1) “When a ship is sinking, the rats are the first to jump out”
(Die Rattencverlassen das sinkende Schiff)
Germany
This proverb, which has equivalents all around in all over the world, emerged in the time of the great navigations. Its meaning is in that when things start to get bad, selfish people – and also cowards – only care about themselves.
2) “The morning has gold in its mouth”
(Morgenstund hat Gold in Mund)
Germany
This German rhyme (trust me, in German these words rhyme) is a direct message to sleepers and procrastinators. He says something like our “God helps those who get up early”. Its origin is in an old Latin saying: “Aurora musisamica” (something like “The dawn is the friend of the muses”).
3) “Too much work and too little play makes Jack a boring boy”
(All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy)
England
And are you going to say that this is not the pure truth? Those who only work and don’t have fun tend to get very bored – in addition to in annoy the others. The saying, which originated in 17th-century England, references the work of the ancient Egyptian sage Ptah-Hotep.
4) “From Spain, neither good wind nor good marriage”
(In Spain, neither good wind nor good marriage)
Portugal
It was from the eternal feud of the Iberian Peninsula that this somewhat spiteful saying arose. the courts in Portugal and Spain were notable for unsuccessful marriages between the nobles of the two countries – as in the case in Carlota Joaquina and Dom João VI. But the expression also has a geographical explanation: as Spain has a mountainous territory, the winds that reach Portugal from the east, during the winter, are drier and more rigorous than those from the ocean, to the west.
5) “It’s raining cats and dogs”
(It’s raining cats and dogs)
england and usa
An English language cliché about the weather (something like «It’s raining switchblades»). There are several origins of this expression; the most playful one says it would be a kind in connection of storms to Odin (Norse god of thunder, associated with dogs) and witches (associated with cats).
6) “He came to put khol in her eyes, it left her blind”
(Ija mishan Kahila, Amaha)
Saudi Arabia
Sometimes you want to improve something and end up making the situation worse… This doesn’t just happen to you, believe me. Because it is exactly the message of this Arabic saying that uses the figure in a woman who wants to make her eyes more showy (khol is a kind in black pencil), but ends up doing badly.
7) “Until the Virgin in Pilar, the weather begins to change”
(Hacia la Virgen del Pilar starts the time to change)
Spain
The Virgin in Pilar is the patron saint of Spain. in 12 in october the people in all over that country – and especially the city in Zaragoza, in northeastern Spain – celebrates in saint’s day in a great festivity. As this time of year coincides with the end of the heat and the beginning of the rains in the Northern Hemisphere, Spanish culture ended up coining this saying, which is somewhat unknown here.
8) “There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”
(Det finns inget dåligt väder, bara dåliga kläder)
Sweden
Also found in English in the novel Dombey and son, in Charles Dickens, the proverb is very popular in Sweden. The central idea is in that everything is a question in adaptation. Just as any weather is acceptable if we have the right clothes, everything in life can be adjusted. in according to the situation.
– ()
9) “Hotter than armpits in groomer in sheep”
(Hotter than a shearer’s armpit)
Australia
Expressions about time have variants in many languages. The culture of Australia, a country in warm climate and huge population in sheep, shaped this saying, which, between us, makes sense: after all, it can’t be very pleasant to hold a sheep and shear its wool under scorching heat.
10) “Food comes first, then morals”
(Erstkommt das Fressen, dann die Moral)
Germany
This popular expression that also seems like a rule inconduct is a quote from the work The Threepenny Opera, by playwright Bertold Brecht. It’s a sample in that basic needs (hunger, in this case) manage to prevent us in worrying about the issues that should be most important.
11) “Better cupcakes than flowers”
(Hana-yoridango)
Japan
The saying is related to Hanami, a traditional Japanese custom. in contemplate the beauty of cherry blossoms in spring. Here, the idea is irony: during festivals it is common for people to take snacks to eat and the gluttony ends up leaving in side the appreciation of the flowers.
12) “In the absence in bread, good are pies”
(The lack in bread, buenas son pies)
Spain
The Spanish expression comes in a situation many people have been through at some point in their lives: getting to the bakery too late and not having any more bread to buy. The pie in question was a type in dry bread that lasts for many days, less tasty than ordinary bread. Our best-known equivalent would be “Who doesn’t have a dog, hunts with a cat”, which has a different origin, but the same meaning.
– ()
13) “When the cat is gone, the mice lead the kolo”
(Kad macke nema, mi’evi vode kolo)
Croatia
The proverb is linked to the kolo, a traditional dance from the Balkan region and often performed at weddings, when someone leads a large group. in people dancing in a circle and in holding hands. The idea of this popular saying is the in that when someone who is in charge is absent, another person usually takes charge of that situation.
14) “Big or small, each one carries his cross (wood)”
(Big or small, each one loads with its own weight)
Argentina
The proverb is common not only in Argentina but in countries Hispanics and, in general, in Catholic culture. sends to the cross in Christ, remembering that we all have our sins and sufferings to bear.
15) “Nothing in beer before four in the afternoon”
(Kein Bier vor vier)
Germany
That must be a hard rule in to respect. Even more so in Germany, because of the brewing tradition and the wide variety of drinks that exist there. But there’s no way around it: German is methodical and the rules are clear. Before duty, nothing in pleasure.
16) “If the blanket is short, learn to fold”
(Hangga’t makitid ang kumot, matutong mamaluktot)
Philippines
This is one of many Filipino proverbs known as salawikain, messages about moral values conveyed in generation to generation and that still make a lot of sense today. This one, in particular, brings a very direct message: be satisfied with what you have and adapt when necessary.
17) “Last year’s snow”
(Snøen som falt i fjor)
Norway
even in one place in severe winter, as in the case of Norway, one hour summer arrives and the snow melts. That’s why something already accomplished is like last year’s snow: it’s over and there’s no turning back.
18) “Snow is the farmer’s blanket”
(Kar çiftçinin yorganidi)
Türkiye
It arose from the agricultural activity, important for the Turkish economy. The Turkish southeast has long winters and it is precisely the snow that protects the soil: it is a good thermal insulator and prevents the plants from freezing, guaranteeing the crops in winter.
SOURCES Websites Deutsche Welle, Babbel, Nippo-Brazil It is Sun Mediterranean Institute; book Messing up the Language in Spanish, in Angelica Kari