Proverbs/Refranes

lory_k75

Senior Member
Would like to have your opinion on my idea to start a Glossary for Proverbs. Does this already exist on WR?

Would welcome comments.

Me interesaría saber lo que piensan sobre una idea que tenido de crear un Glosario de Refranes. Existe ya en WR?

Les agradecería sus comentarios.
:)
 
  • I can continue with you if you want.

    1."clothes do not make the man king"

    2,"do not judge a man,until you have walked a mile in his shoes"

    3."it is easy to be wise after the event"

    4."an old ensign is a captains honour."
    5."if you can not bite,never show your teeth"

    6."is the glass half-full or half-empty?Do not care,be happy to have the glass"
     
    Hi,
    I love quotes and proverbs. I have notice their lack in this forum.
    Thanks to lory_k75 we would put them here and enjoy their beauty and wisdom.
    I have some idea to keep this thread still alive having something like "motif" for their selection. Here you are:
    1. Quote/proverb is given with its author or origin.
    2. The next proverb should contain one word of the former proverb.
    We would interpret context and explain main topics of these quotes which should reflect our own tastes and philosophy. I am sure it will be opportunity for interesting discussions.

    Example:
    Flatterers look like friends, as wolves like dogs.
    (George Chapman)

    Let flattery, the handmaid of the vices, be far removed from friendship.
    (Cicero)

    and using the last Zerduja's quote it would look like this:

    "is the glass half-full or half-empty? Do not care, be happy to have the glass"

    A keyword empty

    Fill your glass when it is empty, empty it when it is full, never leave it empty, never leave it full.
    (Italian)

    Next one should use the one word from my last proverb.

    Is it acceptable idea?

    Best regards Seana
     
    OK...................I am willing:

    keyword=dogs


    "let sleeping dogs LIE"

    KEYWORDS:wolves
    "a wolf in sheep s clothing" (meaning appear to be stong,but truth of it/person weak)
     
    Hallo,

    Many thanks Zerduja,for your approval of my idea.

    I have only one more remark maybe it isn't necessary to write "my keyword = ...".
    I think it will be better legible when we would mark this word with the bold letters.


    An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep.
    ( Arabic proverb)

     
    I understand '' a wolf in sheeps clothing'' to mean someone who on the surface appears to be nice, gentle or kind , but is not really.
    A sheep in wolfs clothing would be someone who appears strong but is weak.(I've never heard this before though)
     
    Thank you all for your input, ideas and comments.
    Perhaps I am the one misunderstanding the idea of this section, but what I had in mind was to create a Glossary (i.e. an Excel sheet like the one attached). I have added all your proverbs to it so far...

    zerduja, I believe 'a wolf in sheep's clothing is an idiom.. correct me if I am wrong..
    Seana, I have added a column on the sheet for Description / Explanation that can include author or origins.

    Outsider, me queda pendiente añadir lo incluido en el hilo que mencionas.. gracias por la aportación.

    Feel free to comment or complete any empty cells, or even another language (I only have English and Spanish at the moment). Please don't forget to rename the file with an additional version number if you do...


    THANK YOU AGAIN everyone!
    :)
     
    When you click on 'Post Reply,' click on the attachement icon. This opens a new window. Click on 'Browse' and find the file on your computer. Then click 'upload' and close the window.

    Hope it helps, and thanks in advance for the input.
     
    thanx -the first time I clicked the "quick reply" button and couldn´t find the "attachment" button...
     

    Attachments

    • Refranes Proverbs v3.xls
      25.5 KB · Views: 572
    Thank you again.
    I have added the following with the Spanish translations:

    a watched pot never boils
    beggars can't be choosers
    charity begins at home
    dead men tell no tales
    don't put all your eggs in one basket
    fools rush in where angels fear to tread
    forewarned is forearmed
    in for a penny, in for a pound
    it's not who you know, it's what you know
    there's no time like the present

    And that makes it version 4...
    :)
     
    Lo he intentado pero no soy capaz de guardar la respuesta (aunque sí consigo abrir el archivo excel). Seguro que alguno de vosotros lo podrá hacer. En Español el refrán "clothes do not make the man king" creo que podría asimilarse a "el hábito no hace al monje"
    Saludos.
     
    What a good idea to compile proverbs!

    I have added the following equivalente in Spanish (I think they will appear in the last excel document):

    When the cat is away, the mice will play: Cuando el gato no esta, los ratones bailan
    To kill to birds with one stone: Matar dos pajaros de un tiro
    Let the sleeping gods lie: No hay que despertar al perro que duerme
    Birds of a feather flock together: Dios los cria y ellos se juntan
    A friend in need is a friend indeed: En la necesidad se prueban los amigos

    Merry Christmas to all :)
     
    "clothes do not make the man king" , no podría ser también: las apariencias engañan? De hecho lo puse en el archivo pero no sé como hacer para que quede registrado.
     
