Portuguese Proverbs I

A

* "A açorda faz a velha gorda e a menina formosa."
o Translation: "The "açorda" fattens the old woman and makes the young woman shapeful".
o Note: "Açorda" is a popular dish based upon bread and water.

* "À boda e ao baptizado não vás sem ser convidado."
o Translation: Don't go uninvited to baptisms and weddings.

* "A bom entendedor meia palavra basta."
o Translation: "To those that understand well half a word is enough."
o Meaning: Don't say more, I got it.
o Meaning: I won't tell you more, you can get at the idea yourself
o Equivalent: A word to the wise is enough / Half a word is enough for a wise man
o Equivalent in Greek: Ο νοών νοείτο. "The minded knows."

* "A caridade começa em casa."
o Translation: "Charity begins at home"
o Equivalent in French: Charité bien ordonnée commence par soi-même.

* "A cavalo dado não se olha os dentes."
o Translation: "One doesn't examine the teeth of a gift horse." (Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.)

Meaning: Don't be too choosy when something comes to you without effort.

*
o Equivalent: Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
o Equivalent in French: À cheval donné on ne regarde pas les dents
o Equivalent in Greek: Του έδωσαν γάιδαρο και τον κοίταξε στα δόντια. "He was given a donkey and he was looking at it's teeth."

* "A falar é que a gente se entende."
o Translation: Talking is the way for people to understand each other.
o Meaning: If we don't talk about it we won't get things cleared up.

* "A esperança é a última que morre."
o Translation: Hope is the last to die.
o Variation: "A esperança é a última a morrer."
o Meaning: Don´t give up!, She/he will not give up
o Equivalent: Hope is life.
o Equivalent in Greek: Η ελπίδα πεθαίνει πάντα τελευταία. "Hope dies always last."

* "A fome é o melhor tempero."
o Translation: "Hunger is the best spice"
o Meaning: When you're hungry, everything tastes better.
o Variant: "A fome é a melhor cozinheira."
o Translation: "Hunger is the best cook."

* "A fruta proibida é a mais apetecida."
o Translation: The forbidden fruit is the most desired.
o Equivalent in Greek: Η αμαρτία είναι γλυκιά. "The sin is sweet."

* "A grama é sempre mais verde do lado do vizinho." (Brazil)
o Translation: "The grass is always greener on the neighbor's side (of the fence)."
o Portuguese version: "A galinha da vizinha é mais gorda que a minha."
o Translation: My neighbour's chicken is fatter than mine.
o Meaning: We always want what we don't have.
o Equivalent: The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
o Equivalent in French: L'herbe du voisin est toujours plus verte.

* "A grande nau, grande tormenta."
o Translation: To big ships, big storms.
o Meaning: Bigger enterprises/projects have more and more difficult problems.
o Usage: Sometimes, about ambitions for which the person is incompetent.

* "A justiça começa em casa."
o Translation: "Justice begins at home"

* "A mentira tem perna curta."
o Translation: "Lies have short legs."
o Meaning: The truth never stays hidden for long.
o Equivalent: The truth will out.

* "A melhor defesa é o ataque."
o Translation: "The best defence is to attack"
o Equivalence: "The best defence is a good offense."
o Equivalent in Greek: Η καλύτερη άμυνα είναι η επίθεση.

* "A morte não escolhe idades."
o Translation: Death doesn't pick ages.
o Variant: "A morte não conhece idade."
o Translation: "Death does not know (recognize) age."
o Related Equivalent: "Death picks no sides."

* "A necessidade é a mãe da invenção."
o Translation: "Necessity is the mother of invention."
o Equivalence: "Necessity is the mother of invention."

* "A noite é boa conselheira."
o Translation: "The night is a good advisor"
o Variant: "O travesseiro é bom conselheiro"
o Translation: The pillow is a good advisor.

Meaning: Thinking things over sometimes helps to make things clearer.

*
o Equivalent: "Sleep on it."
o Equivalent in French: La nuit porte conseil.

