8530 To be a fish out of water....

What's the book called Ghianda?

An interesting Tuscan proverb:

[B][I]"Meglio padron d'una castagna che garzon d'una montagna"[/I][/B]
Literally: (It is) better to be the owner of a chestnut than the (servant) boy in a mountain.

But the equivalent proverb in English would be: It is better to reign in hell than to serve in heaven.....:winki:

Sorry, i forgot to say the book of proverbs is called

[B]"You can't get blood out of a turnip" [/B]by Christopher Arnander
isbn 1-905299-06-0

If you have trouble sourcing it, i use an excellent book-finder in the UK [url=http://www.fountainheadbooks.co.uk]Fountainhead Books. Used Books, First Edition, Antiquarian, Rare Books, Out of Print Books[/url]

and remember "La superbia ando a cavallo e torno a piedi" (pride goes on horseback, but returns on foot)......the higher you fly the harder you fall!

Chris
[url=http://www.olivopiegato.com]Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - L'Olivo Piegato, The Crooked Olive[/url]

[B]Meglio un culo gelato no un gelato nel culo!![/B]

I won't translate into english as it sounds really stupid.

I think I've got the literal translation - but what would be an equivalent English proverb???

I doubt there's a direct equivilent ... my Italian's very basic but it seems to me to be mainly a play on words rather than a proper proverb. Maybe something like "better a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy" would come close in English?

[quote=Ghianda;80059]Sorry, i forgot to say the book of proverbs is called

[B]"You can't get blood out of a turnip" [/B]by Christopher Arnander
isbn 1-905299-06-0

If you have trouble sourcing it, i use an excellent book-finder in the UK [url=http://www.fountainheadbooks.co.uk]Fountainhead Books. Used Books, First Edition, Antiquarian, Rare Books, Out of Print Books[/url]

and remember "La superbia ando a cavallo e torno a piedi" (pride goes on horseback, but returns on foot)......the higher you fly the harder you fall!

Chris
[url=http://www.olivopiegato.com]Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - L'Olivo Piegato, The Crooked Olive[/url][/quote]

Thanks - they didn't have it so I googled "Christopher Arnander" and "turnip" and found it on this site! [url=http://www.stacey-international.co.uk/v1/index1.asp]Stacey International Publishers[/url]

You're right Pigro, it is more a play on words rather than an actual proverb - I cheated.:winki:

Quando il diavolo to accarezza, vuole l'anima.

When the devil caresses you, he wants your soul.

I parenti sono come le scarpe strette, piu sono strette e piu fanno male.

Relatives are like tight shoes, the tighter they are, the more they hurt.

I debiti sono come i figli, piu grandi sono e piu guai ti danno

Debts are like children, the more they grow, the more trouble they give you.

Il diavolo fa l'insalata con tre cose: con la lingua dell'avvocato, con le dita del notaio e con il sudore di chi lavora.
The devil makes a salad with three things: the lawyers tongue, the Notaios fingers and the sweat of those who work.
(Any lawyers or Notaios reading the above....It isn't my proverb)

Le donne sono come le radici, sono quasi sempre amari.
Women are like roots, they're almost always bitter.
(I don't agree with that one)

La campana e come la donna: quando la tocchi suona
A bell is like a woman: when you hit it, it rings.

Cammina sempre dietro agli uomini vecchi anche se vanno piano
Always (follow) walk behind old men even if they walk slowly.
(bear in mind these are very old proverbs)

Come mi suoni, cosi ti canto
How you play me is how I sing for you

[B][I]"Un farabutto tu lo trovi dappertutto"[/I][/B]
You find a crook everywhere.

Another Tuscan gem....

And yt another Tuscan proverb I like a lot:

[B][I]"Meglio perdillo che tro'allo"[/I][/B]

Better lost than found:yes:

here's another topical one...

[B]Portare le immondizie a Napoli[/B] .... to take rubbish to Napoli .... carrying coals to Newcastle

Actually I just made that one up.

Chris
[url=http://www.olivopiegato.com]Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - L'Olivo Piegato, The Crooked Olive[/url]

[B]L'acqua corre al mare.[/B]

Water runs to the sea meaning that the rich grow richer. It's certainly true around these parts!

Just to say sorry about posting a similar thread a few days ago. I have only just found this one.