    There are some very good proverbs to be found in the Arab-speaking lands, such as (in translation):


    The clever girl spins with the leg of a donkey.
    Repetition teaches the donkey.
    Suffering for an hour but not suffering for every day.
    The monkey in its mother's eye is a gazelle.

    No.2 is my personal favourite.
     
    Thank you all for your input, and Happy New Year!

    I have added all your suggestions, including yours Olegaria.. they didn't seem to be on the last version! Here is the most updated, version 6.

    I'm swamped with work at the moment, but will try to do some more research soon!

    :)
    Lory
     
    Pepe C y Nurja: Para poder añadit aportacines:
    1. Descargar el archivo Excel a vuestro PC, en este caso la versión 6 del último mensaje.
    2. Cuando hayan hecho los cambios que quieren, guarden el documento en su ordenador con un numero de version mayor
    3. hagan click en "Post Reply" (la opción de respuesta rápida no da la posibilidad de añadir adjunto)
    4. Ahi verán el simbolo de adjuntos que os llevará a la pantalla de 'administrar arhivos adjuntos'
    5. Hagn click en 'browse' y localizen el archivo que guardaron
    6. Click en 'adjuntar'
    7. Asegurense que no les aparezca algún mensaje de error: hay un limite de memoria para los adjuntos.

    Creo que así debería funcionar... gracias otra vez!
    :)
     
    Hi there.

    I would like to add some Dutch equivalents to some of the proverbs. Quisiera añadir unas versiones holandesas a unos de estos refranes.

    When the cat is away, the mice will play: Cuando el gato no esta, los ratones bailan Als de kat van huis is, dansen de muizen op tafel.
    To kill to birds with one stone: Matar dos pajaros de un tiro Twee vliegen in een klap slaan (Note: we talk of flies instead of birds and we leave out the stone. Nota: Hablamos de moscas en vez de aves y no mencionamos piedras)
    Let the sleeping gods lie: No hay que despertar al perro que duerme Slapende honden moet je niet wakker maken (Note: this one is the same as the Spanish version Nota: Esto es lo mismo que la versión española)
    A friend in need is a friend indeed: En la necesidad se prueban los amigos In nood leert men zijn echte vrienden kennen

    Greetings
    Saludos
     
    Thank you salmantina, I have added your dutch proverbs.

    I have also added the following in English and Italian:

    Love thy neighbour as you love thyself
    New broom sweeps clean
    No sooner said than done
    Out of sight out of mind
    Rome was not build in a day
    Slow but sure
    When in Rome, do as Romans do

    :)

    I have also added another Sheet with Sources.
    this is getting good, isn't it? :)

    Oh, no have ran out of space.. will have to add it later!! :(
     
    Hey! :)

    Sorry I don't load this up directly on the file, but I was just passing by and noticed some things could be added in Spanish:

    - El hábito no hace al monje --> The habit doesn't make the monk (something like "clothes do not make the man")

    - La repetición es la madre de la retención --> Repetition breeds retention.

    - La práctica hace al maestro --> Practice makes the master.

    - Cachicamo no trabaja para lapa --> Cannot be translated, sorry.

    - Cuando hay santo nuevo, los viejos no hacen milagros --> When there are new saints, the old ones do not make miracles (like, when there is a new "object of devotion", the old ones are soon forgotten)

    - Granito a granito, se llena la gallina el buche --> Grain by grain, the chicken fills in its crop (??) It means that, coin by coin, one gets to have all that one needs. (Goodness! What a poor translation! Sorry about that...)

    - Se atraen más moscas con miel que con vinagre --> Can't remember the syntax in English, but it's something like "you get to catch more flies with honey than with vinegar"

    - Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda --> Even if the (female) monkey wears silk, she is still a monkey (again, something like "clothes do not make the man", but funnier ;) )

    Also, I thought it would be nice if we could have these in Spanish, too:
    Love thy neighbour as you love thyself --> Ama a tu prójimo como a tí mismo (here we don't use the "thy/thee" thing when quoting from the Bible)

    New broom sweeps clean --> Toda escoba nueva barre bien.

