The writing prompts invite postcrossers to write about a different topic on their postcards’ messages every month. These are just suggestions though — if you already know what you want to write about, or the recipient gives you some pointers, that’s great too!
This month’s prompt comes from candyflosscurls on the forum! Many countries have their own wise sayings and proverbs, and sometimes they’re a fascinating reflection of the culture or of stories that other countries don’t share. So this month, we’re suggesting you share those!
I must admit that I had to turn to Google for this. I don’t actually speak Welsh, and didn’t grow up in Wales… and it’s hard to know what English proverbs might be unusual or interesting for other people, knowing how widespread proficiency in English can be! So it was from Wales Online that I found this one: “Bwrw hen wragedd a ffyn”. It literally means (according to my very basic Welsh and Google Translate) “casting old wives and sticks”, but Wales Online translated it as “it’s raining old wives and walking sticks”. I guess that’s a variation on “it’s raining cats and dogs”, but it sounds a bit more cantankerous. Mind you, the Welsh certainly know rain! There’s a joke I’ve told about both Wales and where I live now in Yorkshire: there are three states of weather here: it’s either raining, it’s just rained, or it’s about to rain.
I can think of some lovely words of Welsh I actually know, if that might count! “Hiraeth” is the word for an intense homesickness or longing, specifically for one’s home in Wales. Obviously that’s a word that served my family well, living up in Yorkshire! But my favourite is the word “cwtch”, which I use fairly often. It means a hug or cuddle, but “cwtch” also means cupboard, a safe place to put things… so when you offer someone a cwtch, you’re offering them both a hug and a safe place. It’s such a warm word!
So that’s my contribution! What about you? Can you think of any proverbs or sayings from your country that might be interesting to share? If so, we’d love to hear about them in the comments, but you can also use that as a prompt if you’re not sure what to write on your postcards!
67 comments so far
I enjoyed the local saying about constant rain. That lovely, picturesque green countryside comes at a price - plenty of rain!
We have a saying here in Ireland about "The greatest hurler being on the ditch".
Hurling is one of our National Sports and is reputed to being one of the fastest team sports in the world 😀.
The saying means: The people looking on think they know more about what is going on or what should be happening than the people who are doing the job.
hello Ned from Ireland, I hope you are doing fine today!
That's an interesting saying you shared.
In Belgium, we say it like this:
"De beste stuurlui staan aan wal" = "The best helmsmen are ashore"
greetings
Alison, that saying of SAF is so lovely too 💚.
Three cobblers with their wits combined surpass Zhuge Liang the master mind.
Metaphor: there are many people and wisdom. If you have something to discuss, you can discuss a good way.
Now, right at this moment, my wooden shoe is breaking!
In Dutch: nu breekt mijn klomp!
The moment someone or something surprises you very unexpectedly.
E.g. "He firmly stated that he wasn't coming to the party". "Nou breekt mijn klomp!" "He is here."
So: really unexpected.
Though I don't know from which country the phrase originated, I've always liked: "It's the second mouse that gets the cheese."
A great Native American proverb I have added to postcards as a photo sticker:
“When you were born, you cried, and the world rejoiced. Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries, and you rejoice.”
Our American proverb is:
"The secret of life is not to do what you like, but to like what you do."
My motto is: If you don't have passion for what you are doing, do something else.
What a fun prompt idea! I like it🙂
Same!
In my native russian language says "7 times measure and one time cut", what literally means "evaluate and check everything before doing.
This learns to plan and control everything before you start, and I observe that nowadays its a bit changed.
Young people are realizing their ideas very fast 👋
In lithuanian its said"Dont walk away from the road for a path" - specially said for a woman when planning to go to leave a husband for another men.
Nemesk kelio dėl takelio.
On many ventures, a term used for extracting what's real before heading out ...." Justify your existence"
How on earth are those Welsh words pronounced, which are written in only consonants, without a single vowel?
Greetings to all! In Catalonia (Spain)we say “ a l’estiu tota cuca viu” “in summer every ladybug lives” means that in summer everything is alive.
A popular saying in West Virginia
“Wise sayings often fall on barren ground, but a kind word is never thrown away.”
Canada saying.killed 2birds with one stone.it mean did 2 different tasks in one go lol Suzanne Johnston Manitoba Canada
I'm flat out like a lizard drinking
(I am very busy)
They don't have a lot of sayings where I am from, but we do say, "If you don't like the weather, wait five minutes". or "We don't burn in the sun, we rust".
I'm American, but my parents & grandparents came to the USA from Jamaica. One of my grandma's favorite sayings was, "New broom sweeps clean, but old broom knows the corners."
