Job Discussion Forums

khmerhit · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 12:53 am Post subject:

Johnslat cited HL Mencken

Wolf · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 1245 Location: Middle Earth

In China, my students have already been taught proverbs. The thing is, in my opinion, they tend to overuse them in their writing. I understand it's exciting to use turns of phrase in another langauge, but the frequency which my students use them doesn't quite seem natural.

khmerhit · Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2004 3:51 am Post subject:

Cambodians likewise. Puh-leaze. Rolling Eyes

"The snake is more patient than the freaking stork, that kind of thing." VERY commonly used, from the Prime Minister on down. Workin class commie wisdom, and all that.

arioch36 · Joined: 21 Jan 2003 Posts: 3589

senor boogie woogie · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:04 am Post subject: Birds and bushes.

Hola!

What does "A bird in hand is worth more than two in a bush?"

Senor

johnslat · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 4:32 am Post subject: Poles apart

Dear senor boogie woogie,
Hola yourself, but no way am I touching that one - not with a ten foot Pole. Not even with a twelve foot Lithuanian.
Regards,
John

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

Dear John,
I wouldn't touch that one with your 12 foot pole either.

Capergirl · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:20 am Post subject: Re: Birds and bushes.

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

OK, I'll bite.

It means if you have something definite in the present. Take it. don't gamble and think things might get better if you hold on.
I'll leave the 'double entendre' answer to Sid

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown

The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Two heads are better than one.

Smile

Shaman

Will. · Joined: 02 May 2003 Posts: 783 Location: London Uk

A problem shared........................

Is a problem for two people

khmerhit · Posted: Fri Mar 12, 2004 10:25 pm Post subject:

Better than a poke in the eye with a blunt stick.

Colder than the balls on a brass monkey.

Full of piss and vinegar.

(These are common Scouserisms, I believe; -- passed down in my family.)

salmon · Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 32

Referring to the Like father, like son and The apple doesn't fall far from the tree , don't forget A chip off the old block, or translated from the Irish Breeding breaks out in the eyes of the cat or as my father used to say, perhaps alluding more to the physical attributes of a person " It's the breeding of the beast" Personally I speak in 'proverbs' all the time; maybe it's an Irish thing. All the best

leeroy · Joined: 30 Jan 2003 Posts: 777 Location: London UK

I honestly can't remember the last time I used a proverb, in real life or in class. A similar realisation dawned on me yesterday while I was teaching idioms;

"You look like death warmed up!"
"You're dicing with death!"
"He was at death's door..."

I don't remember having used any of these in a real life context. Ever. (OK, I'm sure I have once or twice...). Maybe I am indeed part of the illiterate MTV generation - but proverbs and many idioms seem a little too traditional to me, perhaps even pretentious.

Shaman · Joined: 06 Apr 2003 Posts: 446 Location: Hammertown