógšisʹ na moloké, búdešʹ dutʹ i na vódu, literally “having been burnt by milk, you'll blow onto water”)

пу́ганая воро́на куста́ бои́тся (púganaja voróna kustá boítsja, literally “a frightened crow is afraid even of the bush”)

sütten ağzı yanan, yoğurdu üfleyerek yer

a beaten dog may cower before a friendly hand


the grass is always greener

the grass is always greener on the other side#English

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


en-proverb

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


nothing ventured, nothing gained

En-au-nothing ventured, nothing gained.ogg

Attested since 1546 in a book of English proverbs by John Heywood (see quotation below). Perhaps translated from or influenced by French Qui onques rien n'enprist riens n'achieva (“One who never undertook anything never gained anything”). Though a translation, a similar phrase of "Nothing ventured, nothing have." appears in Sir George Dasent's translation of the Icelandic text "The Saga of the Burnt Njal" (events occurring between 960 and 1020 A.D.), suggesting it may have gone back much further.
However, certain translations of Herodotus 7.9 include "if nothing is ventured in life, then nothing is gained". Suggesting either the phrase or something similar stretches to even before 960AD.

Noght vēter noght haue spare to speke spare to spede

1546, John Heywood, A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the englishe tongue compacte in a matter concernyng two maner of mariages, The fyrste parte. The leuenth chapiter:

Nothing venture, nothing have; spare to speak, spare success

Her husband was one of those unfortunate men, called speculators. He believed that to gain thousands, thousands must be put in jeopardy—“nothing ventured, nothing gained,” was his rule, and he practiced it to perfection.

1842, E.S.J., “Julia Dayton: Or the power of truth over error”, in Universalist Union, page 609:

Do not allow the danger of making a mistake to inhibit your initiative to the point of “nothing ventured, nothing gained.” It is much healthier to expect to make mistakes, take a few good risks now and then, and take your medicine when you lose.

1944, W. Julian King, The Unwritten Laws of Engineering, page 22:

If one takes no risks, one will not gain any benefits.


to each his own

Calque of Latin suum cuique, short for suum cuique pulchrum est (“to each his own is beautiful”).

each to his own (alternative)
to each their own (alternative)

I would never want my bathroom decorated in chartreuse and turquoise, but to each his own, I suppose.

Every person is entitled to his or her personal preferences and tastes.

elkeen na sy eie smaak

every person is entitled to his or her personal preferences

Toată lumea are dreptul la preferințele sale personale.

you pays your money and you takes your choice

Everyone should receive what they deserve.


head

don't count your chickens before they're hatched

First attested in English in Thomas Howell's 1570 New Sonnets and Pretty Pamphlets in the couplet "Counte not thy Chickens that vnhatched be, / Waye wordes as winde, till thou finde certaintee", possibly deriving from similar medieval and early modern Latin fables and maxims.

don't count your chickens (alternative)
don't count your chicks (alternative)

[...] Make Fools believe in their fore-seeing / Of things before they are in Being; / To swallow Gudgeons ere th' are catch'd, / And count their Chickens ere th' are hatch'd, [...]

[1663 (indicated as 1664), [Samuel Butler], “The Second Part of Hudibras. Canto III.”, in Hudibras. The First and Second Parts. […], London: […] John Martyn and Henry Herringman, […], published 1678, →OCLC; republished in A[lfred] R[ayney] Waller, editor, Hudibras: Written in the Time of the Late Wars, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: University Press, 1905, →OCLC, page 175:

don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear

One should not depend upon a favorable (and typically overoptimistic) outcome to one's plans until it is certain to occur.

one should not depend upon a favorable outcome to one's plans until it is certain to occur

moenie die beer se vel verkoop voordat hy geskiet is nie

lā taštarī s-samaka wahuwa fī l-baḥri bali ntaẓir ḥattā yuṣṭāda

لَا تَشْتَرِي ٱلسَّمَكَ وَهُوَ فِي ٱلْبَحْرِ بَلِ ٱنْتَظِرْ حَتَّى يُصْطَادَ

no diguis blat fins que no sigui al sac i ben lligat

de huid niet verkopen voor de beer geschoten is

la manĝota fiŝo estas ankoraŭ en la rivero

älä nylje karhua ennen kuin se on kaadettu

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

no stâ vendi le piel dal ors prime di vêlu copât

man soll den Tag nicht vor dem Abend loben

man soll das Fell des Bären nicht verteilen, bevor er erlegt ist

ekki er sopið kálið þó í ausuna sé komið

non dire gatto se non ce l'hai nel sacco

ahakoa iti te koutu whenua e kore e taea te parepare

não conte com o ovo antes da galinha botar

не говори́ «гоп», пока́ не перепры́гнешь

na h-abair diug a choidhche ris an eun gus an dig e às an ugh

dèan fanaid air do sheann-bhrògan nuair a gheibh thu do bhrògan ùra

no vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo

sälj inte skinnet innan björnen är skjuten

ālu lēdu, cūlu lēdu, koḍuku pēru sōmaliṅgamu

ఆలు లేదు, చూలు లేదు, కొడుకు పేరు సోమలింగము

xvalý denʹ uvéčeri, a žyttjá péred smértju

хвали́ день уве́чері, а життя́ пе́ред сме́ртю

i n' fåt nén vinde l' oû k' est co e cou del poye


walls have ears

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-walls have ears.wav

"But it is well to remember that walls have ears, and therefore to whisper."

1915, William MacLeod Raine, chapter 20, in Steve Yeager:

“We're talking about everything you can't discuss in Damascus, because there the walls have ears,” Mr. Taieb said.

2015 July 15, Thanassis Cambanis, “A Syrian Parody Features the Civil War, and Is Stalked by It”, in New York Times, retrieved 2017-09-27:

There is always a risk of being overheard, so one should be careful about what one says.

لِلْحِيطَان آذَان

li-l-ḥīṭān ʔāḏān

壁に耳あり、 障子に目あり

かべにみみあり、 しょうじにめあり, kabe ni mimi ari, shōji ni me ari

障子に目あり (しょうじにめあり, shōji ni me ari, literally “sliding doors have eyes”)

낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다

nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneunda

may tainga ang lupa, may pakpak ang balita


bird in the hand

Cowboys picks are more miss than hit. Galloway is a relatively young guy, so what the hey. Bird in the hand, right?

