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Folk Sayings Animals
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English speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Worms
     
      o It's better to find a whole worm in your apple than half a worm.
      o The early bird catches the worm. Or, The early bird gets the worm.
      o Tread on a worm and it will turn.
Contributed by: Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #1190530

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Spanish Speaking Countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Spanish Folk Sayings, Idioms, Proverbs on Lions, Tigers, Wild Cats and Jaguars
     
     
      o in English translation: The tiger's son comes out painted.
      English equivalent: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Or, Like father, like son.
     
      o in English translation: (Literally) Where a jaguar roars, there are no donkeys with rheumatism.
      - Meaning: If there's trouble, people will find a way to get out of it.
      - Spanish original: Donde ronca tigre, no hay burro con reumatismo.
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 823707

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English speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Lions, Tigers, Leopards and Wild Cats
     
      o A leopard can't change his spots. Or, the Leopard does not change his spots.
      o Paper tiger [Literally: Not a real tiger with power, but a tiger made of paper. Meaning: Something that is not as strong as it looks.).
     
     
Contributed by: Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #823703

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French speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Idioms or French Proverbs on Rodents, including rats and mice
     
      o An old rat is a brave rat.
      o Rats desert a sinking ship.
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery

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English speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Idioms, Proverbs on Mice and/or Rodents
     
      C
     
      o A cat and mouse game.
     
      I
     
      o It is a bold mouse that nestles in the cat's ear.
     
      N
     
      Never stop the plough to catch a mouse.
     
      R
     
      o Rats desert a sinking ship.
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #8233270

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German speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: German, Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Bears, Wild Swines...
     
     
      o in English translation: One shouldn't sell the bear's fur before it has been killed.
      Equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
      German original: Man soll das fell des baren nict verkaufen, bevor man ihn erlegt hat.
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 822149

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Spanish Speaking Countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Spanish Proverbs, Axioms or Folk Sayings on Bears, Wild Boers, Wild Swine...
     
      o in English translation: Don't sell the bear's fur before you hunt it.
      Equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
      Spanish orginal: No vendas la piel del oso antes de cazarlo.
     
     
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #821674

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English speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Axioms or Proverbs on Bears, Wild Boers, Wild Swine, Possums...
     
      o Beware of the Bear when he tucks in his shirt.
      o Is a Bear Catholic?
      o Playing possum (Meaning: Faking sleep.).
      o You don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the slowest guy running from the bear.
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #823748

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French speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: French Proverbs, Axioms or Folk Sayings on Bears, Wild Boars and Wild Swine
     
      o in English translation (literally): Don't sell the bearskin before you've killed the bear.
      Equivalent: Don't count your chickens before they've hatched.
      French original: Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tue.
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #822058

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English speaking countries
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings, Idioms and Proverbs on Monkeys, Elephants....
     
      H
      o Having a monkey on one's back (Meaning: Having to carry around a burden, or having to cope with a major problem, e.g. drug addiction).
      o The higher the monkey climbs, the more he shows his tail.
     
      I
      o It's cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.
     
      M
      o Monkey see, monkey do.
     
      N
      o Never let a monkey to do a man's job.
     
     
Contributed by: Image Courtesy of the New York Public Library, Digital Gallery # 106604

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