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Author
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Topic: Idioms in English and India - Proverbs
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friday_on_my_mind
Posts: 17
From:
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:16 AM
  
This is where you can discuss the different proverbs listed on the link below and find any similarities, differences etc.http://www.geocities.com/sunitra_in/prov.html Copy the proverb, say whether it is Hindi or Australian, then paraphrase it. [This message has been edited by cecilia (edited 16 October 2001).] IP: Logged |
friday_on_my_mind
Posts: 17
From:
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:21 AM
A thief is a thief, whether he steals a diamond or a cucumber.
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(This is one of India's proverbs)
I believe this means that whatever the crime you have comitted, it is bad. Just because you only stole some lipgloss -or cucumber- does not mean you are not as bad as the person who stole a car -or a diamond- all crimes are bad.For editing:
committed Well explained, Friday omm...
Now have a look at the Australian list and see if you can add here the connected Australian proverb and explain the difference. [This message has been edited by cecilia (edited 16 October 2001).] IP: Logged |
Ella Pickle
Posts: 19
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Registered: May 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:31 AM
What is play to one is death to another
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I think that this means that one persons idea of fun or play is not the same to another person. People have different values and different ideas.Yes, you understand Ella P... or, as we say in Australia, "One man's meat is another man's poison" or "To each his own." Please edit: one person's idea. [This message has been edited by cecilia (edited 16 October 2001).] IP: Logged |
teshi2001
Posts: 6
From:
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:40 AM
One who cannot dance blames the floor.I think this means that if someone cannot accomplish something they blame whatever is stopping them. Like if someone cannot drive a car they blame it on the car, not themselves.
teshi2001
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Jewel
Posts: 8
From:
Registered: Jun 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:41 AM
One who cannot dance blames the floor.
I take this proverb to mean there are some people, who when they know they are not as good as others, must have it so it's not their fault.IP: Logged |
deva
Posts: 11
From: tasmania
Registered: Oct 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:42 AM
"Half a loaf is better than none."
I think this means that if you have something that may not be what you would have liked or could have had more of it is better than having nothing. You could be worse off and may not have anything at all. It also means that you shouldn't complain about what you have because there is always someone else worse off. IP: Logged |
Ella Pickle
Posts: 19
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Registered: May 2001
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posted 16 October 2001 11:43 AM
One who can not dance blames the floor.
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I think this means that some who can not do something blames something or someone else that's falt it is not. For the floor is not some thing that can be blamed for how can it be the floors fault. A floor can not dance. If you can not do something look in the mirror not though it.IP: Logged |
Kerni
Posts: 47
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 02 October 2002 09:54 AM
There are some more proverbs at http://www.geocities.com/fiqabil/indian.html If you live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile. This is a proverb from India. I think this means that you should become one with your environment and accept what comes with it. IP: Logged |
Kerni
Posts: 47
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 10:57 AM
HowdyThe Hindi proverb "One who cannot dance blames the floor? is like the Australian proverb, "A bad workman blames his tools." The proverb means that one who cannot do something or do it well will blame anything but himself. Kerni IP: Logged |
*Chloe*
Posts: 47
From: Newtown, Tasmania, Australia
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 10:58 AM
One who cannot dance blames the floor. The Australian Proverb that I relate this to is:A bad worker blames his tools.
These both mean the same, and mean that someone that cannot do something blames it on something else to hide their embarrasment/shame.
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Kerni
Posts: 47
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:06 AM
He who will not climb will not fall - is a Hindi proverb as is "No one was ever lost on a straight road."
I think they mean that if you don't take risks nothing can backfire. But the proverb fails to mention that if you don't take the risks you can't reap the rewards.  [This message has been edited by Kerni (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
Snucums
Posts: 15
From: Tas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:06 AM
I think that the proverbs " Don't bargain for your fish which are still in the water." Is very similar to " Don't count your chickens before they are hatched." Because they both have the same kind of meaning.
Thanks
Snucums  IP: Logged |
Kelly Belly
Posts: 4
From: Australia
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:07 AM
I think that the hindi proverb " One who cannot dance blames the floor " is like the australian proverb " If a bad worker cannot work he blames his tools " . They are the same in a way that if you cannot do something , you seem to blame what /who you are working with .[This message has been edited by Kelly Belly (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
Fudge
Posts: 65
From: Tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:07 AM
'Call on God, but row away from the rocks.'
