Kedves Olvasó! Ez a gyűjtés kizárólag az Instant Story, beszédfejlesztő angol tanulókártya csomagot előrendelő vevőimnek készült. Nem kell megtanulnod a benne szereplő angol nyelvi anyagot! Inkább úgy olvasgasd és tanulmányozd, mint egy magazint! Elkezdheted a közepén, vagy a végén, mindegy! Csak élvezd az olvasását! TIPP: olvasás közben csodálkozz rá arra, hogy hogyan „fordítja” az angol nyelv a magyar nyelv egyes helyzeteit, és milyen szókincset és nyelvi anyagot használd! Jó szórakozást a gyűjtéshez!  Baráti üdvözlettel: Szalai Gabriella az elfoglalt felnőttek angoltanára 1 Aki á-t mond, mondjon bé-t is. He that says a, should also say b. "You cannot say A without saying B." "In for a penny, in for a pound." Ha adnak, vedd el, ha ütnek, szaladj el. If something is given to you then take it, if you are beaten, then run away. Jobb adni, mint kapni. It is better to give than to receive. "Better give than take/receive." Kétszer ad, aki gyorsan ad. "He gives twice who gives quickly." Amilyen az adjonisten, olyan a fogadjisten. Like greeting (on arrival), like answer. "Measure for measure.” Hátrább az agarakkal! Backwards with the greyhounds. (Be more modest!) Ki mint veti ágyát, úgy alussza álmát. As one makes his bed, so he "sleeps his dream". "As you make your bed, so you must lie upon it." Ágyúval lő verebekre. He shoots at sparrows with a (high calibre) gun. "Take not a musket to kill a butterfly." "To use a sledgehammer to crack a nut." "To crack nuts with a steam hammer." "To break a butterfly on a wheel." Ajándék lónak ne nézd a fogát. Do not look at the tooth of a gift horse. "Never look a gift horse in the mouth." Ajtóstul ront be a házba. He rushes into the house together with the door. (He tells/does something to somebody without announcement.) Ha kidobják az ajtón, bemegy az ablakon. If he is thrown out through the door, he enters through the window. Nem mint akarnánk, hanem amint lehet. One should act as he may, not as he would like to. "He who can’t do what he wants must want what he can do." Csak akasztásra való istrángot sem érdemelne. He would not deserve even the rope for hanging. Kinek akasztófa helye, nem hal a Dunába. He whose place is on the gallows, will not die in the Danube. (A bűnöst eléri méltó büntetése.) "If you are born to be hanged, then you will never be drowned." 2 Akasztott ember házában kötelet emleget. He names a rope in the house of a man that was hanged. Never talk of (Never mention a) rope in the house of a man who has been hanged." Volt ő már minden, csak akasztott ember nem. (Már sok mindennel foglalkozott.) He was already anything but a man hanged. Na és akkor mi van? And what happens then? (He practised many trades and professions.) (I am not interested in this argument.) (Nem) látszik a fény az alagút végén. "The light is (not) seen at the end of the tunnel." Alkalom szüli a tolvajt. Opportunity bears the thief. "Opportunity makes the/a thief." Felkavarta az állóvizet. He has stirred up (or threw a stone into) still water. Követ dobott az állóvízbe. (He brought motion in a quiet life.) Nem esik messze az alma a fájától. The apple does not fall far from its tree. "A chip of the (same) old block." "The apple never falls far from the tree." Aludjunk rá egyet! Let us sleep one (on this matter). "Night is the mother of counsel." "To consult with (take counsel of) one's pillows." Nem vagyunk angyalok. We are not angels. "Men are not angels." Amilyen az anya, olyan a leánya. "Like mother, like daughter." Nézd meg az anyját, vedd el a lányát. Have a close look at the mother and then marry her daughter. "Take a vine of a good soil, and the daughter of a good mother." Amilyen az apja, olyan a fia. Like (his) father, like his son. "Like father, like son." "A chip of the old block." Ár ellen nehéz úszni. It is difficult to swim against the stream. "It is ill/evil to go/strive/swim against the stream/tide." Aki nem tud arabusul, ne beszéljen arabusul. He who cannot speak Arabic, should not speak Arabic. (He who has no knowledge/understanding of something, should not engage in [or interfere with] it.) 3 Az arany a sárban is arany. Gold is gold even in the mud. Hallgatni arany (beszélni ezüst). To be silent is golden (to speak is silvern). "Speech is silver, but silence is gold(en). Nem mind arany, ami fénylik. All is not gold that glitters. "All that glitters/glistens is not gold." Ki korán kel, aranyat lel. He who gets up early finds gold. "The early bird catches the worm." "Early to bed and early to rise, makes the man healthy, wealthy and wise." Nem fog aranyon a rozsda. Rust cannot do any harm to gold. (A man of character is resistant to temptation.) Aranykulcs minden ajtóba beillik. A golden key fits every door. "A silver key can open an iron lock." Ne együk meg az aranytojást tojó tyúkot. The hen laying golden eggs should not be eaten. "To kill the goose that lays the golden egg/eggs." Nem mindig az arat, aki vet. Not always that reaps who sows. "One sows and another reaps." Többet árt, mint használ. It does more harm than good. Ez nem az én asztalom. This is not my table. (This is not my duty/responsibility/concern. A refusal of doing/[dealing with] something.) Az asszony hordja/viseli a nadrágot/kalapot. The woman wears the trousers/hat. "The woman wears the breeches/pants/trousers." Három asszony (Egy lúd, két asszony) egész vásár. Three women (A goose and two women) make a whole fair. "Three women (and a goose) make a market." A jó asszony a háznak koronája. A good wife is the crown of the house. "A good wife is a goodly prize, saith Solomon the wise." "A worthy woman is the crown of her husband." Higgy az asszonynépnek, mint az áprilisi időjárásnak. Believe in women as in the weather in April. "A woman’s mind and winter wind change oft." "Women are as fickle as April weather." Könnyű asztag alatt/mellett kalászt szedni. It is easy to collect ears of corn under/beside a stack. Nem játszunk „add vissza a babaruhát”! We do not play "Return the doll’s clothes". 4 (I do not agree to cancel a promise/agreement or to return a present given by him.) Sok bába közt elvész a gyerek. Among many midwives the child is lost. "The common horse is worst shod." "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Nem babra megy a játék. The stake of the play is not beans. (It is a serious matter.) (Nem) nyugszik/pihen/ül a babérjain. (Not) to rest/sit on one’s laurels. "To rest on one’s laurels." A bagoly is bíró barlangjában. Even an owl is a judge in her cave. Bagoly mondja verébnek, hogy nagyfejű. The owl tells the sparrow that her head is big. "The pot calls the kettle black." A baj nem jár egyedül. Trouble does not come alone. "Misfortunes/Hardships never/seldom come alone/single. " Mindenkinek megvan a maga baja. Everyone has his own trouble. "Every man must carry his own cross." Ugyanazon bakot nyúzza. He is flaying the same bock. „A régi nótát fújja.” "He sings the same old song." Áll a bál. The ball is on. (There is a row going on.) Mindenkit érhet baleset. Accidents may happen to anyone. Elviszi a balhét. To carry the trouble. "To take the rap." Elcsúszott egy banánhéjon. He has slipped on a banana-peel. (By making a small error his secret/illegal activity came into the open.) "To slip on a banana skin." Késő bánat ebgondolat. A late repentance is "a dog’s idea". "After death the doctor." Fekete bárány. Black lamb. "Black sheep." Báránybőrbe bújt farkas. A wolf clothed in a sheep's skin. "Wolf in sheep's clothing (a lamb's skin)." Bajban ismerszik meg az igazi (a jó) barát. A good/real friend is known in trouble. 5 "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Barátot szerencse hoz, szükség próbál. Luck brings friends, need tries them. "Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them." Mondd meg, ki a barátod, megmondom, ki vagy. Tell me who your friend is, I’ll tell you who you are. "Tell me with whom you go, I tell you what you do." "A man is known by his friends." Nem mind barátod, aki rád mosolyog. All are not your friends who smile at you. "All are not friends that speak us fair." Inába szállt a bátorsága. His courage sank to his sinews. (He got frightened.) Bátraké a szerencse. Luck belongs to the brave. "Fortune favours the brave." Nem elég becsületesnek lenni, annak is kell látszani. It is not enough to be honest, one has to look honest too. A béka feneke alatt van. It is below the bottom of a frog. (It is of inferior quality.) Lenyeli a békát. He swallows the frog. "He swallows the bitter pill." Hagyj békét másnak, magadra viselj gondot. Leave others in peace, care for yourself. - "Mind your own business." Elszívták (Nem szívták el) a békepipát. (Not) to smoke the peace-pipe. "They smoked the pipe of peace (the calumet)." Jobb a békesség! Peace is better. (It is better to refrain from quarrels/contradictions or raising/forcing an argument.) Kapkod, mint Bernát a mennykőhöz. Like Barnard, he tries to catch the "heaven’s stone" (i. e. the lightning). (He acts in confusion, inconsistently.) Nyert benne, mint Bertók a csíkban. He succeeded like Bertók with the loach. (Minden elveszett.) (He lost everything.) Sok beszédnek sok az alja. In much talk there is much "bottom" (i. e. inferior matter). "Talk much and err much, says the Spaniard." A betyárból lesz a legjobb pandúr. The former highwaymen are the best gendarmes. "Set a thief to catch a thief." 6 "An old poacher makes the best gamekeeper." Beletört a bicskája. His (pocket-) knife was broken in it. (He tried but failed in achieving something.) Kinyílik a bicska a zsebemben. The (pocket-) knife opens in my pocket. (Something has caused anger/despair but one was compelled to stand idly by.) Kiborította a bilit. To overturn the potty. (To tell everything that was previously kept secret.) Aki bírja, marja. He who is strongest/ablest can devour it. (The strongest/ablest wins.) Sorba megy, mint a falusi bíróság. It is taken by turns like village headmanship. Ki hol bízik, ott hízik. Where one trusts, there he gets fat. Magyarázza a bizonyítványát. He explains away his report. (He tries hard to explain or justify his action or behaviour.) Szegénységi bizonyítványt állít ki magáról. He issues a certificate of poverty of himself. (He proves his incapacity.) Első/Fő a biztonság! First (or The main thing) is safety. "Safety first." Sure’s what’s sure. Biztos, ami biztos. (To be on the safe side.) Bocskorbőr az orcája. There is (thick) sandal leather on his face. „Vastag bőr van a képén.” (He is bluntly shameless.) "To have a hide/skin like a rhinoceros." Mást beszél, mint Bodóné, mikor a bor árát kérik. Like Mrs. Bodó he talks about something else when asked to pay for the wine. "To sidestep the issue." Bogarat ültet/tesz a fülébe (valakinek). To plant an insect into one’s ear. (To plant an idea into sy’s mind.) "A flea in one’s ear." Bolond lyukból bolond szél fúj. Out of a foolish hole a foolish wind blows. (A fool can tell only foolish things.) "A fool is known by his speech." Bolond ütközik kétszer egy kőbe. A fool stumbles twice at the same stone. "He that stumbles twice over one stone, deserves 7 to break his shins." Bolondnak kedvez/jár a szerencse. Fortune favours the fool. "Fortune favours fools." Egy bolond beledobja a kútba a követ, száz okos se veszi ki. "A fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise men cannot pull out." Egy bolond százat csinál. One fool makes a hundred. "One fool makes many (a hundred)." Időzített bomba ketyeg. A time-bomb ticks. (A hidden danger is about to appear.) Bor be, ész ki. Wine in, sense out. "Wine in, wit out." A jó bornak is kell cégér. Even a good wine needs a signboard/bush. A jó bornak nem kell cégér. Good wine needs no signboard. "Good wine needs no bush." Bámul, mint borjú az új kapura. He stares at the new gate as a calf. (He merely looks at something without takingaction.) Borotvaélen táncol. He dances on a razor-edge. (He tries to face danger from two/more sides.) "It is (balanced) on a Kicsi a bors, de erős. Pepper is small but strong (i. e. hot). (He is strong for his size.) Borsot tör valakinek az orra alá. He crushes pepper under the nose of somebody. (He annoys/irritates somebody.) Falra hányt borsó. (It is like) peas thrown against the wall. (A vain effort.) "To be like water off/on a duck’s back." Borúra derű. After sorrow, happiness. "After a storm comes a calm." Úgy illik össze, mint bot a tegezbe. They match as a stick in a quiver. A botnak két vége van. A stick has two ends. (Aki engem ver, én is verem.) (I beat one who beats me.) "Tit for tat." Minden botnak a végén a feje. The "head" of each stick is at its end. „Nyugtával dicsérd a napot.” "Praise a fair day at night." 