2000 September 6, Maze II, “the Seattle curse?”, in alt.sports.football.pro.dallas-cowboys (Usenet):

Elly had ratcheted up the pressure with her threats of leaving early. I had no other bites on the ad. “Bird in the hand” and all that . . . . So much for negotiating.

2003, Robert C. Hereth, Money, Xlibris Corp., →ISBN, page 192:

‘Look on the bright side,’ he said when he’d finished. ‘At least we got five hundred quid. Bird in the hand, eh?’

2013, Andrew Taylor, “Catch-13”, in Martin Edwards, editor, Deadly Pleasures, Sutton: Severn House, →ISBN, page 219:

“Well, there is that, sir,” Harcourt replied after a moment to think that over. “Bird in the hand, and all that?”

2014, Dewey Lambdin, The King's Marauder, New York: Thomas Dunne Books, →ISBN, page 150:

You're afraid of losing the customer. If I offer them this other product, they might stop buying that product for which they've come to me for years. Bird in the hand, right?

2018, Alex Goldfayn, Selling Boldly, Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:

A little bit of cash now means more to the boys than the promise of a fortune who knows when. Bird in the hand, and all […]

2019, Tim Buckley, Cara is Missing, Kibworth Beauchamp: Matador, →ISBN, pages 276–277:

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

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


blood is thicker than water

It seems as though you had come to be so very near to us; and blood is thicker than water, is it not? If cousins are not friends, who can be?

1865 May 15 – 1866 January 1, Anthony Trollope, “Mary Belton”, in The Belton Estate. […], volume III, London: Chapman and Hall, […], published December 1865 (indicated as 1866), →OCLC, page 201:

The old clans are scattered now, but blood is thicker than water still, and you're welcome to the fireside of your kinsman!

c. 1915, Lucy Fitch Perkins, chapter 5, in The Scotch Twins:

You know blood is thicker than water / But you just want everyone to get along

2019 March 6, “Binary Star”, in Benjamin and mpi (lyrics), SawanoHiroyuki[nZk] (music), R∃/MEMBER, performed by Uru, Sacra Music, →vgmdb:

(family, idiomatic) Family relations and loyalties are stronger than relationships with people who are not family members.

s'bëhet gjaku ujë

relationships are stronger within the family

is fearr beagán den ghaol ná mórán den charthanas

кровь — не води́ца (krovʹ — ne vodíca) (blood is not water)

кровь людска́я — не води́ца (krovʹ ljudskája — ne vodíca) (people's blood is not water)

's e a leanabh fhèin as luaithe a bhaisteas an sagart

thèid dùthchas an aghaidh nan creag

hereditary tendencies will go against the rocks


clothes don't make the man

You cannot accurately judge a person solely by appearances.

one is met by his clothes and is seen off by his mind

po odjóžke vstrečájut, po umú provožájut

по одёжке встреча́ют, по уму́ провожа́ют

handsome in appearance but looks like a devil inside

на вид приго́ж, а внутри́ на чёрта похо́ж


barking dogs seldom bite

a barking dog never bites (alternative)
a barking dog seldom bites (alternative)
barking dogs never bite (alternative)

People who make threats rarely carry them out.

qeni që leh, s'të ha

people who make threats rarely carry them out

弱い犬ほどよく吠る

よわいいぬほどよくほえる

pies, co bardzo szczeka, nie bardzo kąsa

krowa, która dużo ryczy, mało mleka daje

соба́ка, кото́рая ла́ет — не куса́ет (sobáka, kotóraja lájet — ne kusájet)

ang asong kahol nang kahol ay hindi nangangagat

ang asong tahol nang tahol ay hindi nangangagat


the sky is the limit

If you have a refrigerator and a microwave at work, then the sky is the limit for what you can put in your lunchbox.


a rising tide lifts all boats

a rising tide floats all boats (alternative)

Whereas in the 1960s, incomes rose as the economy grew—to use President Kennedy's phrase, “a rising tide lifts all the boats”—this no longer applied in the 1980s.

2000, David Reynolds, chapter 17, in One World Divisible, W. W. Norton, →ISBN, page 653:

Hay and other early gay rights activists were influenced by the Black civil rights movement in a broader sense, too. The rising tide of African American organizing raised all boats, and the hopes of all whose dreams had been deferred.

2005 June 21, Leslie Feinberg, “Pre-Stonewall gay organizing”, in Workers World:


boys will be boys

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-boys will be boys.wav

But just then there was a slight altercation between Master Tommy and Master Jacky. Boys will be boys and our two twins were no exception to this golden rule.

1922, James Joyce, chapter 13, in Ulysses:

It is hard, often fruitless, to attempt to curb the natural playfulness and tendency to mischief of most growing boys.

Boys will be boys, grinned Grandpa as he watched his adult son playing with the fancy train-set he had given his grandson for Christmas.

Even grown men usually remain somewhat boyish at heart.

It's not hard to see the parallels between the sexual assault accusations against Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh and the 2012 Steubenville rape case. Three decades apart, there is one central difference: Kavanaugh has denied the allegations, and has never been criminally charged. In the Steubenville case, two star football players were convicted of raping a girl, and sentenced to prison. But amid the outrage in both cases, there has been a chorus of "boys will be boys," the excuse of youth, of teenage brains that can't control themselves and the victim shaming that accompanies that perception.

2018 September 27, Mary Kilpatrick, “Why the 'boys will be boys' justification of sexual violence doesn't fly: Comparing Kavanaugh to Steubenville”, in Shatter on Cleveland.com, published 2019 January 29, retrieved 2021-03-19:

(informal, offensive) Predatory behavior of suitors should be viewed as excusable because it comes naturally to many boys and men.


every cloud has a silver lining

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-every cloud has a silver lining.wav

Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation […]

1881, National Academy of Code Administration (U.S.), Folio, page 417:

[…] that "a little reserve and thou'lt fail surely," will prove to be true in our experience. Every cloud has a silver lining and so has every sorrow, […]

But the most popular attitude toward what we may call "sad" plays is the peculiar one of believing that, since every cloud has a silver lining, […]

1918, George Jean Nathan, Performing Arts, page 222:

Patrick O'Brien: No hard feelings? I've been falsely accused, had the crap kicked out of me, now I have no job.
Gene Hunt: Look on the bright side. Still got your health. So, you know, every cloud.

