Portuguese Proverbs

A bad knife cuts one's finger instead of the stick.
A barking dog was never a good hunter.
A barley corn is better than a diamond to a cock.
A beard lathered is half shaved.
A beard once washed is half shaven.
A beggar's wallet is never full.
A bustling mother makes a slothful daughter.
A contented ass enjoys a long life.
A dead man does not speak.
A dog in the manger, that neither eats nor lets others eat.
A dull ass near home trots without the stick.
A fast horse does not want the spur.
A fault confessed is half forgiven.
A fault confessed is half redressed.
A finger's length in a sword, and a palm in a lance, are a great advantage.
A friend is to be taken with his faults.
A friend's fault should be known but not abhorred.
A full man is no eater.
A girl, a vineyard, an orchard, and a bean-field, are hard to watch.
A good cock was never fat.
A good thing is known when it is lost.
A good thing is soon caught up.
A good word quenches more than a cauldron of water.
A good year is determined by its spring.
A goose cannot graze after him.
A goose, a woman, and a goat, are bad things lean.
A gossiping woman talks of everybody, and everybody of her.
A great thrust of a lance at a dead Moor.
A house without either a cat or a dog is the house of a scoundrel.
A hungry belly hears nobody.
A hungry wolf is not at rest.
A little gall spoils much honey.
A little injury dismays, and a great one stills.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
A little leak will sink a great ship.
A little makes a debtor and much an enemy.
A man of straw is better than a woman of gold.
A morsel eaten gains no friend.
A pig on credit makes a good winter and a bad spring.
A poor man is hungry after eating.
A ragged colt may make a handsome horse.
A rash man, a skin of good wine, and a glass vessel, do not last long.
A resolute heart endures no counsel.
A rich widow weeps with one eye and laughs with the other.
A rich widow weeps with one eye and signals with the other.
A seat in the council is honour without profit.
A servant and a cock must be kept but one year.
A shut mouth keeps me out of strife.
A small hatchet fells a great oak.
A small pack becomes a small pedler.
A small spark makes a great fire.
A small tear relieves a great sorrow.
A stout heart breaks ill fortune.
A well-formed figure needs no cloak.
A woman and a hen are soon lost through gadding.
A word and a blow.
A word and a stone once let go cannot be recalled.
A word from the mouth, a stone from the hand.
Alas for the son whose father went to heaven.
All bite the bitten dog.
All the wool is hair, more or less.
All the world loves a lover.
All the world will beat the man whom fortune buffets.
An angry man heeds no counsel.
An empty purse and a new house make a man wise, but too late.
An empty purse frights away friends.
An empty purse, and a finished house, make a man wise, but too late.
An estate inherited is the less valued.
An honest man's word is as good as the king's.
An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation.
An innocent heart suspects no guile.
An old man in love is like a flower in winter.
An open box tempts an honest man.
An open countenance often conceals close thoughts.
Another man's trade costs money.
Another's misfortune does not cure my pain.
As they pipe to me, I will dance.
Baskets after the vintage.
Before you marry consider what you do.
Before you marry reflect, for it is a knot you cannot untie.
Better a distant good than a near evil.
Better a red face than a black heart.
Better a sparrow in the hand than two flying.
Better an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me.
Better an egg in peace, than an ox in war.
Better anticipate than be anticipated.
Better be killed by robbers than by the kick of an ass.
Better be one-eyed than quite blind.
Better be out of the world than out of the fashion.
Better be silent than speak ill.
Better be wrong with the many than right with the few.
Better deserve honour and not have it, than have it and not deserve it.
Better go round than be drowned.
Better have friends in the market-place than money in your coffer.
Better have to give than have to beg.
Better is a leap over the ditch than the entreaties of good men.
Better is my neighbour's hen than mine.
Better is one "Take this," than two "I-will-give-you."
Better keep, than have to beg.
Better lose that lose more.
Better mine than ours.
