Spanish dichos: do you know any?
There are a lot of dichos in both Spanish and English.
I know some, but I would like to learn more. Some are almost direct translations between the languages, others are completely different, but relay the same thoughts.
Here are some. Please add to the list.
Dar calabazas a uno = To jilt someone or to fail someone Recibir calabazas = To get jilted or to fail Literally: to give or receive pumpkins
Estar a dos dedos de = To be on the verge of Literally: to be two fingers from
No tener dónde caerse muerto = To be flat broke Literally: not to have a place to fall down dead
No haber inventado la pólvora = To be no genius Literally: not to have invented gunpowder
Can you add any more to the list?
10 Answers
You want some mooooorrrreeeeee????
The pen is mightier than the sword. Más puede la pluma que la espada.
The truth will out. Las mentiras tienen las patas cortas.
Misfortunes always come in threes. No hay dos sin tres.
In for a penny, in for a pound. Ya que estamos en el baile, bailemos.
Faint heart never won fair lady. El mundo es de los audaces.
Everyone gets deserts sooner or later. A cada chancho le llega su San Martín.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. A diario una manzana es cosa sana.
Each one knows where problems lie. Cada uno sabe dónde le aprieta el zapato.
You can’t serve God and Mammon. No se puede quedar bien con Dios y con el Diablo.
Things often happen when you least expect them to. Cuando menos se piensa, salta la liebre.
You have to suffer in the name of fashion. Lo que es moda no incomoda.
The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot. En casa de herrero, cuchillo de palo
Her left hand doesn’t know what her right hand is doing. Borra con el codo lo que escribe con la mano.
It’s no crime to steal from a thief. El que le roba a un ladrón ladrón tiene cien años de perdón.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth. A caballo regalado no se le miran los dientes.
Give a dog a bad name and hang it. Hazte la fama y échate a dormir
We’ll just have to make do. A falta de pan, buenas son tortas.
Married people need a home of their own. El casado casa quiere.
Nothing goes on for ever. No hay mal que dure cien años
The best way to solve a problem is to attack its cause. Muerto el perro, terminada la rabia.
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb. Dios aprieta, pero no ahorca.
Hope is the last thing you lose. La esperanza es lo último que se pierde.
Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper. Con la esperanza no se come.
There’s no substitute for experience. Más sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo.
a mi me gusta muchisimo "querer es poder" where there's a will there's a way.
You are what you own. Tanto tienes, tanto vales
Brain is better than brawn.
Más vale maña que fuerza..
A few germs never hurt anyone. Chancho limpio nunca engorda.
A friend in need is a friend indeed. En las malas se conocen a los amigos.
A man may learn with every day. Todos los días se aprende algo.
All talk and no action. Mucho ruido y pocas nueces.
Cowards die many times. Quien teme la muerte no goza la vida.
Beggars can't be choosers. Cuando hay hambre, no hay pan duro.
Different strokes for different folks. Sobre gustos, no hay nada escrito
As sure as eggs is eggs. Como que dos y dos son cuatro
Such father, such son. De tal palo, tal astilla.
Long absent ... soon forgotten. Si te he visto ... no me acuerdo.
Better later than never. Mejor tarde que nunca.
It’s not the end of the world. Más se perdió en la guerra.
Half a loaf is better than no bread. Peor es nada.
Hope deferred makes the heart sick. Quien espera, desespera.
Never say die. Persevera y triunfarás.
Never too late to do well. Nunca es tarde cuando la dicha es buena.
It just makes things worse. Es peor el remedio que la enfermedad.
It’s a small world. El mundo es un pañuelo.
Long absent, soon forgotten. Ojos que no ven, corazón que no siente
Prevention is better than cure. Más vale prevenir que curar.
Let bygones be bygones. Lo pasado, pisado
Man cannot live by bread alone. No sólo de pan vive el hombre.
Live and let live. Hay de todo en la viña del Señor.
Money goes where money is. La plata llama a la plata.
There’s honor among thieves. Entre bueyes no hay cornadas.
One can never know too much. El saber no ocupa lugar.
What the boss says goes. Donde manda capitán, no manda marinero.
It never rains but it pours. Siempre llueve sobre mojado.
Payback is a **** Ya pagará el francés el vino que se bebió- Literally- the French will pay for the wine he drank.
To think oneself of grand importance Creerse el ombligo del mundo- Literally - to think you're the navel of the world.
Dame pan y llamame tonto.
Give me bread and call me silly.
¡Que pan dulce tenés!- What a nice "posterior" you have (BsAs).
De tal palo, tal astilla.
From such a stick, such a splinter. (A chip off the old block)
Like father, like son.
Cada cabeza es un mundo. = Every head's a world = Everyone thinks differently.
Se le botó la canica. = He shot the marble. = He lost his marbles. He went crazy.
Buscar un aguja en un pajar. = To look for a needle in a haystack.
Buscarle tres pies al gato. This explains it better than I can: http://86400.es/2008/04/07/buscar-tres-o-cinco-pies-al-gato/
En boca cerrada no entran moscas.= A closed mouth gathers no flies. Sometimes it's best to be quiet.
Un clavo saca otro clavo = One nail drives out another. Said to me by many men trying to pick me up after my boyfriend and I split up meaning that a new love would make me forget the old one. I'm not sure if it's used in any other situation.
Más valé tardé qué nunca.
Better late than never.
Alot of English sayings translate to Spanish,so you can use some of those that you already know.
When its raining the Spanish will look on the bright side and say-----Buéno para los patos----It`s good for the ducks!
O come on you guys, there has got to be more of you out there who know some good spanish expressions:
Here is one: faltar un tornillo
Where in English we would say: to have a screw loose In Spanish we would say: le falta un tornillo -- he/she is missing a screw.