8 Aki bottal köszön, annak doronggal felelnek. He who greets with a stick, will be answered with a club. Bottal üthetik a nyomát. His footprints can be beaten with a stick. (He managed to escape.) "One can whistle for it." Senki sem tud kibújni a (saját) bőréből. Nobody can slip out of his own skin. (Nobody can abandon easily his customs/ideas.) Mindenki a maga bőrét viszi a vásárra. Every one carries his own skin to the market (i. e. acts at his own risk). (Everyone risks his own neck.) A bőség zavara. An embarrassment due to abundance. El van maradva egy brosúrával. He is one pamphlet behind (the others). (He still thinks/speaks/acts according to the previous guidelines.) Nem egy nap alatt épült Buda vára. The castle of Buda was not built in one day. "Rome was not built in a day." Egyszer volt Budán kutyavásár. These was a dog-market in Buda only once. (This favourable opportunity was a one-time occasion only.) Felfelé bukott. He stumbled upwards. (After failing in a job he was moved to a higher position.) Az emberi butaságnak/hülyeségnek nincs határa. There is no limit to human stupidity/folly. A cél szentesíti az eszközt. The purpose consecrates the means. "The end justifies the means." Túllőtt a célon. To overshoot the mark. (To go too far in sg.) (Nem) bírja cérnával. (Not) to be able to bear it with thread. ([Not] To be able to bear it with nerves/patience.) Minden cigány a maga lovát dicséri. Every gipsy praises his own horse. "Every merchant praises his own wares." "Every potter praises his own pot." Nem szokta a cigány a szántást. The gipsy is not accustomed to ploughing. (He is compelled to do something, he was previously reluctant to do.) 9 Még ha cigánygyerekek potyognak/esnek is az égből. Even if gipsy children are dropped (or fall) from the sky. "Come hell or high water." "Come rain, come shine." A cipésznek/suszternak lyukas a cipője. The shoemaker’s shoe is leaky. "The shoemaker’s son always goes barefoot.” Mindenki maga tudja, hol szorít a cipő. Everyone knews himself where the shoe pinches. "I know best where the shoe wrings me (pinches)." Csáky szalmájának tekinti. He considers it as at straw of (the landowner) Csáky. (An expression of negligence instead of due care.) Csalánba nem üt a ménkű/mennykő. The sky’s stone (i. e. the lightning) does not strike the nettle. "Weeds do not spoil." A csapból is ez folyik. (By now) this flows from all the taps. (This is in the radio, TV, journals etc.) A győztes csapaton ne változtass! Do not change a winning team. Add meg a császárnak, ami a császáré, és az Istennek, ami az Istené! Give the emperor what is the emperor’s and to God what is God’s. (Give everyone his due.) "Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s." 1601 Elásták a csatabárdot. They have buried the hatchet. "To bury the hatchet." Vihar előtti csend. Silence before the storm. "The calm/lull before the storm." Az utolsó csepp a pohárban. The last drop in the glass. "The last drop (makes the cup run over)." "It’s the last straw that breaks the camel’s neck." "The last/final straw." (Csak) csepp a tengerben. (This is) only a drop in the ocean. "A drop in the bucket/ocean." "A drop of water in the sea." Sok csepp követ váj. Many drops hollow the stone. "Constant dropping wears away a stone." Cserép/Zsindely van a háztetőn/házon. There is a tile on the roof. 10 (Fiatal/Gyerek van jelen.) "Walls have ears." „A falnak is füle van”. "A fly on the wall." Cseréptálhoz fakanál. To an earthenware dish a wooden spoon. "Marry your match." Lehazudná a csillagokat az égről. He would even lie, there is no star in the sky. (He is ready to deny even the most obvious truths.) Ha nem csinálok semmit, abból nem lehet baj. If we do nothing (without being ordered to do) no trouble will result from it. Csipkerózsika-álmát alussza. To sleep the dream of the Sleeping Beauty. Felébred Csipkerózsika-álmából. To awake from the dream of the Sleeping Beauty. A sáros csizmámat sem törölném hozzá. I would not wipe my muddy boots in him. (An expression of utter despise.) Hogy kerül a csizma az asztalra? How could the boots get on the table? "What has that got to do with it?" (An expression of indignant surprise.) Minden csoda három napig tart. Every wonder lasts three days. "A wonder lasts but nine days." Ez már lerágott csont. This is already a gnawed bone. (A matter already discussed several times.) Későn jövőnek csont az ebédje. He who comes late gets bones for lunch. "Who comes late lodges ill." Csontváz a szekrényben. "Skeleton in the cupboard." Ha nem csordul/csurran, cseppen. If it does not trickle, it will drop. (Even if it is less than expected, still there will be something.) Csöbörből vödörbe. He got out of the bucket and got into the pail. "Out of the frying pan into the fire." Kicsiny csupor hamar felforr. A little pot quickly boils. "A little pot is soon hot." Damoklesz kardjaként lebeg/függ felettünk (a fejünk felett). To hang as Damocles’ sword above us (or above our heads). "The sword of Damocles." "It was hanging over one’s head like the sword of Damocles." Darázsfészekbe nyúl. He puts his hands into a wasp’s nest. 11 "To stir up a hornet’s/wasp’s nest." Elköltené a Dárius kincsét is. He would spend event the treasures of Darius. Te sem vagy jobb a Deákné vásznánál. Even you are not better than the linen of Deák’s wife. (You are as bad as the others.) Jön még a kutyára dér. The hoar-frost is still to come for the dog. (Be sure your sins will find you out!) Három napig dínomdánom, holtig való szánom-bánom. A three day long merry-making and a regret lasting till death. (A hasty marriage.) A dió törve, az asszony verve jó. A nut is good if broken, a woman if beaten. "A woman, a dog and a walnut tree: the more you beat them, the better they be." Kemény dió. A hard nut. "A hard nut (to crack)." Hallgat, mint a süket disznó a búzában. He keeps silent, like a deaf pig in the wheat-field. Éhes disznó makkal álmodik. A hungry pig dreams of acorns. Okos disznó mély gyökeret ránt. A clever pig extracts a deep root. (A clever man achieves remarkable feats.) Részeg, mint a disznó. Drunk as a pig. "As drunk as a fiddler/fish/mouse." Disznóra gyömbért ne vesztegess. Do not waste your ginger on pigs. "Do not throw pearls to swine." Nem erőszak a disznótor Nobody is forced to attend the (rich) dinner given after killing a pig. (You are free to refrain from accepting an offer I consider favourable to/for you.) Dobbal nem lehet verebet fogni. Sparrows cannot be caught by (beating) a drum. Aki dolgozik, az nem ér rá pénzt keresni. He who works has no time to earn money. (If a job is hard and little paid, then one cannot earn additionally in a second job.) Aki nem dolgozik, ne is egyék. He that does not work, shall not eat either. "If you won’t work, you shan’t eat." "He that will not work, shall not eat." Nem kapkodják el a dolgot. The work is not snapped up. (It is done slowly.) Dróton rángat valakit. To pull somebody by a wire. 12 "To pull the strings." Két dudás egy csárdában nem fér meg. Two pipers cannot get on in one tavern. "Two kings in one kingdom cannot reign at once." "One master in a house is enough." Akkor lészen az, mikor a Duna visszafoly vagy elszárad. It will happen when the Danube reverts its course or dries up. Dunát lehet(ne) rekeszteni vele/velük. The Danube could be dammed by them. (There are too many of them.) Nehezen alkuszik meg két eb egy csonton. Two dogs can hardly agree on one bone. "Two cats and a mouse, two wives in one house, two dogs and a bone never agree in one." "Two sparrows on one ear of corn make an ill agreement." Az ebek harmincadjára került/jutott. It fell to the "thirtieth" of dogs. (Although it is valuable nobody cares for it any more.) Fogas ebnek való a csontrágás. Gnawing of bones is for dogs having teeth. Ha egy ebet bottal hajtanak a nyúl után, nem fogja az meg. If a dog is driven by a stick after a hare, he will not catch it. "A bad dog never sees the wolf." Köti az ebet a karóhoz. He ties the dog to the post. (He sticks to his position/plan/idea.) Ebcsont beforr. A dog’s (broken) bone will soon be healed. (The wound inflicted will soon be healed.) Ég és föld a különbség (köztük). The difference between them is like that between sky and earth. "As different as chalk from cheese." Mint derült égből a villámcsapás. Like a thunderstroke from a clear sky. "A bolt from the blue." Az egészség ízét a betegség adja meg. The flavour (i. e. the value) of health is given by an illness. Nem vagyunk egyformák. We are not (all) equal. "So many men/heads, so many minds/wits." Egységben az erő. In unity there is force. "Union is strength." Szegény az eklézsia, maga harangoz a pap. The congregation is poor, the priest rings the bell himself. Egyszer él az ember. Man lives but once. 13 Ki mint/hogy él, úgy ítél. As one lives, so he judges. Nem azért élünk, hogy együnk, hanem azért eszünk, hogy éljünk. We do not live to eat, but we eat to live. Elefánt a porcelánboltban. An elephant in the china shop. "Eat to live and not live to eat." "A bull in a china shop." Elefáncsonttoronyba zárkózik. (Not) to close oneself into an ivory tower. (Nem zárkózik elefántcsonttoronyba.) "To live/sit in an ivory tower." Ki elbízza magát, könnyen megszégyenül. He who is conceited, will easily be ashamed. "Pride goes before a fall." Se el ne hidd (bízd) magad, se kétségbe ne essél. Neither be conceited, nor fall into despair. Akkor/Úgy szép az élet, ha zajlik. Life is beautiful if it is hectic. Az élet nem áll meg. Life does not stop. Az élet megy tovább. Life goes on. "Business as usual." A könnyebb ellenállás irányába megy. To go into the direction of the smaller resistance. Az ellenségemnek se kívánom. I do not want it even for my enemy. "Wouldn’t wish sth on one’s worst enemy." Aki nincs ellenünk, az velünk van. He who is not against us, that is with us. Ami elmúlt, elmúlt. What’s gone, is gone. "Let bygones be bygones." "Don’t cry over spilt milk." Ahány ember, annyi vélemény. As many men, as many opinions. "So many men/heads, so many minds/wits." "So many men, so many opinions." Ahány ember, annyiféle. As many men, as many kinds. Az ember nem lehet elég óvatos. One cannot be cautious enough. "Remember to distrust." "Always verify your references." Ember embernek farkasa. "Man is a wolf to man." Ember tervez, Isten végez. Man plans, God decides. "Man proposes, God disposes." Holtig remél az ember. Man hopes until his death. "While there is life, there is hope." 14 Nem tudja az ember, mire virrad. One does not know what he will find tomorrow. Sok jó ember elfér kis helyen. Many good people can find room in a small space. Híres eperre nem kell kosárral menni. You do not need a basket to pick well-known strawberries. (A közelebb lakók vagy szemfülesebbek már leszedték.) (Those living nearby or being quicker have already picked them.) Nem szed más kosarába epret. He won’t pick strawberries into the basket of somebody else. Az erdőnek füle van, a mezőnek szeme van. The forest has an ear, the field has an eye. "Fields/Hedges have eyes and woods/walls have ears." Minden éremnek két oldala van. Every medal has two sides. "Every medal has its reverse." "There are two sides to every question." Ahogy esik, úgy puffan. As it falls so it plumps. "As the tree falls, it will lie." Eső után köpönyeg. After rain (comes) raincoat. "After meat mustard." "After death the doctor." "To shut/lock/close the stable/barn door after the horse has bolted/escaped (is stolen)." Májusi eső aranyat ér. A rain in May is golden. "A peck of March dust, and a shower in May, makes the corn green and the fields gay." Megáll az ész. Reason stops. (Sg is beyond reason.) Előbb járjon az eszed, utána a nyelved. First move your brain (i. e. think), then speak. "First think and then speak." 1557 Ésszel él az ember. Man lives by brain (i. e. by reasoning). Józan paraszti ésszel. With sound, peasant’s reasoning. (In a sensible way.) Többet ésszel, mint erővel. One should/could do more by wisdom than by force. "Wisdom is better than strength." "More brain than brawn." Eszi, nem eszi, nem kap mást. He may eat it or not, he won’t get anything else. Azt se tudja, eszik-e vagy isszák. He does not even know whether it is eaten or 15 drunk. (He has no idea about it.) Sok eszkimó, kevés fóka. Many Eskimos and few seals. Nincs olyan hitvány eszköz, hogy hasznát ne lehetne venni. There is no worthless thing which could not be used for something. Ez van, ezt kell szeretni. This is (what we have/experience), this is to be liked. "Take things as you find them." Amilyen a fa, olyan a gyümölcse. "Like tree, like fruit." Nagy fába vágta a fejszéjét. He cut his axe into a big tree. (A hard venture.) Fából vaskarika. An iron ring made of wood. (An absurdity.) Kemény fából faragták. He was carved of hard wood. (He is strong/steadfast.) A jó fának is van rossz gyümölcse. Even a good tree has (sometimes) bad fruit. A fát nem/sem vágják ki egy csapásra/vágásra. A tree is not felled at one stroke. (Változat: Nem egy vágással esik le a tölgyfa.) "An oak is not felled at one stroke." Addig hajtsd a fát, míg vessző. Bend the tree while it is a twig. "Best to bend while it is a twig." Ahol fát vágnak (erdőt irtanak), (ott) repked a forgács. When trees are cut (or a forest is cut), then shawings fall. Maga alatt vágja a fát. He cuts the tree under himself. "To cut one’s throat." Rossz fát tett a tűzre. He has put bad wood on the fire. (He has got into mischief.) Nem látja a fától az erdőt. "He cannot/(does not) see the wood for the trees." Nem nőnek a fák az égig. The trees do not grow up to the sky. (There is a limit to everything.) Egy fabatkát sem ér. It is not worth a „wooden coin”. (It is worthless.) "It is not worth a bean/(brass farthing) /damn/needle." A fakónak muszáj húzni, mert a fakót is húzzák. (Akitől az elöljárói megkövetelnek valamit, az is kénytelen követelni a beosztottaitól.) The horse has to pull as the horse is also pulled. (He who gets orders from superiors, has to pass them on to his subordinates.) 