De Proverbio - Electronic Journal of International Proverb Studies. Proverbs, Quotations, Sayings, Wellerisms.

Monday, 22 March 2010

When the candles are out, all women are fair.

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Daily Quote :
Marriage is like a cage; one sees the birds outside desperate to get in, and those inside desperate to get out.
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( Montaigne, Michel Eyquem De | Marriage )

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BACCHUS hath drowned more men than Neptune.
Mai multi se îneacã în bãuturã decât în apã.

He would fall on his BACK and break his nose.
Cade pe spate si-si frânge nasul.
Sim. An unfortunate man would be drowned in a tea-cup.

Nothing so BAD but it might have been worse.
Rãu cu rãu, dar mai rãu fãrã rãu.

Nothing so BAD in which there is not something of good.
La tot rãul este si un bine.
Var. Nothing but is good for something.
Sim. No great loss but some small profit .
Cf. ILL LUCK is good for something.

As you BAKE, so shall you eat.
Cum îti vei gãti, asa vei prânzi.
Var. As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you make your BED, so you must lie on it / As they BREW, so let them drink

Make not a BALK of good ground.
Nu da binelui cu piciorul, cã pe urmã o sã-i duci dorul.

A BARBER learns to shave by shaving fools.
Bãrbierul învatã meseria pe capul prostilor.

BE what you would seem to be.
Cum ti-e chipul te poartã.
Ori te poartã cum ti-e vorba, ori vorbeste cum ti-e portul.
Var. Be what you seem, and seem what you are.

BEADS about the neck and the devil in the heart.
Unde vezi mãtãnii multe, departe, sã nu te muste.
Var. The beads in the hand and the devil in capuch.
Cf. The CROSS on his breast and the devil in his heart.

A BEAN in liberty is better than a comfit in prison.
Pasãrea în colivie nu se bucurã, si de e vie.
Sim. Liberty is more worth than gold / Lean liberty is better than fat slavery.

BEAR and forbear.
Rabdã suflete cât poti, nu-ti da taina cãtre toti.
Rabdã inimã si taci, cã n-ai alta ce sã faci.

Call the BEAR 'uncle' till you are safe across the bridge.
Fã-te frate cu dracu pânã treci puntea.
Sai si în spatele dracului pânã vei trece gârla.
Sim. Once on shore, we pray no more./ The river past and God forgotten.
Cf. The DANGER past and God forgotten.

Don't sell the BEAR's skin before you have caught him.
Nu vinde pielea ursului înainte de a-l ucide.
Nu vinde pielea ursului din pãdure.
Ursu-i în pãdure si-i vinde pielea în târg.
Sim. Count not four, except you have them in the wallet / Do not halloo till you are out of the wood / Never fry fish till it's caught.
Cf. Don't cross the BRIDGE till you come to it / Do not count your CHICKENS before they are hatched / It is not good praising a FORD till a man be over.

Take no more on you than you're able to BEAR.
Povarã mai grea decât spinarea ta sã nu ridici, ca sã nu te poticnesti.
Cf. An ASS endures his burden, but not more than his burden.

If the BEARD were all, the goat might preach.
Barbã lungã si capra are, dar minte nicicum nu are.
Cf. The BRAINS don't lie in the beard.

It is not the BEARD that makes the philosopher.
Nu barba îl face pe filozof, filozof.

BEAUTY carries its dower in its face.
Fata frumoasã se mãritã fãrã zestre.
Totdeauna fetisoara mãritã pe fetisoara.
Sim. A fair face is half a portion.

BEAUTY fades like a flower.
Frumusetea la om ca floarea la pom.
Sim. Beauty is but a blossom.

As you make your BED, so you must lie on it.
Cum îti vei face patul, asa vei dormi.
Cum îti vei asterne, asa vei dormi.
Sim. As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you BAKE, so shall you eat / As they BREW, so let them drink.

Better go to BED supperless than to rise in debt.
Cine se culcã flãmând se scoalã fãrã datorii.

Early to BED and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
Scoalã-te de dimineatã, dacã vrei sã-ti lungesti viata.

Who goes to BED supperless, all night tumbles and tosses.
Cine se culcã nemâncat codri viseazã.
Flãmândul codri viseazã.

BEES that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.
Albina în gurã tine mierea cea mai dulce, si în coadã acul cel mai otrãvitor.

Better BEG than steal.
Mai bine sã ceri decât sã furi.

The BEGGAR may sing before the thief.
Sãracul nu se teme de tâlhari.
Cel gol trebuintã n-are d-a-si pãzi hainele sale.
Sim. A beggar can never be bankrupt.
Cf. No NAKED man is sought after to be rifled.

