Paczolay Gyula 750 magyar k(cid:246)zmondÆs 750 Hungarian proverbs 1991. A 1. Aki á-t mond, mondjon bé-t is. He that says a, should also say b. 2. Ha adnak, vedd el, ha (cid:252)tnek, szaladj el. If something is given to you then take it, if you are beaten, then run away. 3. Jobb adni, mint kapni. It is better to give than to receive. 4. KØtszer ad, aki gyorsan ad. He gives twice who gives quickly. 5. Amilyen az adjonisten, olyan a fogadjisten. Like greeting, on arrival, like answer. 6. HÆtrÆbb az agarakkal! Backwards with the greyhounds. (cid:145)Be more modest!(cid:146) 7. Ki mint veti ÆgyÆt, œgy alussza ÆlmÆt. As one makes his bed, so he sleeps his dream. 8. `gyœval lő verebekre. He shoots at sparrows with a high calibre gun. 9. AjÆndØk l(cid:243)nak ne nØzd a fogÆt. Do not look at the tooth of a gift horse. 10. Ajt(cid:243)stul ront be a hÆzba. He rushes into the house together with the door. (cid:145)He tells/does something to somebody without announcement.(cid:146) 11. Ha kidobjÆk az ajt(cid:243)n, bemegy az ablakon. If he is thrown out through the door, he enters through the window. 12. Nem amint akarnÆnk, hanem amint lehet. One should act as he may, not as he would like to. 13. Csak akasztÆsra val(cid:243) istrÆngot sem Ørdemelne. He would not deserve even the rope for hanging. 14. Kinek akaszt(cid:243)fa helye, nem hal a DunÆba. (A bűn(cid:246)st elØri mØlt(cid:243) b(cid:252)ntetØse.) He whose place is on the gallows, will not die in the Danube. 15. Akasztott ember hÆzÆban k(cid:246)telet emleget. He names a rope in the house of a man that was hanged. 16. Alkalom sz(cid:252)li a tolvajt. Opportunity bears the thief. 17. Felkavarta az Æll(cid:243)vizet. - K(cid:246)vet dobott az Æll(cid:243)v(cid:237)zbe. He has stirred up (or threw a stone into) still water. (cid:145)He brought motion in a quiet life.(cid:146) 18. Nem esik messze az alma a fÆjÆt(cid:243)l. The apple does not fall far from its tree. 19. Nem vagyunk angyalok. We are not angels. 20. Amilyen az anya, olyan a leÆnya. Like mother, like daughter. 21. NØzd meg az anyjÆt, vedd el a lÆnyÆt. Have a close look at the mother and then marry her daughter. 22. `r ellen nehØz œszni. It is difficult to swim against the stream. 23. Aki nem tud arabusul, ne beszØljen arabusul. He who cannot speak Arabic, should not speak Arabic. (cid:145)He who has no knowledge/understanding of something, should not engage in (or interfere with) it.(cid:146) 24. Az arany a sÆrban is arany. Gold is gold even in the mud. 25. Hallgatni arany (beszØlni ez(cid:252)st). To be silent is golden (to speak is silver). 26. Nem mind arany, ami fØnylik. All is not gold that glitters. 27. Ki korÆn kel, aranyat lel. He who gets up early finds gold. 28. Nem fog aranyon a rozsda. Rust cannot do any harm to gold. (cid:145)A man of character is resistant to temptation.(cid:146) 29. Aranykulcs minden ajt(cid:243)ba beillik. A golden key fits every door. 30. Nem mindig az arat, aki vet. Not always that reaps who sows. 31. Ez nem az Øn asztalom. This is not my table. (cid:145)This is not my duty/responsibility/concern.(cid:146) (cid:147)A refusal of doing/dealing with something.(cid:148) 32. HÆrom asszony (egy lœd, kØt asszony), egØsz vÆsÆr. Three women (A goose and two women) make a whole fair. 33. J(cid:243) asszony a hÆznak koronÆja. A good wife is the crown of the house. 34. SerØny asszonynak rest a lÆnya, rest asszonynak serØny a lÆnya. A busy women has a lazy daughter, a lazy women has a busy daughter. 35. Higgy az asszonynØpnek, mint az Æprilisi időjÆrÆsnak. Believe in women as in the weather in April. 