Bad bird, bad eggs. Of an evil crow an evil egg. Children are what their mothers are (Am.). Like hen, like chicken (Am.). Like hen, like children (Br.) Tel père… Read more »
Sour grapes can never make sweet wine (Am.). You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear (Am., Br.) Eagles do not breed doves (Br.). Figs do not… Read more »
Eagles do not breed doves (Br.). Figs do not grow on thistles (Am.). One cannot gather grapes of thorns or figs of thistles (Br.). Of a thorn springs not a… Read more »
Birds of a feather flock together. Each kind attracts its own (Am.). It takes a fool to know a fool (Am.). Like attracts (will to) like (Am., Br.). Like calls… Read more »
All tarred with the same brush. A bad cat deserves a bad rat (Am.). A good dog deserves a good bone (Am., Br.). Like cup, like cover (Br.). Such cup, such… Read more »
Better a small fish than an empty dish. Half a loaf is better than none (on bread). Hunger makes hard beans sweet. Hunger never saw bad bread. Hunger sweetens what… Read more »
Like will to like. Like draws to like. Evil begets evil. Each kind attracts its own (Am.) Birds of a feather flock together. Qui se ressemble s’assemble Les oiseaux de… Read more »
Think today and speak tomorrow. Before you go into a canyon, know how you’ll get out (Am.). Do not wade in unknown waters (Am.). If you cannot see the bottom,… Read more »
Catch the bear before you sell his skin. Attrapez l’ours avant que vous ne vendiez sa peau. Делить шкуру неубитого медведя. Не говори «гоп», пока не перескочишь. Wenn ´s Kind… Read more »
An ass in a lion’s skin. The bear wants a tail and cannot be lion. Among the blind the one-eyed man is king (Br.). cf: Blessed are the one-eyed among… Read more »
A bird may be known by its song. A tree is known by its fruit. Judge a tree by its fruit (Am.). A la chante on connait l’oiseau. C’est au… Read more »
Claw me, and I’ll claw you. Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. Roll my log and I’ll roll yours. Play my game and I’ll play yours. Un barbier rase… Read more »
To count one’s chicken before they are hatched. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. Catch the fish before you fry it (Br.). Count not four, except you have them… Read more »
One man’s fault is another man’s lesson. La faute d’un homme est la leçon pour un autre. Передний – заднему мост. Люди мрут, нам дорогу трут. Передний заднему мост на… Read more »
A black hen lays a white egg. Black fowl can lay white eggs (Am.). A black hen always lays a white egg (Am.). A black hen lays a white egg… Read more »
A friend in need is a friend indeed. Au besoin on connais l’amis. Друг познается на рати и при беде. Познается друг в беде. Брат брату — голова в уплату…. Read more »
Time brings wisdom. The best wine comes out of an old vessel (Br.). The deuce (devil) knows many things because he is old (Br.). Good broth may be made in… Read more »
The leopard does not change his spots. Can the Ethiopian change his colour (his skin)? (Br.). Can the leopard change his spots? (Br.). What is bred in the bone will… Read more »
A stick is soon found to beat a dog with. Speak of angels and you’ll hear the rustling of their wings (Am.). Speak of Satan and you’ll see his horns… Read more »
Need must when the devil drives. There is no arguing with a large fist; Might is right; One cannot swim against the tide; Oaks may fall when reeds stand the… Read more »