Category: ა – გ

An ass is beautiful to an ass, and a pig to a pig (Br.). An ass to an ass is beautiful (Am.). A donkey looks beautiful to a donkey (Am.)…. Read more »

A pig used to dirt turns up its nose at rice boiled in milk (Am.) Black will take no other hue (Am., Br.). A crow is never /the/ whiter for… Read more »

Black will take no other hue (Am., Br.). A crow is never /the/ whiter for washing herself oft (often) (Br.). A crow is no whiter for being washed (Am.). Wash… Read more »

You cannot wash charcoal white. Fools will be fools. You can’t paint the devil white (Br.) Vous ne pouvez pas laver le charbon de bois blanc. Les imbéciles seront des… Read more »

Constant dripping wears away a stone (Am.). Constant dropping wears away a stone (Br.). Constant dropping wears away the stone (Am.). Drop by drop the lake is drained (Br.). The… Read more »

The leopard cannot change its spots. Once a wolf always a wolf; Nature is stronger than nurture; What is bred in the bone will come out in the flesh. Le… Read more »

Meaning: One does not know what he is talking about. One heard bells, but he didn’t know where the sound was coming from; one does not know what he is… Read more »

Beauty may have fair leaves, but (yet) bitter fruit (Br.). A clean glove often hides a dirty hand (Am.). A fair face, a false heart (Br.). A fair face may… Read more »

The go -between  often comes off worst Mettre le doit entre l’arbre et l’écorce. Кто поручился, тот и помучился (поучится). Порука – мука (наука; вперед наука). За друга поручишься, от… Read more »

All lay load on the willing horse. If you agree to carry the calf, they’ll make you carry the cow. Nul ne sait mieux que l’ane où le bat blesse…. Read more »

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do (can be done) today. Pourquoi remettre au lendemain ce que l’on peut faire le jour meme ? Jamais remettre à demain ce… Read more »

A blind man can judge no (is no judge of) colors (Am.). Blind men can judge no colours (Br.). A pebble and a diamond are alike to a blind man… Read more »

Among the blind the one-eyed man is king. In the country of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Dans la brume tout le monde est pilote. Quand le chat… Read more »

The way you treat others is the way you will be treated:  As ye sow, so shall ye reap; As you do unto others, so they will do unto you;… Read more »

A foolish act is most foolish when done by an old person Cf: The older the fool, the worse he is (Am.). An old fool is worse than a young… Read more »

Man too careful of danger lives in continual torment. Brevity is the soul of wit. He who hesitates is lost. Qui ne risque rien n’a rien. Lui qui hésite perd…. Read more »

Little strokes fell great oaks. Constant dripping wears away a stone (Am.). Constant dropping wears away a stone (Br.). Constant dropping wears away the stone (Am.). Drop by drop the… Read more »

Greed oft  ( often) overreaches itself Gluttony kills more than the sword (Am., Br.). Greedy eaters dig their graves with their teeth (Am.) On ne peut pas avoir le beurre… Read more »

Greed often makes one poor On ne peut pas avoir le beurre et l’argent du  beurre. Qui  plus a, plus convoite. Погнался за ломтем, да без крохи остался. Погнался за ковригой, да ломоть потерял…. Read more »

Quantity  does not make quality Meaning: It’s better to have one well-behaved child, than many but badly-behaved ones. Mieux vaut peu que rien. Хорошего понемножку. Доброго помалу. Худое – охапками,… Read more »