French Proverbs II

E

* En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil ; en mai, fais ce qui te plaît.
o Idiomatic translation: Never cast a clout till May is out.
o Literal meaning: In April, do not shed a single thread; in May, do as you please.

* En tout pays, il y a une lieue de mauvais chemins.
o Idiomatic translation: There will be bumps on the smoothest roads.
o Literal translation: In every country, there's a league of bad paths

* Entre deux maux, il faut choisir le moindre.
o Translation: Of two evils one must choose the lesser.

* Entre l'arbre et l'écorce, il ne faut pas mettre le doigt.
o Idiomatic translation: Do not meddle in other people's family affairs.
o Literal meaning: Don't poke your finger 'twixt the bark and the tree.

F

* Fais ce que dois, advienne que pourra.
o Idiomatic translation: Do your duty, come what may.

* Fais ce que je dis, ne fais pas ce que je fais.
o Idiomatic translation: Do as I say, not as I do.

* Faute avouée est à moitié pardonnée.
o Literal translation: A fault confessed is half forgiven.
o Idiomatic translation: A fault confessed is a half redressed.

* Faute de grives, on mange des merles.
o Translation 1: Half a loaf is better than no bread.
o Translation 2: You have to cut your coat according to your cloth.
o Literal meaning: Eat blackbirds if you can't have thrushes.

* Femme rit quand elle peut et pleure quand elle veut.
o Idiomatic translation: A woman laughs when she can and weeps when she wants.

* Filer à l'anglaise.
o Idiomatic translation: To take French leave.
o Literal translation: Leave the English way.

* Force fait loi.
o Translation: Might makes right.
o Transliteration: Strength makes law.

G

* Grosse Corvette, petite cervelle.
o Literal translation: Big Corvette, small brain.
o Idiomatic translation: Big car, no brain.

* Grosse Corvette, petite quéquette. (Quebec)
o Literal translation: Big Corvette, small willie. (penis - quéquette being informal French).
o Meaning: someone who buys a big car is compensating for sexual shortcomings.

H

* Hâtez-vous lentement.
o Literal translation: Make haste slowly.
o Idiomatic translation: More haste less speed
o Latin: Festina lente.

* Heureux au jeu, malheureux en amour.
o Idiomatic translation: Lucky in cards, unlucky in love.
o Literal meaning: Fortunate in games, unfortunate in love.

* Homme mort ne fait guerre.
o Idiomatic translation: A dead man deals no blows.
o Literal meaning: A dead man cannot make war.

* Honi soit qui mal y pense.
o Idiomatic translation: Evil be to he who evil thinks.
o Literal meaning: Shameful be they who thinks badly of it.

I

* Il faut apprendre à obéir pour savoir commander.
o Translation: It is necessary to learn how to obey to know to comand.

* Il faut battre le fer pendant qu'il est chaud.
o Translation 1: Strike while the iron is hot.
o Translation 2: Make hay while the sun shines.
o Literal Translation: It is necessary to strike the iron while it is hot.

* Il faut casser le noyau pour avoir l'amande.
o Literal Translation: It is necessary to break the shell to have the almond
o Translation 1: He who would eat, crack the kernel.
o Translation 2: No pain, no gain.

* Il faut de tout pour faire un monde.
o Idiomatic translation: It takes all sorts to make a world.

* Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't air your dirty laundry in public.
o Literal translations: Washing one's dirty laundry must be done as a family.

* Il faut le voir pour le croire
o Translation: Seeing is believing.

* Il faut manger pour vivre, et non pas vivre pour manger.
o Idiomatic translation: Eat to live, don't live to eat.

* Il faut ménager la chèvre et le chou.
o Idiomatic translation: One must run with the hare and hunt with the hounds.
o Literal meaning: One must spare both the goat and the cabbage.

* Il faut que jeunesse se passe.
o Translation 1: Youth must have its fling.
o Literal translation: Youth must happen.

* Il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée.
o Idiomatic translation: There can be no middle ground.
o Literal meaning: A door must be either open or shut.

* Il faut savoir obéir avant que de commander.
o Idiomatic translation: Obedience comes before leadership.

* Il faut tourner sa langue sept fois dans sa bouche avant de parler.
o Idiomatic translation: Think before you speak.
o Literal meaning: One must turn the tongue seven times in the mouth before speaking.

* Il ne faut jamais dire « Fontaine, je ne boirai pas de ton eau ». Most often said Il ne faut jamais dire Fontaine
o Idiomatic translation: Never say never.
o Literal meaning: Never say, "Fountain, I shall not drink of your water."