16 A falnak is füle van. Even the wall has an ear. "Walls have ears." Nem most jött le a falvédőről. (Nem teljesen tájékozatlan ebben.) He did not come just from the wall-guard (cloth). (He is not an unexperienced newcomer.) A farkas a szőrét elhányja, de a szokását nem. The wolf changes its hide but not its nature. "The fox may grow gray, but never good." Farkast emlegetnek, a kert alatt kullog/jár. When a wolf is mentioned, he is already walking round the garden. "The devil is never nearer than when we are talking of him." Nem eszi meg a farkas/kutya a telet. The wolf/dog does not eat the winter. Aki fél a farkastól, ne menjen az erdőre. He that fears a wolf should not go to the woods. "He that fears leaves, let him not go into thewood." A farok csóválja a kutyát. "The tail is wagging the dog." Az új fazék megtartja első szagát. A new pot retains its first scent. "The cask savours of the first fill." Minden ember az ő maga fazeka mellé szít. Every man kindles the fire below his own pot. „Minden szentnek maga felé hajlik a keze.” "Every man for himself." "To draw water to one’s mill." Az első fecske. "The first swallow." (The first sign of sg.) Egy fecske nem csinál nyarat. "One swallow does not make a summer." Kétélű fegyver. A two-edged weapon. "A two/double-edged sword/weapon." Akinek nincs a fejében, legyen a lábában. He who has not (enough wit) in the head, should have (force, to replace it) in the leg. "A spur in the head is worth two in the heel." Fején találja a szöget. He hits the nail on its head. "To hit the nail on the head." Összecsapnak a feje fölött a hullámok. The waves dash over his head. (He is unable to cope with the situation any longer.) Lehajtott fejet nem éri a kard. A bent head is not touched (i.e. cut) by the sword. Homokba dugja (Nem dugja homokba) a fejét. (Not) to hide one’s head into the sand. "(Not) to bury one’s head in the sand." 17 Veszett fejsze nyele. The helve of the lost hatchet. (A little gain in a great loss.) Aki fél, az él. He that fears, lives. "Warned folks may live." Jobb félni, mint megijedni. It is better to fear (something) than to get frightened. "Prevention is better than cure." "Forewarned forearmed." Jobb félútról visszatérni, mint rossz útra térni. (Változat: …mint rossz helyre érni.) Better to return from half-way than to take a wrong road. A fene egye meg. The "fene" (c. beast) should eat it. "Damn it." "Blast it!" Menj a fenébe! Go to the "fene"! "Go to hell!" "Go to the deuce!" Egyszer fent, egyszer/másszor lent. Once up, once down. Ordít/Üvölt, mint a fába szorult féreg. To howl as a beast caught in a trap. Hadd hulljon a férgese. Let the wormy of it drop off. (Let those perish/leave who are not up to the standard.) Jobb a sűrű fillér, mint a ritka forint. It is better to get fillérs often than forints seldom. (Fillér is the one hundredth of the forint.) "Little and often fills the purse." Azt se tudja, fiú-e vagy lány. Not to know even whether one is a boy or a girl. Aki fizet, az muzsikáltat/petyegtet. He who pays, makes the music play. "He who pays the piper calls/(may call) the tune." "To pay the piper/music/fiddler." Amíg nekünk csak fizetgetnek, addig mi is csak dolgozgatunk Until we are only poorly paid, we shall also poorly work. Akinek a foga fáj, tartsa (a) nyelvét rajta. He who has a toothache, should keep/hold his tongue on it. (Segíts magadon.) (Help yourself.) Feni a fogát valamire. He whets his teeth on something. (He is very eager to get something.) Kimutatja a foga fehérjét. He shows the whiteness of his teeth. 18 "To show one’s true colours." Fogjuk meg és vigyétek! Let us take it (into our hands) and then you carry it! (Somebody is urging others to work without wishing to take part in it.) Ott szakad a fonal/madzag/kötél, ahol a legvékonyabb. The thread/string/rope breaks where it is thinnest. Vörös fonálként húzódik végig rajta. It shows all along as a red thread. "The thread breaks where it is weakest." (Vörös fonál 1776-tól az angol flottában.) Nagy forgalom, kis/kevés haszon. Great/Big turnover, small/little gain. "Small profits and quick returns." Forró lett a lába/talpa alatt a talaj/föld. The soil/earth becomes hot below his foot/sole. „It is getting too hot for him.” Elment Földvárra deszkát árulni. (Meghalt.) He left for Földvár ("Earthcastle") to sell boards. (He died.) A főnöknek mindig igaza van. The boss is always right. Amit főztél, edd is meg! What you have cooked, you should eat as well. (You have to take the responsibility for your action.) "As you brew, so shall you drink." Szégyen a futás, de hasznos. Running away is a shame, but it is useful. "He that fights and runs away, may live to fight another day." Kapkod fűhöz-fához. To snatch grass and tree. (To try all means in despair.) Egyik fülén be, a másikon ki. In at one ear and out at the other. "To go in one ear and out the other." Se füle, se farka. It has neither an ear, nor a tail. (It makes no sense.) "It has neither rhyme nor reason." Ahol füst van, ott tűz is van. Where there is smoke, there is fire. "(There is) no smoke without (some) fire." "Where there is smoke, there is fire." Felszáll a (fehér) füst. The (white) smoke rises. (Finally a decision was made.) Füstbe ment. It went into smoke. 19 (Nothing was realized/achieved.) "It went up (ended) in smoke." Nagyobb a füstje, mint a lángja. Its smoke is bigger than the flame. (It is not so serious.) "Much smoke, little fire." Senkinek sem repül szájába a sült galamb. A roast pigeon will not fly into one’s mouth. "To think that larks will fall into one’s mouth ready roasted." Ahol sok a gazda, bolond a szolga. Where there are many masters the servant becomes mad. Az okos gazda a kárt is jóra fordítja. A clever master turns even a loss into a gain. Gazda nélkül csinálja a számítást. He reckons without his host. Gazda szeme hizlalja a jószágot. The master’s eye makes the animals fat. "The master’s eye makes the horse fat." Elkapta a gépszíj. He was snatched by the belt. (He could not resist the temptation of well-being in return for yielding from strict moral standards.) Mással kapartatja ki a gesztenyét a tűzből/parázsból. He makes someone else get the chestnut from the fire (glowing embers). "To take the chestnut out of the fire with the cat’s/dog’s paw." A gombhoz varrja a kabátot. He sews the jacket to the button. (Something is made after having a negligible part of it only.) Kisebb (A legkisebb) gondja is nagyobb annál. Even his least interest (in doing something) is smaller than that. (This is of no interest for him.) Átvágja/Kettévágja a gordiuszi csomót. To cut (in two) the Gordian knot. "To cut/untie the Gordian knot.” Gúzsba kötve táncol. He dances bound hand and foot. (He tries hard but has very little freedom of movement or action.) Gyakorlat teszi a mestert. Practice makes the master. "Practice/Use makes perfect." Egy gyékényen árulnak. To trade on the same mat. (To act in collusion.) Gyermek, részeg, bolond mondják az igazat. A child, a drunkard and a fool tell the truth. 20 "Children and fools tell the truth." "Drunkards and fools speak truth." Meghalt a gyermek, oda a komaság. The child is dead, the godfathership has ended. Kis gyerek — kis gond, nagy gyerek — nagy gond Small child — small trouble, big child — big trouble. Nem kell a gyereket a fürdővízzel kiönteni. One need not throw out the child with the bathwater. "Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater." Nevén nevezi a gyereket. To name a child by its proper name. "To call a spade a spade." Néma gyereknek az anyja sem érti a szavát. Even the mother cannot understand the words of a dumb child. "Dumb men get no land." Két végén égeti a gyertyát. To burn the candle at its two ends. "To burn the candle at both ends." Tiltott gyümölcs édesebb. Forbidden fruit is sweeter. "Forbidden fruit is sweet." Csak hab a tortán. This is only cream on the cake. "The icing on the cake." Nincs a hadban semmi Péter bátya. (Szolgálatban a rokonság/ismeretség nem számít.) In the army there is no Uncle Peter. Hosszú haj, rövid ész. Long hair, short wit. "More hair than wit." A haja szála sem görbült (meg). Not one hair of him was bent. Minden hájjal megkent. With all the leaf-lard besmeared. (A very cunning person.) Ez a hajó elment. This ship is gone. (This possibility does not exist any more.) A süllyedő hajót elhagyják a patkányok. "Rats desert/foresake/leave a sinking ship (a falling house)." Egy hajóban eveznek. They are rowing in the same ship. "To be/row/sail in the same boat." A nagy hal megeszi a kis halat. The big fish eats the little fish. "Big fish eat little fish." Fejétől bűzlik a hal. Fish stinks from the head on. 21 "Fish begins to stink at the head." Halál ellen nincs orvosság. There is no medicine against death. "Death defies the doctor." Jó volna halálnak. He would be good for death. (He always arrives late.) Sokat hallj, láss, keveset szólj! Hear and see much, say little. "Hear and see and say nothing/little." Amiről hallgatunk (nem beszélünk), az nincs is. What we keep silence about, does not exist. A hallgatás beleegyezés. Silence (means) consent. "Silence means consent." Nem lesz belőle énekes halott. There will be no "funeral with songs" out of this/it. (This effort will end in failure.) A halottakról (holtakról) vagy jót vagy semmit. (Tell) good or nothing of the dead. "Speak well of the dead." Úgy kellett/hiányzott ez, mint ablakos/üveges tótnak a hanyatt esés. It was needed as a Slovak glazier (once wandering from village to village carrying glass on his back) needed falling on his back. (A most unwanted event.) A harag rossz tanácsadó. Anger is a bad counsellor. "Anger and haste hinder good counsel." A mai haragod halaszd holnapra. Postpone today’s anger till tomorrow. Hallott valamit/valamiről harangozni. He has heard some ringing about it. Nem zörög a haraszt, ha nem fúj a szél. The dry leaves do not rustle if no wind blows. "No smoke without fire." Három a magyar igazság. The Hungarian justice (i. e. custom) is three. (E. g. One should drink three times.) A nevető harmadik. The smiling third (person) (In a quarrel of two.) Addig hántsd a hársat/hársfát, míg hámlik. Peel (the inner bark of) the lime tree until it peels. „Addig üsd a vasat, míg meleg.” "Strike the iron while it is hot." Üres hasnak nem elég a szép szó. Fair words are not enough to an empty belly. "Fair words fill not the belly." Akkor lássam, amikor a hátam közepét. I wish to see him when I see the middle of my back (i. e. never). A határ a csillagos ég. The limit is the starlit sky. 22 (There is no limit <e. g. in setting some prices>.) "The sky’s the limit." Mindennek van határa. There is a limit to everything. Valahol meg kell húzni a határt. The (dividing) line must be drawn somewhere. "The line is to be drawn somewhere." Nem most érkeztem a hat húszassal. I did not arrive by the 6.20 train. (Contrary to your expectation I know it well.) "I wasn’t born yesterday." Ahány ház, annyi szokás. So many houses, so many customs. "So many countries, so many customs/laws." Amit a ház ellop, elő is adja. What was stolen by the house, will be returned by it. (Something mislaid somewhere will be found later.) Sok ház ég belül, de nem látszik kívül. Many homes burn inside but it is not seen outside. Az kiabál (a legjobban), akinek a háza ég (, de hallgat, aki meggyújtotta). He cries, whose house is on fire (but who set it aflame is silent). Az én házam az én váram. My house is my castle. "A man’s/(An Englishman’s) house is his castle." Mindenki a maga háza előtt seperjen. Each should sweep before his own house. "If every man would sweep his own doorstep the city would soon be clean." "Sweep before your own door." Háztűznézőbe megy. He goes to see the fire in the house. (A visit to the home of a future wife.) Aki hazudik, az lop is. He that lies, also steals. "He that will lie, will steal." Aki egyszer hazudni mer, többet hitelt nem érdemel. He who once ventures to lie, deserves no more confidence. "He that once deceives is ever suspected." Úgy hazudik, mintha könyvből olvasná. He lies as if he read from a book. A hazugot hamarabb utolérik, mint a sánta kutyát. A liar is caught sooner than a lame dog. Akkor se hisznek a hazugnak, mikor igazat mond. "A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth." Hegy heggyel nem találkozik, de ember Mountain does not meet mountain but man does "Lies have short legs." 23 emberrel igen. meet man. "Friends may meet but mountains never greet." Vajúdtak a hegyek, (és) egeret szültek. The mountains were in labour and bore a small mouse. "The mountains have brought forth a mouse." Csak az nem követ el hibát, aki nem dolgozik. Only those make no errors, who do not work at all. "If you don’t make mistakes, you don’t make anything." Vannak még hibák. There are still (some) errors. (An answer to a complaint. It implies the refusal of the search for the reasons of the errors.) Felégeti maga mögött a hidat/hidakat. To burn the bridge/bridges after oneself. "To burn one’s boats/bridges." A rossz hír szárnyon jár, a jó alig kullog. Bad news proceeds by wings, good news hardly walks. "Bad news travels fast." Aki könnyen hisz, könnyen csalatkozik. He who readily believes, will be readily disappointed. "Believe not all that you see, nor half what you hear." "He who believes easily is easily deceived." Hol van már a tavalyi hó? Where is by now the snow of last year? (This is already past history or out of date!) Tele van a hócipője. His snow-boots are full. "He is fed up with the matter." A hóhért akasztják. The hangman is being hanged. (Somebody has to undergo the same treatment he usually gives others.) "An examiner has to pass an exam." Holló a hollónak nem vájja ki a szemét. A raven does not pick out a raven’s eye. "Hawks/Crows will not pick out hawks’/crows’ eyes." Ritka, mint a fehér holló. Rare as a white raven. "A white crow/raven." Ki tudja, mit hoz a holnap. Who knows what tomorrow will bring. "Here today, gone tomorrow." Homokból nem fonsz ostort. Out of sand you cannot spin a whip. 24 "To make/twist ropes of sand." Homokszem/Porszem került a gépezetbe (a fogaskerekek közé). A grain of powder/sand got into the machinery (or between the cog-wheels). Egyszer hopp, másszor kopp. Hopp (i. e. wasting) at one time, kopp (hunger, want) at another. Üres hordó jobban kong. An empty barrel sounds better. "Empty vessels make the most/greatest sound." Túlfeszíti (Nem feszíti túl) a húrt. (Not) to overstretch the string. ([Not] to increase tension to the breaking point.) Se hús, se hal. Neither meat, nor fish. "Neither fish nor flesh." Olcsó húsnak híg a leve. Cheap meat yields a dilute soup (i. e. that of inferior quality). "Good cheap is dear." A 22-es csapdája. The trap of number 22. "A catch-22 situation." Húzd meg, ereszd meg. Pull it, loosen it. Hübelebalázs módjára (csinál valamit). He acts as Hübelebalázs. (To act without reasoning.) Aki hülye, (az) az is marad. He that is a fool, remains the same. "Fools will be fools still." "He that is born a fool is never cured." Az idő eljár, senkire nem vár. Time passes, it waits for nobody. "Time and tide wait for no man." "Time flies." c 1382 Az idő (nem) neki/nekünk dolgozik. Time works (or does not work) for one/us. Az idő pénz. "Time is money." Aki időt nyer, életet nyer. He who gains time, gains life. Mindennek megvan a maga ideje. Everything has its time. "There is time for everything." "There is a time for everything (for all things)." Mondj/Szólj igazat, betörik a fejed. Tell the truth and your head will be broken. "Truth has a scratched face." Borban az igazság. "In wine there is truth." Az igazságot nem lehet véka alá rejteni. Truth cannot be hidden under a bushel. "Truth will come to light (break out)." 