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

Thursday, 11 March 2010

There is no accounting for tastes.

Click here to see/listen to the equivalent proverb in:
French Italian Portuguese Romanian Spanish

Subscribe
Unsubscribe

Send the proverb of the day to a friend

Daily Quote :
We are all serving a life sentence in the dungeon of the self.
--Get Details
( Connolly, Cyril | Prison )

A Dictionary of English and Romance Languages Equivalent Proverbs

European Proverbs in 55 Languages with Equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese

You can find our
CD-Roms at

A HAIR of the dog that bit you.
Nu lãsa sã te muste câinele fãrã sã-i smulgi din pãr.

No HAIR so small but has his shadow.
Si firul de pãr îsi are umbra sa.
Paiul cât de mic îsi are umbra sa.
Fie tufa cât de micã, îsi are umbra ei.

Red HAIR; devil's hair.
De om ros si de cal bãlan sã te feresti ca de satan.
Sim. A red beard and a black head, catch him with a good trick and take him dead.

Between the HAMMER and the anvil.
A fi între ciocan si nicovalã.
Rãu e a fi între ciocan si ilãu.
Cf. Put not thy HAND between the bark and the tree.

Between the HAND and the lip the morsel may slip.
De la mânã pân-la gurã se pierde îmbucãtura.
Cf. Many a SLIP between the cup and the lip.

He that is fed at another's HAND may stay long ere he be full.
E rãu când astepti de la mâna altuia.
Cine bea apã din pumni strãini nu se saturã niciodatã.
Din pumni strãini nu te saturi când bei apã.
Sim. He that waits upon another's trencher, makes many a little dinner.
Cf. Who depends upon another man's TABLE often dines late.

Many kiss the HAND they wish cut off.
Sãrutã mâna pe care n-o poti tãia.
Mâna care nu o poate musca o sãrutã.

One HAND washes another and both the face.
O mânã spalã pe alta si amândouã obrazul.
Var. One hand washes the other.

Put not thy HAND between the bark and the tree.
Nu pune degetul între ciocan si nicovalã.
Cf. Between the HAMMER and the anvil.

Scatter with one HAND, gather with two.
Dã cu o mânã ca sã ia cu douã.
Dã cu o mânã si ia cu o mie.

Cold HANDS, warm heart.
Mâini reci, inimã fierbinte.
Mânã rece, inimã caldã.
Var. A cold hand and a warm heart.

Many HANDS make light work.
Multe mâini fac sarcina mai usoarã.

He that is born to be HANGED shall never be drowned.
Cine moare spânzurat nu moare înecat.
Cf. No flying from FATE / The FATED will happen / What MUST be, must be.

Call no man HAPPY till he dies.
Mai înainte de sfârsit pe nimeni sã nu-l socotesti fericit.
Cf. PRAISE no man till he is dead.
* Ecclesiasticus 11, 28 / Sirah 11, 30

HARD with hard makes not the stone wall.
Douã pietre tari nu pot mãcina bine.

First catch your HARE, then cook him.
Pune oala la foc si iepurele în pãdure.
Var. First catch your hare.

The HARE always returns to her form.
Iepurele în culcusul sãu se-nveseleste.

To hunt for a HARE with a tabor.
Cu doba nu prinzi iepuri.
Var. Drumming is not the way to catch a hare / To catch a hare with a tabor.
Sim. To fright a bird is not the way to catch her.

Where we least think, there goeth the HARE away.
De unde nu gândesti, d-acolo sare iepurele.
Sim. The hare starts when a man least expects it.

HARES may pull dead lions by the beard.
Când leul e mort, iepurii-i sar în spinare.
Când e bolnav leul, iepurii îi sar în spinare.
Pe leul mort si soarecii se catãrã.
Lupul când îmbãtrâneste, atunci si soarecii încalecã pe el.

If you run after two HARES, you will catch neither.
Cine aleargã dupã doi iepuri nu prinde niciunul.
Cine doi iepuri goneste, nici unul nu dobândeste.
Sim. Dogs that put up many hares kill none.

HASTE makes waste.
Graba stricã treaba.
Cf. The hasty BITCH brings forth blind whelps / Too HASTY burned his lips.

The more HASTE, the less speed.
Cine porneste cu graba se-ntâlneste cu zãbava.
Cu prea multã grabã nu faci multã ispravã.

Too HASTY burned his lips.
Cine se pripeste, adesea se poticneste.
Cf. The hasty BITCH brings forth blind whelps / HASTE makes waste.