A BEGGAR's purse is bottomless.
Sacul cersetorului n-are fund.
Var. A beggar's purse is always empty / A beggar's scrip is never filled.

Better never to BEGIN than never to make an end.
Când te apuci de vreo treabã n-o lãsa fãrã ispravã.
Cine nu poate sãvârsi un lucru, sã nu se apuce de dânsul.
Sim. Let him that beginneth the song make an end.

Good to BEGIN well, better to end well.
Începutul fie cum o fi, sfârsitul sã fie bun.

A bad BEGINNING, a bad ending.
A faptelor rele începãturã spre rãu sfârsit pleacã.

A good BEGINNING makes a good ending.
Care începe bine sfârseste frumos.

Every BEGINNING is hard.
Tot începutul e greu.
Var. All beginnings are hard (difficult).
Cf. It is the first STEP that is difficult.

Well BEGUN is half done.
Lucrul bine început e pe jumãtate fãcut.
Treaba bine începutã e pe jumãtate terminatã.
Sim. The first blow is half the battle.

BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see.
Ascultã tot, dar nu crede tot.

We soon BELIEVE what we desire.
Cine ce pofteste lesne crede.
Tot ce cu mare poftã iubim, acela cu mare lesnire credem.

A cracked BELL can never sound well.
Capul cel tâmpit odorogeste ca un butoi dogit.

A BELLY full of gluttony will never study willingly.
Stomacul plin nu-nvatã bucuros.
Burta plinã nu învatã bine.
Sim. Fat paunches have lean pates.

Better BELLY burst than good meat lost.
Decât sã rãmâie brânza, mai bine sã crape rânza.

He whose BELLY is full believes not him who is fasting.
Sãtulul nu crede flãmândului.
Cf. Little knows the FAT man (sow) what the lean does mean.

His BELLY cries cupboard.
Stomacul când chiorãieste la demâncare gândeste.

The BELLY wants ears.
Cel flãmând n-are urechi de ascultat.
Stomacul (Pântecele) gol n-are urechi de ascultat.
Var. Hungry bellies have no ears.

A BELLYFUL is a bellyful, whether it be meat or drink.
Pântecele se umple si cu paie si cu fân.

Better BEND than break.
Îndoaie-te ca trestia si vântul nu te va rupe.
Cf. All that SHAKES falls not.

A good BESTILL is worth a groat.
Vorba multã, sãrãcia omului.

If BETTER were within, better would come out.
Din omul bun, bun lucru iese.

The BETTER-natured, the sooner undone.
Cel mai bun, mai prost.

A BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Mai bine vrabia în mânã decât cioara-n par.
Nu da vrabia din mânã pe cioara din par.
Mai bine o pasãre în colivie decât zece pe gard.
Mai bine una si-n colivie decât în vânt o mie.
Sim. A feather in hand is better than a bird in the air / Better a fowl in hand nor two flying.

Each BIRD loves to hear himself sing.
Fiecare pasãre pe limba ei piere.

It is an ill BIRD that fouls its own nest.
Urâtã pasãre este aceea care îsi spurcã cuibul sãu.

Such BIRD, such egg.
Rodul dupã sãmântã, ca oul dupã pasãre.
Sim. An evil crow, an evil egg / Like crow, like egg.

The BIRD is known by his note.
Pasãrea dupã glas se cunoaste.
Cf. The BIRD is known by his note, the man by his words.

The BIRD is known by his note, the man by his words.
Pasãrea dupã ce se cunoaste? Dupã cântec. Mojicul dupã ce se cunoaste? Dupã vorbã.
Omul dupã grai, ca clopotul dupã sunet, îndatã se cunoaste.
Dupã glas cunosti pe om si pe dobitoc.
Cf. The BIRD is known by his note.

The BIRD loves her nest.
Fiecare pasãre îsi iubeste cuibul.
Var. Every bird likes his own nest best.

The early BIRD catches the worm.
Cine se scoalã de dimineatã departe ajunge.
Cine pleacã mai de dimineatã ajunge mai-nainte.

Thou art a bitter BIRD, said the raven to the starling.
Râde dracul de porumbel si nu se vede pe el.
Râde dracul de porumbe negre si pe sine nu se vede.
Sim. The kettle calls the pot black-brows (burnt-arse) / The pot calls the kettle black.
Cf. The FRYING-PAN said to the kettle, "Avaunt, black brows!" / The KETTLE calls the pot black-brows (burnt-arse).

