Sayings and expressions are the reflection of popular wisdom, accumulated with the passing of time.
The writer and Oaxacan historian Andrés Henestrosa rightly put it, “An expression and a saying often realize situations and open before our eyes a heading, to put in our will a decision, to decide an initial step. And not of whimsical or casual mode, sayings and proverbs are the summary of human wisdom accumulated over many years of experience.”
So then, I present to you some of the more popular expressions and sayings (with their explanations and corresponding applications) of the public domain and others little or almost unknown, because it is always good to know this type of expressions to have recourse to them at any time or occasion.
• A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
Praying to God and hitting with the hammer. Covering all the bases. Doing everything necessary to ensure success.
• La mejor palabra es la que no se dice.
The best word is the one that is not said. Sometimes, refraining from speaking is better than anything you could say.
• La palabra es plata, el silencio oro.
The word is silver, silence is gold. Silence is more valuable than words.
• Mejor solo que mal acompañado.
Better alone than poorly accompanied. It is better to be alone than to be with the wrong person.
• No es más rico el que más tiene, sino el que menos necesita.
He who has the most is not richer, rather he who the needs the least. Someone who is satisfied with a small amount is richer than someone who is always craving more.
• No tengas como vano el consejo del anciano.
Do not consider the advice of an old person useless. Do not ignore the advice of someone who speaks from experience.
• Querer es poder.
To want to is to be able to. If you really want to do something, you will be able to do it.
• Si quieres el perro, acepta las pulgas.
If you want the dog, accept the fleas. If you wanted something, don’t complain about it once you get it.
• De tal palo, tal astilla.
From such a stick, such a splinter. The way a child behaves is a reflection of the way his or her parents behave.
Effectively, there is always a saying for whatever situation because in them, in additional to the verbal folklore of our country, they reflect experiences, misgivings or popular acuities, but always with a spirit or touch of live teaching.
“Language is the clothing of the thoughts.” (Samuel Johnson)
The writer and Oaxacan historian Andrés Henestrosa rightly put it, “An expression and a saying often realize situations and open before our eyes a heading, to put in our will a decision, to decide an initial step. And not of whimsical or casual mode, sayings and proverbs are the summary of human wisdom accumulated over many years of experience.”
So then, I present to you some of the more popular expressions and sayings (with their explanations and corresponding applications) of the public domain and others little or almost unknown, because it is always good to know this type of expressions to have recourse to them at any time or occasion.
• A Dios rogando y con el mazo dando.
Praying to God and hitting with the hammer. Covering all the bases. Doing everything necessary to ensure success.
• La mejor palabra es la que no se dice.
The best word is the one that is not said. Sometimes, refraining from speaking is better than anything you could say.
• La palabra es plata, el silencio oro.
The word is silver, silence is gold. Silence is more valuable than words.
• Mejor solo que mal acompañado.
Better alone than poorly accompanied. It is better to be alone than to be with the wrong person.
• No es más rico el que más tiene, sino el que menos necesita.
He who has the most is not richer, rather he who the needs the least. Someone who is satisfied with a small amount is richer than someone who is always craving more.
• No tengas como vano el consejo del anciano.
Do not consider the advice of an old person useless. Do not ignore the advice of someone who speaks from experience.
• Querer es poder.
To want to is to be able to. If you really want to do something, you will be able to do it.
• Si quieres el perro, acepta las pulgas.
If you want the dog, accept the fleas. If you wanted something, don’t complain about it once you get it.
• De tal palo, tal astilla.
From such a stick, such a splinter. The way a child behaves is a reflection of the way his or her parents behave.
Effectively, there is always a saying for whatever situation because in them, in additional to the verbal folklore of our country, they reflect experiences, misgivings or popular acuities, but always with a spirit or touch of live teaching.
“Language is the clothing of the thoughts.” (Samuel Johnson)