2007 March 6, Julie Rutterford, Life on Mars, Season 2, Episode 3:

There is something good in any bad situation.

رُبَّ ضارّةٍ نافِعةٌ

in every bad situation there is an element of good

il n'y a de grand mal qu'un grand bien ne suive

fátt er svo með öllu illt að ekki boði nokkuð gott

ستياڤ کبوروقن يڠ برلاکو مستي اد هکمه اتاو کباءيقن د سباليقڽ

setiap keburukan yang berlaku mesti ada hikmah atau kebaikan di sebaliknya

aldri så galt at det ikke er godt for noe

nie ma tego złego, co by na dobre nie wyszło

el que no se consuela es porque no quiere

inget ont som inte har något gott med sig

the darkest hour is just before the dawn

it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good


the apple doesn't fall far from the tree

the apple does not fall far from the tree#English

Alternative form of the apple does not fall far from the tree.


out of sight, out of mind

out of sight is out of mind (alternative)
outta sight, outta mind (alternative)

When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about.

بَعِيد عَن اَلْعَيْن بَعِيد عَن اَلْقَلْب (baʕīd ʕan al-ʕayn baʕīd ʕan al-qalb, literally “far from the eyes, far from the heart”)

d'allò que els ulls no veuen, el cor no se'n dol

mátia pou de vlépontai, grígora lismonioúntai

μάτια που δε βλέπονται, γρήγορα λησμονιούνται

רָחוֹק מֵהָעַיִן, רָחוֹק מֵהַלֵּב (rakhók meha'ayín, rakhók mehalév, literally “far from the eyes, far from the heart”)

ami nincs szem előtt, arról könnyen megfeledkezünk / … azt könnyen elfelejtjük / … azzal nem törődünk

mihelyt nem látjuk, nem gondolunk rá

with az ember or 3rd-person plural as subject

czego oczy nie widzą, tego sercu nie żal

o que os olhos não veem o coração não sente

с глаз доло́й — из се́рдца вон (s glaz dolój — iz sérdca von)

an rud nach cluinn cluas, cha gluais e cridhe

نظر سے دور، دل کے قریب (nazar se dūr, dil ke qarīb, literally “out of sight, close to the heart”)


don't put all your eggs in one basket

Do not dedicate all your resources to one project.

do not dedicate all your resources to one project

il ne faut pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le même panier

no hay que poner todos los huevos en una sola canasta

Do not count on any one thing to safeguard what is valuable.


forbidden fruit is the sweetest

A reference to the story in the Bible in which God tells Adam and Eve not to eat the forbidden fruit, but they are tempted and do so anyway.

the forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest (alternative)

Forbidden things seem more appealing; people desire things more if (or, in some way, because) they can't have them.

le fruit défendu est celui qui a le meilleur goût

禁断の木の実が一番甘い

きんだんのこのみがいちばんあまい

the grass is always greener on the other side


you can't tell a book by its cover

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

Alternative form of you can't judge a book by its cover.


when in Rome

An ellipsis (anapodoton) of when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

(idiomatic, by ellipsis) One should adjust to local customs.


the pen is mightier than the sword

En-au-the pen is mightier than the sword.ogg

This phrasing due to Bulwer-Lytton, 1839.
The sentiment is traditional, and has many antecedents; see Wikipedia.

If the pen is mightier than the sword in American history, it is more likely the pen of a novelist than the typewriter of a reporter — Harriet Beecher Stowe stimulating antislavery sentiment or Upton Sinclair enlisting citizens in outrage against the food-processing industry.

1982, Michael Schudson, The Power of News, Harvard University Press, →ISBN, page 142:

If my teachers had not told me that the pen is mightier than the sword, if my parents had not told me that I have to respect books, I would not have developed that respect for knowledge.

2011, Qazi Nasir Uddin, Ph.D., The Other Side, Author House, page 108

(idiomatic, metonymic) More influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting.

ဓားသွားထက် ကလောင်သွားထက်

more power can be usurped by writing than fighting

i glóssa kókala den échei ma kókala tsakízei

η γλώσσα κόκαλα δεν έχει μα κόκαλα τσακίζει

что напи́сано перо́м, не вы́рубишь и топоро́м (što napísano peróm, ne výrubišʹ i toporóm, literally “what's written by pen can't be cut by axe”)


practice makes perfect

Golden words make practice, practice makes perfect, perfect is a fault, and fault lines change.

1986, R.E.M., “I Believe”, in Lifes Rich Pageant:

If one practices an activity enough, one will eventually master it.

熟能生巧

if one practices an activity enough, one will eventually master it

c'est en forgeant qu'on devient forgeron

la pratica rende esperti; sbagliando s'impara

서당개 삼 년에 풍월 읇는다

seodanggae sam nyeone pung'wol eulleunda


there's no accounting for taste

Adaptation of Latin de gustibus non est disputandum.

In subjective matters of taste, people have wildly different opinions; disagreements about matters of taste cannot be objectively resolved.

des goûts et des couleurs, on ne discute pas

über Geschmack lässt sich nicht streiten

über den Geschmack lässt sich nicht streiten

ízlések és pofonok (in full: ízlések és pofonok különbözőek/különböznek)

у ка́ждого свой вкус — кто лю́бит ды́ню, а кто — арбу́з (u káždovo svoj vkus — kto ljúbit dýnju, a kto — arbúz)

"para / de / sobre gustos y colores, no existen / hay autores"


each to his own

each to their own (alternative)
to each his own (alternative)
to each their own (alternative)

Certainly I don't mind other people eating turkey — each to his own, after all, is the American Way […]

1993, Vegetarian Times, number 195, page 46:


en-proverb

you can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds

hold with the hare and run with the hounds


a stopped clock is right twice a day

a broken clock is right twice a day (alternative)

A normally unreliable person or instrument can occasionally provide correct information, even if only by accident.

joskus se sokeakin kana jyvän löytää

something or someone unreliable is right sometimes, even by accident

rikkinäinen kellokin on kahdesti päivässä oikeassa

même une pendule cassée donne l'heure deux fois par jour

auch ein blindes Huhn findet mal ein Korn

hasta un reloj parado acierta la hora dos veces al día

bozuk saat bile günde iki defa doğruyu gösterir

Someone who repeats the same thing constantly will at some point be correct, if only briefly.

even a blind squirrel can find a nut once in a while

even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every now and then

even a blind squirrel finds an acorn every once in a while


head

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-the way to a man's heart is through his stomach.wav

Who invented that mischievous falsehood that the way to a man's heart was through his stomach? How many a silly woman, taking it for truth, has let love slip out of the parlour, while she was busy in the kitchen.