The greatest HATE springs from the greatest love.
Iubirea peste mãsurã aduce în urmã urã.

HATRED stirreth up strife.
Ura aduce ceartã.
* Proverbs 10, 12 / Pilde 10, 12

A bald HEAD is soon shaven.
Chelul lesne se tunde.
Pe chel usor îl tunzi.

A forgetful HEAD makes a weary pair of heels.
Cine n-are cap, sã aibã picioare.
Unde nu-i cap, vai de picioare.
Dacã nu e cap, vai de picioare.
Sim. Little wit in the head makes much work for the feet / Who has not understanding, let him have legs.

Better be the HEAD of a dog than the tail of a lion.
Mai bine cap de pisicã decât coadã de leu.
Sim. Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a lion / Better be the head of a lizard than the tail of a lion / Better be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion / Better be the head of a pike than the tail of a sturgeon.

He that has a HEAD of glass must not throw stones at another.
Cine are cap de sticlã, sã nu arunce în nimeni.
Sim. He that has a house of glass must not throw stones at another / People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
Cf. He that has a HEAD of wax must not walk in the sun.

He that has a HEAD of wax must not walk in the sun.
Nu merge la soare de fricã sã nu i se topeascã nasul.
Sim. Be not a baker if your head be of butter / People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones / / Who has skirts of straw needs fear the fire.
Cf. He that has a HEAD of glass must not throw stones at another.

Mickle HEAD, little wit.
Cap mare, minte putinã.

The HEAD grey, and no brains yet.
De ani mare si minte n-are.
Sim. No fool to the old fool.

When the HEAD aches all the body is the worse.
Capul când te doare, tot trupul boleste.
* I Corinthians 12, 26 / I Corinteni 12, 26

So many HEADS, so many minds.
Câte capete, atâtea pãreri.
Cf. So many MEN, so many opinions.

HEALTH is better than wealth.
Sãnãtatea e cea mai bunã avutie.
E mai bunã sãnãtatea, decât toatã bogãtia.
Sim. Health is great riches.
* Ecclesiasticus 30, 15 / Sirah 30, 15

HEAR and see and say nothing.
Ascultã cu urechile, vezi cu ochii, dar taci cu gura.
Var. Hear all, see all, say nowt.
Sim. Wide ears and a short tongue.
Cf. HEAR much, speak little / He that would live in PEACE and rest, must hear, and see, and say the best.

HEAR much, speak little.
Cu vreme si fãrã vreme multe sã asculti, iar de grãit numai la vreme si putine sã trãiesti.
Cf. HEAR and see and say nothing.

Every HEART has its own ache.
Tot obrazul îsi are necazul.
Cf. Every man has his CROSS to bear.

Faint HEART never won fair lady.
Unde este fricã nu încape dragoste.

Nothing is impossible to a willing HEART.
Nu-ti este puterea cât îti este vrerea.
Var. Nothing is impossible to a willing mind.
Sim. A good heart conquers ill fortune.
Cf. Where there's a WILL, there's a way.

What the HEART thinks, the tongue speaks.
Ce-i în gusã, si-n cãpusã.
Inima o am pe limbã.
Ce are pe inimã are pe buze.
Sim. He wears his heart upon his sleeve / His heart is in his mouth.
Cf. Out of the ABUNDANCE of the heart the mouth speaketh.

The HEART's letter is read in the eye.
Ochii sunt oglinda inimii.
Sim. In the FOREHEAD and the eye, the lecture of the mind doth lie.
Cf. The EYE lets in love.

The HEART's mirth does make the face fair.
Inima când se-nveseleste, fata înfloreste.

One's own HEARTH is gowd's worth.
Mai bine în bordeiul meu decât în palatul tãu.
E mai bine în coliba ta decât în palatul altuia.
Sim. East, west, home's best / Home is home, though it be never so homely.
Cf. An ENGLISHMAN's home is his castle / There is no PLACE like home.

There is no going to HEAVEN in a sedan.
Pân-s-ajungi la Dumnezeu, mii de sfinti în drumul tãu, toti cu mâna-ntinsã ceu.
Var. To go to heaven in a featherbed.

Where the HEDGE is lowest, men may soonest over.
Peste gardul mititel sare si-un cãtel.
Var. A low hedge is easily leaped over / Men leap over where the hedge is lowest.

