Dictionary of Proverbs

7/29/2019 Dictionary of Proverbs

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COUNTRY KEY WORD(S) SOURCEQUOTE IN ORIGINALLANGUAGE

TRANSLATION IN ENGLISH MEANING

Austria waltz music An der schönen blauen DonauBy the Beautiful BlueDanube

Danube blue Waltz

Austria same poem

Wasser ist gleich In allenSprachen . Wasser ist gleichfür alle Lebewesen

Water is the same In alllanguages. Water is thesame to all living beings.

Austria do proverb Über Wasser haltenKeep your head abovewater

you will do it

Austria family proverb Blut ist dicker als Wasser Blood is thicker than water family always comes first

Austria happy proverbMunter wie ein Fisch imWasser

as happy as a pig in mud To feel good and happy

Austria problem proverbMir steht das Wasser bis zumHals

I´m up to my eyes introuble

I have a lot to do, I have a lot of problems

Austria problem proverbDas ist Wasser auf seineMühle!

That’s all grist to his mill!To add fuel to the fire

to make a problem worse; fuelto ones´s fire

Austria rain proverb Es regnet wie aus Kübeln It’s raining cats and dogs it is raining very strong



Austria silent proverb Stille Wasser sind tief Still waters run deep a silent person can do a lot

Austria time proverb

"Bis dahin wird noch vielWasser die Donau (Fluss)hinunter fließen!"

Until then, much water isstill going to flow down theDanube (river).

It will take long.

Germany help Proverb

Wer andere aus dem Wasserziehen will, muss selbst auf dem Trockenen stehen.

If you want to pullsomeone out of the water,you must stand on dry

round.

Those who want to help othersmust be strong enough tosucceed.

Germany risk ProverbEr muss ins kalte Wasserspringen.

He must jump into the coldwater.

He must take the risk and dosomething he does not like to

do.

Germany strong Proverb

Wer andere aus dem Wasserziehen will, muss selbst auf dem Trockenen stehen.

If you want to pullsomeone out of the water,you must stand on dry

round.

Those who want to help othersmust be strong enough tosucceed.

Germany mildproverb

(China)

Das weiche Wasser besiegt den harten Fels.

The soft water overcomesthe hard rock.

A flexible, mild person can winover a stubborn and hard one.

Germany stubbornproverb

(China)

Das weiche Wasser besiegt den harten Fels.

The soft water overcomesthe hard rock.

A flexible, mild person can winover a stubborn and hard one.

Germany dreamproverb

(Germany)

Du kannst keinen Ozeanüberqueren, wenn du nuraufs Wasser starrst.

You cannot cross anyocean by just staring intothe water.

When you have a dream youmust start realizing it yourself,nothing happens if you standand wait.

Germany efficient proverb

(Germany)

Je mehr der Brunnengebraucht wird, je mehr gibt er Wasser.

The more a well is used, themore water it provides.

The more you do, the moreefficient you are.



Germany exploit proverb

(Germany)

Feuer verzehrt, Wasserernährt.

Fire eats, water feeds.Some people tend to exploit you, others are inclined tosupport you.

Germany loveproverb

(Germany)

Für Menschen, die lieben, ist sogar Wasser süß.

For people in love evenwater tastes sweet.

When you are in love you seethe positive side of things.

Germany support proverb

(Germany)

Feuer verzehrt, Wasserernährt.

Fire eats, water feeds.Some people tend to exploit you, others are inclined tosupport you.

Germany wait proverb

(Germany)

Du kannst keinen Ozeanüberqueren, wenn du nur

aufs Wasser starrst.

You cannot cross anyocean by just staring into

the water.

When you have a dream youmust start realizing it yourself,nothing happens if you standand wait.

Germany blameproverb

(India)

Tadle nicht den Fluss, wennDu ins Wasser fällst.

Do not put the blame onthe river when you fall intothe water.

Do not put the blame for yourfaults on others.

Germany faultsproverb

(India)

Tadle nicht den Fluss, wennDu ins Wasser fällst.

Do not put the blame onthe river when you fall intothe water.

Do not put the blame for yourfaults on others.

Germany experiencesaying

(Germany)

Er ist mit allen Wasserngewaschen.

He has been washed withall kinds of water. He is very experienced.

Germany survivesaying

(Greece)Wasser ist Leben. Water is life .

Without water we cannot survive.

Hungary abundance

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Dunát lehet vele rekeszteni.The Danube could be

blocked with them.It is far too abundant.



Hungary careful

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Méri a vizet maga előtt.H/She fathoms the water

ahead.

Moves at a slow pace carefully

considering each step.

Hungary lies

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Hazudik, mint a vízfolyás.S/He tells lies like flowing

water.S/He tells lies easily and casually.

Hungary opportunity

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Vízbe esett ember habhoz is

kap.

When in water, one would

grab for even the bubbles.

When in trouble, people try to

grab the slightest opportunity to

get out of it.

Hungary practice

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Bort iszik és vizet prédikál.S/He drinks wine while s/he

preaches water.

