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.


 * 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:

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:

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.


 * Kaip senieji giedojo, taip jaunieji dainuoja.
 * Translation: What kind of parents, such children.
 * Meaning: Children will become like older generations.
 * Source:


 * 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.


 * 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:


 * 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.


 * 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:

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)


 * Liga raita atjoja, pėščia išeina.
 * English equivalent: "Misfortune comes on horseback and goes away on foot.”

M

 * Meška girioje, o skūrą jau rėžia.
 * English equivalent: Don't sell the skin till you have caught the bear.


 * 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."

N

 * Ne viskas auksas, kas auksu žėri.
 * English equivalent: All that glimmers is not gold.
 * Source:

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."

S

 * Sena meilė nerūdija.
 * Translation: An old love does not rust.


 * 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."


 * Svetimi dūmai akis graužia.
 * English equivalent: Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.

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."

V

 * Varna varnui akies nekirs.
 * English equivalent: Crows do not pick out crows' eyes.
 * Source:

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."

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