A - B - D - E - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O - P - R - S - T - V - W - Z
A
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"Aina on oksan ottajia, kun on kuusen kantajia."
- Transliteration: "Always exist branch grabbers, when exist fir-tree haulers."
- Translation: "If there is someone to haul the fir-tree, there shall be no shortage of those willing to hold a branch to help."
- Notes: This is a disparaging saying about those who are all too willing to participate in sharing credit for a major undertaking by someone else.
E
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"Ei ole koiraa karvoihin katsominen"
- Translation: "Judge not the dog by its hair."
- English equivalent: "Don't judge a book by its cover."
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"Ei suuret sanat suuta halkaise"
- Translation: "Big words won't split ones mouth."
- English equivalent: "Actions speak louder than words."
J
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"Jos ei viina, terva ja sauna auta, niin tauti on kuolemaksi."
- Translation: "If tar, hard liquor and sauna do not cure; the disease is fatal." (meant as [somewhat rough] comfort in situations where more sophisticated curatives are not available)
K
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"Kahden kauppa on kolmannen korvapuusti"
- Transliteration: "A good deal for two, is a clip on the ears of a third."
- Translation: "In a trade someone always loses."
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"Kasvaa se mies räkänokistakin, vaan ei tyhjän naurajista."
- Transliteration: "A snotnose may grow up to be a man; but he who laughs without cause, never."
- Translation: "The mocked may grow up to dignity, but the mocker will never outgrow his juvenile behaviour."
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"Kaveria ei jätetä!"
- Translation: "Never leave a mate behind!"
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"Kenen leipää syöt, sen lauluja laulat."
- Translation: "Whose bread you eat, his songs you'll sing."
M
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"Moni kakku päältä kaunis, vaan on silkkoa sisältä."
- Translation: "Many cakes are beautiful on the surface, but have crappy fillings."
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"Oma maa mansikka; muu maa mustikka."
- Transliteration: "Other land blueberry; own land strawberry."
- Translation: "Foreign places are nice enough, but home is sweeter."
- English equivalent: "There's no place like home."
N
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"Niin makaa, kuin petaa."
- Transliteration: "One sleeps like one makes his bed."
- Translation: "Actions have consequences."
- English equivalent: "As you sow, so shall you reap."
O
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"Ojasta allikkoon."
- Transliteration: "From the ditch to the water jump."
- English equivalent: "Out of the frying pan (and into the fire)."
- English equivalent: "Go from bad to worse."
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"Oma koti kullan kallis."
- Transliteration: "Own home is worth gold."
- English equivalent: "Home sweet home."
P
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"Pata kattilaa soimaa."
- Transliteration: "The pot reproaching the kettle."
- English equivalent: "The pot calling the kettle black."
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"Parempi pyy pivossa, kuin kymmenen oksalla."
- Transliteration: "Better one hazel grouse in the hand, than ten in the tree."
- English equivalent: "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
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Proverb: A bird in the Hand multilingual
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"Puhtaus on puoli ruokaa."
- Transliteration: "Cleanliness is half a meal."
- Translation: "Keeping yourself and your food clean, you'll get more from it."
- English equivalent: "Cleanliness is close to godliness."
S
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"Sattuu sitä paremmissakin perheissä."
- Transliteration: "Happens in better families too."
- Translation: "Such things happen even to better folk."
- Notes: Said when something goes wrong either accidentally or due to human error, to keep perspective.
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"Se koira älähtää, johon kalikka kalahtaa."
- Transliteration: "That dog yelps, which (the) stick hits."
- Translation: "It is the dog which is hit by the tossed stick, which yelps."
- Notes: Said to/about someone who makes a big do about a statement which is thus considered to be apposite.
- English equivalent: "If the shoe fits, wear it."
- Alternative English equivalent: "The lady doeth protest too much."
Y
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"Yksi tyhmä kysyy enemmän, kuin kymmenen viisasta ehtii vastata."
- Translation: "One stupid person asks more than ten wise ones can spare time answering."
Z
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"Älä maalaa pirua seinälle."
- Transliteration: "Don't paint the devil [on the] wall. (can also be translated as a demon)"
- Translation: "Don't paint the image of a demon on a wall."
- Notes: A basic admonishment to not agonize unduly about worst case scenarios; they may not happen. Alternatively an expression of a superstititious fear of something uttered coming true (cf. "jinx"; "knock on wood" or "tempting fate").
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"Äänellänsä se variskin laulaa."
- Transliteration: "Even the crow sings with its own voice."
- Translation: "Express yourself earnestly, and you have no reason for shame even if you lack talent."
See also: List of proverbs.
Last updated: 10-26-2005 03:52:15