25 Aki sokat ígér, keveset ad. He who promises much, gives (but) little. "He that promises too much, means nothing." Az ígéret szép szó, ha megtartják, úgy jó. A promise is a nice word, if kept, then it is all right. "One acre of performance is worth twenty of the Land of Promise." Ígéretekkel tele a padlás. The garret is full of promises. „Elegem van az ígéretekből.” (I am fed up with promises.) Ami téged nem illet, ne törd azon (a) fejedet. Make no headache (for yourself) of what is not your business. "Mind your (own) business." Csak az imádság tartja benne a lelket. The soul is retained in it only by the prayer. (It is close to its end/destruction.) Akinek nem inge, ne vegye magára. If it is not one’s shirt, one should not put it on. (If a critical remark does not concern somebody,then it should be disregarded.) Ingednek se higgy! Do not trust even your own shirt. "Remember to distrust." "Always verify your references." Ha nincs írod és szelencéd, miért teszed magad borbéllyá? Having no ointment and box why do you pose as hairdresser? (Nem vállalkozhatunk valamire, ha a hozzá szükségesekkel nem rendelkezünk.) (Do not undertake something you are not equipped for.) Jobb száz irigy, mint egy szánó. You’d better have one hundred (persons) who envy you than one who is sorry for you. "Better be envied than pitied." Az ismétlés a tudás anyja. Repetition is the mother of knowledge. "Repetion is the mother of learning/skill." Akinek az Isten hivatalt ád, észt is ad hozzá. To whom God gives an office, adds also senses to it. Akinek azIsten hivatalt ád, észt nem ad hozzá. To whom God gives an office, does not add senses to it. Akinek Isten mit ád, ember el nem veheti. What was given by God to one, cannot be taken away by man. Az Isten (Krisztus Urunk) is kitér(t) a részeg ember elől. Even God/(Christ our Lord) has given way to a drunken man. (Azt csak) az Isten (a Jóisten) tudja. Only God (or the good God) knows it. (Nobody knows it.) 26 "Good/Goodness/Heaven knows." "Lord only knows." Az Isten se tehet mindennek eleget. Even God cannot satisfy everyone. "You can’t please everyone." Az Isten sem siet, sem késik. God neither hurries, nor is late. Felvitte az Isten a dolgát. God has taken him to a high position. (He got into well-being or a high position.) Isten látja (a) lelkemet. God sees my soul. (I tell it honestly.) Isten malmai lassan őrölnek (de biztosan). The mills of God grind slowly (but surely). "God’s mill grinds slow but sure." Isten nem ver bottal. God does not beat one with a stick. Megfogta az Isten lábát. He has caught the leg of God. (His action has led him into a very favourable position.) Menjen/Mehet Isten hírével. He can/should go with "God’s fame". (He may/should leave, or he is not urged to stay.) (Mindnyájan) Isten kezében vagyunk. We are all in God’s hand. „All must be as God will.” Nagy az Isten állatkertje. The zoo of God is large. (There are many stupid/foolish people.) Nem ismer se Istent, se embert. He respects (literally: knows) neither God, nor man. Segíts magadon, az Isten is megsegít! Help yourself and then God will also help you. "God/Heaven helps them that help themselves." Olyan hosszú, mint a Szent Iván éneke. It is as long as the song of St. John’s day. (Midsummer day’s song.) Ízlések és pofonok különbözők. Tastes and slaps are different. "Tastes differ." A jég hátán is megél. He can live even on flat ice. "He can get money in desert." Megtört a jég. The ice was broken. "To break the ice." (Ez csak) a jéghegy csúcsa. (This is but) "the tip of the iceberg." A jó elnyeri méltó büntetését. He who is good, gets his deserved punishment. (ironic) (A good deed often does not get its due reward or 27 is even followed by punishment by those who dislike it.) "No good deed goes unpunished." A jó elnyeri méltó jutalmát. He that is good, gets his due reward. Minden jó, ha a vége jó. All is well if the end is well. "All’s well that ends well." Mindenütt jó, de legjobb otthon. All is well if the end is well. "All’s well that ends well." Mindenütt jó, de legjobb otthon. It is good everywhere but it is the best at home. "East (or) west, home’s best." Minden jóban van valami rossz. In every good thing there is something bad. "No joy without annoy/alloy." Jóból is megárt a sok. Even of a good thing too much is harmful. "Too much of a good thing is good for nothing." Amit jókedvvel teszel, nem esik nehezedre. Anything done willingly is not hard/difficult to do. „When your will is ready, your feet are light.” Minden úgy van jól, ahogy van. Everything is good as it is. Ne csak tudd a jót, hanem tedd is. You should not only know what is right but also do it. Jótett helyébe jót ne várj. Do not expect good in return for a good deed. "Ingratitude is the way of the world." Jótett helyébe jót várj. Expect good in return for a good deed. "One good turn deserves another." Ha jöttök, lesztek, ha hoztok, esztek. If you come, you will be (here), if you bring (food), you will eat. Jöjjön, aminek jönnie kell. Let it come, whatever must come. (I can/will not do anything to influence the course of events.) "Come what may." (Ez még csak) A jövő zenéje. This is but the music of future. (This can only be expected in the distant future.) Egy rühes juh az egész nyájat megrontja. „One scabbed sheep will mar the whole flock.” „One scabbed sheep is enough to spoil a flock.” Amit szabad Jupiternek, nem szabad azt az ökörnek. What Jove may do, the ox may not. Kabátügye van. — Kabátügybe keveredett. He has (or is involved in) a coat-affair. 28 (A man whose coat was stolen was told "to be involved in a coat-stealing affair".) A káder nem vész el, csak átalakul. A cadre will not be lost, only transformed. (A cadre who failed in a position, will not be sacked, only transferred to another similar post.) (A standard practice in the socialism.) A kákán is csomót keres. He seeks a knot even on the (bal)rush. (He is always finding fault.) Minden kakas úr a maga szemétdombján. Every cock is master upon his own dunghill. "Every cock will crow upon his own dunghill/midden." Nem lehet mindent egy kalap alá venni. One cannot put everything under one hat. (One cannot consider things/ideas identical/equal which are in fact different.) (To treat alike/indiscriminately.) Kinek milyen kalapja van, olyannal köszön. Everyone greets others with a hat he has got. Üres kalász fenn tartja a fejét. An empty ear (of corn) holds its "head" upright. Üres kamrának bolond a gazdasszonya. An empty pantry has a fool houswife. Tejjel-mézzel folyó Kánaán. Canaan overflown by milk and honey. "Land of milk and honey." Megfojtaná egy kanál vízben. He would drown him in a spoonful of water. Minden lében kanál. He is a spoon in all liquids. "He has a finger in every pie." Egy kaptafára húz mindent. He draws everything to one (to the same) last. (To make everything after the same pattern.) "To have everything on the same peg." Nem káptalan a feje. His head is not the chapter (of a collegiate church) "He is not a walking encyclopedia." (He does not know everything.) Note: Once the chapter of the church stored all the official documents.) Nyitott kaput/kapukat dönget. To bang at an open gate. Nincs az a kár, mely valakinek ne használna. There is no loss, which is not a gain for somebody. "Nothing so bad in which there is not something of good." (A maga) kárán tanul a magyar. The Hungarian learns at his own loss/damage. 29 „Adversity makes men wise.” 1574 Fekete karácsony, fehér húsvét. Black Christmas (i. e. without snow), white Easter. Ha rövid a kardod, toldd meg egy lépéssel! If your sword is short, add one step to it. (A missing part may be substituted sometimes by something else, e. g. skill.) Két éles kard/tőr nem fér meg egy hüvelyben. Two sharp swords/daggers cannot be in one sheath. "Two bigs will not go in one bag." Megy, mint a karikacsapás. It goes like cuts of a whip. "It goes like clockwork." "It is (all) plain sailing." Nyílt/Nyitott kártyákkal játszik. He plays with open cards. "To throw one’s cards on the table." Összedőlt/Összeomlott, mint egy kártyavár. To collapse like a castle of cards. "Like a house of cards." Kinek egyszer megégette száját a kása, az aludttejet is megfújja. He whose mouth was once burned by hot mush, blows even at sour milk. "The burnt child dreads the fire." Nem eszik a kását/levest olyan forrón, ahogy főzik. Mush/Soup is not eaten as hot as it is cooked. "His bark is worse than his bite." "The devil is not so black as he is painted." Könnyű Katit táncba vinni (, ha ő is akarja). It’s easy to take Kati to the dance (if she is also willing). Fizet, mint a katonatiszt/köles. To pay as a (military) officer (or as the millet). Kazalban/Szénakazalban/Asztagban tűt keres. He looks for a needle in a bundle (of hay). "He looks for (tries to find) a needle in a bundle/bottle of hay (in a haystack)." A kecske is jóllakik és a káposzta is megmarad. Both the goat has enough to eat and the cabbage remains. (Both parties are satisfied.) A kecske se menne a vásárra, ha nem hajtanák. Without driving even a goat would not go to the market. A vén kecske is megnyalja a sót. Even an old goat likes to lick salt. (Even old men like making love.) Úgy szereti, mint a kecske a kést. He likes it, as a goat likes the knife (that kills him). Kecskére bízza a káposztát. He confides the cabbage to the goat. 30 "To set the wolf to keep the sheep." "To put the cat among the pigeons." Iszik mint a kefekötő. He drinks like a brushmaker. "He drinks like a fish." Összeköti a kellemest a hasznossal. He combines the pleasant with the useful. Felírjuk a kéménybe korommal. We shall write it in soot in the chimney. (We may write it off.) Úgy kell, mint egy falat kenyér. To be needed as a bite of bread. (It is badly needed.) Kenyértörésre került a dolog. The developments have led to the breaking of bread. (The breaking of former relations.) Amilyen a kérdés, olyan a felelet. "Like question, like answer." Jobb kétszer kérdezni, mint egyszer hibázni. It is better to ask twice than to err once. "Better to ask the way than go astray." A kerék is jobban forog, ha kenik. The wheel turns better if greased. "Grease the wheel, if thou intend the cart shall go." Ötödik kerék a kocsiban. The fifth wheel of the carriage/coach. "A fifth wheel to a coach." Visszatért/Visszazökkent a normális/régi kerékvágásba. To return to the normal/old wheel-track. (To be back to normal.) "To be back on the track." "To get back on the rails." Aki keres, talál. "He that seeks finds." Leszedi róla a keresztvizet. He removes the baptismal water from somebody. (He curses somebody up and down.) Ott sem kolbászból van a kerítés. The fence is not made of sausages even there. (You have to work there too.) "To believe that (there) the streets are paved with gold." Kerül, amibe kerül. It should cost what it costs. "Cost what it may." "At all costs." Ami késik, nem múlik. What is delayed may come/happen later. 31 "All is not lost that is delayed." Késő sütve. It was baked/fried too late. „Eső után köpönyeg.” (It was done too late.) Jobb későn, mint soha. "Better late than never." Megtanítlak kesztyűbe dudálni. I shall teach you pipe into gloves. (I shall teach you how to behave.) Felveszi a (az odadobott) kesztyűt. To take up the gloves. "To take up the gauntlet." Ha kettő verekszik/veszekëdik, a harmadik nyer. If two are beating/quarreling, the third wins. Kéz kezet mos. "One hand washes the other." "Two dogs strive for a bone and a third runs away with it." "You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours." Nem tudja a jobb kéz, mit csinál a bal. The right hand does not know what the left is doing. (An un-coordinated or careless action.) "The left hand does not know what the right hand’s doing." Sok kéz, hamar kész. Many hands are quickly ready (with the work). "Many hands make light work." Mossa a kezét. He washes his hand. "To wash one’s hand(s) of sb/sth." Ölbe tett kézzel nézi/ül. Nem nézi/ül ölbe tett kézzel. Jó kezdet fél siker. (Not) to behold/sit with hands put in the lap. (i. e. indifferently) (He waits — or does not wait — idly.) A good beginning is half success. "Well begun is half done." "The first blow is half the battle." Minden kezdet nehéz. "Every beginning is hard." A kibicnek semmi sem drága. For an onlooker/bystander nothing is precious. Sok kicsi sokra megy. Many a little becomes much. "Many a little makes a mickle." "Little and often fill the purse." Kicsire nem adunk/nézünk, a nagy meg nem számít. We do not care for the little and the great is of no importance (for us). Jó kifogás sose rossz. A good excuse is never bad. (It is always good to 32 have a good excuse, if it serves the purpose.) Kit a kígyó megcsíp, a gyíktól is fél. Whom a serpent has bitten, is afraid of a lizard. "Once bitten twice shy." Kígyót-békát kiált rá. He shouts snake and frog at somebody. (To abuse somebody right and left.) Kígyót melenget kebelén. To warm a snake in one’s bosom. "To nourish a snake/viper in one’s bosom." Ez nekem kínai (kínaiul van). This is Chinese to sy. "That is Greek/Dutch/(double Dutch) to me." A király meztelen. The king is naked. (The hidden truth is revealed.) Pünkösdi király(ság). A king(dom) of Whitsuntide. (A glory/honour of short duration.) Megkeresi/Megtalálja a kiskaput. To look for (or find) the wicket door (i. e. the way out, the legal loophole). Minden nagykapu mellett van egy kiskapu. Beside each (closed) big gate there is an (open) small gate. Belejön, mint kiskutya az ugatásba. To get experienced in sg, like a small dog in barking. Bujkál bennem a kisördög. The little devil is hiding in me. (In spite of what was shown/told me, I have some serious doubts.) Ha (a) kisujjad mutatod, egész kezed kéri. If you show him your little finger, he requests your whole hand. "Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell." Amit nem kívánsz magadnak, te se tedd embertársadnak. What you do not wish for yourself, do not do it to your fellow-men either. "Do as you would be done by." c 1596 Aki kíváncsi, az hamar megöregszik. He that is nosey gets old quickly. "Curiosity killed the cat." A kivétel erősíti a szabályt. The exception confirms the rule. "The exception proves the rule." (Meg)fordult a kocka. The die has turned. (The luck has changed.) A kocka el van vetve. "The die is cast." Jó a hosszú kolbász és a rövid prédikáció. Long sausage and short sermon are good. Szemérmes koldusnak üres a táskája. A shy beggar has an empty scrip. 