English equivalent: Even a fool may give a wise man counsel. "A lifestyle that involves neither staying up late nor sleeping late is good for body and mind and leads to financial success.". ", English equivalent: A good mind possess a kingdom.. Meaning: "People who eavesdrop on the conversations of others risk hearing unfavorable comments about themselves; used as a warning or reprimand.". English equivalent: Whatever you do, act wisely, and consider the end. Translation: To whom much is entrusted, much is required. English equivalent: Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. English equivalent: Life is short, and art long. English equivalent: Do as you may, if you can't do as you could. Translation: Who has a head of wax should not be in the sunshine. English equivalent: Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. ", Misattributed to Brooker T. Washington This seems to be a paraphrase sumarizing a speech at the Carrie Tuggle Institute, Birmingham, as described in. "You must put up with the unpleasant results of a foolish action or decision.". Chi ha una retta coscienza possiede un regno. Note: "This advice has its root in the story of the Trojan Horse, the treacherous subterfuge by which the Greeks finally overcame their trojan adversaries at the end of the Trojan War.". English equivalent: Don't ask the old ask the experienced. Translation: A bad agreement is better than a good lawsuit. English equivalent: The absent are always in the wrong. English equivalent: No one gets rich quickly if he is honest. English equivalent: Don't blow your own horn.
English equivalent: Avoid the pleasure which will bite tomorrow. Translation: Who wants to win a gander, you need to weigh Drake. English equivalent: Bad is the best choice. English equivalent: Eavesdroppers hear no good of themselves. English equivalent: Deeds are fruits, words are but leaves. English equivalent: Write down the advice of him who loves you, though you like it not at present. English equivalent: Judge not a man and things at first sight. English equivalent: When in doubt, leave it out. English equivalent: A cheerful wife is the spice of life. Il faut prendre le bnfice avec les charges.. English equivalent: The bird loves her own nest. When something goes wrong, you take it in the ass (prenderlo nel culo). "What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world-and loses his health?". Translation: Forbidden fruit is sweetest. The Italian language is the best language when youre angry or you have to complain about something. Translation: Between wife and husband don't put a finger. Meaning: Look at the well intended effort, and not its effects. ", Translation: He who has no money in the purse must have honey in the mouth. English equivalent: Abscence makes the heart grow fonder. ! Have you heard the latest? English equivalent: An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Translation: He who has not obeyed, cannot command. English equivalent: Diligent youth makes easy age. "A drop hollows out the stone by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a person made wise by reading not two, but many. English equivalent: United we stand, divided we fall; Union is strength. Translation: Sorrow makes gray hairs before the time. English equivalent: Whatever measure you deal out to others will be dealt back to you. Translation: The wolf is made bigger than it is. English equivalent: Everybody to whom much is given, much is expected. English equivalent: Short prayers reach heaven. English equivalent: Physician, heal yourself! English equivalent: Counsel is no command. English equivalent: There is danger in delay. English equivalent: A bad beginning makes a bad ending. English equivalent: Take heed of enemies reconciled and of meat twice boiled. Im guessing that many of you are dying for examples of what Im talking about. English equivalent: All good things are three. English equivalent: A new broome sweepeth cleane. Translation: Everything you buy at the price. Heres a tactful and elegant way to say We did it.. English equivalent: A blind man should not judge of colours. English equivalent: Whom God will destroy, he first make mad. It hasnt happened often, but when it has, Ive busted them with knowing glances or comments demonstrating that I have more than a passing command of the language. You have to grab that hair, grasp the opportunity while it's confronting you, else you'll be grasping a slick bald head. Youll find much of this Italian lingo useful and safe to use.
Like to talk or do you adore sweets? There plenty to cover here, and the down and dirty Italian pointers cover everything from making a toast, to pick up lines, to being hungover. but gives. English equivalent: Don't have too many irons in the fire. English equivalent: It is no use crying over spilt milk. English equivalent: Every tub must stand on its own bottom. English equivalent: He that steals an egg will steal an ox. Meaning: "If you cannot get what you want, you must adapt yourself to the circumstances or adopt a different approach.". Meaning: Lying a little might make the story better. English equivalent: The good mother saith not will you? English equivalent: As you make your bed, so you must lie. "Find out thy own Mistakes, and Failings, in order to amend them. Translation: Those are bad dogs who bite their own people. English equivalent: Beggars cant be choosers. English equivalent: He had need rise early who would please everybody. English equivalent: Experience is the mother of wisdom. Ive been told by Italians that they use their expletives like water. English equivalent: Idle people have the least leisure. English equivalent: All roads lead to Rome. English equivalent Every fool is pleased with his own folly. English equivalent: One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel. Meaning: If you love someone, you will virtually like everything about him. English equivalent: Without temptation there is no victory. This website uses cookies to improve your experience.