HELL and destruction are never full.
Iadul si adâncul nu se pot sãtura.
* Proverbs 27, 20 / Pilde 27, 20

HELL is paved with good intentions.
Sufletul bucuros este sã intre în rai, numai pãcatele nu-l lasã.
Var. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

A black HEN lays a white egg.
Gãina neagrã face oul alb.

He that comes of a HEN must scrape.
Ce naste din gãinã râcâie la pãmânt.
Cf. That that comes of a CAT will catch mice.

He that leaves the HIGHWAY to cut short, commonly goes about.
Sã nu lasi drumul mare pentru cãrare.
De vei da ocol, vei ajunge mai curând, de vei merge de-a dreptul, vei zãbovi mai mult.
Sim. Who leaves the old way for the new, will find himself deceived.

The HIGHWAY is never about.
Calea dreaptã este cea mai scurtã (bunã).

It is hard to break a HOG of an ill custom.
Porcul ori încotro face, lui tot noroiul îi place; din ce e nu-l poti preface.

The worst HOG often gets the best pear.
Adesea para cea mai bunã picã-n gura porcului.
Mãrul cel frumos îl mãnâncã porcii.
Sim. Into the mouth of a bad dog often falls a good bone.

HOLD fast when you have.
Tine ce ai în mânã si n-alerga dupã minciunã.

Every day is HOLIDAY with sluggards.
În casa lenesului întotdeauna e sãrbãtoare.
Sim. He that does nothing always finds helpers.

HONESTY may be dear bought, but can never be an ill pennyworth.
Cinstea e mai scumpã decât toate.
Omenia-i mai scumpã decât avutia.

He that has no HONEY in his pot, let him have it in his mouth.
Ori sã fii cu miere-n gurã, ori cu mâna-n buzunar.
Sim. He that has not silver in his purse should have silk on his tongue.

HONEY catches more flies than vinegar.
Mai multe muste cad în miere decât în otet.
Cf. You will catch more FLIES with a spoonful of honey than with a gallon of vinegar.

HONEY is not for the ass's mouth.
Nu-i fânul pentru gâste.

HONEY is sweet, but the bee stings.
Albina face miere dulce, dar mai si împunge.

It is not with saying HONEY, Honey, that sweetness will come into the mouth.
Numai miere zicând, gura nu se îndulceste.

Make yourself all HONEY and the flies will devour you.
Cine se bagã în tãrâte îl mãnâncã porcii.
Cf. He that makes himself a SHEEP shall be eaten by the wolf.

Too much HONEY cloys the stomach.
Cin-va mânca multã miere, el o sã verse si fiere.
Când dai peste miere, nu mânca peste mãsurã.
* Proverbs 25, 16 / Pilde 25, 16

HONOUR is the reward of virtue.
Onoarea se tine de virtute ca umbra trupului de tine.

Where there is no HONOUR, there is no grief.
Cinstea cu rusinea nu pot sta împreunã.

Great HONOURS are great burdens.
Obrazul (Fata) subtire cu mare cheltuialã se tine.
Sim. The more cost, the more honour.

HOPE deferred maketh the heart sick.
Asteptarea prea îndelungatã îmbolnãveste inima.
* Proverbs 13, 12 / Pilde 13, 12

HOPE maketh not ashamed.
Nãdejdea nu rusineazã.
* Romans 5, 5 / Romani 5, 5

Too much HOPE deceives.
Unde este nãdejde multã, acolo este si desertãciune.
Sim. Hope often deludes the foolish man.

Who lives by HOPE will die by hunger.
Cel ce trãieste sperând e în risc de a muri de foame.
Cine trãieste nãdãjduind moare jinduind.
Sim. He that lives in hope hath a slender diet.

A boisterous HORSE must have a rough bridle.
La calul nãrãvit, pinten ascutit.

A hired HORSE tired never.
Fiecare pune bucuros seaua pe iapa vecinului.

A HORSE, a wife, and a sword may be shewed, but not lent.
Pusca, calul si femeia nu se împrumutã.
Trei lucruri nu se împrumutã: calul, nevasta si pusca.

A HORSE may stumble that has four legs.
Calul cã e cu patru picioare si tot se poticneste.
Sim. It is a good horse that never stumbles.

A running HORSE needs no spur.
La calul cel bun, numai o loviturã îi este de ajuns.
Var. Do not spur a free horse / A good horse should be seldom spurred.
Sim. The beast that goes always never wants blows.