33 Kolumbusz tojása. It is an egg of Columbus. (It is a problem very easy to solve.) Kopár helyen kereskedel. You (try to) trade at a deserted place. „Borsót hánysz a falra.” Kopaszt borotvál. He shaves a bald head. (A useless action.) „Borsót hány a falra.” Kopogjuk le. We should knock it down. (So far it is all right, but the future is uncertain.) Aki korpa közé keveredik, megeszik a disznók. He who mixes with the bran, will be eaten by the pigs. "Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour/eat you." Addig jár a korsó a kútra, míg el nem törik. The pitcher goes so long to the well, until it breaks. "The pitcher which goes often to the well will be broken at last." Kovács kovácsra irigykedik. One blacksmith envies another. "One potter envies another." Kő kövön nem marad. No stone will remain on stone. "Not to leave a stone standing." Nagy kő esett le a szívéről. A great stone fell down from his heart. (A sense of relief as a danger or worry was averted.) Nem mohosodik az a kő meg, melyet gyakran mozgatnak. A stone moved often gathers no moss. Ha megdobnak kővel, dobd vissza kenyérrel. If a stone was thrown at you, throw back some bread in return. "A rolling stone gathers no moss." "To return good for evil." Az vesse rá az első követ, aki még nem tett ilyet. He should throw the first stone on him, who has not yet done anything like that. Egy követ fújnak. They blow one (i. e. the same) stone. (They have the same bad intention.) Minden követ megmozgat. He moves all the stones (to achieve something). "To leave no stone unturned." Kölcsönkenyér visszajár. Bread borrowed should be returned. "Measure for measure." 34 "Tit for tat." "To pay one in his own coin." "To repay sy in kind." "To give a Roland for an Oliver." Baj van Köpecen. There is some trouble in Köpec. (There is something wrong there.) (The saying refers to the rebellion on the 2nd Dec. 1743 in Köpec, a village in Háromszék County.) Köpönyeget fordít. He turns his coat (according to the wind). "To turn one’s coat/tippet." A kör négyszögesítése. Quadrate the circle. (An impossible task.) Körmére ég a munka/dolog. Work is burning down to his nail. (He is hard pressed for time.) Ha minden kötél szakad. If all cords break. (If the worst comes to the worst.) Legjobb a (az arany) középút. The gold middle route/way is the best. "The middle course is the best one." Kinek Krisztus a barátja, könnyen üdvözül. He who is a friend of Christ, will soon find salvation. Krisztus koporsóját sem őrizték ingyen. Even Christ’s coffin was not guarded for nothing. Krokodilkönnyeket hullat. To shed crocodile tears. "To weep crocodile tears." Elmehetsz Kukutyinba zabot hegyezni. You may go to Kukutyin to sharpen oats. (You ar not needed any more, you may/should leave.) Kaparj kurta, neked is lesz. Scrape you "short man", and you will also have. (Making more efforts you will finally gain something.) (Usually a scornful remark.) Kutya kötelesség. A dog-duty. (A strict obligation.) A kutya ugat, a karaván halad. The dog barks, the caravan goes on. "Dogs bark, but the caravan goes on." Amelyik kutya ugat, az nem harap. A dog that barks does not bite. "A barking dog never bites." Az erősebb kutya elve. The principle of the stronger dog. 35 (The weaker is hopless against a stronger.) "Might is/makes/overcomes right." Bizonytalan, mint a kutya vacsorája. (It is) uncertain as the dog's supper. Egyik kutya, másik eb. One of them is a dog, the other a "barker". (They are equally bad.) Itt van a kutya elásva/eltemetve. The dog is/lies buried here. "There is/lies the rub." Jobb az élő kutya a holt oroszlánnál. A living dog is better than a dead lion. "A live dog is better than a dead lion." Kutya-macska barátság. Dog and cat friendship. "To agree like cats and dogs." Leforrázott kutya az esőtől is fél. A scalded dog fears even the rain. "A scalded dog fears cold water." Nem csak egy tarka kutya van a világon. There is not only one pied dog in the world. Vörös kutya, vörös ló, vörös ember egy se jó. A red (haired) dog, a red (haired) horse, a red (haired) man — none of them are good. Kutyából nem lesz szalonna. Out of a dog there will be no lard. "A leopard cannot (does not) change his spots." A mi kutyánk kölyke. He is the kid of our dog. (A child of somebody related to the speaker, who was granted — or will be granted — preferential treatment at the expense of outsiders.) Amely kutyát meg akarnak ölni, veszett nevét költik. If a dog is to be killed, it is said to be mad. Ha az ember kutyával áll szemben, legyen a kezében bot. On facing a dog one must have a stick in the hand. Kutyaharapást a szőrivel gyógyítják. The bite of a dog is healed by the hair of it. "Give a dog (an ill)/(a bad) name and hang him." "A hair of the dog that bit you." "The drunkard’s cure is drink again." Kutyaszorítóba került. To get into "dog-pressing" circumstances. (To get into a tough situation.) Kutyaugatás/Ebugatás/Szamárbőgés nem hallatszik a mennybe (az égbe). Barking of dogs (Braying of an ass) cannot be heard in heaven. „The moon does not heed the barking of dogs/wolves.” (Who cares about what he says.) 36 De micsoda különbség! But what a difference! (Behind the similarities there are big differences.) Bal lábbal kelt fel. He got out of the bed with the left leg. "To get out of the bed on the wrong side." A labda a másik térfélen (a másik fél térfelén) van. The ball is on the other side. (The other side has to take the next move.) "The ball is in the other’s court." "The ball is in somebody’s court." Nem rúg(hat) labdába. He cannot kick the ball. (His application/intention will not be considered.) Feladták neki a (magas) labdát. A high ball was served to him. (An easy victory was offered to him.) Lakva ismerik meg az embert. A man is known by living with him. "Come live with me and you’ll know me." Nehéz láncban táncot járni. It’s hard to dance in chains. Lányomnak mondom, menyem értsen belőle. I tell my daughter, my daughter-in-law should understand it. Ez már más lapra tartozik. This belongs to another card. (In this connection this is of no importance.) Mindent egy lapra tesz fel. He puts up everything on one card. "To have/put all your eggs in one basket." Rátesz még egy lapáttal. He adds one more shovelful on it. (It was bad but his action made it even worse.) Lassan, de biztosan. Slowly but surely. „Slow but sure.” Lassan járj, tovább érsz. Go slowly, you get farther. "Make haste slowly." "More haste, less speed." A látszat csal. Appearance cheats. "Appearances are deceptive" "Never judge from appearances." Átviszi a lécet. To get over the cross bar. (To satisfy the requirements.) Magasra tették a lécet/mércét. The cross bar was put (very) high. Legény a gáton. A lad on the dam. 37 (He is not frightened/deterred by difficulties.) Nem az a legény, aki üti, hanem aki állja. The smart lad is not he who beats, but he who endures it. Légvárakat épít. He builds castles in the air. "To build castles in the air (in Spain)." Két legyet üt egy csapásra. He kills two flies with one flap. "To kill two flies with one flap." "To kill two birds with one stone/bolt/sling." Mindent lehet, csak akarni kell. One can do anything, only will is needed. "Where there’s a will, there’s a way." Nincs lehetetlenség, csak tehetetlenség. There is no impossibility, only unwillingness/incapacity. Csak hálni jár belé a lélek. His soul comes to him only to sleep there. (He is in very bad health.) Eladta egy tál lencséért. To sell sg for a plate of lentils. "For a mess of pottage." Lesz, ami lesz. It will be what will be. "Be as it may." Megfagyott körülötte a levegő. The air was frozen around him. Hátra van még a fekete leves. The black soup is still to come. (The worst is still ahead.) Többe kerül a leves, mint a hús. The soup costs more than the meat. (The production of something costs more than the value of the product.) Átesett a ló túlsó oldalára. He fell to the other side of the horse. (From one extreme he switched to the opposite extreme.) Ez egy állatorvosi ló. This is a ’veterinary horse’. (It is like the horse in the collection of a veterinary college, demonstrating all conceivable illnesses.) Ha ló nincs, a szamár is jó. If there is no horse, a donkey will do as well. Nagy a feje, búsuljon a ló. The horse should worry, he has a big head. (Don’t worry!) Sötét ló. A dark horse. A lónak négy lába van, mégis megbotlik. The horse has four legs, still he stumbles. "A horse may stumble that has four legs." 38 Közös lónak túros a háta. The common horse has scars on his back. "The common horse is worst shod." "Everybody’s business is nobody’s business." Nyomtató lónak nem kötik be a száját. The mouth of a treading horse is not muzzled. "Muzzle not the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn." Jó/Rossz lóra tesz. He puts on the right/wrong horse. (His decision/affiliation is right/wrong.) "To back the wronghorse." A lovak közé dobta a gyeplőt. He threw the reins between the horses. (He refused to carry on in a leading position.) Ki a más ember lovának vermet ás, az önnön lovának nyaka szakad belé He who digs a pit for the horse of another man, will find his own horse’s neck broken there. Azt a lovat ütik, amelyik jobban húz. The horse that draws better is beaten (to draw even more). "All lay load on the willing horse." A lovát keresi, s rajta ül. He tries to find his horse and is riding it. Kilóg a lóláb. The horse’s leg protrudes. (The concealed real intention comes to the open.) Úgy/Lassan készül, mint a Luca széke. It is made as (or as slowly as) the stool of St. Lucy’s day. (Made slowly from the 13th to the 24th December.) Ha már lúd, legyen kövér! If it is a goose, it should be a fat one. (Somebody having an unexpected opportunity, makes the best possible use of it.) (usually derog.) Sok lúd disznót győz. Many geese overpower a pig. "Not even Hercules could contend against two." "There is safety in numbers." Addig dugd be a lyukat, míg kicsi. Stop up the hole until it’s small. Az egyik lyukat a másikkal tömi/dugja be. He fills one hole with another. (He pays one debt from another loan.) Lyukat beszél a hasába valakinek. He talks a hole into the belly of somebody. "He talks one’s head off." Amit ma megtehetsz, ne halaszd holnapra. Do not put off till tomorrow what you can do today. "Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today." 39 Ma nekem, holnap neked. Today to me, tomorrow to you. "I today, you tomorrow." A macska is szereti a halat, de kerüli a vizet. The cat also likes fish but keeps away from water. "The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet." Alamuszi macska nagyot ugrik. A sly cat makes a big jump. "The still sow eats up all the draff." Ha nincs otthon a macska, táncolnak/cincognak az egerek. If the cat’s away, the mice will dance/squeek. Kerülgeti, mint macska a forró kását. He goes around it like a cat goes around hot mush. "When the cat’s away, the mice will play." "To beat about the bush." Úgy játszik vele, mint macska az egérrel. He plays with somebody as a cat plays with a mouse. "To play cat-and-mouse." Ott vagyunk, ahol a mádi zsidó. We are there where the Jew of Mád is. (In spite of all the efforts, no step forward was made.) Csúnya madár, amelyik a saját fészkébe piszkít. It is an ugly bird that defiles its own nest. Madarat tolláról, embert barátjáról. A bird is recognized by her feathers, a man by his friend. "It’s an ill (a dirty) bird that fouls its own nest." "Birds of a feather flock together." Ha kell, menj magad, ha nem kell, küldj mást. If you want something, go yourself, if not, send somebody else. "If you would be well served, serve yourself." Magad uram, ha szolgád nincs. Do it yourself sir, if you have no servant. Mindenki magából indul ki. (In judging others) the point of departure is always himself. Aki magasra hág, nagyot esik. He who climbs high, has a great fall. "The higher standing the lower fall." "The higher you climb, the harder you fall." Vakulj magyar! Be blind Hungarian! (Something was done to deceive another person.) Olyan messze van tőle, mint Makó Jeruzsálemtől. They are as far apart as Makó (in Hungary) is from Jerusalem. Hol malacot ígérnek, ott zsákkal forgolódjál. Where a pig is offered, go round with a sack. 40 "Where the pig is proffered, hold up the poke." Két malomban őrölnek. They grind in two mills. (They speak of different things.) Valakinek a malmára hajtja a vizet. He drives the water to the mill of somebody else. (By his action — unintentionally — he plays into the hands of somebody.) Két malomkő közt őrlődik. He is ground between two millstones. (He tries to satisfy two incompatible requirements.) "Between hammer and anvil." Úgy él, mint Marci Hevesen. He lives like Marci in Heves. (Ritka változata Kunszentmártonból: Úgy élünk, mint az élősök ebe.) "To live like a lord." (A)Ki sokat markol, keveset fog. He who grasps much, retains but little. "Grasp all, lose all." Meghalt Mátyás király, oda az igazság. King Matthias (ruled between 1458 and 1490 in Hungary) is dead, justice is lost. Ne igyál előre a medve bőrére. Do not drink (i. e. rejoice) in advance on the hide of a bear (still at large). "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched." "To sell the bear’s/lion’s skin before one has caught the bear/lion." A megszokás nagy úr. Habit is the master. (Literally: A high ranking person.) "Custom/Habit is second nature." Vagy megszokik, vagy megszökik. Either he gets accustomed or he escapes. Ami nem megy, nem kell erőltetni. What fails to succeed, should not be forced. Még meg sem fogtad, s már melleszted (kopasztod). You haven’t yet caught the bird, still you are already plucking her. „Ne igyál előre a medve bőrére.” "Do not count your chickens before they are hatched." Bedobták a mélyvízbe. He was thrown into deep water. (After a short training he was immediately given a difficult task.) "To be thrown in at the deep." Menti a menthetőt. He saves that (still) can be saved. Túl szép a menyasszony. The bride is too beautiful. 