Category: ა – გ

Big words seldom go with good deeds (Am.). Expect nothing from him who promises a great deal (Am.). Great promises and small performances (Br.). Не that promises much means nothing… Read more »

Too many cooks spoil the broth (the soup) Too much pudding chokes the dog (Br.) Trop de cuisiniers gâtent la sauce. Trop menu le fil casse. Trop de pouding étrangle… Read more »

Life’s not all beer and skittles. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres. La viande d’un homme est le poison d’un… Read more »

from bottom to top. from rags to riches; Qui va à la chasse perd sa place Из кобыл, да в клячи. Из саней, да в дровни. Из попов, да в… Read more »

The cat is absent, the mice dance (Am.). The mouse lordships where a cat is not (Br.). Rats will play while the cat’s away (Am.). Well kens the mouse when… Read more »

The old one crows, the young one learns The old age makes us wiser Vieux bœuf fait sillon droit. Стар козел, да крепки рога. («без старых не проживешь») У старого… Read more »

Men grow old, pearls grow yellow, there is no cure for it.( Chinese proverb) Age mellows some people, others it makes rotten.(used in Arkansas) Vieillesse, tristesse. Vieux bois prend vite… Read more »

A golden bit does not make a horse any better (Br.). A golden bit does not make the horse any better (Am.). Pigs are pigs (Am.) Un morceau d’or ne… Read more »

Over the ocean the calf costs half, but it is dear to ship it here. The oats are cheap, but the boats are expensive. L’avoine est bon marché, mais les… Read more »

Meaning: Master’s wish is a strict order. Demande des nôbles – ordre strict. Барская просьба – строгий приказ. Барская просьба – строгий наказ. Барской лаской не хвастай. Барская милость — божья роса. Барскую просьбу почитай за приказ. Mit großen Herren… Read more »

The poor man always gets the blame; When (the) masters fall out, their men get the clout. Le pauvre homme obtient toujours la responsabilité. Mettre le doit entre l’arbre et… Read more »

There is time for everything; Everything in <good> season; All in good time; The morning to the mountain, the evening to the fountain. Il y a le temps pour tout;… Read more »

Не who bewails himself has the cure in his hands (Br.). It’s the crying baby that gets the milk (Am.). The squeaking wheel gets the oil (Am.). The squeaky axe… Read more »

The fine pullet shows its excellence from the egg. It early pricks that will be a thorn. C’est au pied du mure qu’on voit le maçon Какому быть в старости,… Read more »

“Ifs” and “ands” were pots and pans. If ifs and ands were pots and pans (Br.) Si jeunesse savait si vieillesse pouvait Кабы не кабы, так было б море, не… Read more »

Don’t teach your granny to suck eggs. Les voyages forment la jeunesse . A chaque âge a ses plaisirs son esprit et ses meurs. Яйцо курицу учит. Курицу яйца не учат…. Read more »

Easier said than done (Am., Br.). Easy to say and hard to do (Br.). Saying and doing are two different things (Am.). Saying and doing are two things (Am., Br.)…. Read more »

The poor man always gets the blame; When (the) masters fall out, their men get the clout. C’est toujours le pauvre homme qui est  responsable; Mettre le doit entre l’arbre… Read more »

All in good time. There’s time for everything. Give it to him (her, etc.) if you have to rob the cradle. Всякому фрукту своё время. Так захотелось, что хоть роди… Read more »