S/He does not practice what s/he

teaches.

Hungary sight

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Menj a víz alá! Go underwater!I don't want to see you or talk to

you.

Hungary teaching

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Bort iszik és vizet prédikál.S/He drinks wine while s/he

preaches water.

S/He does not practice what s/he

teaches.

Hungary too much

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

A csapból is ez folyik. It flows from the taps, too.

It's on TV, the news and I'm tired

of listening to it again and again.

Hungary trouble

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Vízbe esett ember habhoz is

kap.

When in water, one would

grab for even the bubbles.

When in trouble, people try to

grab the slightest opportunity to

get out of it.

Hungary wealth

O. Nagy,

Gábor.

Magyar

szólások és

Él, mint hal a vízben. S/He lives like fish in water.

S/He lives in wealthy conditions

and is able to lead a comfortable

way of life.



Italy act proverbTra il dire e il fare c'è dimezzo il mare

There’s a sea of differencebetween saying and doingsomething

It’s easy to say something, but not so easy to do it

Italy bad situation proverb Piove sul bagnato It rains upon wet groundWe use it to refer to somethingnegative that increases analready bad situation

Italy bride proverbSposa bagnata, sposafortunata

A wet bride is a lucky bride

If it rains during a wedding, it means that the bride will belucky forever.

Italy degenerate proverbLa goccia che fa traboccare ilvaso

The drop which makes thejar overflow

We use it to describe an event that adds to a pre-existingsituation, thus making thingsde enerate

Italy ease proverbSentirsi come un pesce fuord'acqua

To feel like a fish out of water

We use it when someonedoesn’t feel at one’s ease in acertain situation.

Italy get lost proverbPerdersi in un bicchierd'acqua

To get lost in a glass of water

We use it when someone getslost in an easy situation.

Italy luck proverb

Sposa bagnata, sposafortunata A wet bride is a lucky bride


Italy say proverbTra il dire e il fare c'è dimezzo il mare

There’s a sea of differencebetween saying and doingsomething

It’s easy to say something, but not so easy to do it

Italy silent proverb Acqua in bocca Keep water in your mouthAct as if you had water in yourmouth: be silent



Italy similarity proverbAssomigliarsi come due gocced'acqua

To be similar like to eachother like two water drops

We use it when two people havethe same physical aspect, orwhen they have the samecharacter.

Italy sincere proverb Essere acqua e sapone To be water and soapTo be a natural and sincereperson.

Italy sky (mackerel-) proverbCielo a pecorelle, pioggia acatinelle

Mackerel sky: rain intorrents

If the sky is mackerel it will raina lot

Italy wedding proverbSposa bagnata, sposafortunata

A wet bride is a lucky bride


Lithuania advantages proverbUgnis ir vanduo yra geritarnautojai, bet blogi meistrai

Fire and water are goodservants, but bad masters

Not everything is good, also it has disvantages

Lithuania bad actions proverbNespjauk į vandenį, kol patsneatsigerei

Never cast dirt into that fountain of which thou hast sometime drak

Don't do anything bad foranyone, because it may happento you

Lithuania bread proverb

Duona - motina, vanduo -

tėvasBread is mother, water is

father

It means that without bread ant

water we won't live, likewithout ours parents

Lithuania danger proverbŽiurkės pirmos paliekaskęstantį laivą

Rats desert a sinking shipIf something happens forsomebody, he tries to avoiddanger as soon as possible

Lithuania disadvantages proverbUgnis ir vanduo yra geritarnautojai, bet blogi meistrai

Fire and water are goodservants, but bad masters

Not everything is good, also it has disvantages



Lithuania hard proverbIš didelio debesies iškrentanedaug lietaus

From a big cloud comeslittle rain

When at the beginningsomething is very hard, then at the end everything appears tobe very simple

Lithuania help proverbTu gali arklį nuvesti į vandenį,bet negali priversti jo gerti

You can take a horse to thewater, but you can't makehim drink

It means when someone tries tohelp you , it won't work unlessyou want and try youself

Lithuania lazy proverbPo gulinčiu akmeniu vanduoneprateka

After lying stone the waterdoes not flow

If you are lazy, you will neverrealize your aim

Lithuania parents proverbDuona - motina, vanduo -tėvas

Bread is mother, water isfather

It means that without bread ant water we won't live, like

without our parents

Lithuania similarity proverb Kaip du vandens lašai As two drops of waterIt means that something is verysimiliar

Lithuania simple proverbIš didelio debesies iškrentanedaug lietaus

From a big cloud comeslittle rain

When at the beginningsomething is very hard, then at the end everything appears tobe ver sim le

