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Spanish speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Spanish Folk Sayings, Idioms or Proverbs on Birds
B
o in English translation: A bird in the hand is better than a hundred flying birds.
- Equivalent: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
- Spanish original: Mas vale pajaro en mano que cien volando.
o in English translation (literally): Breed crows and they will take out your eyes.
- English equivalent: You reap what you sow.
- Spanish original: Cria cuervos, y te sacaran los ojos.
S
o in English translation: The summer does not start with a single swallow.
- Spanish original: Una golondrina no hace verano.
T
o in English translation (literally): They lived happily and ate partridge (and didn't give me any).
- English equivalent: And they lived happily ever after.
- Spanish original: Viveron felices y comieron perdices (ya mi no me dieron.).
W
o in English translation: When ravens are seen flying low, it is cold for the sake of a prick.
- Meaning: Seeing the ravens fly is a clue for deducing the weather.
- Spanish original: 'Cuando el grajo vuela bajo hace un frio de carajo.
| Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #820123
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English speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Proverbs, Idioms or Folk Sayings on Fish and other Aquatic Creatures, including whales, shrimp and snails
B
o A big fish (Meaning: An important or powerful person, often used sarcastically.).
C
o A cold fish (An unfriendly person or someone who displays little emotion).
D
o Drink like a fish (Someone who consumes a lot of alcohol, but is not necessarily an alcoholic.).
E
o Even a fish wouldn't get caught if he kept his mouth shut.
F
o A fine kettle of fish (Meaning: a difficult situation).
o A fish out of water (Meaning: Felling awkward or out of place in a given situation.).
G
o Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.
H
o Have bigger fish to fry. Or, I've got bigger fish to fry.
I
o It is not fish until it is on the bank.
L
o Like a fish out of water. Meaning: out of place.
o Listen to the sound of the river and you will get a trout.
N
o Neither fish nor fowl (Something that is difficult to describe, as it is not one or the other).
o No man cries stinking fish.
S
o Sell a man a fish, he eats for a day, teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.
T
o There are fish in the sea better than have ever been caught.
o That's a bit fishy.
o There's plenty more fish in the sea.
Y
o You need to bait the hook to catch the fish. | Contributed by: Image Courtesy of New York Public Library, Digital gallery #1135960
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German speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: German Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Fish and other Aquatic Creatures, including whales, shrimp and snails
o in English translation (literally): The fish stinks from the head.
Meaning: Corruption starts at the top.
German original: Der fisch stinkt vom kopf her.
o in English translation (literally): Only dead fish swim with the stream.
Meaning: People who do not possess willpower will simply follow the majority, doing what everyone else are doing, without thinking. Or, the foolish go happily and without fear to their doom.
- German original: Nur tote fische schwimmen mit dem strom.
o in English translation: Only dead fish swim with the stream.
Meaning: People who do not posses will power and individually will simply follow the majority, doing what everyone else does without thinking.
German original: Nur tote fische schwimmen mit dem strom.
****
o A fish should swim thrice: in water, in sauce, and in wine.
| Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #477145
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French speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: French Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Fish, Amphibians and other Aquatic Animals
o in English translation: The little fish will grow.
Meaning: Boys will be men one day.
French original: Petit poisson deviendra grand.
o in English translation: Eat your fish while it is fresh, marry your daughter while she is young.
French original: Mange ton poisson a present qu'il est frais, marie ta tille a present qu'elle est jeune.
o in English translation (literally): The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove.
Equivalent: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
French original: La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe. | Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1888710
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Spanish Speaking Countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Spanish Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs Fish and other Aquatic Creatures, including whales, shrimp and snails
o in English translation (literally): Anyone who wants fish should go get his/her butt wet.
Meaning: If you want something, get it yourself.
Spanish original: El que quiera pescado que se moje el culo.
o in English translation (literally) He who wants fish, get his ass wet.
Meaning: If you want to achieve something, you must make an effort in order to get it.
Spanish original: Quien quiera peces, que moje el culo.
o in English translation (literally): The shrimp that falls asleep is swept away by the current.
Meaning: You should never take things for granted nor cease to make an effort.
Spanish original: Camaron que se dueme se lo lleva la corriente.
| Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1571360
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English speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Snakes
o A snake in the grass (Meaning: Someone who pretends to be your friend when he is anything but.).
o Snake oil (Things that are of no use, originally referred to health tonics that were of no use but sold to make money).
o A snake-oil salesman. | Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #807521
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English speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Folk Sayings, Idioms or Proverbs on Wolves
o A wolf in sheep's clothing (Meaning: Someone who pretends to be nice but is actually not nice at all.).
o Every family has at least one black sheep. | Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 822945
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German speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: German Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Wolves
o in English translation: With the wolves one must howl.
Meaning: When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
German translation: Mit den wolfen mub man heulen.
o Fear makes the wolf bigger than he is.
| Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1131857
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Spanish speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Spanish Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Wolves
o Live with wolves and you learn to howl.
o The wolf and the dog agree, at the expense of the goat which together they eat.
o The wolf loses his teeth, but not his inclinations. | Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 1577631
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French speaking countries | Date: Centuries-old | Notes: Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Wolves
o in English translation (literally): The man is a wolf for the man.
Equivalent: Brother will turn on brother.
French original: L'homme est un loup pour l'homme.
o in English translation: Where the wolf finds a lamb, there one seeks a new one.
French original: Ou le loup trouve un agneau, il y en cherche un nouveau.
o in English translation: Hunger chases the wolf out of the woods.
French original: La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
o Man is not man, but a wolf to those he does not know.
French Folk Sayings, Idioms or Proverbs on Wolves
| Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Library, Digital Gallery #102310
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