* "A ocasião faz o ladrão."
o Translation: "The opportunity makes the thief."
o Equivalent in French: L'occasion fait le larron.

* "A ociosidade é a mãe de todos os vícios."
o Translation: "Idleness is mother to all vices"
o Variant: "A preguiça é a mãe de todos os vícios."
o Translation: "Laziness is the mother of all vices."
o Equivalent: "Idle hands are the Devil's playground."
o Equivalent in Greek (Ancient and Modern): Αργία μήτηρ πάσης κακίας.

* "A palavra é de prata e o silêncio é de ouro."
o Translation: "Words are silver and silence is gold."
o Equivalent in Greek: Η σιωπή είναι χρυσός.
o Equivalent in French: La parole est d’argent et le silence est d’or.

* "A pensar morreu um burro."
o Translation: A donkey died (from) thinking (too much).
o Modern equivalent expression: "Você não é pago para pensar" (You're not being paid to think.)

* "A pressa é inimiga da perfeição."
o Translation: "Haste is the enemy of perfection."
o Equivalent: "Haste makes waste."

* "À primeira qualquer cai, à segunda cai qualquer, à terceira só cai quem quer."
o Translation: " One can be fooled once, twice can be (any)one fooled, but can only be fooled the third time one that wants to be [fooled]."
o Near equivelence: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
o Near equivalence in Greek (mostly ancient): Το δις εξαμαρτείν ουκ ανδρός σοφου. "An error made twice does not fit a wise man."

* "A quem muito se abaixa vê-se-lhe o rabo."
o Transl.: Those who bend too much allow their ass to be seen.
o Variant.: "A quem muito se agacha vê-se-lhe o rabo."
o Transl.: Those who get too low allow their ass to be seen.

* "A roupa suja lava-se em casa."
o Transl.: Dirty clothes should be washed at home.
o Meaning: Don't discuss your private matters in public.
o Equivalence: Don't wash your dirty undewear in public.
o Equivalence: Don't air your dirty laundry.
o French Equivalence: Il faut laver son linge sale en famille.
o Equivalent in Greek (ancient and modern): Τα εν οίκω μη εν δήμω. "Not for public the private ones."

* "A sorte de uns é o azar de outros."
o Transl.: One guy's good luck is the other guy's bad luck.
o (Somewhat) Equivalent: One man's trash is another man's treasure.
o Equivalent in Greek: Ο θανατός σου η ζωή μου. "Your death is my life."

* "A sorte favorece os audazes."
o Translation: "Luck favours the bold"
o Origin: Virgil "Audentes fortuna juvat" Wikipedia

* "A união faz a força."
o Translation: "Strength made from union."
+ Equivalence: "United we stand, divided we fall."
o Equivalent in French: L'union fait la force.
o Equivalent in Greek (ancient and modern): Ισχύς εν τη ενώσει.

* "A uns morrem as vacas, a outros parem os bois."
o Transl: To some cows die, to others bulls give birth.
o Meaning: whereas some men know only misfortune, on other men God's choicest gifts are poured.

* "A vida começa aos 40"
o Equivalence : "Life begins at forty"
o Equivalent in Greek: Η ζωή αρχίζει στα σαράντα/Η ζωή ξεκινάει στα -άντα.

* "A vingança é um prato que se serve frio."
o Translation: "Revenge is a dishthat one serves cold."
o Equivalent: "Revenge is a dish best served cold."
o Equivalent in French: La vengeance est un plat qui se mange froid.
o Equivalent in Greek: Η εκδίκηση είναι ένα πιάτο που τρώγεται κρύο.

* "Achado não é roubado."
o Translation: Found isn't stolen.
o Equivalent: "Finders keepers"

* "Água dá, água leva."
o Translation: "Water gives, water takes away"
o Near equivalent in Greek: Xους ην και εις χουν απελεύσην. "I was soil and I leave to soil." (Christian belief that body is made by soil.)

* "Água e vento são meio sustento."
o Translation: Water and wind are [already] half your share.
o Meaning: You're alive, that's not bad at all, you can go for the rest now.

