Questions tagged [proverbs]
A simple truth that expresses an idea or fact.
325 questions
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Proverb for when one is already in a hurry but the condition wastes even more time
I am looking for a proverb (short adage) for when one is already in a hurry but the situation makes the person wait even more.
Today I was in a hurry. I had to reach home at 2 o'clock but the driver ...
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Origin of the saying "let go or be dragged"
Let go or be dragged.
This is a saying often associated with Zen Buddhism (occasionally Stoicism). As far as I can tell, there's no historical connection, and it might well be originally English. ...
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What's the opposite saying to "A broken clock is right twice a day"?
A familiar proverb runs:
A broken clock is right twice a day.
is a saying used to express that even an entity which is typically wrong, would sometimes be right accidentally.
Is there an inverse ...
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Origin of the proverb "There is a lid for every pot"
There is a lid for every pot is a saying that essentially means "There is someone for everyone", most commonly used in the context of romantic relationships. Variations include "Every ...
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Is there an English proverb for “Ogni santo ha i suoi devoti”, which suggests that, to different degrees, every person has someone who likes them?
The Italian proverb “ogni santo ha i suoi devoti” literally, “every saint has their own devotees” is generally used to suggest that, to different degrees, every person has someone who likes them.
A ...
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Whence comes the expression ‘’starve a cold, feed a fever?”
What is the origin of the expression "starve a cold, feed a fever"? It is is used as basic (perhaps incorrect) medical advice for common illnesses.
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The usage of the idiom "The road to hell is paved with good intentions."
The idiom "the road to hell is paved with good intentions" conveys [at least] the idea that merely having good intentions is insufficient; one must also take action to realize those ...
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How to parse and punctuate the saying: "United we stand, divided we fall."
Personally, I think the phrase should be punctuated like this:
"United, we stand; divided, we fall."
The thing is, I could envision "United we stand" without a comma perhaps ...
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What is the term/phrase in academic English Literature given to idioms/figure-of-speech/proverbs/narratives that are oxymorons/self-contradictory? [closed]
Unless the employer stuffs my mouth with gold until I gag, I will Not work for them.
What is the term/phrase in academic English Literature given to idioms/figure-of-speech/proverbs/narratives that ...
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"you might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb" grammatical analysis
How is the last part of "you might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb" grammatically correct, that is "as for a lamb"?
Don't we use the structure "as for a something&...
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Can a proverb be used as a double entendre?
My colleague and I have different interpretations of what a double entendre can be. I attempted to make my case using the song “when it rains it pours” sung by Luke Combs as an example.
From what I ...
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Idiomatic expression for "putting off a task until a disaster strikes" [duplicate]
In Russian language there is a proverb "Пока гром не грянет, мужик не перекрестится".
Literal translation would be something like this: the peasant will not cross himself before it begins to ...
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Ignorance is the opposite of bliss
The proverb "ignorance is bliss" is used to express that somebody feels better by not knowing all the details about a topic.
In an existing thread titled "ignorance is not bliss", ...
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Is there such a thing as a new adage?
I was brought up to understand that a proverb that is described as an adage is, by virtue of its longevity, old. Take, for exapmle, the Old Testament book of Proverbs, some of which date back ...
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What's the English equivalent of the Italian 'sputare nel piatto dove si mangia'?
There's an Italian expression, 'sputare nel piatto dove si mangia', that literally means 'to spit on the plate where you eat', but really means:
to have an attitude of contempt, of strong criticism ...
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