BIRDS of a feather flock together.
Cioarã lângã cioarã zboarã.
Cioara lângã cioarã trage, alte pãsãri nu-i sunt drage.
Cine se potriveste, lesne se-nsoteste.
Sim. Likeness causes liking.
Cf. LIKE will to like.
* Ecclesiasticus 27, 9 / Sirah 27, 9

There are no BIRDS of this year in last year's nests.
Tot un cuc nu ne cântã în toatã vremea.
Nu mai bate vântul care bãtea.

Great BIRTH is a very poor dish at table.
E de neam mare, dar crescut în sãrãcie.

Take the BIT and the buffet with it.
Cine-ncalecã mãgarul sã-i sufere nãravul.

The hasty BITCH brings forth blind whelps.
Cãteaua de pripã îsi naste cãteii fãrã ochi.
Cf. HASTE makes waste / Too HASTY burned his lips.

BLAB is wist and out it must.
Ce-i în gusã, si-n cãpusã.

He that is a BLAB is a scab.
Gurã spartã, râie curatã.

Two BLACKS do not make a white.
Înnegrind pe altul nu te albesti pe tine.

A BLIND man may sometimes hit the mark.
Si gãina oarbã nimereste câte un grãunt.
Si o gãinã chioarã scurmând gãseste câteodatã mãrgãritare.
Sim. A blind man may perchance catch the hare (crow).

A BLIND man will not thank you for a looking-glass.
Ce foloseste orbului fata frumoasã?
Var. A blind man has no need of a looking-glass.

BLIND men should judge no colours.
Nu orbul ci cel cu ochi gândeascã de vopsele.

If the BLIND lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Orbul pe orb povãtuind cad amândoi în groapã (mormânt).
* Matthew 15, 14 / Matei 15, 14

Men are BLIND in their own cause.
Omul poate povãtui pe altul, dar pe sine niciodatã.

There's none so BLIND as those who will not see.
Nu e mai orb decât cel ce nu vrea sã vadã.
Var. None so blind as those who won't see.

BLOOD is thicker than water.
Sângele apã nu se face.
Var. Blood is not water.

You cannot get BLOOD from a stone.
A scoate apã (lapte) din piatrã.
Var. You cannot get milk (water) from a stone.

Great BOAST and small roast makes unsavoury mouths.
Fudulia intrã-n casã, sãrãcia dupã usã.
Cioarã mândrã si flãmândã.

A little BODY often harbours a great soul.
Mic la stat, mare la sfat.
Si pitulicea este micã, dar printre pãsãri e voinicã.

If you love the BOLL, you cannot hate branches.
Pentru fragã si frunza ti-e dragã.

The nearer the BONE, the sweeter the flesh.
Carnea de lângã os e cea mai dulce.

What is bred in the BONE will not out of the flesh.
Nãravul din fire n-are lecuire.
Nãravu-nrãdãcinat nu poate fi vindecat.
Sim. Though you cast out nature with a fork, it will still return.

As soon as a man is BORN he begins to die.
Omu-i cu moartea dupã cap.
Sim. It is as natural to die as to be born / Our lives are but our marches to the grave.
Cf. He that is once BORN, once must die.

He that is once BORN, once must die.
Cine vede nasterea vede si moartea.
Ce naste moare.
Sim. It is as natural to die as to be born / Our lives are but our marches to the grave.
Cf. As soon as a man is BORN he begins to die / All that LIVES must die / All MEN are mortal.

The BORROWER is servant to the lender.
Cel ce împrumutã este slujitor celui de la care se împrumutã.
* Proverbs 22, 7 / Pilde 22, 7

He that goes a-BORROWING, goes a-sorrowing.
Fã împrumuturi si te gãteste de supãrãri.
Datoria e plinã de griji.

Cut not the BOUGH that thou standest upon.
A-si tãia singur craca de sub picioare.
Var. Don't cut the bough you are standing on.

A BOW long bent at last waxes weak.
Nu întinde coarda pre mult, cã se rupe.
Coarda mereu întinsã se rupe.

BOYS will be boys.
Copilul trebuie sã fie copil.

Great BRAGGERS, little doers.
Gurã multã, treabã putinã.
Var. They brag most that can do least.
Sim. Much bruit and little fruit / Great boast and little roast / Much cry and little wool.
Cf. The greatest TALKERS are the least doers / A long TONGUE is a sign of a short hand.

The BRAINS don't lie in the beard.
Plini de barbã si goi de minte.
Barbã mare, minte n-are.
Cf. If the BEARD were all, the goat might preach.