* "Água mole em pedra dura, tanto bate até que fura."
o Variant: "Água mole em pedra dura, tanto dá até que fura."
o Translation: "Soft water on hard rock will work until it makes a hole."
o Meaning: No matter how pointless and hopeless it seems, if you don't give up you will eventually succeed.

* "Águas passadas não movem moinhos."
o Translation: "Past waters don´t move watermills"
o Meaning: Past accomplishments make no impact today.
o Variant: "Água parada não move moinho."
o Translation: "Stillwater does not move watermills."

Meaning: If you don't put an effort into it, it will never get accomplished.

* "Água pelo São João tira azeite e não dá pão."
o Translation: "Water by Saint John's (celebration) takes oil and doesn't give bread."

* "Ajuda-te que Deus te ajudará."
o Translation: Help yourself and God will help you.
+ Equivalent: Don't ask God to guide your footsteps if you're not willing to move your feet.
+ Equivalent in French: Aide-toi et le ciel t'aidera.
+ Εquivalent in Greek: Συν Αθηνά και χείρα κίνει. "Aided by Athena (ancient Greek godess) and move your hand."
o Variant: "Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga" (Brazil)
+ Translation: "God helps those who begin to work early (in the morning)."
+ Equivalent: The early bird catches the worm.
+ Equivalent: God helps those who help themselves.


* "Albarda-se o burro à vontade do dono." (Port.)
o Translation: "The donkey is to be loaded at its owner's will"
o Variation: "Amarra-se o cavalo à vontade do dono." (Brazil)
o Translation: "You tie the horse at the will of the master."

* "Amigos amigos, negócios à parte."
o Translation: "Friends are friends, business is [something] aside"

* "Amigo não empata amigo."
o Translation: A friend doesn't hinder a friend.

* "Amor com amor se paga."
o Translation: "Love is paid with love"

* "Amor e fé nas obras se vê."
o Translation: "love and faith are seen in their works (effects)."

* "Anda meio mundo a enganar o outro."
o Translation: Half the world is trying to con the other half.

* "Antes a morte que tal sorte."
o Transl.: Rather death than such fate.

* "Antes aqui que na farmácia."
o Translation: It's better [to spend] here than at the pharmacy.

* "Antes cegues que mal vejas."
o Translation.: You had better be blind than to badly see.
o Similar equivalent in Greek: Στους τυφλούς βασιλεύει ο μονόφθαλμος. "Among the blind, the king is the one-eyed."
o Equivalent in French: Il n'est pire aveugle que celui qui ne veut pas voir.

* "Antes dentes que parentes."
o Translation: It's better [to lose] teeth than relatives.

* "Antes morte que má sorte."
o Translation: Rather death than bad luck.

* "Antes que cases, vê o que fazes."
o Translation: "Before you marry, watch what you do."

* "Antes quebrar que torcer."
o Variant: "Mais vale quebrar que torcer."
o Translation: It's better to break than to bend/twist.

* "Antes tarde do que nunca."
o Variant: "Mais vale tarde do que nunca."
o Translation/Equivalence: "Better late than never."
o Equivalent in French: Mieux vaut tard que jamais.
o Equivalent in Greek: Κάλλιο αργά παρά ποτέ.

* "Ajoelhou, tem que rezar." (Brazil)
o Translation: "If you've kneeled, you've got to pray."
+ Said to someone who agrees to do something, and later wants to give it up.
+ Equivalent : You made your bed now you lie on it.
o Equivalent in Greek: Όπως έστρωσες θα κοιμηθέις.

* "Antes só do que mal acompanhado." (Brazil and Portugal)
o Translation: "It's better to be alone than in bad company."

* "Ao Diabo e à mulher nunca falta que fazer."
o Translation: The Devil and women have always something to do.