There are many proverbs and sayings in romanian culture. I will share some of them with you.
Cine se frige cu ciorba, suflă și în iaurt.
Whoever roasts with soup also blows in yogurt.
La pomul lăudat să nu te duci cu sacul.
Don't go to the praised tree with the sack.
Lupu-și schimbă părul, dar năravul ba.
The wolf changes his hair, but the habit does not.
Minciuna are picioare scurte.
The lie has got short legs.
Până nu faci foc
Nu iese fum.
Until you don't make a fire
No smoke comes out.
Ce știe popa nu trebuie să știe satul.
What the pope knows doesn't have to know the village.
A great Subject. there are so many "sayings " and Proverbs in the English language, but one I sometimes use that "speaks volumes" oops, there's another that just slipped out is;
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" , which means that to begin slowly and purposefully you will achieve that huge task or journey ahead.
Best Wishes, Derek
The proverb about the weather reminds me of one that is said in the north of the Cotentin peninsula: When you see the Channel Islands, it means it's going to rain; when you don't see them, it means it's raining. Or again: Here the weather is fine several times a day.
Good summer to all
Hello Lies76 from Belgium.
My first job was as a helmsman. It's a beautiful job and its purpose is navigation. How to explain this proverb?
A saying I learned when I moved to East Texas-
“The devil is beating his wife behind the kitchen door”
(What you say when it’s raining but the sun is shining)
Love this writing prompt.
@Ned44440 - I learned the American equivalent when I moved back to the US many years ago: "Monday morning quarter backing" applies to people debating the past weekend's football game on Monday, criticizing the strategies the quarterback decided to use. So you have the benefit of distance in time and viewpoint (you can often see more from the stands or the TV screen), but the quarterback is in the middle of all the action and can only make decisions on what he sees or knows in the middle of the chaos.
It's now used for many situations, not only when people talk about sports.
I read this one recently - not sure the origin...
The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago,
the second best time is now.
My wise grandmother offered a saying that has helped me through the years: "A day hemmed with prayer is less likely to unravel". And I believe in the power of prayer, regardless of one's religious or spiritual conviction...especially during these particular times.
I like two sayings:
'A stitch in time saves nine'
and
"If you say you can, you can, if you say you can't, you can't. Either way you are right"
In Canada, and other English speaking countries, they are killing two birds with one stone. In Dutch we knock down two flies with one blow.
In Romania they say: The wolf changes his hair, but the habit does not.
In Dutch we say the same about a fox.
There are a lot of proverbs about raining. In Dutch it is raining "pijpenstelen" (the stems of pipes (those from bygone times, of lime; straight as an arrow)).
When it is raining and the sun is shining at the same time is called (in the old regional language around a place called Zaandam): Chicken Fair.
After all, the worms all come out of the ground; great for the chickens.
Saying and proverbs: very interesting subject and they are both an important part of a country's language and culture.
About "The best helmsmen are ashore": It means that someone who doesn't have to do a job and just looks on, often thinks he or she knows better than the performer(s) how to do it.
In general: criticizing is easy.
I'm Dutch so I start with a Dutch proverb; "Door de bomen het bos niet meer zien", means; " Unable to see the wood for the trees".
I became Canadian and I like this Canadian proverb; " Think before you speak"!........and "I know how to build an iglo.......!..hihi!
My fav word in Swedish is the word for breath. The air you exhale. We call it andedräkt..which translates to spirit costume or clothing. I guess it is visible when it is cold outside, maybe that is why it got its name.
Mångata is beautiful too, translates to moon street. It is the reflection the moon makes on water that looks like a lit street.
Det är ingen ko på isen - there is no cow on the ice. Mening: take it easy
Det är bäst att bita i det sura äpplet - It is best to bite the sour apple. Meaning is like the English "swallow the bitter pill". Accept things didn't go to plan.
In Russia we say, "Без дела жить только небо коптить". It means every person has to do something important in life. And "Ни рыба ни мясо ни кафтан ни ряса". When you do not understand either good or bad the person
A great many clever and funny sayings from America can be found at http://www.ashleighbrilliant.com Ashleigh, whom I've met in person several times, has become a friend to me though correspondence since 1990. He has been making and sending postcards of his sayings for decades. He's a delightful man who becomes a friend to many of his fans, whom he refers to as his "Brilliant Friends." Some of Ashleigh's sayings (all of which are copyrighted) have become famous and you may already know them. Examples: "I may not be totally perfect, but parts of me are excellent." and "I have abandoned my search for the truth and am now looking for a good fantasy."
nice idea
Good idea. Here in Brazil there are many sayings and proverbs. I'll tell you a few:
A pressa é a inimiga da perfeição.