The BRAYING of an ass does not reach heaven.
Glasul mãgarului nu se aude-n cer.
Lãtrãtura câinelui si zbierãtura mãgarului nu se aud în cer.
Cf. The PRAYERS of the wicked won't prevail.

Dry BREAD at home is better than roast meat abroad.
Fie pâinea cât de rea tot mai bunã în tara mea.
Fie pâinea cât de bunã nu-i bunã-n tarã strãinã.
Decât în tarã strãinã, cu pitã si cu slãninã, mai bine în satul tãu, cu mãlaiu cât de rãu.

Dry BREAD is better with love than a fat capon with fear.
Mai bine pâine neagrã cu dragoste curatã decât albã ca zãpada si plinã de sudalmã.
Mai bine varzã acrã cu-nvoialã decât zahãr dulce cu cârtealã.
Decât mãmãligã cu unt si sã mã uit în pãmânt, mai bine pâine cu sare si sã mã uit la soare.
Sim. Better an egg in peace than an ox in war.

Eaten BREAD is soon forgotten.
Ceea ce s-a mâncat s-a si uitat.
Sim. When good cheer is lacking, our friends will be packing.

Man cannot live by BREAD alone.
Nu numai cu pâine va trãi omul.
* Matthew 4, 4 / Matei 4, 4
* Luke 4, 4 / Luca 4, 4
* Deuteronomy 8, 3 / Deuteronomul 8, 3

Keep (Save) your BREATH to cool your broth (porridge).
Nu te bãga unde nu-ti fierbe oala.

One man's BREATH another's death.
Moartea unora este viata altora.
Sim. One man's loss is another man's gain.

As they BREW, so let them drink.
Cine face gãlusca trebuie s-o si-nghitã.
Precum faci, asa tragi.
Capul face, capul trage.
Cum dumicasi, asa mâncasi.
Sim. As they brew, so let them bake.
Cf. As you BAKE, so shall you eat / As you make your BED, so you must lie on it.

It is meet that a man be at his own BRIDAL.
Cine nu se aflã la nunta-i acasã atunci altu-n locu-i joacã cu mireasa.

Don't cross the BRIDGE till you come to it.
Nu ridica poalele înainte de a ajunge la gârlã.
Pânã ajungi la pârâu nu-ti ridica poalele.
Sim. Count not four, except you have them in the wallet / Do not halloo till you are out of the wood / Never fry fish till it's caught.
Cf. Don't sell the BEAR's skin before you have caught him / Do not count your CHICKENS before they are hatched / It is not good praising a FORD till a man be over.

A new BROOM sweeps clean.
Mãtura nouã mãturã bine.
Var. New brooms sweep clean.

Good BROTH may be made in an old pot.
Gãina bãtrânã face ciorba (zeama) bunã.

Between two BROTHERS two witness and a notary.
Fratele îti scoate ochii.

BUILDING and marrying of children are great wasters.
Cine si-a mãritat fata si-si clãdeste o casã cunoaste greutãtile vietii.
Sim. Building is a sweet impoverishing.

He who BUILDS by the roadside has many masters.
Cine pe lângã drum zideste multi stãpâni dobândeste.
Sim. A house built by the wayside is either too high or too low.

He bellows like a BULL, but is as weak as a bulrush.
Si broasca e micã, dar gurã mare face.

Every man shall bear his own BURDEN.
Fiecare îsi va purta sarcina sa.
* Galatians 6, 5 / Galateni 6, 5

BUSH natural; more hair than wit.
Coadã lungã, minte scurtã.
Plete lungi si minte scurtã, judecatã mai mãruntã.
Sim. Long hair and short wit.

One beats the BUSH and another catches the birds.
Unul umblã si strãbate si pe alt fericirea-l bate.
Unul cascã gura si altul înghite.
Sim. Little dogs start the hare, the great get her.
Cf. The POOR man turns his cake and another comes and takes it away / One SOWS and another reaps.

BUSINESS is business.
Frate, frate, dar brânza-i pe bani.
Sim. One hand will not wash the other for nothing.

The BUTCHER looked for his knife and it was in his mouth.
Cautã luleaua si el cu ea-n gurã.
Cf. You look for the HORSE you ride on.

They that have got good store of BUTTER may lay it thick on their bread.
Cine are bea si mãnâncã, cine nu, stã si se uitã.
Cine poate oase roade, cine nu nici carne moale.

The BUYER needs a hundred eyes, the seller but one.
Cine deschide ochii dupã ce cumpãrã, cumpãrã totdeauna marfã proastã.
Cine nu deschide ochii deschide punga.
Sim. Let the buyer beware.

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