83 Odd Sayings From Around The World Illustrated Literally

In my country it is when buffalos fight, fies die.

this makes sense and has helped me in quite a few situations

The meaning probably needs to be altered: that misfortune befalls all, whether it be prince or pauper.

This is actually a Chinese proverb. 井底之蛙。

As a Turkish woman, I had to google the line to see the Turkish version cause I've never heard of it before.

I agree!

gotta break a few eggs to make an omelette amirite?

proverb originally is more about adjusting to the society around you, doesn't mean only dangerous situations.

Wow! An American comics character became part of an Asian proverb!? How so? Does it mean Batmam is THAT old and THAT iconic? I mean, Superman and Wonder Woman have entered the language through idioms, but this is the first time I see a superhero in a proverb. Proverbs are considered as old words of wisdom. Interesting. This makes me curious. ♥

We also have a similar one in Indonesia. "Empty barrels make the loudest noise"

Never heard this one, and I'm French

Wow, this is quite piqturesque.

This also exists in other European coutnries. Unfortunately, clever digers might get away still...

And There's also a smart a** potato with glasses in every sack

The spider in the bottom left is my favorite! :b

its all about perception im afraid. the older you get the more you realise you are missing the bigger picture, then the even bigger picture after that..

my family is always like oh your supposed to be loud and I'm in my room listening to music....

Well I am afraid you need to fall eight times first, in order for you to stand up the eighth time

The plumbers house is full of leaks

Now this is the electoral debate that I would like to have witnessed!

It's mean something different: some people just look for reasons to blame for their failures in the outside, never in the inside. The bad ballerina blames the hem of her skirt, not her poor dancing skills.

"Don't judge a book by it's cover" Is how the saying goes here in the USA

*hums 'I will catch a grenaaaade for youuu'*

In English, a "feather in the cap" means accolades. Could this idiom actually mean, "Don't worry about receiving praise, just do the job and be happy with what you get"? That makes more sense to me.

In Croatia we also say "Who gets burnt once, blows even on cold", as when you blow on hot food prior to putting it in your mouth to cool it down first.

This one is my life.

Just like when you fart...

i kinda doubt that it can

It's very true but hard to learn

Brilliant!!

in the UK its "if you give an inch, they will take a mile".

A donkey with a golden saddle is still a donkey (Turkish)

An apple a day keeps the doctors away - UK

Lol the tiny cow.

A similar russian proverb is:"you can't butter a bread with thank you"

Shrimp that fall asleep get grilled and eaten.

Aahahha in Serbia it's: "Don't mix frogs with grandmas" xD

Because figs that worms don't want to eat are full of insecticides.

Poor cat.

I think the meaning is a little less positive than that.. along the lines of "for a mother her son is the most handsome n the best"

Don't mess with the worms!

"Wer rastet, der rostet" in the original, which shows why it is hard to literally translate. It plays with "rasten" with an "o" instead of the "a" having a completely different meaning. In English "He who rests, rusts" sounds a bit odd.

Time to shave!

I prefer: "IF my grandma had wheels she'd be an omnibus". This saying is quite well known in Germany and Italy and probably a lot of other places.

"Do not use canons on sparrows" is the European version. :)

Don't burn your bridges.

Another one to exist in several languges. I am wondering how such proverbs have spread, or if they have been "invented" independently.

We've all been there. Hunger gets the best of us! lol

"Well in my opinion....”

“Why can’t we be friends."

Yeah, don't bother helping them, just help yourself. Great life lesson.

same proverb in German, saying that gras won't grow faster when you're pulling on it

Read the newspaper on the table

this applies to Jerry

My Korean friend explained it like this to me; of a Koi carp trying to swim up a waterfall, and if he reached the top he would become a dragon. its about facing great adversity and if you were to beat it you would become more powerful than you imagined.

Even though I think a cat will appreciate food, food, and a belly rub more. In that order.

But in Japan, the rabbit is already on the moon!

I love the frog with the war map lol.

Proverbs could be really funny! The one I know in my language with the same meaning is: "Scabby donkeys smell each other"

Just don't forget to learn from your past or you'll spend your whole life repeating it.