* "Ao menino e ao borracho põe Deus a mão por baixo."
o Variant: "Ao menino e ao borracho mete Deus a mão por baixo."
o Translation: "To the child and the little bird (or drunkard), God catches the fall (puts a hand underneath)."
o Near equivalent: God takes care of drunks.
o Equivalent: Heaven protects children, sailors and drunks.
o Equivalent variation: God looks after fools, drunkards, and the United States.
o Equivalents in Greek (from Christianity Word):

1) Μακάριοι οι πτωχοί το πνεύματι. "Lucky those with poor spirit." 2) Ασθενείς και οδοιπόροι αμαρτίαν ούκ έχει. "Sick and travellers have no sin."

* "Aquilo que sabe bem ou é pecado ou faz mal."
o Translation: All pleasant things are either a sin or bad for your health.

* "As aparências iludem." or, equivalently, "As aparências enganam."
o Translation: "Looks can be deceiving."

* "As boas contas fazem os bons amigos."
o Translation: Good accounting makes good friends.
o Equivalent in French: Les bons comptes font les bons amis.
o Equivalent in Greek: Οι καλοί λογαριασμόι κάνουν τους καλούς φίλους.

* "As cadelas apressadas parem cães tortos."
o Translation: Hurried bitches give birth to twisted pups.
o Variant: "As cadelas apressadas parem os filhos mortos."
o Translation: Hurried bitches give birth to dead offspring."

* "As más noticias chegam depressa."
o Translation: Bad news arrive fast.
o Equivalent: Bad news travel fast.
o Equivalent in Greek: Τα κακά μαντάτα μαθαίνονται γρήγορα.

* "As palavras loucas fazem as orelhas moucas."
o Translation: Silly words make ears deaf.

* "As palavras são como as cerejas."
o Translation: Words are like cherries.
o Meaning: Cherries come out of the plate in chains. When you start talking, subjects pop up and you end up with long conversations.
o Similar equivalent in Greek: Όπου ακους πολλά κεράσια κράτα και μικρά καλάθια. It means about "Where you hear much, be ready for less."

* "As palavras voam, a escrita fica."
o Translation: Words fly, writings remain.
o Equivalent: Words spoken vanish, those written remain.
o Latin: Verba volant, scripta manent.
o Ancient Greek (by Homer): Έπεα πτερόεντα. "Words are taken by wind"
o Modern Greek: Τα γραπτά μένουν, τα λόγια πετούν.


* "As paredes têm ouvidos."
o Translation: "The walls have ears."
o Be careful with what you say, for you never know who might be listening.
o Equivalent in French: Les murs ont des oreilles.
o Equivalent in Greek: Και οι τοίχοι έχουν αυτιά. Exact translation with the portuguese equivalent.

* "Ás três é de vez."
o Translation: The third time it will be final.
o Equivalent: The third time's the charm.
o Equivalent in Greek: Μια του κλέφτη, δυο του κλέφτη, τρεις και η κακή του ώρα. "Once thief, twice thief, the third time is bad for him."

* "Assim como vive o Rei, vivem os vassalos."
o Translation: "As the king lives, so live his vassals."

* "Até ao lavar dos cestos é vindima."
o Translation: The time to collect grapes only ends with the washing of baskets.
o Meaning: (1) We/They stay on until it's over. (2) Don't quit until it's over. (3) We / They will grab what we/they can while it lasts.
o Equivalence: It's not over 'till it's over.
o Equivalence: There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.

* "Atrás de mim virá quem de mim bom fará."
o Translation: After me will come one that will make from me a good person [in the public view].

B

* "Barriga cheia, companhia desfeita"
o Transl.: The belly is full, the association is over.
o Use: About people who leave or ignore you after having attained their objectives. Also in the sexual meaning. Sardonic, scornful.

* "Bem se canta na Sé, mas é quem é."
o Transl.: So well do they sing at the cathedral, but they're who they are.
o Use: About orders, meaning, they're up there, they can say it.

* "Boa árvore, bons frutos."
o Translation: "Good tree, good fruits."

* "Boda molhada, boda abençoada."
o Translation: A wet wedding is a blessed wedding.
o Use: When it rains at a wedding.