Better repair the gutter than the whole house.
Better straw, than nothing.
Between the hand and the lip the morsel may slip.
Beware of a door that has many keys.
Beware of a man that does not talk, and of a dog that does not bark.
Beware of a pledge that eats.
Beware of the dog that does not bark.
Birds of prey do not flock together.
Bite the biter.
Brackish water is sweet in a drought.
Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is better.
Broken friendship may be soldered but can never be made sound.
Buy your greyhound, don't rear him.
By going gains the mill, and not by standing still.
Chairs sink and stools rise.
Change yourself, and fortune will change with you.
Chastise the good man, he will grow better; chastise the bad, and he will grow worse.
Children married, cares increased.
Children pick up words, as pigeons peas, And utter them again as God shall please.
Children should be seen and not heard.
Children tell in the highway what they hear by the fireside.
Children: one is one, two is fun, three is a houseful.
Choleric men are blind and mad.
Conceal not your secret from your friend, or you deserve to lose him.
Concealed goodness is a sort of vice.
Confess and be hanged.
Counterfeit coin passes current at night.
Crows do not peck out crow's eyes.
Dead men tell no tales.
Dear is cheap, and cheap is dear.
Death spares neither Pope nor beggar.
Death squares all accounts.
Deeds are love, and not sweet words.
Despise your enemy and you will soon be beaten.
Destroy the lion while he is but a whelp.
Do ill, and expect the like.
Do not rear a bird of a bad breed.
Don't be a baker if your head is made of butter.
Don't leave the high road for a short cut.
Don't let the bastards grind you down.
Don't let the cat out of the bag.
Don't let your sorrow come higher than your knees.
Don't make yourself poor to one who won't make you rich.
Don't pull hard enough to break the rope.
Don't put all you eggs in one basket.
Eat of your own, and call yourself mine (i.e. Be my servant and find yourself).
Eat the wind and swallow bitterness.
Eat to live, not live to eat.
Eat with him, and beware of him.
Every ant has its ire.
Every cock is valiant on his own dunghill.
Every cock will crow upon his own dunghill.
Every fly has its shadow.
Every land to its own custom, every wheel its own spindle.
Every man to his trade.
Every one is a king in his own house.
Every one is wise for his own profit.
Every one reaps as he sows.
Every one sings as he has the gift, and marries as he has the luck.
Every one speaks as he is.
Every one speaks of the feast as he finds it.
Every one to his equal.
Every one to his liking.
Every peddler praises his own needles.
Every pig has it Martinmas.
Everybody's friend or nobody's friend, is all one.
Everything has its time.
Faintheart is always in danger.
Fair and softly goes far in a day.
Favour oft avails more than justice or reason.
Feet accustomed to go cannot be still.
Feign death and the bull will leave you.
Follow the road and you will reach an inn.
Fools sometimes give wise men counsel.
Foot firm till death.
For a bad tongue scissors.
For a voracious beast pebbles in his feed.
For lack of men they made my father a justice.
For poor people small coin.
Friends and mules fail us at hard passes.
Friends are flowers in the garden of life.
Friends are known in adversity.
From a closed door the devil turns away.
From great rivers come great fish.
From the soldier who has no cloak, keep your own in your chest.
From the straws in the air we judge of the wind.
From the sublime to the ridiculous is only one step.
From the sweetest wine, the tartest vinegar.
Gain has a pleasant odour, come whence it will.
Gambling sire, gambling son.
Gifts break rocks.
Gifts from enemies are dangerous.
Give a grateful man more than he asks.
Give a hint to the man of sense, and consider the thing done.
Give a little, take a little.
Give a loaf, and beg a shive.
Give a man rope enough and he will hang himself.
Give me money, not advice.
Give orders, and do it yourself, and you will be rid of anxiety.
Give orders, and do no more, and nothing will be done.
Give orders, and do no more, and nothing will be done.
Go not with every ailment to the doctor, nor with every plaint to lawyer.
