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Folk Sayings on Eating and Drinking
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Food -- Healthy Living -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Chi se move mangia e chi sta fermo secca.
      o in English: He who moves eats, he who stands still, dries up.
     
      o in Italian: Mangiare per vivere e non vivere per mangiare
      o in English: Eat to live and not live to eat.
     
      o in Italian: A tavola non si invecchia.
      o in English: At the table with good friends and family you do not become old.
     
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Food -- Appetite -- Italy (National)
     
     
      o in Italian: L'Appetito vien mangiando.
      o in English: Appetite comes with eating.
     
      o in Italian: Chi va a letto senza cena tutta la notte si dimena.
      o in English: He who goes to bed without eating, will regret it throughout the night.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Eating and Drinking (general) -- Work -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Il riposo da ristoro -- solo dopo un buon lavoro.
      o in English: (Literally) The rest from refreshment -- only after good work. (Meaning) The pleasure one derives from refreshments is enhanced after one has done a good day's work (Besides, industriousness should be rewarded, not laziness.).
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Food -- Cooking -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Nessuno conosce che cosa sta cucinando nella vaschetta meglio di chi fa la mescolatura.
      o in English: No one knows what is cooking in the pan better than the one doing the stirring.
     
      o in Italian: Chi la sera i pasti gli ha fatti, sta a gli altri a lavar i piatti.
      o in English: If one cooks the meal then the others wash up.
     
      o in Italian: Troppi cuochi guastano la cucina.
      o in English: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
     
      o in Italian: Chi la vuole cotta e chi la vuole cruda.
      o in English (Literally) Some want it cooked and some want it raw. (Equivalent) Different strokes for different folks.
     
      o in Italian: La cucina piccola fal la casa grande.
      o in English: A small kitchen makes the house big. (Equivalent) The best things in life are free.
     
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Food -- Fruit -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Quando la pera e matura, casca da se.
      o in English: (Literally) When the pear is matured, it will fall by itself. (Equivalent) All things happen in their own good time.
     
      o in Italian: Una cassetta di mele e arance.
      o in English: (Literally) A case of apples and oranges. (Meaning) It doesn't make sense to compare two situations to make a point, as the two situations are completely different from each other.
     
      o in Italian: I frutti proibiti sono i piu dolci.
      o in English: (Literally) Forbidden fruit is sweetest. (Meaning) Illicit love affairs generate great pleasure.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Italian Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Food -- Pasta -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Esse nufesso qui dice male di macaroni.
      o in English: One has to be an idiot to speak badly of macaroni.
     
      o in Italian: Amicizie e maccheroni, sono meglio caldi.
      o in English: Friendships and macaroni are best when they are warm.
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverbs or Folk Sayings on Food -- Fish -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Che mangiamo oggi? Pane, pesce fritto e baccala!
      o in English: (Literally) What are we going to eat today? Bread, fried fish and dried cod. (Equivalent) There's nothing much to eat.
     
      o in Italian: Chi dorme non piglia pesci.
      o in English: (Literally) He who sleeps doesn't catch any fish. (Equivalent) The early bird catches the worm.
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Food -- Eggs and Poultry -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Non si fanno frittate senza rompere le uova.
      o in English: (Literally) You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. (Meaning) You have to take action, if you want to bring about change.
     
      o in Italian: E meglio l'uovo oggi di una gallina domani.
      o in English: (Literally) Rather have the egg today, than the chicken tomorrow. (Equivalent) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
     
      o in Italian: Camminare sulle uova.
      o in English: (Literally) Walking on egg shells. (Meaning) Better be careful of what you say or you might offend someone who is overly sensitive.
     
      o in Italian: La gallina vecchia fa buon brodo.
      o in English: (Literally) The old hen makes a good broth. (Equivalent) There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle. (Meaning) Older women are valuable to have around. Or, Older women are good in bed.
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Folk Sayings or Proverbs on Food -- Bread -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: Pan di sudore, miglior sapore.
      o in English: (Literally) Bread that comes out of sweat, tastes better. (Meaning) If you have to work hard for your bread, it tastes better than if you don't.
     
      o in Italian: Non si vive di solo pane.
      o in English: One does not live by bread alone.
     
      o in Italian: Che mangiamo oggi? Pane, pesce fritto e baccala!
      o in English: (Literally) What are we going to eat today? Bread, fried fish and dried cod. (Equivalent) There's nothing much to eat.
     
      o in Italian: A chi trascura il poco manchera pane e fuoco.
      o in English: (Literally) He who disregards the little will miss the bread and fire. (Equivalent) Stop and smell the roses. Or, Be grateful for what you have.
     
      o in Italian: Pane al pane, vino al vino.
      o in English: (Literally) Bread is bread, wine is wine. (Equivalent) To call a spade a spade.
     
      o in Italian: A chi ha fame e buono ogni pane.
      o in English: All bread is good when you're hungry.
     
      o in Italian: Il pane apre tutte le bocche.
      o in English: Bread opens all mouths.
     
      o in Italian: E buono come il pane.
      o in English: (Literally) It's as good as bread. (Equivalent) That's a good thing.
     
     
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Italy
Date: Centuries-old
Notes: Proverb or Folk Saying on Eating and Drinking -- Soups -- Italy (National)
     
      o in Italian: A mangiar questa minestra o saltar questa fincestra.
      o in English: (Literally) Either eat this soup or jump out this window. (Equivalent) Take it or leave it. And/or Stuck between a rock and a hard place.
Contributed by: Image courtesy of The New York Public Library, Digital Gallery #125920

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