41 (This news is too good to be true.) "To be too good to be true." Aki mer, az nyer. He who ventures, wins. "Fortune favours the bold/brave." "Nothing venture nothing have/win." Kétszer mérj, egyszer vágj! Measure twice, cut but once. "Score twice before you cut once." Kettős mércével mér. He measures with two (different) standards. (Mást, például a barátait vagy az ellenfeleit másként ítéli meg.) "To use double standards." Kihúzza (valaminek) a méregfogát. To extract the venom-tooth (of sg). "Take the sting out of sg." Mese habbal. A tale with (whipped) cream. "That’s all moonshine." Nincs mese. There is no tale! (There is no room for discussion, this is to be done.) Várja, mint (zsidók) a Messiást. He waits for it, as (the Jews do) for the Messiah. Ki minek nem mestere, hóhéra az annak. He that is not a master of something, is a butcher of it. Ki-ki maga mesterségét folytassa. Every man should practise only his trade. "Every man must walk/labour in his own calling/trade/vocation." Messziről jött ember azt mond, amit akar. A man coming from far away tells us what he wants. "A traveller may lie with authority." Egy csepp mézzel több legyet lehet fogni, mint egy tál ecettel. One can catch more flies with a drop of honey, than with a bucketful of vinegar. Elhúzza előtte (vagy az orra előtt) a mézesmadzagot. He pulls the honeyed string before him (or before his nose). "He holds out a carrot to somebody." Minden mindennel összefügg. Everything is related to everything. Megér egy misét. It is worth a mass. Több is veszett Mohácsnál! More (than that) was lost at Mohács. (Do not worry, this is not a serious loss/trouble.) (The battle of Mohács in 1526 marks the beginning the 150 year occupation of Hungary by 42 the Turks.) Ha a hegy nem megy Mohamedhez, Mohamed megy a hegyhez. If the mountain will not go to Muhammad, Muhammad will go to the mountain. "If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, Muhammad must go to the mountain." Az utolsó mohikán. "The last Mohawk." Egyet mondok, kettő lesz belőle. I tell you one thing, two will result from it. (I have a good idea.) Olyat mondok, hogy magam is megbánom. I’ll say such things that I’ll regret even myself. A mór megtette a kötelességét, a mór mehet. The Moor has done his duty, the Moor may go. Ahogy azt a Móricka elképzeli. As little Maurice imagines it. (The reality is much more complicated.) Amilyen a mosdó, olyan a törülköző. Like wash-basin, like towel. "Tit for tat." Védi a mundér becsületét. He defends the honour of the uniform. (He tries to justify/explain a mistaken/incorrect/unlawful action of somebody in his organization/group.) A munka dicséri mesterét. The work praises its master. "The work commends the master." Ég a keze alatt a munka. Work is burning under his hand. "He works like fury." Elmenne a munka temetésére. He would attend the funeral of labour. (He is utterly reluctant to work.) Hamar munka ritkán jó. A hasty work is seldom good. "Haste makes waste." Jó munkához idő kell. For good work time is needed. "Good and quickly seldom meet." Munka után édes a pihenés. After work rest is sweet. Aki a nád között ül, olyan sípot csinál, amilyet akar. He who is sitting in the reeds, makes a whistle of his choice. Össze kell húzni a nadrágszíjat. One has to tighten the belt. "To tighten one’s belt." Minden nagynak kicsi a kezdete. Anything big is small at the beginning. „From small beginnings come great things.” Nem veri/üti nagydobra. Not to beat sg on a big drum. 43 (Not to make sg public, to intend to conceal sg.) Ahogy a nagykönyvben meg van írva. As it is written in the big book. (A process keeping all the corresponding regulations.) Nincs új a nap alatt. Nothing is new under the sun. "There is nothing new under the sun." Van új a nap alatt. There is (something) new under the sun. Több nap, mint kolbász. There are more days than sausages. (One has to save for the times ahead.) Nyugtával dicsérd a napot. Praise the day (only) at sunset. "Praise a fair day at night." "Don’t halloo/whistle before/till/until you are out of the wood." A négylábú is botlik. Even a quadruped stumbles. Nem enged a negyvennyolcból. He does not yield from the 48. (Originally it referred to the ideas of the 1848 revolution.) Nemakarásnak nyögés a vége. Unwillingness ends in groaning. (Unwillingness must lead to failure.) A könnyű is nehéz a nemakarónak. Even something light is heavy for the unwilling. A nép szava Isten szava. "The voice of the people is the voice of God." Gyáva népnek nincs hazája. Coward people have no homeland. Az nevet igazán/legjobban, aki utoljára nevet. He laughs really/best who laughs last. "He laughs best who laughs last." Közös nevezőre jutnak. To get to a common denominator. (To succeed to agree on the basic principles.) Ahol nincs, ott ne keress! Do not look for something, where it isn’t. Ami nincs, abból nem lehet baj. What does not exist, cannot cause any trouble. (It is better to do nothing.) Aki nyáron nem gyűjt, télen keveset fűt. He who does not collect (wood) in summer, will heat little in winter. (Az ki nyárban nem gyűjt, télben aggebül bánkódik.) "Winter eats (finds out) what summer lays up." Egy fenékkel/seggel két nyerget nem lehet megülni. One cannot sit in two saddles having one arse/bottom only. Az ellőtt nyilat nehéz visszahozni. An arrow once shot is hard to get back. "A word once spoken is past recalling." 44 Gyáva, mint a nyúl. Coward as a rabbit. "As fearful as the hare." Ki két nyulat hajt, egyet se fog. He who hunts two hares, does not catch even one. "If you run after two hares, you will catch neither." Kiugratja a nyulat a bokorból. He makes the hare spring out of the bush. (To make somebody show his true colours.) Még a nyulat meg sem lőtte, a fazekat már a tűzhöz tette. He did not shoot the hare but the pot is already on the fire. Nyulat láttunk, nem lesz szerencsénk. We have seen a hare, we shall have no luck. (A superstition.) Mindennek megvan a maga oka. Everything has its cause. "Every why has a wherefore." "Nothing ever comes to pass without a cause." Más kárán tanul az okos. Wise men learn by others’ harm. "Wise men learn by other men’s harms/mistakes, fools by their own." Az okosabb enged. The wiser gives in. Utólag könnyű okosnak lenni. "It is easy to be wise after the event." Olajat önt a tűzre. He pours oil on the fire. "To add fuel/oil to the fire/flames." Annyian (vagy olyan sokan) vannak, mint az oroszok. They are as many as the Russians. (There are too many of them.) Bemerészkedik az oroszlán barlangjába. To venture into the den of the lion. "To go into the lion’s den." Megmutatja az oroszlánkörmeit. To show one’s lion-nails. (To show one’s talent/ability.) Orránál fogva vezeti. To lead sy by the nose. "To lead one by the nose/ear." Végén csattan az ostor. The whip cracks at the end. (The punishment comes at the end.) "The end tries all." (Se) nem oszt, (se) nem szoroz. This does not divide, nor does it multiply. (To be of no importance.) Fő az óvatosság. Caution is the main (i. e. the most important) 45 thing. "Look before you leap." "You can’t be too careful." Az ökör csak ökör, ha Bécsbe hajtják is. An ox remains an ox even if driven to Vienna. "Send a fool to the market (to France, far), and a fool he will return again." Csak az ökör következetes. Only the ox is consequent. (Occasionally one has to yield.) Könnyű tizenkét ökör után eltolni egy szekeret. It is easy to push a cart drawn by twelve oxen. Ökröt a szarván, embert a szaván lehet megfogni. An ox can be taken by his horn, a man by his word. "An ox is taken by the horns, and a man by the tongue." Szomjas ökörnek a zavaros víz is jó. For a thirsty ox dirty water will do as well. Öndicséret büdös. Self-praise stinks. "Self-praise is no recommendation." "A man’s praise in his own mouth stinks." Öngólt rúg/lő. To score a goal against one’s own side. (To cause damage to oneself.) Az ördög a részletekben van/rejlik. The devil is/hides in the details. "The devil is/lies/lurks in the details." Az ördög nem alszik. The devil does not sleep. (One can’t be too careful.) Az ördög vigyen el! Let the devil take you! Fél tőle, mint ördög a szenteltvíztől/tömjéntől. He is afraid of it, as the devil fears holy water (or incense). Nem olyan fekete az ördög, mint amilyennek festik. "The devil is not so black as he is painted." Veri az ördög a feleségét. The devil is beating his wife. "The devil is not so ill (no worse than) he’s called." (If it rains when the sun is shining, then it is told that...) Ha ördöggel lakol, ördöggé kell lenned. Living with a devil, you have to turn a devil. "One must howl with the wolves." Add az ördögnek a kisujjadat, egészen elkap. Give the devil your little finger, you will be taken entirely. "Give him an inch and he’ll take an ell (a yard)." 46 Az ördögnek is kell olykor gyertyát gyújtani. Sometimes one has to light a candle for the devil too. "One must sometimes light a candle to the devil." Tartozott az ördögnek egy úttal. He owed the devil a journey. (He made a journey in vain.) "A fool’s errand." Jó, csak az ördögök rosszak, hogy el nem viszik. He is good, only the devils are bad, for not carrying him away. Nem jó az ördögöt a falra festeni. It is not good to paint the devil on the wall (as he will appear). Ördögi kör. A diabolic circle. "A vicious circle." Jó az öreg a háznál. It is good to have an old man at home. Öregember nem vén ember. An old man is not a senile man. Nincsen öröm üröm nélkül. There is no joy without sorrow. "No joy without alloy/annoy." Összenő, ami összetartozik. What belongs together, will grow into each other. Öv alatti ütés. A kick under the belt. (An unlawful, irregular move.) "The hit below the belt." Ez benne van a pakliban. This is included in the packet (of cards/cigarettes) (This move/development is to be considered as likely under the given conditions.) "It’s on the cards." Otthagyta, mint Szent Pál az oláhokat. He was left behind like the Wallachians by St. Paul. (He was left behind unexpectedly.) Tudja Pál, mit kaszál. Paul (well) knows what he mows. (Tudja, mit miért csinál.) (He knows what he is up to.) A jó pap holtig tanul. A good priest learns until his death. "It is never too late to learn." A pap se beszél/prédikál kétszer. Not even the priest will speak/preach twice. "One doesn’t boil/cook cabbage twice." Kinek a pap, kinek a papné (, nekem a lánya). One likes the priest, someone else his wife (, I prefer his daughter). Pápább (akar lenni) a pápánál. To intend to be more a Pope than the Pope 47 himself. "More Catholic than the Pope." A papír türelmes. Paper is patient. "Youth and white paper take any impressions." Nem minden/mindig papsajt. It is not all/always mallow. "Life is not all beer and skittles." A hamu/felszín alatt izzik a parázs. The amber glows below the ashes/surface. Ott van, ahol a part szakad. To be there where the bank "breaks". "To be between the devil and the deep sea." Azt hiszi, hogy ő fújja a passzátszelet. He thinks that he blows the trade wind. (Nagyon beképzelt (He is very conceited.) Verekedő pásztorok közt jó dolga van a farkasnak. If the shepherds fight each other, the wolf has a good time. "Wolves rend sheep when the shepherds fail." A saját pecsenyéjét sütögeti. To roast one’s own joint (of meat). (To consider only one’s own interests in an action.) "He has an axe to grind." A jó/rossz példa ragadós. The good/bad example is catching. (It is likely to be followed.) Hosszabb a péntek, mint a szombat. Friday is longer than Saturday. (The underskirt is longer than the skirt.) Kis pénz — kis foci. Little money — little football. (If little money is paid, then only little work can be expected.) Pénz beszél, kutya ugat. Money talks, although the dog may bark. "Money talks." "Money will do anything." "He who pays the piper, calls/(may call) the tune." "Money makes the world go round." Rossz pénz nem vész el. Bad money is never lost. "A bad penny always turns up." Fut a pénze után. To run after one’s money. (To be forced to continue sg, trying to save that can be saved.) A pénznek nincs szaga. Money has no smell. 48 Ismerik, mint a rossz pénzt. He is well known as a bad money. Mindenki a piacról él. Everybody lives from the market. (Everybody needs money.) Úgy került bele, mint Pilátus a krédóba. He got into this affair like Pilate into the Credo (i. e. by mere chance). Le kell nyelni a keserű pirulát. To be compelled to swallow the bitter pill. "To swallow the bitter pill." Adtak a szarnak egy pofont. To give a slap to the shit. (To achieve no result.) Betelt a pohár. The glass became full. (The patience is at an end.) A pokol országútja is jó szándékkal van kikövezve. Even the highway leading to Hell is paved with good intentions. "(The road to) hell is paved with good intentions." Elszabadult a pokol. Hell has been broken loose. "Hell is broke loose." Pokolban is esik egyszer egy ünnep. There is a feast once even in Hell. Felteszi az i-re a pontot. He puts the dot on the i. (He makes the last move in the completion of something.) A pontosság a királyok udvariassága. Punctuality is the politeness of kings. "Punctuality is the politeness of princes." Nagy port vert föl. Much dust was kicked up. (To make sensation.) Próba-szerencse alapon. Based on trial and luck. "By trial and error." A próféta szóljon belőled. I wish a prophet spoke from you. (Bárcsak az történne, amit mondtál.) (I hope that your prophecy will come true.) Senki sem próféta a saját/maga hazájában. Nobody is a prophet in his own country. "A prophet is not without honour save in his own country." Fogadatlan prókátornak (eb)szar a fizetése. A unwanted helper gets (dog’s) droppings as payment. A puding próbája az, hogy megeszik. The proof of the pudding is eating it. "The proof of the pudding (is in the eating)." A puliszka nem robban. The corn-porridge (national dish in Romania) does 49 not explode. (The Romanian do not revolt.) Ez csak púp a hátunkon. This is but a hump on our backs. (We would be pleased to get rid of this.) Ellőtte a puskaporát. One’s gunpowder was shot off. "To exhaust one’s ammunition." Szárazon kell tartani a puskaport. The gunpowder must be kept dry. "(Put your trust in God, and) keep your powder dry." Azért, hogy a rák a vetésre ne menjen. (Válasz, ha valaki valamit nem tud vagy nem akar megokolni.) (This was made) in order that the crab should not walk to the sown field. (An answer if somebody cannot or does not want to give the reason for an action.) Rend a lelke mindennek. Order is the soul of everything. Rendnek muszáj lenni. There must be order. A rest kétszer fárad. A lazy man works twice. A retek reggel méreg, délben étek, este orvosság. Radish is poison in the morning, food at noon and medicine in the evening. Amit nyer a réven, elveszti a vámon. What he gains at the toll, loses at the customs. Alvó róka nem fog nyulat/csirkét. A sleeping fox catches no hare/chicken. "The sleeping fox catches no poultry." Róka fogta csuka (, csuka fogta róka). Varga fogta mind a kettőt. The pike caught by the fox (, the fox caught by the pike). The cobbler caught both of them. Egy rókáról két bőrt nem lehet lehúzni. One cannot strip two hides from one fox. Minden út Rómába vezet. "All roads lead to Rome." Rómában viselkedj úgy, mint a rómaiak. In Rome behave as the Romans do. "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Könnyebb rontani, mint építeni. It is easier to destroy than to build. Két rossz közül a kisebb(ik)et kell választani. Of two evils the smaller is to be chosen. "Of two evils/harms/ills/mischiefs choose the least." Rossz a rosszal, de rosszabb a rossz nélkül. It is bad with the bad (i. e. the wife), but it is worse without the bad. Minden rosszban van valami jó. In anything bad there is something good. "Every cloud has a silver lining." "Ill luck is good for something." 