Go not with every ailment to the doctor, nor with every plaint to lawyer.
Go not with every hunger to the cupboard, nor with every thirst to the pitcher.
Go not with every hunger to the cupboard, nor with every thirst to the pitcher.
Go to bed late, rise early, you will see your own harm and that of others.
Go to bed late, rise early, you will see your own harm and that of others.
Go to bed without supper, you will rise without debt.
Go to bed without supper, you will rise without debt.
Go to your rich friend's house when invited; to your poor friend's without invitation.
Go to your rich friend's house when invited; to your poor friend's without invitation.
God gives clothes according to the cold.
God gives clothes according to the cold.
God grant me to dispute with those who understand me.
God grant me to dispute with those who understand me.
God has given nuts to one who has no teeth.
God has given nuts to one who has no teeth.
God heals, and the doctor gets the money.
God heals, and the doctor gets the money.
God permits, but not for ever.
God permits, but not for ever.
Good and bad make up a city.
Good and bad make up a city.
Good and quickly seldom meet.
Good and quickly seldom meet.
Good fruit never comes from a bad tree.
Good fruit never comes from a bad tree.
Good habits result from resisting temptation.
Good habits result from resisting temptation.
Good is the delay which makes sure.
Good is the delay which makes sure.
Good management is better than good income.
Good management is better than good income.
Good manners and plenty of money will make my son a gentlemen.
Good manners and plenty of money will make my son a gentlemen.
Good men are scarce.
Good men are scarce.
Good table, bad will.
Good table, bad will.
Good take heed doth surely speed.
Good take heed doth surely speed.
Good talk saves the food.
Good talk saves the food.
Good things come in small packages.
Good things come in small packages.
Good wind needs no bush.
Good wind needs no bush.
Good words and bad acts deceive both wise and wimple.
Good words and bad acts deceive both wise and wimple.
Hard upon hard does not make a good wall.
Hard upon hard does not make a good wall.
He avoided the fly and swallowed the spider.
He avoided the fly and swallowed the spider.
He buys very dear who begs.
He buys very dear who begs.
He doubts nothing who knows nothing.
He doubts nothing who knows nothing.
He has a head, and so has a pin.
He has a head, and so has a pin.
He has nothing who is not content with what he has.
He has nothing who is not content with what he has.
He has nothing, for whom nothing is enough.
He has nothing, for whom nothing is enough.
He is an old saint, any may leave it in the hands of God.
He is an old saint, any may leave it in the hands of God.
He is no friend that eats his own by himself, and mine with me.
He is no friend that eats his own by himself, and mine with me.
He is no great heir that inherits not his ancestor's virtues.
He is no great heir that inherits not his ancestor's virtues.
He is your friend who gets you out of a scrape.
He is your friend who gets you out of a scrape.
He keeps his road well enough who gets rid of bad company.
He keeps his road well enough who gets rid of bad company.
He never was a friend who ceased to be so for a slight cause.
He never was a friend who ceased to be so for a slight cause.
He should not complain of being cheated who buys the cloth by the sample.
He should not complain of being cheated who buys the cloth by the sample.
He that does ill never wants for excuses.
He that does ill never wants for excuses.
He that will, does more that he that can.
He that will, does more that he that can.
He that would be old long must begin betimes.
He that would be old long must begin betimes.
He that would keep his eye sound must tie up his hand.
He that would keep his eye sound must tie up his hand.
He threatens many who affronts one.
He threatens many who affronts one.
He threatens who is afraid.
He threatens who is afraid.
He who has a glass roof must not throw stones at his neighbour's.
He who has a glass roof must not throw stones at his neighbour's.
He who has a good next, finds good friends.
He who has a good next, finds good friends.
He who has four and spends five, has no need of a purse.
He who has four and spends five, has no need of a purse.
He who is well prepared has won the battle.
He who is well prepared has won the battle.
He who knows little soon blabs it.