    No sooner said than done --> Not sure about what it means in your homeland, but here we have two, regarding say <-> do + speed: "Es más fácil decirlo que hacerlo" (saying is easier than doing), and "más rápido que inmediatamente" (even faster than 'right away' ;) )

    Out of sight out of mind --> Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente (literally, "if the eyes cannot see, the heart cannot feel"... or something alike)

    Rome was not build in a day --> Roma no se construyó en un día. We also have: "Dios no creó el mundo en un día", which means "God did not create the world in one day"

    Slow but sure --> Lento, pero seguro. Also: "Sin prisa pero sin pausa" (no hurry but no break), and "despacito y buena letra" (slow and neatly written, meaning that things must be done slowly in order to have them well done)

    When in Rome, do as Romans do --> En la tierra que fueres, haz lo que vieres. It's bad Spanish, and it means: in the land you were to, do what you see (I told you it was bad Spanish...)

    There are more, but I'm sort of in a hurry. I'll post them later.
     
    Hola, con respecto a la traducción que ofrece PepeC ("el hábito no hace al monje"), coincido con él y me permito introducir una variante: "aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona queda".
     
    Of my Badawi(bedouin)Najdi proverbs is the following:

    Ana 'Asak Ellli Ma Ta'sak
    I am your stick which does not disobey you.(I am your obedient stick)
    The English equivalent( I am at your beck and call)
     
    I tried to translate to Polish, however few I don't understand.

    I also added 3 in Polish and German

    Michał
     

    Attachments

    • Refranes Proverbs v8.xls
      38 KB · Views: 507
    A few more:

    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
    A watched kettle never boils.
    Do not look a gift horse in the mouth.
    Once bitten, twice shy.
    Look before you leap.
    To all who hesitate all is lost.
    Ne'er cast a clout before May be out (Dress in warm clothes before the end of May).
    A Latin one: Cucullus non facit monachum (the hood does not make the monk).
    Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
    A barking dog does not bite.
     
    In Spanish:

    A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. --> Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.
    A watched kettle never boils. --> El que espera, desespera.
    Do not look a gift horse in the mouth. --> A caballo regalado, no se le mira colmillo.
    Once bitten, twice shy. --> El que se quema con leche, mira la vaca y brinca (algo así va, no recuerdo exactamente)
    Look before you leap. --> Sólo un idiota prueba la profundidad de un río con los dos pies.
    To all who hesitate all is lost. --> There's one, but I can't remember it now.
    Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. --> El que tiene techo de vidrio no le tire piedras a los vecinos / El que tiene rabo de paja no se acerque a la candela.
    A barking dog does not bite. --> Perro que ladra no muerde.

    I used to know much more, but I just can't take them out of my dusty mindfolders! :(
     
    Hello all,
    Hey! :)

    - El hábito no hace al monje --> The habit doesn't make the monk (something li

    - Aunque la mona se vista de seda, mona se queda --> Even if the (female) monkey wears silk, she is still a monkey.[/quote

    I'd vote for the 'generic' version (male gender -sorry- for
    all cases):
    Aunque mono se vista de seda, mono se queda.
    saludos
     
    Something for all us dog lovers:

    Muchos perros, muchas pulgas.

    (I'm not sure I didn't make this one up)
    Saludos

    Never heard it before... The one I know, regarding dogs and flees is:
    Quien se acuesta con perros, amanece con pulgas --> He who lies with dogs wakes up with flees.

    Similar to these other two:
    - Quien se acuesta con niños, amanece orinado --> He who shares a bed with children, wakes up 'wet'. :eek:
    - Cría cuervos, y te sacarán los ojos --> Raise crows and they will take your eyes out.

    And in another order of ideas:
    Sarna con gusto no pica. It's very funny, but I just can't translate it.
     
    Never heard it before... The one I know, regarding dogs and flies is:
    Quien se acuesta con perros, amanece con pulgas --> He who lies with dogs wakes up with flies.

    Similar to these other two:
    - Quien se acuesta con niños, amanece orinado --> He who shares a bed with children, wakes up 'wet'. :eek:
    - Cría cuervos, y te sacarán los ojos --> Raise crows and they will take your eyes out.

    And in another order of ideas:
    Sarna con gusto no pica. It's very funny, but I just can't translate it.

    Hi Ven Swee,

    I like them!
    I know the one as 'Quien se acuesta con nin'os, amanece
    mojado' (Or 'mojao' in Puertorrican)'
    The complete version of the last one I believe is:
    Sarna con gusto no pica, y si pica no mortifica.
    (sorry for the change in character, don't know why the comp. does that)
    saludos

    P.S. Forgot to mention: Pulgas= flees, not flies
     
    The complete version of the last one I believe is:
    Sarna con gusto no pica, y si pica no mortifica.

    Hey, buen Julio! ;)

    That's precisely it. But, I don't know how to translate it, apart of "If you like/enjoy/choose to have scabies it wont itch, and if it does, it's not worth fretting/worrying"

    That doesn't make any sense in English. Any ideas, anyone?

