LL-L "Idiomatica" 2003.04.09 (07) [E]

[Lowlands-L]

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L O W L A N D S - L * 09.APR.2003 (07) * ISSN 189-5582 * LCSN 96-4226
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From: Stella en Henno <stellahenno at hetnet.nl>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2003.04.09 (02) [E]

> From: luc.hellinckx at pandora.be <luc.hellinckx at pandora.be>
> Subject: Idiomatica
>
> Beste liëglanners,
>
> Yesterday I came across a striking similarity. Dutch has the proverb "Je
> moet het ijzer smeden als het heet is" (meaning "Make hay while the sun
> shines").
> Well, my Chinese students told me that they have exactly the same proverb
as
> the Dutch one (using Chinese words of course for _ijzer_, _smeden_ and
> _heet_).
> What about Low Saxon?
> Greetings,
>
> Luc Hellinckx
>
> ----------

This is an old one, it has a Latin equivalent as well:
Tundatur ferrum, dum novus ignis inest, or
Ferrum cudendum est dum candet in igne.

in Spanish: Al hierro caliente, batir de repente
                Cuando el hierro está encendido, entonces ha de ser batendo.

in French: Il faut battre le fer pendant (tandis) qu'il est chaud.
in German: Man muß das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist
(also: Mach Heu wenn die Sonne scheint)
etc etc.

Other lowlandic "equivalents" (in a broad sense):

WF: Men moat it izer smeie as it gleon is.
        As it molken rûn is, moat men tsjernje.
        Skippers skoftsje net, as se sile kinne.
        In goede fisker moat syn tiid fan opheljen witte.
        As de brij ree is, moat se opskept wurde.

Afr: Smee die yster terwyl dit heet is.
Eng: Strike while the iron's hot
        Make hay while the sun shines.
        Hoist your sail when the wind is fair.

Dutch:  Men moet het ijzer smeden als het heet is.
            Men moet hooien als de zon schijnt.

related:
            Men moet zeilen als de wind waait.
            Eet vis, als er vis is.
            Gaap als je pap wordt geboden.
            Wie de pap geboden wordt, moet gapen.
WF:       Dy't byt hat, moat ophelje.
              Helje op, as it byt.
               No is 't de tiid om 't hea yn te heljen.
Afr:        As dit pap reën, moet jy skep.
              As die stroom loop, moet jy skep.
Eng:        gather ye rosebuds while ye may.
              When the shoulder of mutton is going, it's good to take a
slice.
                When the pig is proferred, hold up the poke.

(source: van Dale spreekwoordenboek)

Henno Brandsma

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