1899, Jerome K. Jerome, “On the Preparation and Employment of Love Philtres”, in The Second Thoughts of An Idle Fellow:

I have often heard it said that the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but every time I ever seen men and women keep waiting for their eats it was always the frail sex that give the first yelp, and personally I've often wondered what would of happened in the trenches Over There if ladies had of been occupying them when the rations failed to show up.

1921, Ring Lardner Sr., chapter 1, in The Big Town:

Cooking food for a man is a good way to win his affections.

要想抓住男人的心，先要抓住男人的胃

cooking food for a man is a good way to win his affections

yào xiǎng zhuāzhù nánrén de xīn, xiān yào zhuāzhù nánrén de wèi

η καρδιά του άνδρα περνά απ’ το στομάχι

i kardiá tou ándra perná ap’ to stomáchi

drumul spre inima unui bărbat trece prin stomac

putʹ k sérdcu mužčíny ležít čérez jevó želúdok

путь к се́рдцу мужчи́ны лежи́т че́рез его́ желу́док

erkeğin kalbine giden yol midesinden geçer


a miss is as good as a mile

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Back ache-a miss is as good as a mile.wav

A failure remains a failure, regardless of how close to success one has actually come.


actions speak louder than words

the pen is mightier than the sword

antonym(s) of “it is more effective to act directly”

En-us-actions speak louder than words.oga

It is more effective to act directly than to speak of action.

الْأَعْمَال أَعْلَى صَوْتًا مِن الْكَلِمَات

a tettek minden szónál ékesebben beszélnek

не по слова́м су́дят, а по дела́м (ne po slovám súdjat, a po delám, literally “they judge not by words but by deeds”)

An individual's actions indicate their true sentiments more reliably than their claims do.


a fool and his money are soon parted

First appears c. 1587 in the publication Defense of the Government of the Church of England as If they pay a penie or two pence more for the reddinesse of them..let them looke to that, a foole and his money is soone parted. An earlier 1573 quote by Thomas Tusser reads "A foole and his money be soone at debate: which after with sorow repents him too late."

nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people

It is easy to obtain money from foolish people.

it is easy to get money from foolish people

Fools' money slips through their fingers

aux idiots l'argent file entre les doigts

Fools' money burns through their fingers

aux idiots l'argent brûle entre les doigts

It is difficult or unlikely that careless and irresponsible individuals will maintain their hold on acquired wealth.

warĩire athĩnirie waigire

it is difficult or unlikely that foolish people maintain their hold on acquired wealth

one who had eaten bothered one who had stored


beauty is in the eye of the beholder

beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder (alternative)

He is referring to the relativity of "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" an idea that became popular in the 18th cent.

1642, Charles Sorel, La Maison des Jeux, page 57:

Different people have different views on what is beautiful; beauty is subjective.

الْجَمَالُ فِي عَيْنِ النَّاظِرِ

people have different ideas of what is beautiful

de schoonheid der vrijster ligt in 's vrijers oog

die Schönheit liegt im Auge des Betrachters

khūbsūrtī dekhne vālõ ke ā̃khõ mẽ hotī hai

खूबसूरती देखने वालों के आँखों में होती है

is geal leis an bhfiach dubh a ghearrcach féin

la bellezza sta negli occhi di chi guarda

ايلوق بوروق د مات اورڠ تقکن سام د مات کيت

elok buruk di mata orang takkan sama di mata kita

علف باید به دهان بزی شیرین بیاید

alaf bâyad be dahân-e bozi širin biyâyad

nie to ładne, co ładne, ale to co się komu podoba

la belleza está en los ojos del que la mira

la belleza está en los ojos del observador


fine words butter no parsnips

Attested as early as 1639 as faire words butter noe parsnips, alluding to the English habit of buttering foods to make them more palatable. It was found in the 17th century in various forms with the first and last word being different, thus allowing combinations of fine/fair/soft with parsnips/cabbage/fish/connie before becoming standardized in the form fine words doth butter no parsnips.

Nothing is achieved by empty words or flattery.

praatjes vullen geen gaatjes

talking about doing something does not get it done

von schönen Worten kann man sich nichts kaufen

ῥήματα ἀντ’ ἀλφίτων (rhḗmata ant’ alphítōn, literally “words instead of meals”)

соловья́ ба́снями не нако́рмишь (solovʹjá básnjami ne nakórmišʹ, literally “you can't feed a nightingale with fables”)


en-proverb

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

Attributed to Harry S. Truman, coined in a July 1942 newspaper.

If you cannot handle the pressure, you should not remain in a position where you have to deal with it.

唔好戴咁大顶帽

Don't wear such a big hat if you don't have such a big head.

mou⁵ gam³ daai⁶ go³ tau⁴, m⁴ hou² daai³ gam³ daai⁶ deng² mou⁶⁻²

别揽瓷器活

if you don't have a diamond, stay out of porcelain business.

the one who enters the game should not leave the game

joka leikkiin ryhtyy, se leikin kestäköön

wenn du die Hitze nicht verträgst, geh nicht in die Küche

절이 싫으면 중이 떠나야 한다 (jeor-i sireumyeon jung-i tteonaya handa, literally “If the monk hates the monastery, he should leave”)

den som er med på leken, må tåle steken

those who are in on the game, must be able to handle the heat

волко́в боя́ться — в лес не ходи́ть (volkóv bojátʹsja — v les ne xodítʹ) (if you are afraid of wolves, don't go to the woods)

si no puedes aguantar el calor, sal de la cocina


no time like the present

there's no time like the present#English

Clipping of there's no time like the present.


a lie has no legs

One cannot get away with a lie; the truth will always come out.

al is de leugen nog zo snel, de waarheid achterhaalt haar wel

a hazug embert hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát

könnyebb utolérni a hazugot, mint a sánta kutyát

yu kan kibri yu granmama, ma yu no kan kibri en kosokoso


many hands make light work

Audio (US)

A large number of people cooperating can perform tasks easily.