He who knows little soon blabs it.
King's entreaties are commands.
King's entreaties are commands.
Kings have long arms.
Kings have long arms.
Laws go where dollars please.
Laws go where dollars please.
Laws go where money pleases.
Laws go where money pleases.
Lay your hand on your bosom and you will not speak ill of another.
Lay your hand on your bosom and you will not speak ill of another.
Layovers for meddlers.
Layovers for meddlers.
Lean meat from a fat pig.
Lean meat from a fat pig.
Let every man look to the bread upon which he must depend.
Let every man look to the bread upon which he must depend.
Let every man mind his own business, and leave others to theirs.
Let every man mind his own business, and leave others to theirs.
Let every one be content with what God has given him.
Let every one be content with what God has given him.
Let every sheep hand by its own leg.
Let every sheep hand by its own leg.
Let him eat the tough morsel who eat the tender.
Let him eat the tough morsel who eat the tender.
Let not him that has a mouth ask another to blow.
Let not him that has a mouth ask another to blow.
Let not the bottom of your purse or of your mind be seen.
Let not the bottom of your purse or of your mind be seen.
Let the dog bark at me, so he don't bite me.
Let the dog bark at me, so he don't bite me.
Let the giver be silent and the receiver speak.
Let the giver be silent and the receiver speak.
Like father, like son.
Like father, like son.
Like king, like law; like law, like people.
Like king, like law; like law, like people.
Little chips kindle fire, and big logs sustain it.
Little chips kindle fire, and big logs sustain it.
Live to live and you will learn to live.
Live to live and you will learn to live.
Love has no law.
Love has no law.
Love knows no law.
Love knows no law.
Lovers' quarrels are love redoubled.
Lovers' quarrels are love redoubled.
Lying pays no tax.
Lying pays no tax.
Mad as a wet hen.
Mad as a wet hen.
Mad love, I for you and you for another.
Mad love, I for you and you for another.
Make a silver bridge for a flying enemy.
Make a silver bridge for a flying enemy.
Make good flour and you need no trumpet.
Make good flour and you need no trumpet.
Make the night night, and the day day, and you will live pleasantly.
Make the night night, and the day day, and you will live pleasantly.
Make your son you heir and not your steward.
Make your son you heir and not your steward.
Many kiss the hand they would gladly see cut off.
Many kiss the hand they would gladly see cut off.
Many little makes a mickle.
Many little makes a mickle.
Marry me forthwith, mother, for my face is growing wrinkled.
Marry me forthwith, mother, for my face is growing wrinkled.
Marry, marry, and what about the housekeeping.
Marry, marry, and what about the housekeeping.
Marry, marry, sounds well but tastes ill.
Marry, marry, sounds well but tastes ill.
Martha sings well when she has had her fill.
Martha sings well when she has had her fill.
Meddle not in what you don't understand.
Meddle not in what you don't understand.
Michael, Michael, you have no bees, and yet you sell honey!
Michael, Michael, you have no bees, and yet you sell honey!
Money is not gained by losing time.
Money is not gained by losing time.
Money is the measure of all things.
Money is the measure of all things.
Money is the root of all evil.
Money is the root of all evil.
Money lent, an enemy made.
Money lent, an enemy made.
Money makes a man.
Money makes a man.
Money soothes more than the words of a cavalier.
Money soothes more than the words of a cavalier.
Money wins the battle, not the long arm.
Money wins the battle, not the long arm.
More grows in a garden than the gardener sows there.
More grows in a garden than the gardener sows there.
More haste, less speed.
More haste, less speed.
Mouth of honey, heart of gall.
Mouth of honey, heart of gall.
Much caution does no harm.
Much caution does no harm.
Much chatter, little wit.
Much chatter, little wit.
Rosary is hand, the devil at heart.
Saints appear to fools.
Saints don't fill the belly.
Seat yourself in your place, and they will not make you rise.
Send a man of sense on the embassy, and you need not instruct him.