36. K(cid:246)nnyű az asztag alatt/mellett kalÆszt szedni. It is easy to collect ears of corn under/beside a stack. B 37. Nem jÆtszunk (cid:132)add vissza a babaruhÆt.(cid:148) We do not play (cid:146)Return the dolls clothes’. ‘I do not agree to cancel a promise/agreement or to return a present given by him.(cid:146) 38. Sok bÆba k(cid:246)zt elvØsz a gyerek. Among many midwives the child is lost. 39. Nem babra megy a jÆtØk. The stake of the play is not beans. (cid:145)It is a serious matter.(cid:146) 40. A bagoly is b(cid:237)r(cid:243) barlangjÆban. Even an owl is a judge in her cave. 41. Bagoly mondja verØbnek, hogy nagyfejű. The owl tells the sparrow that her head is big. 42. A baj nem jÆr egyed(cid:252)l. Trouble does not come alone. 43. Mindenkinek megvan a maga baja. Everyone his own trouble. 44. Ugyanazon bakot nyœzza. (A rØgi n(cid:243)tÆt fœjja.) He is flaying the same bock. (He sings the same old song.) 45. Mindenkit Ørhet baleset. Accidents may happen to anyone. 46. Elcsœszott egy banÆnhØjon. He has slipped on a banana-peel. (cid:145)By making a small error his secret/illegal activity came into the open.(cid:146) 47. KØső bÆnat ebgondolat. A late repentance is a dogs idea. (After death the doctor.) 48. BarÆtot szerencse hoz, sz(cid:252)ksØg pr(cid:243)bÆl. Luck brings friends, need tries them. 49. Mondd meg, ki a barÆtod megmondom ki vagy. Tell me who your friend is, I(cid:146)ll tell you who you are. 50. Nem mind barÆtod, aki rÆd mosolyog. All are not your friends who smile at you. 51. InÆba szÆllt a bÆtorsÆga. His courage sank to his sinews. (cid:145)He got frightened.(cid:146) 52. BÆtrakØ a szerencse. Luck belongs to the brave. 53. A bØka feneke alatt van. It is below the bottom of a frog. (cid:145)It is of inferior quality.(cid:146) 54. Lenyeli a bØkÆt. He swallows the frog. (cid:145)He swallows the bitter pill.(cid:146) 55. Hagyj bØkØt mÆsnak, magadra viselj gondot. Leave others in peace, care for yourself. 56. Jobb a bØkessØg. Peace is better. (cid:145)It is better to refrain from quarrels/contradictions or raising/forcing an argument.(cid:146) 57. Kapkod, mint BernÆt a mennykőh(cid:246)z. Like Barnard, he tries to catch the (cid:146)heaven(cid:146)s stone(cid:146) (i. e. the lightning). He acts in confusion, inconsistently. 58. Nyert benne, mint Bert(cid:243)k a cs(cid:237)kban. (Mindent elvesztett.) He succeeded like Bert(cid:243)k with the loach. (cid:145)He lost everything.(cid:146) 59. Sok beszØdnek sok az alja. In much talk there is much (cid:147)bottom(cid:148) (i. e. inferior matter). 60. A betyÆrb(cid:243)l lesz a legjobb pandœr. The former highwayman men are the best gendarmes. 61. Belet(cid:246)rt a bicskÆja. His (pocket)-knife was broken in it. (cid:146)He tried but failed in a achieving something.(cid:146) 62. Kiny(cid:237)lik a bicska a zsebemben. The (pocket)-knife opens in my pocket. (cid:145)Something has caused anger/despair but one was compelled to stand idly by.(cid:146) 63. Aki b(cid:237)rja, marja. He who is strongest/ablest can devour it. (cid:145)The strongest/ablest wins.(cid:146) 64. Sorba megy, mint a falusi b(cid:237)r(cid:243)sÆg. It is taken by turns like village headmanship. 65. Ki hol b(cid:237)zik, ott h(cid:237)zik. Where one trusts, there he gets fat. 66. MagyarÆzza a bizony(cid:237)tvÆnyÆt. He explains away his report. (cid:145)He tries hard to explain or justify his action or behaviour.(cid:146) 67. SzegØnysØgi bizony(cid:237)tvÆnyt Æll(cid:237)t ki magÆr(cid:243)l. He issues a certificate of poverty of himself. (cid:145)He proves his incapacity.