Haste is the enemy of perfection. (You need to be patient and do things slowly to reach your goals.)
Amigos, amigos, negócios à parte.
Friends, friends, business aside (Friendships can be shaken when money is involved. Therefore, it would not be good to mix them.)
Cada macaco no seu galho.
Each monkey on its branch (Each one should take care of their own lives and not interfere in the other's.)
Cão que ladra não morde.
Dog that barks doesn't bite. (Some people threaten with words, but they don't actually do anything, so there's no need to fear them.)
Esmola demais até santo desconfia.
Too much alms, even a saint mistrusts (When a person praises another excessively or offers them gifts, it is because they may be wanting something behind them.)
Mente vazia, oficina do diabo.
Empty mind, devil's workshop (When someone has no activities, idle time takes over their mind, motivating them to have negative thoughts.)
These are all great! :)
Ah... Australian sayings will make zero sense and they're also usually state specific! (Comes from a country bigger than... most of Europe or maybe just the size of US + Canada)
Stone the crows! (Nope don't throw things at the huge black native birds- this is like saying " oh wow " I guess?)
Flat out like a lizard drinking (they're busy... or could also be sarcasm so they're not that busy)
Others I know are ahem rude- much worse than Flaming Galah! (Bloody moron/idiot, nobody lights birds on fire. Galahs are grey and pink parrots that tend to get the reputation of stupid but they're just very loyal. If a bird is run over you'll find a second one too close to it- that's the mated pair who won't survive long.)
Finally if someone refers to you as a mongrel that's a total insult- "He is a total mongrel" or "mongrel act". It's the weirdest way to convey the worst label Aussies can supply and yet there's zero sweary adjective (like bloody or anything else).
Here in Germany there is a proverb that is perhaps not such a nice image for some, but I still find it funny.
It means: you've seen horses puking.
That means nothing else than that you experience improbable things that you think are impossible ;-)
A wise Russian proverb "Better late than never" ( It's never too late to change everything; it's never too late to forgive and understand)
One of my favorite Cantonese proverbs I grew up hearing from my mom: 船到橋頭自然直 literal translation: “When the boat gets to the bridgehead, it will naturally straighten itself out”
American equivalent: We'll cross that bridge when we get there
Really helps keep me afloat in times of uncertainty
Here are some that I know in English. I'm from the USA:
1. Birds of a feather flock together.
2. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
3. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
4. The early bird catches the worm.
5. Empty barrels make the most noise.
6. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
7. Don't leave for tomorrow what you can do today.
I learned these in Portuguese (from Brazil):
1. Caco de vidro sempre tem inveja do diamante. (A shard of glass always is jealous of a diamond)
2. São farinha do mesmo saco. (They are flour from the same sack)
Another one from the USA:
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. (I like this, meaning just accept the gift graciously).
One of my favorites that I read in a book some time ago is
"Be the Sunshine, Not the Rain" unfortunately I don't recall the book.
Enjoy the day! Demaris
My son has an American girlfriend. He likes to translate Dutch sayings literally for her. His most favourite saying is: here comes the monkey out of the sleeve. It means: now we know what really happened 😂
I enjoy reading all the proverbs and can recommend two lovely books by Ella Frances Sanders on proverbs and words which are unique to a specific language:
Lost in translation (unique words)
Speaking in tongues (proverbs)
I especially like the originally Polish proverb "Not my circus, not my monkeys", meaning it is not my fault nor my business.
In Cornwall we used to say that it was raining stair rods, not "pijpenstelen"/pipestems. The blows struck felt the same.
A common Finnish proverb is ”Suutarin lapsella ei ole kenkiä” which is in English ”Shoemaker’s child has no shoes”.
I have heard that in Japan they say ”The dyer’s own trousers are white” meaning about the same thing.
In Finland we have a saying "Velka on veli otettaessa, velipuoli maksettaessa", in English "Debt is a brother when taken on and a stepbrother when being paid", meaning it's always easier and nicer to loan money than to pay it back.
I like that Swedish mångata. In Finnish the reflection of moon over water is called kuunsilta, a Moon Bridge. Sounds romantic... unless you think of a movie like Jaws.