Lithuania time proverb

Gali virinti vandenį kiek nori,

tačiau tai liks tik vandeniu

You can boil water for a

long time, but it will beonly water

It means that not everything

changes over time

Lithuania work proverbLašas po lašo ir akmenįpratašo

A drop after drop make ahall in the rock

If you work hard, nobodyprevents

Poland brave proverb rzucić się na głęboką wodę to fall/ to throw oneself into deep waters

to be brave enough to dosomething dangerous, to riskand depend only on oneself,



Poland disappear proverb przepaść jak kamień wwodę

to fall like stone into waterto disappear suddenly, without being noticed

Poland eat little proverb żyć o chlebie i wodzieto have only bread andwater

to eat little only to survive, livevery sparingly or in poverty

Poland fear proverbbać się jak diabeł święconejwody

to be afraid of somethinglike devil of holy water

to be scared of something, avoidsomething because of fear

Poland impulsive proverb w gorącej wodzie kąpany having a bath in hot waterto be impulsive, impatient,doing something before

thinking it over

Poland new situation proverb czuć się jak ryba w wodzie to feel like fish in waterto feel comfortably in a newsituation

Poland opposite proverb cicha woda brzegi rwie still waters run deep

someone who seems to be quiet,shy, not very sociable turns out to be quite the opposite –ener etic, amusin and sociable

Poland risk proverb rzucić się na głęboką wodę

to fall/ to throw oneself

into deep waters

to be brave enough to do

something dangerous, to riskand depend only on oneself,

Poland silent proverb nabrać wody w usta to have water in the mouthto be silent persistently, not want to express oneself in acertain issue

Spain mist rhymeMañanita de niebla, tarde depaseo.

Misty morning, afternoonwalk.

If the morning is misty, then theafternoon will be sunny.



Spain springtime rhyme

Marzo ventoso y abrillluvioso sacan a mayo floridoy hermoso.

Windy March and rainyApril give way to beautifulflowery May.

The usual pattern forspringtime in this area is likethis.

Spain weather rhyme En abril, aguas mil.A thousand showers inApril.

Frequent storms and suddendownpours is the usual weatherpattern in spring.

Spain fog rhymeSol blanco, agua para elcampo.

White sun, water for thefields.

Foggy weather is good for thecrops.

Spain offences (past-) sayingAgua pasada no muevemolino.

Past-waters don´t move themill.

It is useless to remember past offences. You have to forgive

and/or forget.

Spain spoil sayingAgua que no has de beber,déjala correr...

The water you don´t needto drink, let it flow...

Don´t spoil the things you don´t need or use.

Spain unexpected sayingCuando el río suena, agualleva...

Wnen you can hear theriver, there is water in it.

Nothing happens unexpectedly

Spain celebration song

El agua para las ranas...y pa

los peces que nadan bien.

Water is for the frogs...and

for the fish that swim verywell.

Water is not the suitable drink

for a celebration.

Turkey attack proverb Su uyur düşman uyumazWater sleeps but theenemy never sleeps

Enemy is always ready to attack

Turkey care proverb Damlaya damlaya göl olur. By drops it may be a pond.Even small things grow andincrease if you take care of them



Turkey children proverb Su küçüğün söz büyüğünWater is for children,speech for adults

the children must obey theirparents

Turkey enemy proverb Su uyur düşman uyumazWater sleeps but theenemy never sleeps

Enemy is always ready to attack

Turkey hope proverbDereyi görmeden paçalarısıvama

Do not roll up yourtrousers before reachingthe stream

Do not be hopeful every time.Everything can be change untilit comes true.Nothing is certain.

Turkeymoney(earning-)

proverb Su akarken testiyi doldurmalıWe should fill up the jugwhile water flowing

save your money while you areearning

Turkey parents proverb Su küçüğün söz büyüğünWater is for children,speech for adults

the children must obey theirparents

Turkey work proverb Akan su yosun tutmazFlowing water gathers nomoss

If you work hard, you get what you want.

Turkey cry quote Sulu gözlü Watery eyes cry for everything

Turkey dream(s) quote Hayalleri suya düşmek Dreams falling into waterIf you want something and it hasn't come true ,this quote issaid.

Turkey talent quote Eline su dökememekNot be able to pour wateronto your hand

more talented than someoneelse



Turkey time quote Ayağı suya ermekReach someone's foot intothe water

notice something after a longperiod of time



EXAMPLE OF USAGE

survive and make a living

Relationships within thefamily are stronger thanany other kind

To feel in one’s element

one has had enough

Shouting at a crying childjust adds fuel to the fire.

heavy rain



This is another way of saying look before youleap.

It takes a long time beforethat happens!







We say it when someonehas to keep a secret. Infact, when someone hashis her mouth full of







The new day may bemisty but you can be surethe sun will shine later.



When the weather is hardin spring, we know thistime the reward will be aseason of flowers and

As soon as winterfinishes, rainy days arewelcome: it is not coldand ever bod smilesThere is always a need of water for agriculturalpurposes in this area.Conditions are hard. ATo end a conversationabout some sadcircumstances, coming

back to the resent, tr in

It is also used in a figuredmoral sense.

You have heard a gossipor rumour and someonesays this sentence toconclude that it mi ht beThis is one of the manysongs for popular

festivals in villages.Ever bod knows this





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Dictionary of Proverbs