人多好辦事 /人多好办事

a large number of people cooperating can perform tasks easily

to ’na chéri nívei t’ állo kai ta dyo to prósopo

το ’να χέρι νίβει τ’ άλλο και τα δυο το πρόσωπο

ν’ ανεβούμε το βουνό

kráta me na se krató, n’ anevoúme to vounó

берись дружно, не будет грузно (berisʹ družno, ne budet gruzno, literally “take it together, and it won't be heavy”)


if you can't beat them, join them

GWM seeks gay female for liberal marriage. If you can't beat them, join them!

1985 August 24, “Will You Marry Me? (personal advertisement)”, in Gay Community News, volume 13, number 7, page 17:

If one's adversaries are stronger, it is better to join their side.

如果打不過他們，就加入他們 /如果打不过他们

if your adversaries are stronger than you, it is better to join their side

ne móžešʹ pobítʹ, prisojedinjájsja k nim

не мо́жешь поби́ть, присоединя́йся к ним

с волка́ми жить — по-во́лчьи выть (s volkámi žitʹ — po-vólčʹi vytʹ) (to live amongst wolves, you should howl like a wolf)

si no puedes contra el enemigo, únete a él


people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones

One should not criticize others if one has similar weaknesses.

one shouldn't criticize others for having the same fault

man kāna baytuhu min zujāj falā yarmi n-nās bi-l-ḥajāra

مَن كَانَ بَيْتُهُ مِن زُجَاج فَلَا يَرْمِ النَّاس بِالْحَجَارَة

اللي بيته من قزاز، برميش الناس بالطوب

illi bēto min ʔazāz, birmī-š in-nās biṭ-ṭūb

kast ikke med sten hvis du selv bor i et glashus

lasitalossa asuvan ei pitäisi heitellä kiviä

c'est l’hôpital qui se fout de la charité

wer im Glashaus sitzt, sollte nicht mit Steinen werfen

man sollte zuerst vor der eigenen Haustür fegen

oi ánthropoi pou zoun se gyálina spítia de prépei na petoún pétres

οι άνθρωποι που ζουν σε γυάλινα σπίτια δε πρέπει να πετούν πέτρες

מי שגר בבית מזכוכית שלא ישליך אבנים

Mi she-gar be-vayit mi-zekhukhit she-lo yashlikh avanim

śīśe ke gharõ mẽ rahne vāle dūsrõ ke gharõ par patthar nahī̃ fẽkte

शीशे के घरों में रहने वाले दूसरों के घरों पर पत्थर नहीं फ़ेंकते

an té atá saor caitheadh sé an chéad chloch

che è senza peccato scagli la prima pietra

kasi ke dar xâne-ye šiše-i zendegi mi-konad sang partâb nemi-konad

کسی که در خانه شیشهای زندگی میکند سنگ پرتاب نمیکند

źdźbło w oku bliźniego widzisz, a belki w swoim nie dostrzegasz

quem tem telhado de vidro não joga pedra no dos outros

cine are casă de sticlă, nu aruncă cu pietre

ne iščí sorínku v čužóm glazú, ne zamečája brevná v svojóm

не ищи́ сори́нку в чужо́м глазу́, не замеча́я бревна́ в своём

fowk wha leeve in gless hooses shoudnae thraw stanes

quien tiene tejado de vidrio no tire piedras al de su vecino

vemos la paja en el ojo ajeno, y no vemos la viga en el nuestro


one good turn deserves another

One act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness.

善有善報 /善有善报

one act of kindness should be paid back by another act of kindness

долг платежо́м кра́сен

words pay no debts, a debt is good when it's paid


absence makes the heart grow fonder

absence makes the heart fonder (alternative)

en-au-absence makes the heart grow fonder.ogg

(idiomatic) One feels more love or affection for those one loves when parted from them.

lluny dels ulls, prop del cor

When someone or something is far away, one realizes how much one loves or misses them or it

duduk sekampung lagikan rindu, inikan pula jauh di mata

duduk sekampung lagikan rindu, inikan pula jauh di rantau

jauh serasa hilang, bercerai serasa mati, jauh bau bunga, dekat bau tahi

دودوق سکامڤوڠ لاݢيکن ريندو, اينکن ڤولا جاءوه دمات

دودوق سکامڤوڠ لاݢيکن ريندو, اينکن ڤولا جاءوه درنتاو

جاءوه سراس هيلڠ, برچراي سراس ماتي, جاءوه باءو بوڠا, دکت باءو تاهي

разлу́ка для любви́, что ве́тер для искры́ — ма́ленькую зату́шит, а большу́ю сде́лает еще сильне́е (razlúka dlja ljubví, što véter dlja iskrý — málenʹkuju zatúšit, a bolʹšúju sdélajet ješče silʹnéje)

nadie sabe lo que tiene hasta que lo pierde

kel ölür, sırma saçlı olur, kör ölür badem gözlü olur


an apple a day keeps the doctor away

an apple a day keeps the doctor at bay (alternative)

/əˈn‿æpəl‿ə ˈdeɪ ˈkiːps ðə ˈdɒktəɹ‿əˈweɪ/

/əˈn‿æpəl‿ə ˈdeɪ ˈkips ðə ˈdɑktɚ əˈweɪ/

En-us-an apple a day keeps the doctor away.oga

Of British origin; a similar proverb was recorded from Pembrokeshire, Wales, in 1866: “Eat an apple on going to bed, / And you’ll keep the doctor from earning his bread.” However, the idea that apples can cure disease is much older. In the play The Soddered Citizen (first performed c. 1631–1633) by the English author John Clavell (1601–1643), it is suggested that if a person who had heartburn had taken an apple and gone to bed, he would have been cured.

nb...

at 5 New-street Square, in the Parish of St. Bride, in the County of Middlesex; and published by

of 32 Wellington Street, Strand, in the said county.