    PS: You're right, thanks! I've mixed moscas with pulgas a couple of times before... Imagine calling a child "a talking mosca!" :eek: :eek:
     
    Olegaria,
    I understand these to be..

    To kill two birds with one stone

    Let sleeping dogs lie

    Amatus,

    What does this mean...The clever girl spins with the leg of a donkey? is it translated correctly?
     
    Venezuelan_sweetie;2123 ;) That's precisely it. But said:
    Hi again,

    A VERY FREE translation of the first part could be:
    'If you don't mind the mess, it won't cause you much
    stress' (so much for my ad hoc poetry); the second part seems a lot harder!
    An interesting historical note: In WW I you got excused
    from front line duty until cured if you caught the scabies. So men with the condition were popular and others would (for a fee?) rub against them to catch it.
    saludos
     
    I have added some French ones. Don't hesitate to correct what's wrong and to add more.
     

    Attachments

    • Refranes Proverbs v9.xls
      40 KB · Views: 595
    I think the "Description/explanation" column should be made permanently visible, instead of the English one, otherwise it's hard to see which is the last row.

    Anyways, I've added some new English expressions, as well as a bunch of Russian translations.
     

    Attachments

    • Refranes Proverbs v10.xls
      37.5 KB · Views: 608
    Hello everybody,

    I have a list of Greek proverbs, but to be honest I am not quite sure that they translate exactly into any of the others. I know their English translation, but I am not sure that I should post them in the attachment because i'm uncertain with how to connect them to their possible equivalents. I'm going to post them here with their translations, and if anybody has any ideas about which pre-existing sayings they could be connected with, let me know and I will post them in the attachment.

    Όποιος δέν έχει μυαλό έχει ποδάρια
    He who has no brain has feet.
    (My interpretation: if you don't have smarts to succeed, you must have feet (strength) for manual labor.)

    Από μικρό καί από τρελλό μαθαίνει την αλήθεια
    From the small and the crazy we learn the truth
    (My interpretation: fairly self-explanatory, children and crazy people don't have the manner to lie)

    Καθαρός ουρανός αστραπές δέν φοβάται
    A clear sky does not fear lightning
    (My interpretation: one who is of clear conscience should not have fear)

    Μπρός γκρεμνός καί πίσω ρεύμα
    In front of a cliff and behind a wave
    (My interpretation: between a rock and a hard place)

    Ο κλέφτης καί ο ψεύτης τόν πρώτον χρόνουν χαίρονται
    The thief and the liar celebrate the first of the year
    (My interpretation: not really sure about this one....)

    Οσα δέν φτάνει η αλεπού τα κάνει κρεμαστάρια
    The fox who doesn't arrive makes the hunt
    (My interpretation: to have sour grapes)

    Καλύτερα να βγεί το μάτι σου παρά το όνομα σου
    It is better that your eye come out than your name
    (My interpretation: A bad name is the worst thing one can have)

    Όποιος βιάζεται οκοντάφτει
    He who hurries, trips
    (My interpretation: fairly self-explanatory)

    Ο βρεγμένος την βρόχη δέν την φοβάται
    The wet do not fear the rain
    (My interpretation: Once you have been through something, it becomes trivial)

    I hope that these are enjoyed, and once again apologies for not posting them in the attachment, but I promise that I will attach them if I could have some help with which existing proverbs they most closely resemble. If nobody thinks that they resemble any proverbs already listed, I will create new english transliterations and meanings. Thanks!
     
    Sorry I can't translate.

    Perro ladrador poco mordedor.
    En boca cerrada no entran moscas.
    Mas sabe el zorro por viejo,que por zorro.
    No hay mal que por bien no venga.
     
    Hi!

    I added some German/Austrian translations and new proverbs.
     

    Attachments

    • Refranes Proverbs v12.xls
      109 KB · Views: 575
    Hay una discusión interesante sobre The birds of a feather flock together
    (Varias versiones del refrán en español: Dios los cría y ellos se juntan, o son pájaros del mismo plumaje, o Dios los cría y el diablo los junta, o el que anda con lobos a aullar se enseña)

    Saludos
    Sinclair001
     
    Olegaria,


    Amatus,

    What does this mean...The clever girl spins with the leg of a donkey? is it translated correctly?

    I don't see that anyone has responded to this, dc. Maybe because the meaning seems clear; at the risk of stating the obvious I read it as:
    A clever, resourceful person can do with whatever is available (like some people who like to tinker and putter around have the ability to make up their tools at the moment from whatever is lying around).
    Actually, this translation sounds pretty crisp an concise to me; as such
    it might as well be an English proverb; i like it.
    saludos
     
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