BS: Dry pants catch no fish

Subject: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 09:24 AM

Found today - a book of proverbs translated from all around the world. Some probably have lost a lot in the original but here are some genms of wisdom.

One hears pedestrians sing most of riding songs.   Russian.
Drink and sing:an inch before us is black night. Japanese.
He who has no friends to tie him up should not go mad. Yaruba (Africa)

Genuine ones please - what have you heard? Foreign language speakers should excel here.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 09:31 AM

Give a man a fish and he has dinner.
Teach a man to fish and he's late for dinner.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Emma B
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 09:48 AM

some from Uist -

The quiet pig eats most.

Every peat has its smoke, and every person has his own sorrow.

There has often been a big blaze from a little fire and often a big fire that has gone out.

Don't lift me until I fall.

What is done in the back corner will eventually come to the front door.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Leadfingers
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 05:10 PM

I thought it was "Give a man a fish and he will eat , teach a man to fish and he will sit in a boat all day and drink beer"

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Skivee
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 05:32 PM

From Skivee's dad's list of proverbs:
You can't make an omelet without breaking some legs.
Crime doesn't pay on a weekly basis...generally monthly.
Chastity begins at home.
Red sky at morning...sailor take a drink.

This is the wisdom that made me what I am today.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: jeffp
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 10:06 PM

Give a man a fire and he'll be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire and he'll be warm for the rest of his life.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 10:13 PM

But, aren't we looking for translated sayings from other cultures here? I don't know any.

Oh, wait..does
'I gave away an onion once' from the Bros. Karamzov count?
The speaker meant it as an indication of her 'goodness'.

It's now a Family Watchword for hypocrisy.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: frogprince
Date: 15 Dec 07 - 10:21 PM

Funny thing is, I think I can actually make sense of the last two in the first post. Can't think of any in the way of proverbs right now, but I've always remembered the labeling I saw years ago on a Japanese alarm clock: "Thanks be to marvelous alarm, you are never awake when you should be sleeping".

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,squeezeboxhp
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 09:37 AM

man with hole in pocket feel cocky all day

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Flash Company
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 10:19 AM

Old countryman I knew as a kid always raised his cup and said 'Here's to health, wealth and freedom, them as never drinks tea, bugger 'em, ne'er heed 'em!'. Perhaps not a proverb but certainly remembered advice.

FC

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,van lingle
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 11:06 AM

Lovely snowflakes, they fall nowhere else!- Zen saying

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 02:35 PM

more from the same book!

Being a baker is poor work if your head is made of butter. Danish
Hairy husband, smooth happiness Estonian

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Skivee
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 03:09 PM

I just realized that I was pushing thread drift on Mr.Red. Sorry.

How about,"En un bocho cerrado no entran moscas."
Roughly translated,"If you keep your mouth shut, you will not find out how good flies taste."

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 04:55 PM

Not exactly a "saying," but my grandpa's favorite threat to a kid was:

"Granny's gonna ride you a bug-huntin' till the skin comes off yer nose."

I have no idea where it came from; but I heard it quite often.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Skivee
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 05:02 PM

Granny's gonna ride you a bug-huntin' till the skin comes off yer nose."
I'm thinkin' that it means that Granny is going to shove your face into the dirt face-first and shove until the soil abrades.
I've never heard the like, myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 16 Dec 07 - 05:08 PM

It was also implied that she'd be "ridin' on yer back" to keep your nose down. It did sound rather horrid, but granny was old enough then that most of the kids probably could outrun her; although it suggested that you might have to stay hid-out for quite a while. It was a relatively "gentle" reproach compared to a few much rarer ones.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,CrazyEddie
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 03:51 AM

You can't whistle & chew oatmeal (at the same time).
Little pigs have long ears. (Referring to kids overhearing adults conversation)

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Emma B
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 04:07 AM

a couple more from Uist...

He who is late rising will be in a hurry all day.

Any colour can be dyed black, but black can't be dyed any colour.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 04:31 AM

"To be a successful diplomat, it is not sufficient to be ignorant. One must also be polite." - Voltaire(?)

John

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Donuel
Date: 17 Dec 07 - 03:13 PM

Never test a newly painted toilet seat by sitting.

h

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 04:35 PM

if misfortune has not found you, wait a minute - you will find it.   Bulgarian

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Amos
Date: 18 Dec 07 - 10:02 PM

Boer Afrikaans:

"Die koe'l is deur die kerk Ñ en die dominee is dood."

