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Folk Sayings Animals
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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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