Category: ა – გ

False friends are worse than open enemies False friends are worse than bitter enemies (Br.) Не that ceases to be a friend, never was one (Am.) Never trust a broken… Read more »

A blustering night, a fair day After clouds comes sunshine After clouds there is sunshine Every dog has his day Behind bad luck comes good luck (Am.) Rain one day,… Read more »

A fault confessed is half redressed A sin confessed is half forgiven (Am., Br.) Confession is the first step to repentance (Br.) Pérché avoué est à moitié pardonné La confession… Read more »

He that will steal a pin, will steal a pound Qui a pris un œuf prendra un bœuf Wer nur erst die Kälber stiehlt, der stiehlt auch bald die Kühe…. Read more »

Measure thrice and cut once Score twice before you cut once First think, then speak Measure thy cloth ten times, thou canst cut it but once Look before you leap… Read more »

Neither rhyme nor reason Neither fish, flesh, nor fowl (Am.) Neither fish, nor flesh, nor good ed herring (Br.) Il n’est bon ni à rôtir, ni à bouillir Entre deux… Read more »

He that never climbed, never falls. Не who makes no mistakes makes nothing (Br.). Не who never made a mistake never made anything (Am.). Show me the man that does… Read more »

Choose a good mother’s daughter though her father were the devil Choisissez la fille d’une bonne mère quoique son père soit le diable Wie die Mutter, so die Tochter Der… Read more »

Ceasar’s wife must be above suspicion La femme de César ne doit pas etre soupsonnée Жена Цезаря вне подозрений Wessen Brot ich esse, dessen Lied ich singe Welchem Herrn du… Read more »

Easy come, easy go Dishonest gains are losses (Am.) An evil gain is equal to a loss (Am.) Evil gotten, evil spent (Am.) Evil won is evil lost (Am.) Не… Read more »

A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often What is bred in the bone will not /come (go)/ out of the flesh (Am., Br.) A golden bit does… Read more »

Give advice to no one unless asked Put not your hand between the bark and the tree Mettre le doigt entre l’arbre et l’écorce Ne pas mettre le doigt entre… Read more »

None so deaf as those who won’t bear No ear is so deaf as one which wishes not to hear (Am.) None so deaf as he who won’t hear (Am.)… Read more »

Can the leopard change his spots Eagles do not breed doves (Br.) Figs do not grow on thistles (Am.) One cannot gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles (Br.)… Read more »

It is sink or swim Sink or swim Do or die (Am., Br.) Double or quits (Br.) Make a spoon or spoil a horn (Am., Br.) Make /it/, or break… Read more »

Say well or be still Never speak ill of the dead Of the dead say nothing but what is good Say nothing but good of the dead, speak well of… Read more »

It is good fishing in troubled waters. Eau trouble, gain da pécheur В мутной воде хорошо рыбу ловить. Karışık sularda balık tutmak kolaydır. Im Trüben fischen. Kurt dumanlı havayı sever…. Read more »

Forbidden fruit is sweet Everything forbidden is sweet (Am.). Forbidden fruit is the sweetest (Am.). Stolen apples (kisses, pleasures, waters) are the  sweetest (Br.). Stolen cherries are the sweetest (Am.)…. Read more »

Better ask twice than go wrong once Measure thy cloth ten times, thou canst cut it but once Score twice before you cut once Look before you leap Discretion is… Read more »

All doors are open to courtesy Manners maketh the man Toutes les portes sont ouvertes à la courtoisie Вежливость ничего не стоит, но приносит много. Ласковое слово не трудно, а споро…. Read more »