English equivalent: Better safe than sorry. "People of only limited capability can succeed when surrounded by those who are even less able than themselves.". English equivaleny: He who sups with the devil must use a long spoon. English equivalent: Money is there to be spent. English equivalent: Necessity has no law.. And we know how these two things can be buddies. Teehee!
Translation: Those who sleep don't catch any fish. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily. Then, as I dug in, I realized that the book covered so much more relating to relaxed conversations between friends. English eqquivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it. English equivalent Great talkers are little doers. English equivalent: A fool is ever laughing. English equivalent: "Misery loves company.". English equivalent: Least said, soonest mended. ", Alternate meaning: "We often apply it to exchanges among servants, clerks, or any persons employed, whose service, at first, in any new place, is very good, both efficient and faithful; but very soon, when all the new circumstances have lost their novelty, and all their curiosity has ceased, they naturally fall into their former and habitual slackness.". Take a video tour here and see for yourself! English equivalent: A wise enemy is better than a foolish friend. English equivalent: Great cry and little wool. English equivalent: History repeats itself. Meaning: "Everything has to be paid for, directly or indirectly, in money or in kind.". English equivalent: One must step back to take a good leap. English equivalent: Better never begun than never ended; He that takes the devil into the boat must carry him over the sound. A Supplement to the Collection of Telugu Proverbs: containing additional Proverbs, an Index verborum, and an index to the European Proverbs quoted in illustration, Containing the French before the Italian and the English, A Complete Collection of Scottish Proverbs Explained and Made Intelligible to the English Reader, https://en.wikiquote.org/w/index.php?title=Italian_proverbs&oldid=3106992, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Note: Specified as an Italian proverb in the source. It may be why the conjunctive form of verbs (which dont exist in English) follow (if used accurately) by statements like I believe, I think, It looks as though After all, were talking about rumors, not hard facts, right? English equivalent: You cannot get blood from a stone. Italians dont say something is done wrong they say its done as a dogs dick (a cazzo di cane). I wont go into specific examples since this is where I need to keep this post R-rated. English equivalent: Envy always shooteth at a high mark. Meaning: Not being tempted is a sign that fortune has forgotten you. English equivalent: If the sky falls, we shall catch larks. I caution against using such words and phrases. English equivalent: Like mother, like daughter. Meaning: "It is better that somebody arrives or something happens later than expected or desired, than not at all.". 11. I encourage you to do a deeper dive with the aforementioned and lesser-know Berlitz book, especially if you plan to live in Italy.
Religious myths for example, which are allegorical, will per definition reoccur. English equivalent: Good blood always shows itself. English equivalent: They who would be young when they are old must be old when they are young. English equivalent: Man proposes, God disposes. 
I understood that this would be a valuable resource. "In private animosities and verbal contentions, where angry passions are apt to rise, and irritating, if not profane expressions are often made use of - the least said, the better in general. English equivalent: Set a herring to catch a whale. ", Translation: "Look out for false prophets.". English equivalent: Set a thief to catch a thief. English equivalent: Wealth rarely brings happiness. "Very seldom does any good thing arise but there comes an ugly phantom of a caricature of it.". Translation: As the abbot sings, so the sacristan responds. English equivalent: Once a drunkard always a drunkard; Once a thief always a thief. English equivalent: A problem shared is a problem halved. Translation: To taste the sweet, you must taste the bitter. English equivalent: Gnaw the bone which is fallen to thy lot. Leave it to the Italians. English equivalent: There is no rule without an exception. English equivalent: Constant dropping wears the stone. English equivalent: Better bow than break. English equivalent: A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit. Be Wise and Learn Italian through Italian Music! English equivalent: If the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. Translation: He who leaves the old road for the new knows what he leaves behind, but doesn't know what he is going to find. "When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition.". English equivalent: He was in Rome and did not see the pope. Translation: If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must come to the mountain. English equivalent: Envy takes no holiday. By multiplying words, cases often grow worse instead of better.". English equivalent: The covetous man is good to none and worst to himself. "It is impossible to do something that everybody will approve of.". English equivalent: Don't hit a man when he is down. Translation: "An ocean lies between what is said and what is done. "Hesitation or procastination may lead to trouble or disaster.". English equivalent: One today is worth two tomorrows. English equivalent: Help yourself, and God will help you. Translation: He who can't be advised, can also not be helped. English equivalent: He who is not with me is against me. But, Im not quite comfortable doing so, other than one example that I find humorous in its literal translation: Sorry, to disappoint by not providing other examples, but youll have to buy the book and do your own research since I dont want to turn this into an X-rated blog! Meaning: "You are more likely to win if you take the initiative and make an attack rather than preparing to defend yourself.". English equivalent: Constant dropping wears away the stone. English equivalent: All is not lost that is in danger. English equivalent: He that will not be counseled cannot be helped. You are already naked. English equivalent: A forgetful head makes a weary pair of heels. "Things that you must not have or do are always the most desirable.". In her home, she had photos of saints and popes everywhere. English equivalent: Good laws have sprung from bad customs. To find Hide This Italian Book by Berlitz click here. He explained that this black book contained the down and dirty Italian that would be absent in most Italian language studies. "It is wiser to withdraw from a situation that you cannot win than to go on fighting and lose by a strategic retreat you can return to the battle or argument with renewed energy at a later date.". Meaning: "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him.". English equivalent: No pain, no gain; Nothing ventured, nothing gained. English equivalent: Nature is beyond all teaching. In Italian, you dont suck at something youre a handjob (una pippa). "An uneducated man cannot judge of the attainments of the learned.". English equivalent: A miserly father makes a prodigal son. English equivalent: Everyone should sweep before his own door. At the time, I gleefully accepted, thinking Id get a kick out of reading about the less sanctified parts of the language, particularly cussing in Italian. English equivalent: The remedy is often worse than the disease; Burn not your house to rid it off the mouse. English equivalent: Bitter pills may have blessed effects. A few times Ive caught Italians making snide comments about me, assuming Im just an ignorant Italian. English equivalent: Caution is the parent of safety.