50 Minél rosszabb, annál jobb. The worse it is (in one respect), the better (in another respect). Nincsen rózsa tövis nélkül. "No rose without a thorn." A rövidebbet húzza. To pull the shorter. (To come off badly.) Rájár a rúd. To be visited repeatedly by the rod. (Misfortunes/Mishaps follow one another.) Nem a ruha teszi az embert. Clothes do not make the man. "Clothes do not make the man." "The cowl/habit does not make the monk." Ruha teszi az embert. Clothes make the man. "Apparel/(The tailor) makes the man." "Fair/Fine feathers make (fine birds)/(fair fowls)." Sándor, József, Benedek zsákban hozzák a meleget. Alexander, Joseph and Benedict bring warm weather in bags. (The respective name-days — observed by Catholics and Protestants alike in Hungary, with a few differences — are the 18th, 19th and 21st March.) Megállja a sarat. He stands the mud. "He comes up to mark." (He stands the test.) Felszedi a sátorfáját. He dismounts the tent-poles. (He makes off.) "To pack up bag and baggage." Saulusból Paulus lesz. Saulus turns (to become) Paulus. (To change one’s conviction.) Ha begyógyul is a seb, megmarad a helye. Even if the wound is healed, the scar of it remains. "Though the wound be healed, yet a scar remains." Könnyű sebet ejteni, de nehéz gyógyítani It is easy to inflict a wound, but difficult to heal it. Segget csinál a szájából. To make an arse of one’s mouth. (To fail to honour one’s promise, or to state the contrary of something stated earlier.) A semminél a kevés is többet ér. Even a little is more than nothing. "Something is better than nothing." 51 "Half a loaf is better than no bread." „Half an egg is better than an empty shell.” Nesze semmi, fogd meg jól. Here is nothing, hold it tight. (Somebody was given much less than expected.) Semmi sem tart örökké. Nothing lasts forever. "The world will not last alway." Semmiből nem lesz semmi. Out of nothing there will be nothing. "Nothing comes of/from nothing." Új seprű jól seper. A new broom sweeps well. "New brooms sweep clean." Ez nem lesz sétagalopp. This will not be a „walk-gallop”. (This will not be an easy matter.) Aki siet, elkésik. He that hurries will be late. Simon bíró hajtja a lovat. Headman Simon drives the horse. (The woman rules the house.) Sínen van. To be on the rail. (To be on a safe course.) "It’s in the pipeline." "To be on track." "To be well on the way towards sth." Fél lábbal a sírban van. He has already one foot in the grave. "To have one foot in the grave." Megfordul/Forog a sírjában. He turns/spins in his grave. "To make a person turn in his grave." Sóbálvánnyá változott. He became an idol of salt. "A pillar of salt." Úgy még sohasem volt, hogy valahogy ne lett volna I has never been so, that it wouldn’t have been anyhow. Mehet a sóhivatalba. He may go to the salt-office. (His case will not be heard anywhere.) Ki sokba kap, keveset végez He who begins many things, finishes few. "He who begins many things, finishes but few." A sólyommadárnak nem lesz galamb fia. A falcon will not breed a dove. "Eagles do not breed doves." A sorok között olvas. "He reads between the lines." 52 Kilóg a sorból. He sticks out of the line. "He steps out of the line." Feltalálta/Felfedezte a spanyolviaszt. He has discovered the sealing wax. (He made an invention done by others long ago.) Átveszi/Átadja a stafétabotot. He takes/hands over the baton. (He takes/hands over a job from/to his predecessor/successor.) Suba alatt készül. To be made under a "shepherd’s cloak". (Something made secretly.) Suba subához, guba gubához. Sheepskin coat to sheepskin coat, (shepherd’s) cloth coat to cloth coat. (Marry your equal.) "Marry your equal/like/match." Elveti a sulykot. He throws the beater (once used in washing linen) too far. "He throws the hatchet." Suszter maradjon a kaptafánál! Let the shoemaker remain at his last! "Let the cobbler stick to his last." "Every man must walk/labour in his own calling/trade/vocation." "Let every man stick to his trade." "Every man as his business lies." Süketek párbeszéde folyik. There is a dialogue between deaf people. (Each tells his own views without regard to that of the other.) A szabadság drágább az aranynál. Freedom/Liberty is dearer than gold. A szabály az szabály. The rule is rule. (The rule must be kept in this case.) Nincs szabály kivétel nélkül. There is no rule without exception. "There is no (general) rule without some exception." Akkora a szája, mint a Bécsi kapu. His mouth is as big as the Vienna Gate (in Buda). Ne szólj szám, nem fáj fejem! Don’t speak my mouth, I shall have no headache. "A wise head makes a close mouth." Sok szakács elsózza a levest (az ételt). Many cooks put too much salt in the soup/food. "Too many cooks spoil the broth." Szálka valakinek a szemében. It is a splinter in the eye of somebody. 53 "A thorn in the flesh/side." Adj a tótnak szállást, kiver a házból. Give lodgment to a Slovak and you will be beaten out of your home. A fuldokló ember a szalmaszálhoz is kap. A drowning man catches even at a stalk of straw. "A drowning man will clutch/catch at a straw." "To clutch/grasp at a straw." "Any port in a storm." Egy szalmaszálat sem tesz keresztbe. He does not put crosswise even one stalk of straw. (He is utterly lazy, disinterested in this matter.) Áll, mint szamár a hegyen. He stands there like a donkey on the hill. (He is idle, undecided what to do.) Eltűnt, mint szürke szamár a ködben. He disappeared like a gray donkey in the fog. Nem kell keverni a szart (, mert büdösebb lesz). One should not stir the shit (as it will be even more stinking). "The more you stir it (the turd), the worse it stinks." Csörög a szarka, vendég jön. The magpie rattles, a guest will come. Sokat akar a szarka, de nem bírja a farka. The magpie wants too much, but her tail is unable to carry it. (He overestimates his power/capacity/strength.) Eltalálta szarva közt a tőgyét. He has hit the udder between the horns. (He has made a bad mistake.) Egy szeg miatt sántul meg a ló. Due to a nail the horse becomes lame. "For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost." "To spoil the ship for a ha’porth/ ha’pennyworth of tar." Szeget szeggel. Nail by/with nail. "One nail drives out another." A szegény embert még az ág is húzza. A poor man is pulled even by the branch of a tree. Szegény ember vízzel főz. A poor man cooks with water. Szegénynek a szerencséje is szegény. Even the luck of a poor man is poor. "The poor suffer all the wrong." Két szék közt a pad alá esik. Between two chairs he falls below the bench. "Between two stools one goes/falls to the ground." 54 "To fall between two stools." Akinek a szekerén ülsz, annak a nótáját fújjad. Sing the song of the man whose cart you sit on. "Let every man praise (speak well of) the bridge he goes over." Kifelé áll a szekere rúdja. The pole of his cart is pointing outwards. "He is about to get the sack." Ne fuss olyan szekér után, amelyik nem vesz fel. Do not run after a cart that will no take you. Nincs olyan rakott szekér, melyre még egy villával ne férne. There is no loaded cart which could not carry one more forkful (of hay). Aki szelet vet, vihart arat. He who sows wind, reaps whirlwind. "They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind." Kifogja a szelet a vitorlájából. He takes the wind out of someone’s sails. "To take the wind out of somebody’s sails." Széllel szembeszállni nem lehet. One cannot fight the wind. "Puff/Piss not against the wind." "Who spits against the wind, it falls in his face." Forog, mint a szélkakas. He turns like a weathercock. "Like a weathercock in the wind." Kiengedte/Kiszabadította a palackból a szellemet. He released the spirit from the bottle. Szélmalomharcot vív. He fights windmills. - "To tilt at windmills." "To let the genie out of the bottle." "To fight against the wind." "To beat the air/water /wind." A szem a lélek tükre. The eye is the mirror of the soul. "The eyes are the window of the soul." Több szem többet lát. Several eyes see more. "Two/Four eyes see more than one/two" „Two heads are better than one.” Amit a szeme meglát, a keze nem hagyja ott. What is noticed by his eyes, will not be left there by his hands. Szép a szeme, de ördög a szíve. His eyes are beautiful, but his heart is a devil. Úgy vigyáz rá, mint a szeme fényére/világára. He guards it/him like his eyesight. Más szemében a szálkát is meglátja, a magáéban a gerendát sem. He can see the splinter in another’s eye but cannot see even the beam in his own. "You can see a mote in another’s eye but cannot 55 see a beam in your own." Egyik szemem sír, a másik (meg) nevet. One of my eyes sheds tears, the other one laughs. Szemesnek áll a világ. The world "stands" to those who have eyes. "To the open eyes the world yields anything." Szemet szemért, fogat fogért. "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Kiszúrja valakinek a szemét valamivel. He puts out the eye of somebody with something. (He gives something of much less value than expected/promised.) Többet hiszünk a szemnek, mint a fülnek. More credit is given to the eyes than to the ears. "Seeing is believing." Szemtelen, mint a piaci légy. He is as impertinent as a fly at the market. "As bold as brass." Rendben van a szénája. His hay is in order. (Everything is all right about him.) Megszállta a Szentlélek. He was overpowered by the Holy Ghost. (He became unexpectedly diligent/polite.) "The spirit moves him/her." Minden szentnek maga felé hajlik a keze. The hand of each saint inclines towards himself. "To draw water to one’s mill." "Charity begins at home." Kiteregeti a szennyest. He hangs out the dirty linen (to the public). "To wash one’s dirty linen in public." "One does not wash one’s dirty linen in public." Ez túl szép ahhoz, hogy igaz legyen. This is too nice to be true. "This is too good to be true." A szerelem vak. "Love is blind." Szerecsenmosdatás. Whitewashing of a blackamoor. (A hopeless effort.) "To wash an Ethiop/blackamoor/Moor white." A szerencse forgandó. Luck is turning round. (Luck is changeable.) "Fortune is variant/fickle." Mindenki a maga szerencséjének kovácsa. Everyone is the blacksmith of his own fortune. "Every man is the architect of his own fortune." 56 Jó szerszám, fele munka. Good tool means half the work Összekeveri/Összetéveszti a szezont a fazonnal. To mix up szezon with fazon. Szikrából lesz a tűz. Out of a spark there will be a fire. "He can’t tell chalk from cheese." „A small spark makes a great fire. Új szita szegen függ (, aztán az ágy alá kerül). A new sieve is on a nail (then it gets under the bed). Átlát a szitán. To be able to see through a sieve. (To recognize a deception attempt.) "To see through the holes of the sieve." "To see through somebody’s game." Ami a szívén, az a száján/nyelvén. What is on his heart, that is on his mouth/tongue. "What the heart thinks, the tongue speaks." "To speak one’s mind." Tehet nekem egy szívességet. He can do a favour to me. (He is unable to do any harm to me. Allusion to: „He can lick my arse.”) A szép szó az ellenséget is kibékíti. Nice words appease even the enemy. "A soft answer turneth away wrath." A szó elrepül, az írás megmarad. Word flies, writing remains. ”Words are but wind.” Pusztába kiáltó/kiáltott szó. A word cried in the wasteland. "A voice (crying) in the wilderness." (Mondott) Szóból ért az ember. Only words that have been told can be understood. Száz szónak is egy a vége. Even one hundred words lead to one end. "In brief/short." Szép a szava, de ördög ő maga. His words are nice but he is a devil (his liver is that of a devil). „A honey tongue, a heart of gall.” Egy a szoba a kemencével. The room and the stove are one item. (A férj és a feleség egyaránt felelős közös dolgaikért.) (Man and wife share the same responsibilities.) A szomszéd rétje mindig zöldebb. The neighbour’s meadow is always greener. "The grass is (always) greener on the other side of the fence/hill." 57 Dögöljön meg a szomszéd tehene is. The neighbour’s cow should also perish. (If mine has perished, then...) Jobb a jó szomszéd sok rossz atyafinál. A good neighbour is better than many bad kinsmen. "A near neighbour is better than a far-dwelling kinsman." Kibújik a szög a zsákból. The nail sticks out of the sack. (One’s real intention/purpose comes te the open.) "The cloven foot is shown." Szöget ütött a fejébe. It hit a nail into his head. (It set him thinking.) Savanyú a szőlő. The grape is sour. "The grapes are sour." "That’s just sour grapes." A szőnyeg alá söpri a kérdést/problémát. He sweeps the question/problem under the carpet. "To sweep/brush sth under the carpet/rug." Szőrszálhasogatás. "Hair-splitting." "To cut/split the hair." A szúnyogból is elefántot csinál. He makes an elephant out of a mosquito. "To change a fly into an elephant." "To make a mountain out of a molehill." A szükségből erényt kovácsol/csinál. He forges/makes a virtue of necessity. "To make a virtue of necessity." Ahol nagy a szükség, közel a segítség. Where need is great, help is nearby. "When need is highest, then aid is nighest." Nehéz szülés volt. It was a difficult childbirth. (It was a very difficult to achieve it e. g. in a discussion.) Kitették a szűrét. His (embroidered felt) cloak was put out. "He got the sack." "He was given the elbow." Takaréklángon folyik a munka. The work is done on "low flame". (A slow work.) Addig nyújtózz, ameddig a takaród ér. Stretch yourself as far as your cover reaches. "Stretch your legs according to your coverlet." "Cut your coat according to your cloth." 