I like this one: "Hinterher ist man immer schlauer" - "You're always wiser afterwards." :-)
Apparently, these are of Canadian origin. "His bark is worse than his bite" "Waste not want not" "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch"
I am Polish-Canadian, so I have the opportunity to compare Canadian phrases with Polish ones that I learned earlier in my life. Canadian "Killed two birds with one stone" is the same as Polish "Upiec dwie pieczenie na jednym ogniu" which translates to "Roast two meals on one fire".
The phrase "Don’t count your chickens before they hatch" (in Polish "Nie dziel skóry na niedźwiedziu" which literally translates to "Don't divide the skin on the bear") - meaning you should not depend on something that has not happen yet - is actually the very old phrase existing in many forms in different cultures. It comes from Aesop’s Fables - the collection of stories originated in the 600 – 550 BC in ancient Greece.
another proverb with 3 in it in Chinese is 三人行必有我师
translation to English is when you travel with another 3 people, there must have a teacher amont the group.
It means that you can always learn sth from others. try to find others forte and learn by yourself.
In Chile, we speak in a very peculiar way. Anyone who has visited my country can perfectly understand what I am talking about.
We use animals a lot in idioms and also in popular sayings.
Here are some very funny for foreigners.
"Chicotea los caracoles": To refer to people who do something with an exasperating calm.
"Leave as a monkey vest" (“Dejar como chaleco de mono”): Leave someone in a bad way or in shame in public.
"Whoever has the poncho, put it on"(“Al que le quede el poncho, que se lo ponga”): That is taken for granted when something is said.
“Grabbing for the chop / climbing on the swing” (“Agarrar para el chuleteo/subir al columpio”): Incessantly annoying another.
"Embolize the partridge"(“Embolinar la perdiz”): Try to distract another using some trick.
"Make duck egg"(“Hacer huevo de pato”): Cheat, give something of lesser quality, that is, "go for a hare."
"The pig is badly peeled"(“Está mal pelado el chancho"): In other words, something is not well distributed, there is inequality.
"Sell the fish"(“Vender la pescada”): Master of lies, who tries to scam others.
In theNetherlands we have different saying, here are a few:
Gezelligheid kent geen tijd (literal translation = cosiness knows no time) it means when you are having fun you forget all about the time.
Appels met peren vergelijken (literal translation = comparing apples to pears) it means comparing to completely different things.
and last but not least (this saying is the same in dutch)
Op een oude fiets moet je het leren (literal translation - you have to learn it on an old bicycle) it means learning new skills is best done with old tools but it is often used as a remark when an older person likes a younger one as "reason" to get hooked up or as a remark about them.
I like a Welsh saying...'Dyfal donc a dyr y garreg' which means ' it's the last blow that will split the stone' in other words.. don't give up!
here in Brazil we have several examples. one of them says: in the land of frogs, crouch with them. it means that we must respect the habits and behaviors when we are in other people's homes.
Comments left on another blog recently have reminded me of one of my father's sayings
"People living in glass houses shouldn't throw stones"
I came from Iraq and we have many proverbs. one of them says:
الجنة بدون ناس ما تنداس
Literal translation: A paradise without people is not worth stepping foot in.
حذر عدوك مرة وصديقك ألف مرة فإن انقلب الصديق فهو أعلم بالمضرة
“Be wary around your enemy once, and your friend a thousand times. A double-crossing friend knows more about what harms you.”
مصائب قوم عند قوم فوائد
Literal English translation: The misfortunes of some people are advantages to others.
English equivalent: One man’s meat is another man’s poison.
Here's a phrase from my area: You have to risk it for the biscuit. It's a silly rhyme, but the idea is that to get what you want (the biscuit), you have to be willing to take a risk!
My grandfather said, " You're not what you think you are but what you think, you are."
Pretty is as pretty does.
It's six of one; half dozen of the other.
I can't win for losing.
I don't have a dog in this fight. (This is really none of my business.)
That dog will hunt. (That's a good idea. or That's something that will work.)
We have so many sayings in our country; some are regional; others are said everywhere.
In Russia we say "Без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда". Google translate it like this: 'You can't easily pull a fish out of the pond'. But in fact this proverb means that if you don't do anything then you won't get anything. You must work hard and then you reach the goal.
Thanks for the great idea. The US has some well-known standards that most people would get regardless what region they're from, like: "the early bird gets the worm". But it's also fun to know about regional ones - I assure you the kid growing up in Alabama will learn different proverbs than the kids from Oregon or New Jersey.
PS - I do know one from France, that I learned from my college roommate: (la nuit, tous les chats sont gris), which means, "at night, all cats are grey". Essentially, if you meet someone at a club with low lighting, one person can look as good as another, even if they are very different.
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