(cid:146) 68. Bocskorbőr az orcÆja. (Vastag bőr van a kØpØn.) There is thick sandal leather on his face. (cid:145)He is bluntly shameless.(cid:146) 69. MÆst beszØl, mint Bod(cid:243)nØ, mikor a bor ÆrÆt kØrik. Like Mrs Bod(cid:243) he talks about something else when asked to pay for the wine. (cid:145)Side-stepping an issue.(cid:146) 70. Bolond lyukb(cid:243)l bolond szØl fœj. Out of a foolish hole a foolish wind blows. (cid:145)A fool can tell only foolish things.(cid:146) 71. Bolond (cid:252)tk(cid:246)zik kØtszer egy kőbe. A fool stumbles twice at the same stone. 72. Bolondnak kedvez/jÆr a szerencse. Fortune favours the fool. 73. Egy bolond beledobja a kœtba a k(cid:246)vet, szÆz okos se veszi ki. A fool may throw a stone into a well which a hundred wise cannot take out. 74. Egy bolond szÆzat csinÆl. One fool makes a hundred. 75. Bor be, Øsz ki. Wine in, sense out. 76. J(cid:243) bornak nem kell cØgØr. Good wine needs no signboard/bush. 77. BÆmul, mint borjœ az œj kapura. He stares at the new gate as a calf. (cid:145)He merely looks at something without taking action.(cid:146) 78. BorotvaØlen tÆncol. He dances on a razor-edge. (cid:145)He tries to face danger from two/more sides.(cid:146) 79. Kicsi a bors, de erős. Pepper is small but strong. 80. Borsot t(cid:246)r valakinek az orra alÆ. He crushes pepper under the nose of somebody. (cid:145)He annoys/irritates somebody.(cid:146) 81. Falra hÆnyt bors(cid:243). It is like peas thrown against the wall. (cid:145)A vain effort.(cid:146) 82. (cid:218)gy illik (cid:246)ssze, mint bot a tegezbe. They match as a stick in a quiver. 83. Minden botnak a vØgØn a feje. (NyugtÆval dicsØrd a napot.) The (cid:147)head(cid:148) of each stick is at its end. (Praise a fair day at night.) 84. Aki bottal k(cid:246)sz(cid:246)n, annak doronggal felelnek. He who greets with a stick, will be answered with a club. 85. Bottal (cid:252)thetik a nyomÆt. His footprints can be beaten with a stick. (cid:145)He managed to escape.(cid:146) 86. Senki sem tud kibœjni a sajÆt bőrØből. Nobody can slip out of his own skin. (cid:145)Nobody can abandon easily his customs/ideas.(cid:146) 87. Mindenki a maga bőrØt viszi a vÆsÆrra. Every one carries his own skin to the market (i.e. acts at his own risk). 88. El van maradva egy brosœrÆval. He is one pamphlet behind the others. (cid:145)He still thinks/speaks/acts according to the previous guidelines.(cid:146) 89. Nem egy nap alatt Øp(cid:252)lt Buda vÆra. The castle of Buda was not built in one day. 90. Egyszer volt BudÆn kutyavÆsÆr. These was a dog-market in Buda only once. (cid:145)This favourable opportunity was a one-time occasion only.(cid:146) 91. FelfelØ bukott. He stumbled upwards. (cid:145)After failing in a job he was moved to higher position.(cid:146) C 92. A cØl szentes(cid:237)ti az eszk(cid:246)zt. The purpose consecrates the means. 93. Minden cigÆny a maga lovÆt dicsØri. Every gypsy prises his own horse. 94. Nem szokta a cigÆny a szÆntÆst. The gypsy is not accustomed to ploughing. (cid:145)He is compelled to do something, he was previously reluctant to do.(cid:146) 95. MØg ha cigÆnygyerekek potyognak/esnek is az Øgből. Even if gypsy children are dropped from the sky. (Come hell or high water.) 96. CsÆky szalmÆjÆnak tekinti. He considers it as straw of the landowner CsÆky. (cid:145)An expression of negligence instead of due care.(cid:146) 97. CsalÆnba nem (cid:252)t a mØnkű/mennykő. The sky(cid:146)s stone does not strike the nettle. (Weeds don(cid:146)t spoil.) 98. Add meg a csÆszÆrnak, ami a csÆszÆrØ, Øs az Istennek, ami az IstenØ. Give the emperor what is the emperor(cid:146)s and God what is God(cid:146)s. (cid:145)Give everyone his due.