Proverbs Flashcards
You may think that travelling all the time is fun, but eventually you’ll discover that east or west, home is best.
East, west, home is best
Borta bra men hemma bäst.
This idiom means that people with similar interests will stick together.
Birds of a feather flock together
Lika barn leka bäst
People whose behaviour is strictly controlled go over the top when the authority is not around, which is why most teenagers have parties when their parents have gone on holiday
When the cat’s away the mice will play
När katten är borta dansar råttorna på bordet
If you wake up and get to work early, you will succeed. (Sometimes used to remark that someone is awake and working surprisingly early).
The early bird catches the worm
Morgonstund har guld i mun
You take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it arises and do not waste time.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Smida medan järnet är varmt
If you really need to do something you will find a way. In other words, people can be very creative when they have to be.
Necessity is the mother of invention.
Nöden är uppfinningarnas moder
When people suspect something, there is normally good reason for the suspicion, even if there is no concrete evidence.
There’s no smoke without fire
Ingen rök utan eld
Don’t rely on something that hasn’t happened yet. For example, you shouldn’t spend money that you haven’t earned yet.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Man kan inte sälja skinnet förrän björnen är skjuten
When you are visiting a different place or culture, you should try to follow their customs and practices.
When in Rome do as the Romans do
Ta sedan dit man kommer
Outward appearances can be deceiving. In other words, you should look at something closely before deciding if it is good or bad.
Appearances are deceptive
Skenet bedrar
If too many people are managing something, it will fail. In other words, it’s better to have one person directing a project than many people.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Ju fler kockar desto sämre soppa
People cannot change their personality or nature. For example, if someone is bad then they will always be bad (so don’t believe people who say they’ve changed).
A leopard cannot change its spots.
Ränderna går aldrig ur