Now, an apple is one of the most wonderful of fruits, and the most wholesome. The old adage went, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away," and my young son, three years ago, when he was only three years old, came to me with an amendment to that and said: "Father, two apples a day keeps the dentist away," because there is not a better toothbrush than the apple, and he got the idea that two apples a day would keep the dentist away.

1919 August 26, Harvey W[ashington] Wiley (witness), “Statement of Dr. Harvey W. Wiley—Resumed”, in Cold-storage Legislation: Hearings before the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Sixty-sixth Congress, First Session on Cold-storage Legislation […], Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, →OCLC, page 861:

Of course I eat an apple every evening—an apple a day keeps the doctor away—but still, you ought to have more prunes, and not all these fancy doodads.

1922, Sinclair Lewis, chapter I, in Babbitt, New York, N.Y.: Harcourt, Brace and Company, →OCLC, section IV, page 11:

The apple has been as formidable in history as it has been in recipe books. […] It has inspired legend (Johnny Appleseed), nicknames (New York, "the big apple") and any number of old saws ("An apple a day keeps the doctor away").

1973 October 18, Thomas Grubisich, “When you deal with millions of apples a day”, in The Washington Post, Washington, D.C.: The Washington Post Company, →ISSN, →OCLC; quoted in “Statement of Bert E. Perry, Monitor Advocate, Virginia Employment Commission”, in Oversight Hearing on Department of Labor: Certification of the Use of Offshore Labor: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Agricultural Labor of the Committee on Education and Labor, House of Representatives, Ninety-fourth Congress, First Session […], Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1975 March 20, →OCLC, page 82:

The saying "an apple a day keeps the doctor away" is often countered with the one "an onion a day keeps everybody away". Whether these were even proven true or not I do not know but I do know that both apples and onions were among the staples kept in our home.

1984, Louise E. Efnor, “Kill or Cure”, in Jerrilee Cain-Tyson, John E. Hallwas, Victor Hicken, editors, Tales from Two Rivers III (A Corncrib Publication), Macomb, Ill.: Two Rivers Arts Council, College of Fine Arts Development, Western Illinois University, →OCLC, part IV (Receipts by Folks), page 118, column 1:

an apple a day keeps the doctor away—an apple is nutritious and you will stay healthy if you eat one every day. My mother always told us that an apple a day keeps the doctor away, so we would eat apples to stay healthy.

2000 January, “Phrases from the Garden”, in Melvia A. Hasman, editor, English Teaching Forum: A Journal for the Teacher outside the United States, volume 38, number 1, Washington, D.C.: United States Information Agency, →ISSN, →OCLC, page 51, column 1:

An old saying in Western countries goes, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away", so now there is a new saying in China, "A sea cucumber a day keeps the doctor away".

2004, Jiaxin Chen, “Present Status and Prospects of Sea Cucumber Industry in China”, in Alessandro Lovatelli, Chantal Conand, et al., editors, Advances in Sea Cucumber Aquaculture and Management (FAO Fisheries Technical Paper; 463), Rome: Food and Agriculture Organization, →ISBN, session I (Status of Resources and Utilization), page 35:

Apples are healthy and stave off illnesses.

apples are healthy and stave off illnesses

tuffāḥatun wāḥidatun fī l-yawmi tuḡnīka ʕan ziyārati ṭ-ṭabībi

تُفَّاحَةٌ وَاحِدَةٌ فِي الْيَوْمِ تُغْنِيكَ عَنْ زِيَارَةِ الطَّبِيبِ

医生远离我

jat¹ jat⁶ jat¹ ping⁴ gwo², ji¹ sang¹ jyun⁵ lei⁴ ngo⁵

une pomme chaque matin éloigne le médecin

chaque jour une pomme conserve son homme

éna mílo tin iméra, ton giatró ton kánei péra

ένα μήλο την ημέρα, τον γιατρό τον κάνει πέρα

minden nap egy alma az orvost távol tartja

una mela al giorno toglie il medico di torno

una mela al giorno leva il medico di torno

一日一個のりんごで医者しらず

いちにちいっこのりんごでいしゃしらず

ماکن سبيجي ايڤل سهاري, تق ڤرلو برجومڤا دڠن دوکتور لاݢي

makan sebiji epal sehari, tak perlu berjumpa dengan doktor lagi

ка́ждый день я́блоко одно́ — врачу́ остава́ться далеко́ (káždyj denʹ jábloko odnó — vračú ostavátʹsja dalekó)

eno jabolko na dan, odžene zdravnika stran

una manzana al día mantiene al médico en la lejanía

He advocated the increased use of fruit, for he believed in the old saying, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away."

1887 November 26, “The Pomological Show”, in The Wrexham Advertiser, and North Wales News, volume XL, Wrexham, Clwyd: Selina Bayley, Charles George Bayley, and George Bradley, →OCLC, page 5, column 6:

The old adage, "an apple a day keeps the doctor away," might quite as well have read "a carrot or an onion a day," and probably the result would be about the same as regards reducing the doctor's bill. Vegetables of all kinds are necessary in the diet, but particularly valuable are those available in the spring and summer, say specialists of the United States Department of Agriculture.

1921 June 3, “Vegetables are cheap for food”, in Frank F. Prescott, editor, Weymouth Gazette and Transcript, volume LV, number 22 (number 2882 overall), Weymouth, Mass.: Gazette and Transcript Publishing Company, →OCLC, 2nd section, page 11, column 3:

Many people believe that the concept of an "apple a day keeps the doctor away" is just a played out, overused saying that adults made up to get their children to eat healthier.

2010 August 5, Michael C. Allen, chapter 2, in An Apple a Day: Getting Back to Basics Achieves Total Health and Wellness, Bloomington, Ind.: AuthorHouse, →ISBN, page 5:


head

you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs

1796 in English, from French, on ne saurait faire d'omelette sans casser des œufs (1742 and earlier), attributed to François de Charette.

It was remarked to him that he had caused the death of a great many persons. Yes, he replied, omlets are not made without breaking eggs.

She. Have you any people at Home, Guy, to be pleased with your performances?
He. One or two. One can't make omelets without breaking eggs.