The bullet is through the church and the vicar is dead.


(ItÕs too late for tears, or don't cry over spilled milk).

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,Nfkfiddler
Date: 19 Dec 07 - 10:59 AM

A wet duck never flies at night...................

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,CrazyEddie
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 08:48 AM

When the sheep are grazing fitfully, either it will rain or it won't.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 20 Dec 07 - 11:40 AM

Ancient Greek ones:
Besides Athena (the goddess) move your own hand as well
(i.e. praying is fine, but no excuse for lack of personal effort)

The mountain groaned and produced a tiny mouse
also:
Where you hear a lot of cherries, take but a small basket
(much ado about nothing)

Dutch:
He who makes no mistakes, makes nothing

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 06:04 AM

He who licks the saucepan at home will not be killed in battle Czech

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 10:43 PM

He might be killed at home!

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Brendy
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 11:14 PM

Clean meat never fattened a pig - my father came out with that one day after he handed back a sweet to a very young grandchild, who wasn't all that fussed about eating it once she dropped it on the floor.

Butter to butter's no kitchen. Now there's a good'un..

B.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 29 Dec 07 - 01:15 PM

He who lives longest has the most old clothes. Zulu

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Emma B
Date: 30 Dec 07 - 10:59 AM

Amigo do todos y de ninguno todo es uno -

Everybody's friend and nobody's friend is all one and the same.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Rusty Dobro
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 11:13 AM

'If you see a Hungarian in the street, hit him. He will know why.' (Bulgarian)

'The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single pension cheque' (Me).

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Micca
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 01:28 PM

Allez Kunst ist umsunst wenn ein Engel auf die zundloch brunnst
trans "All skill is in vain when an Angel pisses in the touchole of your musket"
but the modern one I like is
"Pray to the Goddess for a timely win on the Lottery by all means, but help her a little, BUY A TICKET!!

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Charley Noble
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 05:04 PM

"He is a clever and his home is far" (Ethiopian-Gurage ethnic group)

Implies that the wise man is from outside the village.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Kim C
Date: 31 Dec 07 - 05:05 PM

One day my very own husband said, "Well. . . some days you pokes the cow, other days the cow pokes you."

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: alison
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 01:12 AM

fine words butter no parsnips

you can't skin a frog

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 08:08 AM

Some days you're the pigeon and some days you're the statue.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,Black Hawk
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 08:17 AM

You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be led!

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: maeve
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 08:22 AM

A typo, perhaps? "Allez Kunst ist umsunst..." should be "Alle Kunst..." Micca- What do you think?

maeve

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Micca
Date: 08 Jan 08 - 09:52 AM

You are probably right maeve, a defective memory covers all!

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 09 Jan 08 - 05:01 AM

Wir immer im der scheisse sind

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: GUEST,Paul
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 05:25 AM

hi Are you the Alison who was looking for Dick's Pig...cause I have it.

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: autolycus
Date: 19 Jan 08 - 07:37 PM

You can lead a horse to water but a pencil must be led!

Or as there was once in a quiz show,"

"You can take a horticulture, but you can't make her think."

Ivor

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: alanabit
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 06:02 AM

"Nachts sind alle Katzen grau." - "All cats are grey at night."
I could put that into context, but you can probably guess!

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 07:06 AM

I head this as an old Chinese proverb, although I've no evidence that it actually is Chinese:

"A man who has but two loaves of bread should sell one and buy a flower."

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 20 Jan 08 - 10:06 AM

A bit of Googling suggests that the above is Arab rather than Chinese and is more complete as:

"If you have two loaves of bread, sell one and buy a flower for the soul! It must have food as well as the body!"

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Moses
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 08:07 AM

I think it was Piet Hein who wrote:-

'If, of thy worldly goods thou art bereft
and of thy slender store,two loaves alone to thee are left
sell one, and with the dole
buy hyacinths to feed thy soul'


I love hyacinths, well any flowers really....

Christine

Subject: RE: BS: Dry pants catch no fish
From: Mr Red
Date: 21 Jan 08 - 12:57 PM

"You can take a horticulture, but you can't make her think."

Ivor

That quiz show was Dorathy Parker