Lithuanian proverbs

Lithuanian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Lithuania.

D

• Dievas davė dantis, Dievas duos ir duonos.
  • Translation: God gave teeth, God will provide the bread.
  • English equivalent: Each day brings it own bread.
  • Meaning: Try not to worry so much about the future.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 757. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Drumstame vandeny bepigu žuvauti.
  • Translation: It is good fishing in streamy water.
  • English equivalent: It is good fishing in troubled waters.
  • Meaning: "In taking advantage of chaotic conditions one can easily serve one's own purposes."
  • Source for proverbs and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 391. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

G

• Gera pradžia — pusė darbo.'
  • English equivalent: Well begun, is half done.
  • Meaning: Starting properly ensures the speedy completion of a process. A – beginning is often blocked by one or more obstacles (potential barriers) the removal of which may ensure the smooth course of the process.
  • Source for meaning and proverbs: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 228. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

K

• Kaip šauksi, taip atsilieps.
  • English equivalent: "Just as one calls into the forest, so it echoes back."
  • Meaning: Do not expect friendly reply when being obnoxious.
  • Meaning: Bad language may have other causes than innate bad character.
  • Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kaip senieji giedojo, taip jaunieji dainuoja.
  • Translation: What kind of parents, such children.
  • Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 138. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Kam niežti, tas kasos.
  • English equivalent: If the shoe fits, wear it.
  • "Ipse dixit."
  • "He himself has said it."
  • Quoted by Cicero, De Nat. Deorum., I. 5, 10 as the unreasoning answer given by Pythagoras (Transformations) (8 A.D) IV, 428.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 998. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Kas nedirba, tas nevalgo.
  • Translation: He who does not want to work, that cannot eat either.
  • English equivalent: He that will not work, shall not eat.
  • Meaning: Without due effort one is not entitled to the fruits of the work.
  • Source for proverb and meaning: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 256. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Katė glostoma kuprą kelia.
  • Translation: Cat patting leads to hump raising.
  • English equivalent: The more you stroke the cat's tail, the more he raises his back.
  • Meaning: Displaying too much affection or desperation repels your friends and love interests.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1184. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Koks tėvas, toks ir sūnus.
  • Translation: Such father, such son.
  • English equivalent: Like father, like son.
  • Meaning: Sons may look and behave like their fathers. This is due to inheritance and the example observed closely and daily.
  • Source for meaning and proverb: Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 137. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

L

• Lašas po lašo ir akmenį pratašo.
  • English equivalent: Constant dropping wears the stone.
  • "A drop hollows out the stone by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a person made wise by reading not two, but many books."
  • (Giordano Bruno, Il Candelaio)
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502. 

• Liga raita atjoja, pėščia išeina.
  • English equivalent: "Misfortune comes on horseback and goes away on foot.”
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 65. ISBN 0415096243. 

M

• Meška girioje, o skūrą jau rėžia.
  • English equivalent: Don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 641. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Mieruok tris kartus, kirpk vieną kartą.
  • English equivalent: Measure thrice, cut once.
  • "One should always act only after due consideration. A hasty action may involve an improper consideration of important aspects."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

N

• Ne viskas auksas, kas auksu žėri.
  • English equivalent: All that glimmers is not gold.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 89. ISBN 0415160502. 

O

• Obuolys nuo obels netoli krenta.
  • English equivalent: The apple does not fall far from the tree.
  • "Children observe daily and — in their behaviour — often follow the example of their parents."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 259. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

S

• Sena meilė nerūdija.
  • Translation: An old love does not rust.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 825. ISBN 0415096243. 

• Šiaučius be batụ, kriaučius be apsiausto.
  • Translation: The shoemaker is always barefooted.
  • English equivalent: The shoemaker goes barefoot.
  • "Working hard for others one may neglect one's own needs or the needs of those closest to him."
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "7". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 65. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

• Svetimi dūmai akis graužia.
  • English equivalent: Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.
  • Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 754. ISBN 0415096243. 

T

• Tylėjimas - sutikimas.
  • "Those who do not reply to a request or accusation, or who raise no objection to something said or done, are assumed to have acquiesced."
  • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 244. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. 
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). "94". European proverbs: in 55 languages, with equivalents in Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese. Veszprémi Nyomda. p. 430. ISBN 1-875943-44-7. 

V

• Varna varnui akies nekirs.
  • English equivalent: Crows do not pick out crows' eyes.
  • Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 0415160502. 

Ž

• Žuvis žuvį (gaudo ir) ryja.
  • English equivalent: Men are like fish; the great ones devour the small.
  • "Small organizations or insignificant people tend to be swallowed up or destroyed by those that are greater and more powerful."
  • Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 1 July 2013. 
  • Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 420. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.