* Il ne faut jamais remettre au lendemain ce qu'on peut faire le jour même.
o Literal translation: Never put off to tomorrow what you can do today.
o Translation: One of these days is none of these days.

* Il ne faut pas chercher midi à quatorze heures.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't complicate the issue.
o Idiomatic translation: To look for knots in a bulrush
o Literal meaning: Don't look for noon at two o'clock.

* Il ne faut pas confondre vitesse et précipitation.
o Idiomatic translation: More haste, less speed.
o Literal meaning: One must not confuse speed with haste.

* Il ne faut pas déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't rob Peter to pay Paul.
o Literal meaning: Don't undress Peter to dress Paul.

* Il ne faut pas mettre la charrue avant les bœufs.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't put the cart before the horse.
o Literal meaning: Don't put the plough before the oxen.

* Il ne faut pas mettre tous ses œufs dans le même panier.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

* Il ne faut pas réveiller le chat qui dort.
o Idiomatic translation: Let sleeping dogs lie.
o Literal meaning: Don't wake a cat who sleeps.

* Il ne faut pas vendre la peau de l'ours avant de l'avoir tué.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
o Literal meaning: Don't sell the bearskin before you've killed the bear.

* Il n'est jamais trop tard pour bien faire.
o Idiomatic translation: It is never too late to mend.
o Literal meaning: It is never too late to do well.

* Il n'est pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.
o Idiomatic translation: There are none so blind as they who will not see.

* Il n'est pire eau que celle qui dort. also "Méfie-toi de l'eau qui dort"
o Literal meaning: There is no worse water than the water which sleeps / Beware of the water which sleeps.
o Idiomatic translation: Still waters run deep.

* Il n'est pire sourd que celui qui ne veut pas entendre.
o Idiomatic translation: There is none so deaf as he who will not hear.

* Il n'y a pas d'ânesse qui ne trouve son âne.
o Idiomatic translation: Every Jack has his Jill.
o Literal meaning: There is no jenny who does not find her donkey.

* Il n'y a pas d'anguilles sans fémur
o Idiomatic translation: Where the birds are, the trees grow.

* Il n'y a pas de fumée sans feu.
o Literal translation: There's no smoke without fire.
o Idiomatic translation: Where there's smoke, there's fire.

* Il n'y a pas de petit profit.
o Idiomatic translation: A penny saved is a penny earned.
o Literal meaning: There is no small profit.

* Il n'y a pas de sot métier.
o Literal meaning: There is no inane craft.
o Idiomatic translation: Every trade has its value.

* Il n'y a que la vérité qui blesse.
o Literal meaning: Only truth hurts.
o Idiomatic translation: Truth hurts.

* Il n'y a que les montagnes qui ne se rencontrent jamais.
o Idiomatic translation: There are none so distant that fate cannot bring together.
o Literal meaning: Only mountains never meet.

* Il vaut mieux un petit chez soi, qu'un grand chez les autres.
o Idiomatic translation: There's no place like home.
o Literal meaning: It's better to be in your own home, though small, than the large home of someone else.

* Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.
o Idiomatic translation: There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
o Literal translation: There is a long way between the cup and the lips.

* Il y a plus d'un âne à la foire qui s'appellent Martin. also "Tous les ânes ne s'appellent pas Martin."
o Idiomatic translation 1: If one will not, another will.
o Idiomatic translation 2: There's plenty more fish in the sea
o Literal meaning: There is more than one donkey at the fair called Martin.

* Impossible n'est pas français.
o Idiomatic translation: There is no such word as "can't".
o Literal meaning: Impossible is not a French word.

J

* Jamais couard n'aura belle amie.
o Literal translation: Never coward shall have fair lady for friend.
o Idiomatic translation: Faint heart never won fair lady.

* Jamais deux sans trois.
o Literal translation: Never twice without thrice.

* Je ne suis ni pour, ni contre, bien au contraire.
o Literal translation: I am neither for nor against, much to the contrary!

L

* Laissez les bons temps rouler.
o Idiomatic translation: Let the good times roll [Cajun French].

* L'amour fait beaucoup, mais l'argent fait tout.
o Translation: Love does much, but money does all.

* L'argent n'a pas d'odeur.
o Idiomatic translation: Money is money (wherever it comes from).
o Literal meaning: Money has no smell.
o Latin: Pecunia non olet.

* L'argent ne fait pas le bonheur.
o Idiomatic translation: Money can't buy happiness.
o Literal meaning: Money doesn't make happiness.

* L'argent ne se trouve pas sous le sabot / le pas d'un cheval.
o Idiomatic translation: Money doesn't grow on trees.
o Literal meaning: Money is not found under a horse's hoof / step.