He that has a white HORSE and a fair wife never wants trouble.
Calu bun si nevasta frumoasã îti pun capu.
Vinul bun, nevasta frumoasã sunt douã veninuri dulci.

Live, HORSE, and you'll get grass.
Sã trãiesti, murgule, sã pasti iarbã verde.
Trãieste, murgule, cã o sã-ti dau iarbã verde.
Asteaptã murgule sã pasti iarbã verde.
Sim. While the grass grows, the horse starves.

One thing thinks the HORSE, and another he that saddles him.
Una gândeste cârciumarul si alta betivul.
Var. The horse thinks one thing and he that rides him another.
Sim. One thing thinketh the bear, and another he that leadeth him.

Scabbed HORSE cannot abide the comb.
Calul râios se scarpinã de copacul scorburos.

The common HORSE is worst shod.
Pe mãgarul mai multora, lupul îl mãnâncã.

The HORSE that draws most is most whipped.
Tot în boul ãl de trage dã.

Who hath no HORSE may ride on a staff.
Cine n-are cal, sã urce pe jos la deal.

You can take a HORSE to the water, but you can't make him drink.
Pe porc nu-l faci sã bea apã din fedeles.

You look for the HORSE you ride on.
Sede pe mãgar si cautã mãgarul.
Cf. The BUTCHER looked for his knife and it was in his mouth / You are like the man that sought his MARE, and he riding on her.

Trust not a HORSE's heel, nor a dog's tooth.
Femeia, pusca si calul n-are crezãmânt.

He that reckons without his HOST must reckon twice.
Face socoteala fãrã birtas.
Socoteala de acasã nu se potriveste cu cea din târg.

An HOUR in the morning is worth two in the evening.
Un ceas dimineata plãteste cât trei dupã prânz.

It chances in an HOUR, that happens not in seven years.
N-aduce anul ce aduce ceasul.
Ce aduce minutul, n-aduce ceasul.
Când norocu-si schimbã pasul n-aduce anul ce aduce ceasul.

The morning HOUR has gold in its mouth.
Dimineata poartã aur în gurã.
Ora diminetii e aurul vietii.
Ziua bunã se cunoaste de dimineatã.
Sim. The Muses love the morning.

Burn not your HOUSE to fright the mouse away.
Dã foc casei ca sã ardã soarecii.
Ca sã ardã soarecii, nu da foc morii.
Arde moara, dar si soarecii se prãpãdesc.

In the HOUSE of a fiddler all fiddle.
În casa lãutarului fiecare joacã.

It is a sad HOUSE where the hen crows louder than the cock.
Vai de casa unde cotcorogesc gãinile si cocosul tace.
Vai de casa în care gãina cântã cocoseste.

When the HOUSE is burned down, you bring water.
Aduce apã dupã ce s-a stins focul.
Cf. When a thing is done, ADVICE comes too late / It's too late to shut the STABLE-DOOR after the horse has bolted / It is easy to be WISE after the event.

Woeful is the HOUSEHOLD that wants a woman.
Casa e casã, când ai o gospodinã în casã.
Omul fãrã sotie e ca o casã pustie.

HUNGER drives the wolf out of the woods.
Foamea goneste pe lup din pãdure.

HUNGER finds no fault with the cookery.
Foamea e cel mai bun bucãtar.
Sim. Hunger is the best sauce / Hunger makes hard beans sweet.

All are not HUNTERS that blow the horn.
Nu toate femeile cu cheile la brâu sunt gospodine.

He that HURTS another hurts himself.
Rãu faci, rãu gãsesti.
Cf. He that MISCHIEF hatches, mischief catches.

A HUSBAND must be deaf and the wife blind to have quietness.
Bãrbatul surd si nevasta oarbã, cea mai tihnitã cãsãtorie.
Când muierea-i mutã si bãrbatul surd, viata cea mai bunã între amândoi.
Var. A deaf husband and a blind wife are always a happy couple.

HUSBAND, don't believe what you see, but what I tell you.
Nu crede, bãrbate, ce vezi cu ochii, ci crede ce-ti spun eu.

The HUSBAND is always the last to know.
Nu stie bãrbatul ce stie satul.
Var. The cuckold is the last that knows of it.

The HUSBAND is the head of the wife.
Bãrbatul este cap femeii.
* Ephesians 5, 23 / Efeseni 5, 23
* I Corinthians 11, 3 / I Corinteni 11, 3

Articles | Books | Bibliographies | Bible Proverbs