Serve a lord, and you will know what it is to be vexed.
Show me a poor man, I will show you a flatterer.
Shut your door, and you will make your neighbour good.
Shut your mouth and you'll catch no flies.
Soft water constantly striking the hard stone, wears it at last.
Soft words and hard arguments.
Speak little and well, they will think you somebody.
Spilt salt is never well collected.
Spinner, spin softly, you disturb me; I am praying.
Supper is soon served up in a plentiful house.
Taking out without putting in, soon comes to the bottom.
Talk of the wolf and behold his skin.
Tell her she is handsome, and you will turn her brain.
Tell me with whom thou goest, and I'll tell thee what thou doest.
Tell your friends a lie; if he keeps it secret tell him the truth.
The accomplice is as bad as the thief.
The ass dead, the corn at his tail.
The ass does not know the value of his tail till he has lost it.
The ass embraced the thistle, and they found themselves relations.
The ass of many owners is eaten by wolves.
The ass that is hungry eats thistles.
The ass that trespasses on a stranger's premises will leave them laden with wood (i.e. cudgelled).
The ass well knows in whose house he brays.
The ass's son brays one hour daily.
The beast that goes well never wants a rider to try its paces.
The belly does not accept bail.
The belly warm, the foot at rest.
The bigger the river the bigger the fish.
The bigger they are, the harder they fall.
The bird hunting a locust is unaware of the hawk hunting him.
The blind man has picked up a coin.
The blunders of physicians are covered by the earth.
The cat is a good friend, only she scratches.
The cat well knows whose beard she licks.
The dead open the eyes of the living.
The devil is not so ugly as he is painted.
The dog that barks much is never good for hunting.
The dog that barks much, bites little.
The envious man's face grows lean and his eye swells.
The fingers of the same hand are not alike.
The fisherman fishes in troubled water.
The fool passes for wise if he is silent.
The fox knows much, but more he that catcheth him.
The Frenchman sings well, when his throat is moistened.
The gentle calf sucks all the cows.
The guests will go away, and we will eat the pasty.
The headache is mine and the cows are ours.
The hen that stays at home picks up the crumbs.
The hen's eyes turn to where she has her eggs.
The horse's best allowance is his master's eye.
The key at the girdle keeps me good and my neighbour too.
The king of the bees has no sting.
The lame goat does not take a siesta.
The law devised, its evasion contrived.
The lazy servant takes eight steps to avoid one.
The loss which your neighbour does not know is no real loss.
The loudest bark rids not a dog of his fleas.
The mad dog bites its master.
The malady that is more incurable is folly.
The man of sense does not hang up his knowledge.
The man of your own trade is your enemy.
The mare's kicks are caresses to the colt.
The master orders the man, the man orders the cat, and the cat orders her tail.
The mouth that says "Yes," can say "No."
The nest made, the bird dead.
The old saints are forgotten in the new.
The one-eyes is a king in the land of the blind.
The only good Indian is a dead Indian.
The ox that tossed me threw me into a good place.
The poor man eats at double cost.
The pot that boils too much loses its flavour.
The rat does not leave the cat's house with a bellyful.
The rat that knows but one hole is soon caught.
The rat which has but one hole is soon caught.
The righteous pays for the sinner.
The ripest fruit will not fall into your mouth.
The savage ox grows tame on strange ground.
The son-in-law's sack is never full.
The sooner begun, the sooner done.
The sooty oven mocks the black chimney.
The swindler readily cheats the covetous man.
The tailor ill-dressed, the shoemaker ill-shod.
The thief becomes the gallows well.
The thief proceeds from a needle to gold, and from gold to the gallows.
The tired mare goes willingly to grass.
The tongue goes to the aching tooth.
The treason approved, the traitor abhorred.
The wine-skin has its reasons for smelling of pitch.
The wolf is well pleased with the kick of a sheep.
The worst pig eats the best acorn.