58 Tál, kanál nem lehet csördületlen. Dish and spoon cannot be without jingling. (It is natural to have some disagreement between man and wife.) Leesett a tantusz. The coin has fallen. (The situation was abruptly realized.) (Tantusz was a special coin once used in telephone boxes.) "The penny drops." Meg kellett fizetni a tanulópénzt. The fee of instruction had to be paid. (Doing sg for the first time involves loss in time, effort and materials.) Lefelé tapos és fölfelé hajlong. He treads downwards [on his subordinates] and bows upwards [before his superiors]. Sötétben minden tehén fekete. All cows are black in the dark. "All cats are gray in the dark/night." Szent tehén. "A sacred cow." A nagy teher is könnyű, ha sokan emelik. Even a heavy burden is light if lifted by many. "Many hands make light work." Teher/Súly alatt nő a pálma The palm grows under a load/weight. (Hardships make one tough.) Korán meglátszik, mely tejből lesz jó túró. It will soon show which milk will yield a good curd. (A child’s character and abilities become evident soon.) Nem fenékig tejföl. It is not all sour cream down to the bottom. (It is not all as good as it seems to be.) "It is not a bed of roses." Szegény, mint a templom egere. "Poor as a church mouse." Mint cseppben a tenger. Like the ocean in a drop. (A small part of something may present the main characteristics of the whole.) A tények makacs dolgok. "Facts are stubborn things." (Úgy) Ismeri, mint a tenyerét. "To know sg as well as the palm (of one’s hand)." Ép testben ép lélek. In a sound body there is a sound soul. Tévedni emberi dolog. To err is a human matter. "To err is human." Ami tiéd, tedd el, a másét ne vedd el. Take what is yours, [but] not that of others Tanulj tinó, ökör lesz belőled. Learn steer, you will turn an ox. 59 (Keep studying hard, so that you may get on in life.) A tisztaság fél egészség. Cleanliness is half-health. Tisztelet a kivételnek. Respect for the exception. (There are exceptions.) Hétpecsétes titok. A secret with seven seals. (A great secret.) "Dead secret." Ebből tizenkettő egy tucat. Twelve of these make one dozen. (This is just the same as the other.) Egyik tizenkilenc, a másik egy híján húsz. One of them is nineteen, the other is one less than twenty. (They are equally bad.) "It’s six of one and half a dozen of the other." "There is nothing/(not much) to choose between them." Ahol tó nincs, béka sincs. Where there is no lake, there is no frog either. Úgy hasonlítanak egymáshoz, mint két tojás. To resemble one another as two eggs. "They are as like as two eggs." "They are as like as two peas (in a pod)." Tokkal, vonóval. Together with case and bow. (With everything belonging to it.) Idegen tollakkal ékeskedik. He boasts with foreign feathers. A nagy tolvaj leszakad, de a kicsi felakad. The great thief escapes (the gallow), the small one hangs. "Little thieves are hanged but great ones escape." Ki a tolvajt védi, maga nagyobb tolvaj. He who defends a thief is himself a bigger thief. Jobb a torkát metszette volna meg a bába, mikor a köldökét metszette meg. The midwife should have cut his throat rather than his navel-string Azt se tudja, tök-e vagy túrós étek. He does not even know whether it is a pumpkin or a curd-cake. „Azt se tudja, eszik-e vagy isszák.” (He has no idea about it.) Olyan, mintha tökre hánynál bojtorjánt. „Borsót hány a falra.” It is like throwing bur on a gourd. Szél a tölgyet ledönti, de a náddal nem bír. The wind fells the oak, but canot cope with the reed. (A vain effort.) "Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm." 60 Bedobta a törölközőt. He threw in the towel. (He gave up the effort.) "To throw in one’s hand." "To throw up the sponge." "To throw in the towel/sponge." A fele se(m) tréfa. Even half of it is no joke. (It must be taken very seriously.) Tréfából is lehet igazat mondani. Truth may be told in a joke too. Eltűnt, mint Tribuszerné. To have diappeared like Mrs. Tribuszer. (She was an organizer of an illegal pyramid scheme, the judge did not detain her after pronouncing a nine-year sentence, so she could go into hiding, and was detained only after more than two years.) A tudás hatalom. "Knowledge is power." Tűkön ül. To sit on needles. "To be on pins and needles Egy (gombos) tűt sem lehetett (volna) leejteni. A stickpin/needle could not be dropped. There was "no room to swing a cat". A türelem rózsát terem. „Patience brings roses.” „All things come to those who wait.” „Everything comes to him who waits.” Két tűz között van. He is between two fires. "Between the devil and the deep (blue) sea." Aki közel van a tűzhöz, az jobban melegszik. He who is close to the fire, will get warm best. A tűzzel nem jó játszani. It is not good to play with the fire. "To play with the fire." Átesett a tűzkeresztségen. To undergo the baptism of fire. (To stand the heavy trial.) Tűzoltó munkát végez. He is doing a fireman’s work. (He is compelled to do something quickly, without proper preparation and consideration.) Amelyik tyúk sokat kotkodácsol, keveset tojik. A hen that cackles much lays only a few eggs. "You cackle often but never lay an egg” Annyit ért hozzá, mint tyúk az ábécéhez. He knows as much about it as a hen does about the alphabet. 61 "He knows as much about it as the man in the moon." Az igazságot a tyúk is kikaparja. Truth is scraped out even by a hen. "Truth will come to light (break out)." Vak tyúk is talál szemet. Even a blind hen can find a grain. "A blind man may sometimes catch/hit the hare/crow/mark." "A fool's bolt may sometimes hit the mark." Nem tart egy tyúkmonysültig (tojássültig). It will not last longer than frying an egg. Ugrás a sötétbe. A jump into the dark. "Leap in the dark." Máma egy ujjal, holnap tíz körömmel. Today (it is enough to do it) by one finger, tomorrow (it will be necessary) by ten nails Az ujjunk sem egyforma. Even our fingers are not equal. Az/Egy újszülöttnek minden vicc új. For a newborn every joke is new. Aki urával pöröl, Isten annak orvosa. God is the doctor of the man who quarrels with his master. (Régen rossz annak, aki feljebbvalójával vitába száll.) Az úr a pokolban is úr. A master is a master in hell as well. Urak kérése parancsolat. A master’s request is a command. Nem jó nagy urakkal egy tálból cseresznyézni. It is not good to eat cherries from the same dish with persons of high rank. "Share not pears with your master, either in jest or in earnest." Nem lehet (Nehéz) két úrnak szolgálni. One cannot (It is difficult to) serve two masters. "No man can (A man cannot) serve two masters." Adj Uramisten, de rögtön! Give me, my Lord, but do it immediately. (An urgent request.) Fel is út, le is út. There is a way upwards and downwards too. (Leave immediately.) Legjobb az egyenes út. The straight (i. e. honest) road is the best. "Honesty is the best policy” Járt utat a járatlanért el ne hagyd! Don’t leave the betrodden way for the untrodden one. "He that leaves the highway to cut short, commonly goes Megjárta a damaszkuszi utat. He has passed the road to Damascus. (He has changed his conviction or allegiance.) 62 Zöld utat kap. He gets green way. "He gets green light." Útilaput kötnek a talpára. A plantain (Plantago) is bound on his sole. (To send sy away.) "To give sy (To get) the push." "To get the boot/sack." "To send sy packing." Aki üvegházban él, ne dobálóddzék kővel He that lives in a house of glass should not throw stones. "People (who live) in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones." Az üzlet az üzlet. "Business is business." Ebül szerzett vagyon ebül vész el. (Változat: Ebül szerzett jószág…) Property gained unlawfully (literally: in a dog’s manner) will be lost in the same way. "Ill/Evil gotten, ill/evil spent/gone." Akinek vaj van a fején, ne menjen a napra. He who has butter on his head, should not go to the sun. "He that has a head of wax must not walk in the sun." A vak is látja/láthatja. (Even) the blind sees (or can see it). Vak vezet világtalant. A blind leads a sightless. "The blind leading the blind." "When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch." A vakok közt félszemű a király. Among the blind the one-eyed is the king. "In the country of the blind the one-eyed is king." Majd csak lesz valahogy. It will be somehow or else. (It will be managed somehow.) Jobb valami, mint semmi. "Something is better than nothing." "Half a loaf is better than no bread." Valamit valamiért. Something for something. "Tit for tat." Hadd morogjon Varga Pál, csak jó sarut varrjon. Let the cobbler Paul grumble, he should only make good sandals. Varga, ne tovább a kaptafánál! Cobbler, do not go beyond the last. "Let the cobbler (The cobbler should) stick to his 63 last Aki varjat akar lőni, nem pengeti íját. He who wants to shoot at a crow, will not pluck his bow. Ezer varjú ellen elég egy kő. Against a thousand crows one stone is enough Láttam én már karón varjút! I have already seen a crow on a pole. (I do not believe this boasting/exaggeration/menace.) Varjú a varjúnak nem vágja ki a szemét. A crow does not pick out the crow’s eye. "Hawks/Crows will not pick out hawks’/crows’ eyes." Addig üsd a vasat, míg meleg. Strike the iron while it is warm. "Strike while the iron is hot." "Make hay while the sun shines." Két/Több vasat tart a tűzbe(n). He keeps two/several irons in the fire. "To have several (too many) irons in the fire." "To have (two/more strings)/(more than one string) to one’s bow." Kettőn áll a vásár. The agreement depends on two persons. "It takes two (words/parties) to make a bargain." A legjobb védekezés a támadás. Attack is the best defence. "Attack is the best form of defence." "The best defence is a good offense." A könnyebb végét fogja a dolognak. He seizes the lighter end of the matter. Nem rejti véka alá a véleményét. He does not hide his opinion under a bushel. "Not to hide one’s light under a bushel." Semmit sem bíz a véletlenre. To confide nothing to chance. "To leave nothing to chance." Ha akarom vemhes, ha akarom, nem vemhes. If I will, it is pregnant, if I will ( not say T), it is not pregnant. (It depends on me whether I decide this or another way.) (I cannot see any good reason for deciding this or that way either.) Akármilyen kedves vendég, három napig untig elég. Even the most welcome guest is more than enough for three days. "Fish and guests stink after three days." Harmadnapi vendégnek ajtó megett a helye. After three days the place of the guest is behind the door (i. e. outside). 64 "Fish and guests stink after three days." Hívatlan vendégnek ajtó mögött helye. The place of an unbidden guest is behind the door. "An unbidden guest knows not where to sit (must bring his stool with him)." A vér nem válik vízzé. Blood will not turn water. "Blood is thicker than water." A verebek (is) csiripelik. (Even) the sparrows chirp it. "A little bird told me." Jobb ma egy veréb, mint holnap egy túzok. Better a sparrow today than a bustard tomorrow. (Bustard — Otis — is a big, now rare bird in Hungary.) "Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow." "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Aki másnak vermet ás, maga esik bele. He who digs a pit for others, falls into it himself. "He who digs a pit for others, falls in himself." Versenyfutás az idővel. "A race against time /(the clock)." Vérszemet kap. To get "blood-eyes". (To become bold/impertinent.) Vert viszen veretlent. A beaten one carries an unbeaten. (The innocent has to suffer for the crime of a wrong-doer.) Megkondítja/Kongatja a vészharangot. To ring the alarm-bell. Ki mint vet, úgy arat. As one sows, so he reaps. "You reap what you sow." "As you sow, so will you reap." Vihar egy pohár vízben. A storm in a glass of water. "A storm in a teacup." "A tempest in a teapot." Kicsi a világ. The world is small. (An unexpected meeting of those living far away.) "It’s a small world." Ettől még nem dől össze a világ. Due to this the world will not collapse. (Ennek nem lesznek komoly következményei.) (There will be no serious consequences.) Ha megcsordul Vince, tele lesz a pince. If Vincent begins to flow, then the cellar will be full. (If the thaw sets in on Vincent day [the 22nd 65 Jan], then there will be much wine in the autumn.) (A)Ki a virágot szereti, rossz ember nem lehet. He that likes flowers cannot be a bad person. Lassú víz partot mos. Slow water washes away the bank. "Still waters run deep." (Nem) Olyan, mint a teknőben ingó víz. He is (not) like water shaking in a wash tub. "He is (not) turning his coat according to the wind." Sok víz lefolyik még addig a Dunán. Much water will flow in the Danube until then. (It is still far away.) Sok víz lefolyt azóta a Dunán. Much water has run in the Danube since then. (It happened long ago.) Nem sok vizet zavar. Not to make much water muddy. (To be of little importance.) Tiszta vizet önt a pohárba. To pour clean water into the glass. (To tell the truth.) Vizet prédikál és bort iszik. He preaches water and drinks wine. "The friar preached against stealing, and had a goose/pudding in his sleeve." A hideg vízre valót sem keresné meg. He could not earn enough to buy even cold water. (If really efficient work were requested, then his work would not earn him cold water.) Aki fél a víztől, nem eszik halat. He that is afraid of water, will not eat fish. A zavarosban halászik. He fishes in troubled waters. To fish in troubled waters." Megtalálta a zsák a foltját The sack has found its patch. (People of the same similar ideas have found each other.) (often derog.) "Every Jack has his Jill." Zsákbamacskát árul/vesz. He sells/buys a cat in a poke. "To buy a pig in a poke." 66