* "Burros velhos não aprendem línguas."
o Translation: "Old donkeys do not learn languages."
o Equivalence: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

* "Bem mal ceia quem come de mão alheia."
o Translation: "It's an ill supper which come from other's hand."

* "Brigas de namorados, amores dobrados."
o Translation: "Lovers' fights, double loves."

* "Brigam as comadres, descobrem-se as verdades."
o Translation: "The midwives fight, the truths are discovered."
o Variant: "Zangam-se as comadres, conhecem-se as verdades." (Port.)
o Note: "Comadre" and "Compadre" also refer to the relationship between the parents of a wed couple. For instance, the man's mother is "comadre" of the woman's father, and he's her "compadre" (which is also a common treatment in some regions). So "comadres" can also mean the mothers of those wed. The same treatment applies between parents of a child and his/her godparents.


C

* "Comer o pão que o diabo amassou"
o Translation "Eating the bread that devil has kneaded."
o Equivalence: Making your bed and lieing in it.

* "Cá e lá más fadas há."
o Transl.: There and here you'll find bad fairies.
o Meaning: You'll find bad people and things elsewhere too.

* "Cá se fazem, cá se pagam."
o Translation: "Here you do it, here you pay for it"
o Variant: "Aqui se faz, aqui se paga"
o Equivalence: "What goes around, comes around."

* "Cada cabeça sua sentença."
o Translation: "Each head its sentence."
o Meaning: Everybody has his own, different opinion.

* "Cada coisa com seu uso, cada roca com seu fuso."
o Translation: Each thing has its use, and each thread its spindle.
o Meaning: Everything and everyone has its place, its proper use and its complement.

* "Cada macaco no seu galho."
o Translation: "Each monkey on its branch."
o Meaning: One should mind his own business. Everyone is to stay at their place, in a social or working sense.

* "Cada maluco com a sua mania."
o Translation: Every madman has its own enthusiasm.
o Usage: About people with benignly unusual thought, speech or behavior.

* "Cada qual é para o que nasce."
o Translation: Each one is meant for what he was born for.
o Usage: Fatalistic.

* "Cada qual com o seu igual."
o Translation: "Each one with his peer."

* "Cada qual no seu ofício."
o Translation: "Each one in their profession."

* "Cada qual sabe onde lhe aperta o sapato."
o Translation: "One knows where the shoe is too tight."
o Meaning: only the person knows about his difficulties [on the matter at hand].
o Possible equivalent: Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes.

* "Cada terra com seu uso, cada roca com seu fuso."
o Translation: To each land its uses, to each thread its spindle.
o Variant: see above "cada coisa...".
o Usage: About different customs in different lands.

* "Cada um a seu dono."
o Translation: "Each one to his owner."

* "Cada um chega a brasa à sua sardinha."
o Translation: Everyone gets the ember close to his own sardine.
o Usage: About everyday egoism. About people who seek their own benefit in a particular cause without paying attention to others, specially if everybody starts doing it at the same time.

* "Cada um come do que gosta."
o Translation: Each person eats what he likes best.
o Usage: About unusual appetites or behaviors.

* "Cada um dá o que tem [e a mais não é obrigado]."
o Translation: "One only gives what one has [and can't be made to give more]."

* "Cada um por si e Deus por todos."
o Translation: "Every man for himself and God for all."
o Equivalent in French: Chacun pour soi et Dieu pour tous.

* "Cada um sabe as linhas com que se cose."
o Translation: Each people knows with which line to sew.
o Meaning: Let people do their own way, only they know what's good for them.

* "Candeia que vai à frente alumia duas vezes."
o Translation: [A] Lamp going in front give twice more light.

* "Cão que ladra não morde."
o Translation: Barking dog doesn't bite.
o Meaning: People who only talk aren't dangerous.
o Equivalence: Barking dogs seldom bite.
o Equivalence: His bark is worse than his bite.
o Equivalence in French: Chien qui aboie ne mord pas.