* L'amour est aveugle.
o Idiomatic translation: Love is blind.

* L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
o Idiomatic translation 1: One cannot judge a book by its cover.
o Idiomatic translation 2: Clothes don't make the man.
o Literal translation: The dress doesn't make the monk.

* L'herbe est toujours plus verte chez le voisin.
o Idiomatic translation: The grass is always greener on the other side.
o Literal translation: The grass is always greener at the neighbours'

* L'homme est un loup pour l'homme.
o Idiomatic translation: Brother will turn on brother. /'dog eat dog'
o Latin: Homo homini lupus
o Literal meaning: The man is a wolf for the man.

* La bave du crapaud n'atteint pas la blanche colombe.
o Idiomatic translation: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
o Literal meaning: The spit of the toad doesn't reach the white dove.

* La caque sent toujours le hareng.
o Idiomatic translation: What's bred in the bone will come out in the flesh.
o Literal meaning: A herring barrel will always smell of herring.

* La chance sourit aux audacieux.
o Idiomatic translation: Fortune favours the brave.
o Latin: Fortuna favet fortibus
o Literal meaning: Luck smiles at the bold.

* La culture, c'est comme la confiture, moins on en a, plus on l'étale.
o Idiomatic translation: people who always shows their sciences are those who know the less. "étale" means spread or to show
o Literal meaning: Culture is like jam, the less we have the more we spread it.

* La curiosité est un vilain défaut.
o Idiomatic translation: Curiosity killed the cat.
o Literal meaning: Curiosity is a wicked fault.

* La faim chasse le loup hors du bois.
o Translation: Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

* La fête passée, adieu le saint.
o Idiomatic translation: The river passed, and God forgotten.
o Translation: The festival has passed, goodbye to the saint.

* La fin justifie les moyens.
o Translation: The ends justify the means.

* La nuit porte conseil.
o Translation 1: Take advice of your pillow.
o Translation 2: Sleep on it.
o Literal meaning: The night brings advice.

* La nuit tous les chats sont gris.
o Translation: At night all cats are grey.
o Idiomatic translation: All cats are grey in the dark.

* La parole est d'argent, mais le silence est d'or.
o Idiomatic translation: Speech is silver, Silence is golden.
o Literal meaning: Talk is silver, silence is golden.

* La pluie de vos injures n'atteint pas le parapluie de mon indifférence.
o Translation: Your spluttering insults do not reach the umbrella of my indifference.

* La plus belle fille du monde ne peut donner que ce qu'elle a.
o Translation: The prettiest girl in the world can only give what she has.

* L'appétit vient en mangeant.
o Idiomatic translation: The more you have, the more you want.
o Literal meaning: Appetite comes while eating.

* La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure.
o Idiomatic translation: Might is always right.
o Literal meaning: The motive of the strongest is always the best.
o wherever is ideas, the one who decide is always the strongest.

* La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.
o Idiomatic translation: Revenge is a dish best served cold.
o Literal: Revenge is a dish that is eaten cold.

* La vérité est dans le vin. = "L'alcool délie les langues"
o Idiomatic translation: In wine is truth.
o Latin: In vino veritas
o Literal: The truth is in the wine.
o When you want someone to tell you the truth make him/her drink.

* La vérité sort de la bouche des enfants.
o Idiomatic translation: Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings comes forth truth.
o Latin: Ex ore parvulorum veritas
o Literal meaning: The truth comes from the mouth of children.

* Le crime ne paie pas.
o Translation: Crime does not pay.

* Le Diable chie toujours au même endroit.
o Idiomatic translation: The criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.
o Literal meaning: The Devil always shits in the same place.

* La bible comme lu par le diable.
o Idiomatic Translation: Devil quoting scripture.
o Literal Translation: The Bible as read by the devil.

* Le malheur des uns fait le bonheur des autres.
o Idiomatic translation: One man's meat is another man's poison. OR One man's trash is another man's treasure.
o Literal meaning: The misfortune of some makes the joy of others.

* Le mieux est l'ennemi du bien.
o Idiomatic translation: Let well alone.
o Literal meaning: Better is the enemy of good.

* Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt.
o Idiomatic translation: The early bird catches the worm.
o Literal meaning: The world belongs to those who rise early.

* Le ridicule ne tue pas.
o Being ridiculed isn't lethal.

* Le roi est mort, vive le roi!
o Translation: "The King is Dead, Long live the King!"

* L'enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions.
o Idiomatic translation: The road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
o Literal meaning: Hell is paved with good intentions.