1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Hill of Illusion”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 93:

In order to achieve something, it is inevitable and necessary that some mistakes are made or some sacrifices must occur.

one doesn't make an omelette without breaking eggs

on ne fait pas d'omelette sans casser des œufs

non si può fare una frittata senza rompere le uova

det må knuses noen egg for å lage en omelett

não se pode fazer omelete sem quebrar os ovos

лес ру́бят — ще́пки летя́т (les rúbjat — ščépki letját) (when wood is cut - chips fly)

nothing is worth the effort without stirring up conflicts

nada que valga la pena se logra sin crear conflictos

you can't make a tortilla without breaking the eggs

no se puede hacer una tortilla sin romper los huevos

quien quiera peces, que moje el culo

Whoever wants some fish must get his/her arse wet

the cat would eat fish but would not wet her feet


curiosity killed the cat

One should not be curious about things that can be dangerous.

tanto va la gatta al lardo, che ci lascia lo zampino

la troppa curiosità spinge l'uccello nella rete

nysgjerrig høne får enten korn eller knuff

ljubopýtnoj Várvare na bazáre nos otorváli

любопы́тной Ва́рваре на база́ре нос оторва́ли

мно́го бу́дешь знать — ско́ро соста́ришься (mnógo búdešʹ znatʹ — skóro sostárišʹsja)

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


birds of a feather flock together

en-au-birds of a feather flock together.ogg

The expression appears to have surfaced in the 16th century, allegedly a literal translation of Plato's Republic. In 1545, William Turner wrote a version of the expression in the Rescuing of Romish Fox: "Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together." One can, however, also compare the expression to Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 27:9: "Birds resort unto their like."

birds of the feather flock together (alternative)

So, in London, birds of a feather must flock together, willy nilly, silk hat and frock coat must go with white gloves and brown sables, peaky blinder and “choker" must associate with crop fringed hair, ear curls, and rakish three feathered hat.

(idiomatic) People of similar character, background or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another; it is easier to establish friendships with people that one has a lot in common with.

gjeti tenxherja kapakun

people of similar character, etc. tend to associate

اَلطُّيُورُ عَلَىٰ أَشْكَالِهَا تَقَعُ (aṭ-ṭuyūru ʕalā ʔaškālihā taqaʕu, literally “birds stumble upon their kinds”)

مع من شفتك، شبهتك (mʕa men šuftak, šabbahtak, literally “With whom I saw you with, I compare you to.”)

隐痀的交侗戆

Lêng kau lêng, hōng kau hōng, ún-ku--ê kau tòng-gōng.

zeig mir deine Freunde und ich sage dir, wer du bist

הָלַךְ זַרְזִיר אֵצֶל עוֹרֵב (halách zarzír etzel 'orév, literally “the starling went with the raven”)

牛は牛連れ、馬は馬連れ

うしはうしづれ、うまはうまづれ, ushi wa ushi zure, uma wa uma zure

pares cum paribus facillimē congregantur

se strkalalo grnčeto si go našlo poklopčeto

се стркалало грнчето си го нашло поклопчето

اورڠ سبنتوق باݢاي چينچين, ستيتيق باݢاي امس

enggang bersama enggang, pipit bersama pipit

antah bersama antah, beras bersama beras

orang sebentuk bagai cincin, setitik bagai emas

diga-me com quem andas e eu te direi quem és

spune-mi cu cine te însoțești ca să îți spun cine ești

an dubh-isean ag iarraidh an dubh-gheòidh

dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres

khôn ngoan đá đáp người ngoài, gà cùng một mẹ chớ hoài đá nhau

khôn ngoan đối đáp người ngoài, gà cùng một mẹ chớ hoài đá nhau


don't shoot the messenger

(sarcastic or humorous) The bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for it.

nikdo nemá rád posly špatných zpráv

the bearer of bad news should not be held accountable for the bad news

nenadávej na zrcadlo když máš křivou hubu

ce n’est pas en cassant le thermomètre qu’on fait tomber la fièvre

(somewhat) желанные вести — мил гоне́ц (želannyje vesti — mil gonéc)

no disparen / disparéis / maten / matéis al mensajero


the end justifies the means

Widely attributed to Machiavelli's The Prince, which does not use the phrase in the work. A possible source is Ovid's Heroides (ca. 10 BC), which says exitus ācta probat (“the outcome justifies the deeds”). However, its use there is quite likely to have an opposite meaning of outcome proving means were unjustified, based on its context.

the ends justify the means (alternative)

Marxists were often criticized for believing that the ends justified the means, yet these old Cold Warriors were now the ones using ends to justify means—attacking science in the name of freedom.

2010, Naomi Oreskes, Erik M. Conway, chapter 5, in Merchants of Doubt:

Shepard: You honestly think the experiments you did here are justified?
Maelon: We committed cultural genocide! Nothing I do will ever be justified!
Maelon: The experiments are monstrous... because I was taught to be a monster.
Shepard: Mordin, did you ever perform experiments like this?
Mordin: No. Never taught you this, Maelon.
Maelon: So your hands are clean! What does it matter if the ground is stained with the blood of millions!
Maelon: You taught me that the end justified the means. I will undo what we did, Professor. The only way I know how.

2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, →OCLC, PC, scene: Tuchanka:

The White House argument is simple: that the end justifies the means.

2023 July 7, David Smith, “End justifies means for Biden in sending cluster bombs to Ukraine”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:

Morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary to achieve morally right outcomes; actions can be considered morally right or wrong only by virtue of the morality of the outcome.

Heroides
Machiavelli
Ovid
The Prince
consequentialism#Teleological ethics

الْغَايَةُ تُبَرِّرُ الْوَسِيلَةَ

morally wrong actions are sometimes necessary

可以不择手段

zhǐyào mùdì zhèngdàng, kěyǐ bùzéshǒuduàn

הַמַּטָּרָה מְקַדֶּשֶׁת אֶת הָאֶמְצָעִים

目的のためには手段を選ばない

もくてきのためにはしゅだんをえらばない

mokuteki no tame ni wa shudan o erabanai

não se faz omelete sem se quebrar alguns ovos


a rolling stone gathers no moss

En-us-a rolling stone gathers no moss.ogg

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-a rolling stone gathers no moss.wav

A person who never settles in one place will never be successful.