* "Casa onde entra o sol não entra o médico."
o Translation: [In a] House where the sun gets in, the doctor doesn't.

* "Casa onde não há pão, todos ralham e ninguém tem razão."
o Translation: "In a breadless home, everyone argues and nobody is right."
o Usage: When people start arguing about many petty things when there is a serious and unavoidable lack of something important and usually not mentioned.

* "Casa roubada, trancas à porta."
o Translation: "Stolen house, bars on the door."

* "Casamento e mortalha no céu se talha."
o Translation: Marriage and shroud are made in Heaven.

* "Casamento, apartamento."
o Translation: Marriage, separation.
o Meaning: When marrying you will leave your parents (and your parents will not intrude).

* "Casarás, amansarás."
o Translation: You'll marry, you'll get tame.

* "Cavalo velho não pega andadura."
o Translation: "Old horse doesn't learn how to walk."
o Equivalence: "You can't teach an old dog new tricks."

* "Cesteiro que faz um cesto faz um cento se lhe derem verga e tempo"
o Translation: "Basketeer who makes a basket makes a hundred if he's given wicker and time."
o Usages: About someone who already did something (usually not a good one) and is likely to keep on doing it, provided he's allowed to.

* "Chapa ganha, chapa gasta."
o Translation: A cent earned, a cent spent.
o Usage: About spending as quick as you earn it.

* "Comer e coçar está no começar."
o Translation: "To eat and to itch is in the beggining."
o Usage: About things you want to keep on having, or acts repeating, after having started.

* "Cão picado por cobra, tem medo de linguiça."
o Translation: "A dog that has been bitten by a snake fears sausages"
o Equivalence: "Once bitten, twice shy.**

* "Cautela e caldos de galinha nunca fizeram mal a ninguém."
o Translation: Care and chicken soup never hurt no-one.
o Usage: When you apply minor care to a person or situation, in spite of, or in the absence of the appropriate care.

* "Com mulher louca, andem as mãos e cale-se a boca."
o Translation: With a foolish woman, let the hands move and the mouth stay shut.

* "Com papas e bolos se enganam os tolos."
o Translation: You fool the silly with porridge and cakes.

* "Com tempo tudo se cura."
o Translation: With time everything gets cured.

* "Com vinagre não se apanham moscas."
o Translation: You don't catch flies with vinegar.
o Meaning: You wont get much from people by being unpleasant.
o Equivalence: Honey catches more flies than vinegar.
o Equivalent in French: On ne prend pas les mouches avec du vinaigre.

* "Come para viver, não vivas para comer."
o Translation: Eat to live, don't live to eat.
o Equivalent in French: Il faut manger pour vivre, et non vivre pour manger.

* "Contas são contas."
o Translation: Accounting is accounting.
o Meaning: Everything is wondeful, but we have to keep our mutual accounting straight.

* "Contra factos não há argumentos."
o Translation: There are no arguments against facts.
o Equivalent: There's no arguing about facts.

* "Cu de bêbado não tem dono."
o Translation: "A drunk's ass has no owner."
o One should not place oneself in a situation where one is left totally vulnerable.

* "Custa mais a mecha que o sebo."


D

* "Da discussão nasce a luz."
o Translation: "From dissension/discussion comes light."

* "De boas intenções está o Inferno cheio."
o Translation: "Hell is full of good intentions."
o Equivalence: "The road to Hell is paved with good intentions."
o Equivalence in french: L’enfer est pavé de bonnes intentions

* "De Espanha, nem bom vento nem bom casamento."
o Translation: "From Spain can come neither good winds nor good marriages."
o Used to emphasize the rivalry between Portugal and Spain, in any context.

* "De grão em grão enche a galinha o papo."
o Translation: "Grain by grain the hen fills her crop."
o Variant: Grão a grão enche a galinha o papo.
o Equivalence: Even the greatest works are constructed stone by stone.
o Equivalence: Many a little makes a mickle.

