Problem
Proverbs and idioms contradict each other.
Answer
Never mind. Just as well. You can find one to suit any circumstances and any occasion, and trot it out to agree with anybody.
In English we say, You can't judge a book by its cover.
However, the Koreans say, What looks good, tastes good.
Truth Versus Trompe L'oeuil
Do appearances mislead? Or does observation tell you all you need to know?
I read a book about contradictory proverbs. May be I bought it and it is hiding somewhere. Maybe I read the first page in a bookshop and got the genral idea.
TIME
a) Haste versus b) Procrastination
Author, Angela Lansbury
Author of Who Said What When?
Proverbs and idioms contradict each other.
Answer
Never mind. Just as well. You can find one to suit any circumstances and any occasion, and trot it out to agree with anybody.
In English we say, You can't judge a book by its cover.
However, the Koreans say, What looks good, tastes good.
Truth Versus Trompe L'oeuil
Do appearances mislead? Or does observation tell you all you need to know?
I read a book about contradictory proverbs. May be I bought it and it is hiding somewhere. Maybe I read the first page in a bookshop and got the genral idea.
TIME
a) Haste versus b) Procrastination
a) He who hesitates is lost.
a) Time waits for no man.
a) Time and tide wait for no man.
a) Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
a) Tomorrow is the busiest day of the week. (Spanish.)
b) Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
b) Look before you leap.
a) Persistence versus b) obstinacy
a) If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.
b) Don’t beat your head against a stone wall.
b) Don’t beat your head against a stone wall.
b) Don't shut the door after the horse has bolted.
a) Fatalism Versus Hope and Responsibility
a) If your number's on it ...
a) In the long run we are all dead.
b) While there's life there's hope.
a) Distance Versus b) Closeness
a) Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
a) Distance lends enchantment to the view.
a) No man is a hero in his own country.
b) Out of sight, out of mind.
a) Romance Versus b) Practicality
b) Plenty more ships in the sea.
b) There's someone for everyone.
b) Paddle your own canoe.
a) Love Versus b) Money
b) When money flies out of the window, love runs out of the door.
b) If you are rich - you sing well, too.
b) Don't marry for money, but marry where money isl
b) What attracted you to the millionaire. (Comedy.)
a) ACTION PLAN AND b) DELAY
a) Do it now.
a) The time to plant a tree is yesterday.) Or the time to plant a vine is yesterday.)
a) You don't plan to fail, you fail to plan.
a) Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
b) It’s better to be safe than sorry.
b) A fool and his money are soon parted.
b) Haste makes waste.
b) Don't cross a bridge until you come to it.
b) If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
b) Let sleeping dogs lie.
b) All things come to those who wait.
a) AGE VERSUS b) YOUTH
a) You’re never too old to learn.
a) You’re never too old to learn.
a) Age before beauty.
a) An old broom sweeps clean.
a) Age is only a number. (Benjamin Franklin.)
b) You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
a) TEAM WORK VERSUS b) SOLITUDE
a) Many hands make light work.
a) No man is an island. (Poet and priest, John Donne.)
b) Too many cooks spoil the broth.
b) If you want a thing done, do it yourself.
b) He who travels alone travels furthest.
a) For GIFTS b) versus Gifts
a) Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
a) Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
a) What goes around comes around.
b) Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
b) Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
b) There's no such thing as a free lunch.
b) Nice guys finish last.
No good deed goes unpunished. (Ironical.)
a) Hitch your wagon to a star.
b) Don’t bite off more that you can chew.
b) Don’t bite off more that you can chew.
APPEARANCE VERSUS THE INNER SOUL
a) Don’t judge a book by its cover.
b) Clothes make the man.
b) Clothes make the man.
b) Dress to impress.
b) You never get a second chance to make a first impression.
SPEECH VERSUS SILENCE
a) A word to the wise is sufficient.
a) The squeaking wheel gets the grease.
a) The squeaking wheel gets the grease.
b) Talk is cheap.
b) Silence is golden.
b) Loose lips sink ships. (WWII UK warning slogan on posters.)
b) Can you keep a secret? So can I!
b) Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt. (American writer, Mark Twain or American President Abraham Lincoln.)
Author, Angela Lansbury
Author of Who Said What When?
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