'God helps those who help themselves.'
I think that these two proverbs have the same message. If you help yourself then God has helped you, there are different ways of writing that saying but they mean the same thing.
fudge IP: Logged |
Eb88
Posts: 19
From: hobart
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:08 AM
Hindi Proverb-Don't bargain for fish which are still in the water. Australian proverb-Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. These proverbs are linked because they have the same meaning. Just because the fish is swimming doesn't mean that you have caught it.
cya IP: Logged |
starry_angel_13
Posts: 27
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:08 AM
'One who cannot dance blames the floor', this is the hindi proverb meaning the same as 'a bad worker blames his tools', because the person blames something else instead of himself.IP: Logged |
jellybaby
Posts: 36
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:09 AM
I think the Indian proverb
'Don't bargain for fish which are still in the water' is basically the same as the Australian proverb
'Dont count your chickens before they hatch'
They both mean don't get excited about something that you think is going to happen but hasn't yet because it might not happen.
Don't assume things are okay when they might not be.
Thankyou
From jellybabyIP: Logged |
cloudangel
Posts: 22
From:
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:09 AM
There are two proverbs that I think are the same in their meanings and they are:
One who cannot dance blames the floor and the other one is:
A bad worker blames his tools.I think these are the same in meanings because, they both mean whoever is bad at what they do they always blame the tools that they are working on or with,
but I am not sure. Does anyone know if that is correct.
Bye, Cloudangel IP: Logged |
boof
Posts: 36
From: hobart, tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:10 AM
this is a proverb from India
TO LOSE IS TO LEARNi think that it means you can learn fom your losses and your mistakes.
like, yeah, i think that is what it means  [This message has been edited by boof (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
Snucums
Posts: 15
From: Tas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:11 AM
Hey,
Snucums also thinks that "One who can not dance blames it on the dance floor." Has the same kind of bottom line as " A bad worker blames his tools.
Thanks
Snucums IP: Logged |
Kerni
Posts: 47
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:13 AM
"The cobra will bite you whether you call it cobra or Mr. Cobra." is a Hindi proverb.I think it means that a person (or object) will always be the nature that it is. It is sort of like the Australian proverb "You can't teach an old dog new tricks" They both sort of mean, you can't change the nature of something. Kerni IP: Logged |
Pepper
Posts: 34
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:13 AM
The Hindi Proverb "Don't bargain for fish that are still in the water" is simmilair to "Don't count your chickens until they have hatched".
I think it means to not to get too excited about something until its out of the water,out of the egg. ie. Danger has passed.
Don't buy or sell something that you or the seller don't yet have.
Don't think you have won the compitition until the last competitor has competed,ect.IP: Logged |
starry_angel_13
Posts: 27
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:13 AM
'To lose is to learn' is the Hindi proverb, I think it means that you learn from your mistakes.[This message has been edited by starry_angel_13 (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
Noodle Oodle
Posts: 33
From: Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:14 AM
The Hindi proverb Don't bargain for fish which are still in the water. I link this proverb with the Australian proverb:
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched. I think the link with these two proverbs is that they both mean the same. You can't have anything until it is made, caught, hatched etc. You can't judge something before you've seen it. Another proverb that could be related to these two is You can't judge a book by its cover. IP: Logged |
sunline
Posts: 13
From: Hobart
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:14 AM
Can your hands do what your tongue does
I think the Australian proverb is
Don't blow your own trumpet
I think this is because, some times business people try to do more than what they can actully do e.g. when a person goes into business with a person some times there mouth says more then what they can actully produce. [This message has been edited by sunline (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
Fudge
Posts: 65
From: Tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:15 AM
'Don't bargain for fish which are still in the water.'
'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.'
I think that these two proverbs may have similar meanings. I think that they mean
you haven't actually got the chickens because not all of the eggs may hatch, and you haven't got anyfish because you haven't caught any.
Fudge[This message has been edited by Fudge (edited 03 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
cloudangel
Posts: 22
From:
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:17 AM
I think the proverb,
If you live in the river you should make friends with the crocodile means,
That wherever you live you should make friends with people or animal no matter who or what they are.