* L'erreur est humaine.
o Literal translation: The error is human.
o Idiomatic translation: To err is human.
o Latin: Errare humanum est

* Les absents ont toujours tort.
o Translation: The absent are always in the wrong.

* Les affaires sont les affaires.
o Translation: Business is business.

* Les amis de mes ennemis sont mes ennemis. Et les ennemis de mes ennemis sont mes amis
o Idiomatic translation: A friend of yours is a friend of mine / The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
o Literal meaning: Friends of my enemies are my enemies / Enemies of my enemies are my friends.

* Les apparences sont trompeuses.
o Idiomatic translation: All that glitters is not gold.
o Literal meaning: Appearances are deceptive.

* Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
o Translation 1: Short reckonings make long friends.
o Translation 2: Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
o Literal meaning: Good accounts make good friends.

* Les bons outils font les bons ouvriers
o Translation: Good tools make good workers.

* Les chiens aboient, la caravane passe.
o Idiomatic translation: Let the world say what it will.
o Literal meaning: The dogs bark, the caravan passes by.

* Les chiens ne font pas des chats. = "tel père, tel fils / Telle mère, telle fille"
o Idiomatic translation: Like breeds like / The apple does not fall far from the tree.
o Literal meaning: Dogs don't make cats.

* Les conseillers ne sont pas les payeurs.
o Idiomatic translation: Advice is cheap.
o Literal meaning: Advisors aren't the ones who pay.

* Les cordonniers sont les plus mal chaussés.
o Idiomatic translation: The cobbler's children go barefoot.
o Literal translation: The cobblers have the worst shoes

* Les fruits défendus sont les meilleurs.
o Idiomatic translation: Forbidden fruits are the sweetest.
o Literal meaning: Forbidden fruits are the best.

* Les goûts et les couleurs ne se discutent pas.
o Idiomatic translation: There's no accounting for tastes.
o Literal meaning: Tastes and colors cannot be questioned.
o Latin: De gustibus et coloribus non est disputandum.

* Les grands diseurs ne sont pas les grands faiseurs.
o Idiomatic translation: Talkers are not doers.
o Literal meaning: Big talkers are not big doers.

* Les grands esprits se rencontrent.
o Idiomatic translation: Great minds think alike.
o Literal meaning: Great spirits meet one another.

* Les habitudes ont la vie dure.
o Idiomatic translation: Old habits die hard.

* Les jours se suivent et ne se ressemblent pas.
o Translation 1: After Christmas comes Lent.
o Translation 2: Time changes and we with time.
o Literal meaning: The days follow one another and do not look alike.

* Les loups ne se mangent pas entre eux.
o Translation 1: Dog does not eat dog.
o Translation 2: There is honour among thieves.
o Literal translation: Wolves don't eat each other.

* Les murs ont des oreilles.
o Translation: Walls have ears.

* Le soleil luit pour tout le monde.
o Idiomatic translation: The sun shines for one and all.
o Literal meaning: The sun shines for everybody.

* Les petits ruisseaux font les grandes rivières.
o Idiomatic translation: Tall oaks from little acorns grow.
o Literal meaning: Little streams make big rivers.

* Les plaisanteries les plus courtes sont les meilleures.
o Idiomatic translation: Brevity is the soul of wit.
o Literal meaning: The shortest jokes are the best ones.

* L'espoir fait vivre.
o Idiomatic translation: Where there's life, there's hope.
o Literal meaning: Hope keeps alive.

* Les voyages forment la jeunesse.
o Idiomatic translation: Travel broadens the mind.
o Literal meaning: Travels train young people.

* Le temps c'est de l'argent.
o Translation: Time is money.

* L'exactitude est la politesse des rois. or "La ponctualité est la politesse des rois"
o Translation: Punctuality is the politeness of kings.

* L'excès en tout est un défaut.
o Idiomatic translation: Too much is too much.
o Literal meaning: Excess in everything is a fault.

* L'habit ne fait pas le moine.
o Idiomatic translation: Don't judge the book by its cover.
o Literal meaning: The cowl does not make the friar.

* L'occasion fait le larron.
o Idiomatic translation: Opportunity makes the thief.

* Loin des yeux, loin du cœur.
o Idiomatic translation: Out of sight, out of mind.
o Literal translation: Far from the eyes, far from the heart

* L'oisiveté est la mère de tous les vices.
o Literal translation: Idleness is the mother of all sins.
o Idiomatic translation: An idle mind is ur mom's workshop.

* L'union fait la force.
o Idiomatic translation: United we stand, divided we fall.
o Literal meaning: Unity makes strength.

forsm acto suponut lack of character is punished