The worth of a thing is what it will bring.
There are ills that happen for good.
There die as many lambs as wethers.
There is never wanting a dog to bark at you.
There is no day without its night.
There is no pleasure that does not pall, the more so if it costs nothing.
There is plenty of corn in Castile, but he who has none, starves.
There is reason in the roasting of eggs.
There's no catching trouts with dry breeches.
There's no compassion like the penny.
There's no handsome woman on the wedding day, except the bride.
There's no living without friends.
Think of many things, do one.
Thinking is not knowing.
Thinking of where you are going, you forget whence you came.
Third time is the charm.
Third time lucky.
Third time pays for all.
Though the heron flied high the falcon kills it.
Though the mastiff be gentle, yet bite him not by the lip.
Though we are negroes, we are men, and have souls.
Though we may pluck flowers by the way we may not sleep among flowers.
Though your mastiff be gentle, do not bite his lip.
Threads do not break for being fine, but for being gouty and ill-spun.
Threatened folks eat bread.
Three brothers, three fortresses.
Three or four daily will bring you to the bottom of the sack.
Time and the hour are not to be tied with a rope.
Times passes like the wind.
Times tries a'.
To a hasty question a leisurely answer.
To be slow in giving ant to refuse, are alike.
To change one's habits smacks of death.
To give is honour, to beg is dishonour.
To love and be wise is incompatible.
To promise much means giving little.
To sell honey to one who keeps hives.
To separate the men from the boys.
To the bold man Fortune holds out her hand.
To the lean pig a fat acorn.
Too much familiarity breeds contempt.
Too much wax burns the church.
Trust not a dog that limps.
Trust not a horse's heels.
Trust not a new friend or an old enemy.
Trust not tow with firebrands, not a woman with men.
Truth and oil come to the surface.
Two eyes see more than one.
Under a shabby cloak may be a smart drinker.
Under fair words beware of fraud.
Under the sackcloth there is something else.
Vile let him be who deems himself vile.
Visits always give pleasure, if not the arrival, the departure.
War is sweet to him who does not go to it.
Water washes everything.
We have not saddled and yet we are riding.
What is another's always sighs for its master.
What is marriage, mother? Daughter, it is spinning, bearing children, and weeping.
What was hard to bear is sweet to remember.
What water gives, water takes away.
What's everybody's work is nobody's work.
When bulls fight, woe to the frogs.
When thieves fall out, their knaveries come to light.
Where shall the ox go but he must labour, since he knows how?
Where shall the ox go, and not have to plough?
Where the cock is the hen does not crow.
Where there is life there is hope.
Where there is little bread, cut first.
Where there is no fire, no smoke rises.
Where there is no honour there is no dishonour.
Where there's no fire there's no smoke.
Where there's no might there's no right.
Where you tell your secret you surrender your freedom.
Where you were a page, be not an esquire.
Who eats his fowl alone, must saddle his horse alone.
Who faints not, achieves.
Who holds his peace and gathers stones, will find a time to throw them.
Who will not when he can, can't when he will.
Will he nill he, the ass must go the fair.
Win a bet of your friend, and drink it on the spot.
Wind and fortune are not lasting.
Wipe your sore eye with your elbow.
Woman, wind, and luck soon change.
Women and glass are always in danger.
Women are supernumerary when present, and missed when absent.
Work done expects money.
Work expands so as to fill the time available.
Would you have me serve you, good king, give me the means of living.
Would you have potatoes grow by the pot-side?
Would you know your daughter? See her in company.
You can't make a good shaft of a pig's tail.
You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
You can't make horn of a pig's tail.
You have lent and not recovered; and if recovered, not so much; and if so much, not such; and if such, a mortal enemy.
You have many strings to your bow.
You may keep yourself safe from fire, but not from a bad man.
You need not find a shelter for an old ox.
You will not see many with green eyes.
Your wife and sheep early at home.
Your windmill dwindles into a nutcrack.