Cloudangel
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starry_angel_13
Posts: 27
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:18 AM
'He who will not climb will not fall'is the Hindi proverb which means that if you do not try to succeed you will not get any better but you will not get any worse.IP: Logged |
boof
Posts: 36
From: hobart, tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:19 AM
This proverb is from India:
MAN IS HIS OWN DEVILi think that it means man is in charge of himself and that he is his own devil.
inside every person there is a devil. IP: Logged |
Fudge
Posts: 65
From: Tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:23 AM
'One who cannot dance blames the floor.'
'A bad worker blames his tool.'
i think that these proverbs mean the same thing. I think that they mean is you cannot blame the floor if you cannot dance and you cannot blame the tool if you cannot work, it is only you to blame if you cannot do things.
Fudge
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bananagurl
Posts: 1
From: Tas
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:23 AM
don't bet on things
wait until it happens then
say that it did worked
i think that these things are very imtoant because things that u think that might happens don't
bananagurlIP: Logged |
boof
Posts: 36
From: hobart, tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:23 AM
This proverb is from Australia:
GOD HELPS THOSE WHO HELP THEM SELVESI think that it mean God will help you if you help yourself, God ain't gonna do every thing for you. IP: Logged |
67m+m
Posts: 48
From: hobart,tasmania,australia
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:26 AM
Kelly Belly, I agree with you-One who cannot dance, blames the dance floor, is very similar to a man who cannot work, blames his tools.
When something doesn't go a persons way, very often the person will blame something or someone else.
That is why they are similar.[This message has been edited by 67m+m (edited 03 October 2002).] [This message has been edited by cecilia (edited 04 October 2002).] IP: Logged |
cloudangel
Posts: 22
From:
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:28 AM
I think that the proverb,
God gives food to every bird, but does not throw it into the nest means,
That there are things every meant for you but its not given to you, you have to find it yourself.
Cloudangel IP: Logged |
Bubble Gum
Posts: 6
From: Tas
Registered: Aug 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:28 AM
One who cannot dance blames the floor.
it like an australian proverb A bad worker blames his tools.
I think that it means that the person cannot dance and the worker can not work so they blame something else.IP: Logged |
Awsomechick
Posts: 6
From: Australia
Registered: Oct 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:29 AM
(ONE WHO CANNOT DANCE BLAMES THE FLOOR.)
(A BAD WORKMAN BLAMES HHIS TOOLS)I think these two proverbs mean the same
and what i mean by that is if something doesnt go right then they blame someone else  IP: Logged |
boof
Posts: 36
From: hobart, tasmania
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:29 AM
this is an Australian proverb:
HALF A LOAF IS BETTER THAN NONEi think that this means be happy with what you've got, even if it ain't as much as what others have. IP: Logged |
starry_angel_13
Posts: 27
From: Tasmania
Registered: Mar 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:30 AM
'God gives food to every bird, but does not throw it into the nest'is the Hidi proverb that means there is something for everyone but you will have to find it.'The eyes do not see what the mind does not want'this is the Hindi proverb that means that you only see what you want to see. 'Half a loaf is better than none' is the Australian proverb that means you have something it may not be what you want and it might be smaller than you expect but its better than nothing at all. 'Blood is thicker than water' this is the Australian proverb that means that you should go with your familys decision not anyone elses decision, I think. 'Don't count your chickens before they're hatched'is the Australian proverb that means that don't count something before you get it because it might not be what you expect. IP: Logged |
glowing star
Posts: 18
From: Tassie
Registered: May 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:32 AM
I think the Indian proverb is
'One who cannot dance blames the floor' Relates to the Australian proverb 'A bad worker blames his tools'.
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**Roxy**
Posts: 4
From: Hobart,Tasmania, Australia
Registered: Sep 2002
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posted 03 October 2002 11:34 AM
Hello,
"WHAT IS PLAY TO ONE, IS DEATH TO ANOTHER"I think that this hindi proverb means that people have different ideas of what is fun and what is danger.
In some situations something is perfectly safe to one and dangerous to another.
Love
**Roxy** IP: Logged |