(cid:146) 99. ElÆstÆk a csatabÆrdot. They have buried the hatchet. 100. Sok csepp k(cid:246)vet vÆj. Many drops hollow the stone. 101. CserØp, zsindely van a hÆztetőn/hÆzon. (Fiatal/gyerek van jelen, ill. (cid:132)a falnak is f(cid:252)le van.(cid:148)) There is a tile on the roof. (Walls have ears.) 102. CserØptÆlhoz fakanÆl. To an earthenware dish a wooden spoon. (cid:145)Marry your match.(cid:146) 103. LehazudnÆ a csillagokat az Øgről. He would even lie, there is no star in the sky. (cid:145)He is ready to deny even the most obvious truths.(cid:146) 104. Ha nem csinÆlok semmit, abb(cid:243)l nem lehet baj. If we do nothing (without being ordered to do) no trouble will result from it. 105. A sÆros csizmÆmat sem t(cid:246)r(cid:246)lnØm hozzÆ. I would not wipe my muddy boots in him. (cid:145)An expression of utter despise.(cid:146) 106. Hogy ker(cid:252)l a csizma az asztalra? How could the boots get on the table? (cid:145)What has that got to do with it?(cid:146) (cid:145)An expression of indignant surprise.(cid:146) 107. Minden csoda hÆrom napig tart. Every wonder lasts three days. 108. Ez mÆr lerÆgott csont. This is already a gnawed bone. (cid:145)A matter already discussed several times.(cid:146) 109. KØsőn j(cid:246)vőnek csont az ebØdje. He who comes late gets bones for lunch. 110. Ha nem csordul/csurran, cseppen. If it does not trickle, it will drop. (cid:145)Even if it is less than expected, still there will be something.(cid:146) 111. Cs(cid:246)b(cid:246)rből v(cid:246)d(cid:246)rbe. He got out of the bucket and got into the pail. (Out of the frying into the fire.) 112. Kicsiny csupor hamar felforr. A little pot quickly boils. D 113. DarÆzsfØszekbe nyœl. He puts his hand into a wasp(cid:146)s nest. 114. Elk(cid:246)ltenØ a DÆrius kincsØt is. He would spend even the treasures of Darius. 115. Te sem vagy jobb a DeÆknØ vÆsznÆnÆl. Even you are not better than the linen of Deak(cid:146)s wife. (cid:145)You are as bad as the others.(cid:146) 116. J(cid:246)n mØg kutyÆra dØr. The hoar-frost is still to come for the dog. (cid:145)Be sure your sins will find you out!(cid:146) 117. HÆrom napig d(cid:237)nomdÆnom, holtig val(cid:243) szÆnom bÆnom. A three day long merry-making and regret lasting till death. (cid:145)A hasty marriage.(cid:146) 118. A di(cid:243) t(cid:246)rve, az asszony verve j(cid:243). A nut is good if broken, a woman if beaten. 119. Hallgat, mint a s(cid:252)ket diszn(cid:243) a bœzÆban. He keeps silent, like a deaf pig in the wheat-field. 120. (cid:201)hes diszn(cid:243) makkal Ælmodik. A hungry pig dreams of acorns. 121. Okos diszn(cid:243) mØly gy(cid:246)keret rÆnt. A clever pig extracts a deep root. (cid:145)A clever man achieves remarkable feats.(cid:146) 122. Diszn(cid:243)ra gy(cid:246)mbØrt ne vesztegess. Do not waste your ginger on pigs. 123. Nem erőszak a diszn(cid:243)tor. Nobody is forced to attend the dinner given after killing a pig. (cid:145)You are free to refrain from accepting an offer I consider favourable to/for you.(cid:146) 124. Dobbal nem lehet verebet fogni. Sparrows cannot be caught by beating a drum. 125. Aki dolgozik, az nem Ør rÆ pØnzt keresni. He who works has no time to earn money. (cid:145)If a job is hard and little paid, then one cannot earn additionally in a second job.(cid:146) 126. Aki nem dolgozik, ne is egyØk. He that does not work, shall not eat either. 127. Dr(cid:243)ton rÆngat valakit. To pull somebody by a wire. (To pull the strings.) 128. KØt dudÆs egy csÆrdÆban nem fØr meg. Two pipers cannot get on in one tavern.