[Lexicog] Proverbs and their cross-cultural equivalents

[Fritz Goerling]

From: Fritz Goerling

In bilingual proverb dictionaries one can find exact
cross-cultural equivalents and proverbs that mean
approximately the same. Here are a few between German
and English. Do you have the same or similar ones in
your language?

Alte Liebe rostet nicht (Old love does not rust)
= True love never dies
Alter schützt vor Torheit nicht
(Old age does not save one from foolishness)
= No fool like an old fool
Aus den Augen, aus dem Sinn = Out of sight, out of mind.
Den Nagel auf den Kopf treffen = To hit the nail on the head
Die dümmsten Bauern haben die dicksten Kartoffeln
(the most stupid farmers have the biggest potatoes)
= Dumb luck.
Liebe geht durch den Magen (Love goes via the stomach)
= The way to a man's heart is through his stomach
Ehrlich währt am längsten (Honest lasts the longest)
= Honesty is the best policy
Einem geschenkten Gaul schaut man nicht ins Maul
= Don't look a gift horse in the mouth
Ende gut, alles gut = All's well that ends well
Es ist nicht alles Gold, was glänzt = All that glitters is not gold
Freunde erkennt man in der Not (One knows friends in need)
= A friend in need is a friend indeed
Frisch gewagt ist halb gewonnen (freshly ventured, is half won)
= Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Gleich und gleich gesellt sich gern (Same and same like to associate)
= Birds of a feather flock together
Gut Ding will Weile haben = Good things take time
Hochmut kommt vor dem Fall = Pride goeth before the fall
Hunde die bellen, beissen nicht = Barking dogs don't bite
Lieber einen Spatz in der Hand, als eine Taube auf dem Dach
(Better a sparrow in the hand than a swallow on the roof)
= A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Mädchen, die pfeifen und Hühner die krähn, soll man beizeiten den
Hals herumdrehn
= Whistling girls and crowing hens always come to a bad ends
Morgenstund' hat Gold im Mund (The morning hour has gold in its mouth) =
The early bird catches the worm
Stille Wasser gründen tief = Still waters run deep
Übung macht den Meister (Practice makes the master)
= Practice makes perfect
Viele Köche verderben den Brei = Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Vor lauter Bäumen den Wald nicht sehen
= Can't see the forest for the trees
Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Mäuse
= When the cat's away the mice will play
Wer im Glashaus sitzt soll nicht mit Steinen werfen
= People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
Wer zuletzt lacht, lacht am besten = He who laughs last, laughs best






---
Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free.
Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com).
Version: 6.0.721 / Virus Database: 477 - Release Date: 7/16/2004



------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor --------------------~-->
$9.95 domain names from Yahoo!. Register anything.
http://us.click.yahoo.com/J8kdrA/y20IAA/yQLSAA/HKE4lB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->


Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lexicographylist/

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    lexicographylist-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/