* "De génio e de louco, todos temos um pouco."
o Translation: "Of genius and crazy, we all have a little"
o Variant: "De médico e de louco todos temos um pouco^".
o Translation: We all have a little of physician and madman.

* "De noite todos os gatos são pardos."
o Translation: "At night all cats are grey."
o Equivalent in French: La nuit, tous les chats sont gris.

* "Defunto muito encomendado, vai directo para o Inferno."
o Translation: "A deceased person much prayed for goes straight to hell"
o A big funeral indicates a wicked life, or...
o Evil men have big funerals.
o Meaning: When you care/control in excess your enterprise is likely to fail.

* "Deitar cedo e cedo erguer, dá saúde e faz crescer."
o Translation: "Early sleep and early wake up, gives health and makes you grow."
o Ironic variant rarely used: Deitar cedo e cedo erguer dá saúde e faz sono. ("[...] and makes you sleepy.")
o Equivalent: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."
o Equivalent in French: Coucher de poule et lever de corbeau écartent l'homme du tombeau.

* "Depois da tempestade vem a bonança."
o Translation: "After the storm comes tranquility."
o Equivalent in French: Après la pluie, (vient) le beau temps.

* "Depressa e bem, ninguém."
o Variation: "Depressa e bem, não há quem."
o Translation: Quick and well, nobody.

* "Deus ajuda a quem cedo madruga."
o Translation: "God helps him who wakes up early."
o Equivalence: The early bird gets the worm.

* "Deus ajuda aqueles que se ajudam a si mesmos."
o Translation: "God helps those who help themselves."

* "Deus dá nozes a quem não tem dentes [e dentes a quem não tem nozes]."
o Translation: "God gives nuts to those that don't have teeth [and theet to those who don't have nuts]."
o Those who have, get.
o You never get what you want.
o Usage: about someone who received something very good/expensive/needed he can't or doesn't know how to use fully and we really needed or wished to have for ourselves.

* "Deus escreve certo por linhas tortas."
o Variant: "Deus escreve direito por linhas tortas."
o Translation: "God writes straight by curved lines."
o Usage: About something good or profitable to us resulting from the evil schemes of others or a streak of bad luck, usually in a suprising manner.

* "Devagar se vai ao longe."
o Translation: "Slowly one goes far."
o Equivalent French: Qui veut aller loin ménage sa monture.

* "Dinheiro não traz felicidade."
o Translation: "Money doesn't bring happiness."

* "Dividir para conquistar."
o Translation: "Divide to conquer."
o Note: Latin: divide et impera.
o Equivalent in french: Diviser pour mieux reigner.

* "Diz o roto ao nu: Porque não te vestes tu?"
o Translation: The ragged says to the naked: why don't you get dressed?
o Equivalent: The pot calling the kettle black
o Equivalent in French: C’est l’hôpital qui se moque de la charité .

* "Diz-me com quem andas dir-te-ei quem és."
o Translation: "Tell me who you gather with and I'll tell you who you are."
o Equivalence: A man is known by the company he keeps.
o Equivalence: Birds of a feather flock together.
o Equivalent in French: Dis-moi qui tu hantes, je te dirai qui tu es.

* "Do prato à boca perde-se a sopa."
o Translation: "From plate to mouth you can lose the soup."
o Variant: "Da colher à boca perde-se a sopa."
o "Translation: "You can lose the soup from the spoon to the mouth".
o Equivalence. It ain't over 'till it's over.
o Equivalence: There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip.
o Equivalence in French: Il y a loin de la coupe aux lèvres.

* "Dois olhos vêem mais do que um só."
o Translation: "Two eyes see better than only one."

* "Dos males o menor."
o Translation: "From (a number of possible) evil, (that was) the less."
o Variant: "Do mal o menos".
o Meaning: That was bad, but worse things could have happened.
o Meaning: The lesser of two evils

* "Duro com duro não faz bom muro."
o Translation: "Hard with hard doesn't make a good wall."
o Meaning: Two strong people together don't bring cohesion but dissension.