English equivalent: The best defence is a good offence. Meaning: Children observe daily and in their behaviour often follow the example of their parents. He that can have patience can have what he will. English equivalent: Health is not valued till sickness comes. Translation: He ends well who considers the end. English equivalent: A guilty conscience needs no accuser. English equivalent: Give credit where credit is due. Enter your email address so I can send you new blog post notifications and other noteworthy news and updates. English equivalent: The bird is known by his note, the man by his words. English equivalent: Deal gently with the bird you mean to catch. English equivalent: A honey tongue and a heart of gall. English equivalent: Forewarned, forearmed. Wikipedia delivers with its Italian Profanity overview. And when someone takes advantage of you, they shit out of the bowl (cagare fuori dalla tazza). I guess it all comes down to context, huh?
Meaning: "Concentrate on one thing at a time or you will achieve nothing. English equivalent: He says the moon is made of cheese. No, thats dangerous stuff, putting such verbal ammunition in the hands and mouths of babes. Thats because the words used are generally culo (ass) and cazzo (dick or shit). English equivalent: Opportunity knocks only once. "Most people judge men only by their fashion or their fortune.". "Present afflictions may tend to our future good.". Playing the trumpet. Other English equivalent: Patience is a remedy for every sorrow. Perhaps the new edition goes deeper and comes with X-rating. English equivalent: A good anvil does not fear the hammer. 1. Meaning: Children will become like older generations. English equivalent: To add fuel to the fire. Meaning: "Being honest or telling the truth is always the wisest course of action.". English equivalent: Fortune favors the bold. English equivalent: Honesty is the best policy. 2. English equivalent: Fine feathers make fine birds. "Inquisitiveness or a desire to find about something can lead you into trouble.". La pi lunga strada la pi prossima a casa. In dirty Italian, you dont say go fuck yourself rather go shit yourself (andare a cagare). English equivalent: When a thing is done, advice comes too late. "No one needs to be told that a vast deal of labor is expended unnecessarily. English equivalent: Don't go between the tree and the bark. Translation: It is better to prevent than to cure. In dirty Italian, you dont say a place is far away instead, you say its in the ass (in culo). English equivalent: If fortune favours, beware of being exalted; if fortune thunders, beware of being overwhelmed. English equivalent: He that will not when he may, when he will he may have nay. "It is necessary to be bold and courageous to win the heart of a woman or to achieve any other cherished objective.". Because almost everything all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. English equivalent: The heart sees farther than the head. Translation: A new broom sweeps well the house. Translation: To set the cart before the horse. Translation: In a hundred years or in a hundred months, the water doesn't come back to it's source. English equivalent: Better foolish by all than wise by yourself. English equivalent: A closed mouth catches no flies. "It is better to make some confession, or pay a little deference to others, our neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and especially our superiors, rather than lose our credit or break friendship.". Translation: In the house of the hanged man, mention not the rope. Meaning: Absolutely everything has been done before. English equivalent: An ounce of preventions is better than a pound of cure. Translation: The dog that barks doesn't bite. English equivalent: Forbidden fruit is sweet. English equivalent: All truths are not to be told.
English equivalent: "Don't put all your eggs in the same basket. English equivalent: Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. Meaning: Things that has happened will happen again. Hide this Italian Book also covers important matters of safe sex and contraception. English equivalent: Faint heart never won fair lady. English equivalent: Once bitten twice shy.
"More is expected of those who have received more - that is, those who had good fortune, are naturally gifted, or have been shown special favour.". English equivalent: Better go about than fall into the ditch. English equivalent: If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. I remember, quick clearly, my shock when I discovered that a friend, a woman well into her eighties and a regular church-goer, used phrases that would be considered sacrilege in the English equivalents. "Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. All love justice in the houses of others to no one is it pleasing in his own house.