滾石不生苔 /滚石不生苔

a person who never settles in one place will never be successful

кому́ на ме́сте не сиди́тся, тот добра́ не наживёт (komú na méste ne sidítsja, tot dobrá ne naživjót, literally “the one who never stays in one place won't get any wealth”)

cha chinn còinneach air clach an udalain

A person must keep active in order to avoid stagnating.


in vino veritas

ĭn′ vē′nō vĕ′rĭ-täs

/ˌɪn ˈviː.nəʊ ˈvɛ.ɹɪ.tɑːs/

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-in vino veritas.wav

Borrowed from New Latin in vīnō vēritās (literally “in wine there is truth”), from in (“in”) + vīnō, the ablative singular of vīnum (“wine”) + vēritās (“truth”). While various classical writers in both Greek and Latin make similar statements, the form in vino veritas is from the 16th-century humanist Erasmus, and is first attested in English writing soon afterwards in the same century.

bor+

For quotations using this term, see Citations:in vino veritas.

in wine, there is truth
in wine, there is truth#English

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


shy bairns get nowt

[ʃaɪ bɛːnz ɡɛʔ naʊʔ]

Literally “shy children get nothing”, a reference to the shyness of children when making requests.

A' forgot te ask 'er fo' me money back!
Wye, shy bairns get nowt.

Aye, Mary, we heard you. How could we not? Ah well, shy bairns get nowt. Will we let her at the microphone and give me a bit peace?

1994, Fiona Cooper, A Skyhook in the Midnight Sun, London, New York, N.Y.: Serpent's Tail, →ISBN, page 121:

Ask questions, enquire, and push for more information and care. As the saying goes in the north-east, ‘shy bairns get nowt’! Know your rights and what you are entitled to by pushing and not taking no for an answer.

2007, “Rob [Rob has a Six-year-old Son who was Infected with Cytomegalovirus as a Baby]”, in Jill Harrison, Matthew Henderson, Rob Leonard, editors, Different Dads: Fathers’ Stories of Parenting Disabled Children, London, Philadelphia, Pa.: Jessica Kingsley Publishers, →ISBN, page 37:

An old Geordie saying says: ‘Shy bairns get nowt!’ It literally means ‘shy children get nothing’, but is used to emphasise that people should speak up for themselves. I think that this saying applies to leaders.

2011, John Marrin, “Ten Tips on Taking the Lead”, in Leadership for Dummies (For Dummies Series), Chichester, West Sussex: John Wiley, →ISBN, page 297:

(Geordie) If you're too shy, or don't ask, you will not get what you want.


shy bairns get noot

shy bairns get nowt
shy bairns get nowt#English

(Geordie) Alternative spelling of shy bairns get nowt.


beggars can't be choosers

Mo went online and found me a beggars-can't-be-choosers flight out of Denver: a 5.45 a.m. takeoff, a three-hour layover at O'Hare. I'd land in Hartford by late afternoon.
"I'll be fine," I said. "Drink a lot of coffee, drive right from school to the airport. I can crash once I get on the plane." She frowned. "Okay, let me rephrase that. I can sleep once I get on the plane."

2008, Wally Lamb, The Hour I First Believed, Ch.3, at p.60

Something is better than nothing
something is better than nothing

(idiomatic) Something is better than nothing: those who can't provide for themselves should accept whatever help is available.

на хари́зан кон зъ́бите не се гле́дат

when resources are limited, one must accept even substandard gifts

men mag een gegeven paard niet in de bek zien

jak się nie ma, co się lubi, to się lubi, co się ma

lepszy wróbel w garści niż gołąb na dachu

lepszy wróbel w ręku niż cietrzew na sęku


good things come to those who wait

A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time.

den som venter på noe stort, venter aldri for lenge

las mejores cosas de la vida se hacen esperar

den som väntar på något gott, väntar aldrig för länge


patience is a virtue

It is better to be patient than impatient.

忍耐是一種美德 /忍耐是一种美德

it is better to be patient than impatient

欲速則不達 /欲速则不达

yù sù zé bù dá

трпение - спасение (trpenie - spasenie, literally “Patience is salvation”)


the early bird catches the worm

the early bird gets the worm
the early bird gets the worm#English

Alternative form of the early bird gets the worm.


en-proverb

En-us-all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.oga

Audio (US)

Too much focus on one's career may lead to one being uninteresting company.

Too much hard work and not enough leisure time can be unhealthy.

聪明的孩子也变傻

zhǐ gōngzuò bù wánshuǎ, cōngmíng de háizi yě biàn shǎ

't is een slecht dorp waar het nooit kermis is

ĉiom da laboro kaj neniom da ludoj igas Jakobon al obtuza knabo

mešaj delo s bezdelʹjem, proživešʹ vek s veselʹjem

мешай дело с бездельем, проживешь век с весельем


like father, like son

LL-Q1860 (eng)-Flame, not lame-like father, like son.wav

Jason is headstrong and impatient—like father, like son.

A: "My favourate getaway is Puerto Rico." B: "Like father, like son, I see."

die appel val nie ver van die boom af nie

虎父無犬子 /虎父无犬子

literally: “tigers don't have dogs for sons”

deda naxe, mama naxe, švili ise gamonaxe

დედა ნახე, მამა ნახე, შვილი ისე გამონახე

ara šeǯda mc̣q̇eri xesa, ara iq̇o gvari misi

არა შეჯდა მწყერი ხესა, არა იყო გვარი მისი

apja fia

stating the similarity of a son to his father

nézd meg az apját, menj hozzá a fiához

advice to one about to marry a young man

cad é a dhéanfadh mac an chait ach luch a mharú

蛙の子は蛙 (kaeru no ko wa kaeru, literally “a frog's child is a frog”)

jakie drzewo, taki klin, jaki ojciec, taki syn

bu dual do dh'isean an ròin a dhol chun na mara

the apple does not fall far from the tree


when it rains, it pours

Unfortunate events occur in streaks or clusters, often in short periods of time.

悪いことは重なります (warui koto wa kasanarimasu, literally “bad things pile up”)