Grazie a tutti for the interesting responses to my blog ‘Una Mela al Giorno’
I asked you to help me out by finding English equivalents for five common Italian sayings or proverbs. Here below are those that I consider to be the closest in meaning:
| Proverb | Meaning |
| chi fa per sè fa per tre | ‘who does for themselves does for three’ meaning: Sometimes it’s easier or better to do a job on your own. English equivalents: 1. If you want a job doing properly, do it yourself 2. Too many cooks spoil the broth |
| il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi | ‘the devil makes the pans but not the lids’ meaning: the truth will come out in the end. English equivalents: 1. Everything comes out in the wash 2.The truth will always out 3. If you make your bed, you have to lie in it |
| tra il dire e il fare c’è di mezzo il mare | ‘between the saying and the doing there is the sea in the middle’ meaning: it’s much easier to say something than it is to do it. English equivalents: 1. Easier said than done 2. It’s easier to talk the talk than to walk the walk 3. Words are cheap |
| il lupo perde il pelo ma non il vizio | ‘the wolf looses its pelt but not its vice’ i.e. meaning: the external appearance may change, but not what’s inside. English equivalents: 1. Old wine in new bottles 2. A snake may lose its skin, but it’s still a snake inside 3. The leopard cannot change his spots |
| la gallina che canta ha fatto l’uovo | ‘the chicken that sings laid the egg’ meaning: the person who begins to make a fuss about something is probably the culprit. English equivalent: She doth protest too much, methinks |
Here are a few more detti (sayings) suggested by readers:
| Detto | English equivalent |
| campa cavallo che l’erba cresce | when pigs have wings |
| o mangi questa minestra o salti dalla finestra | beggars can’t be choosers |
| ogni morte di papa | once in a blue moon |
| come il diavolo e l’acqua santa | like oil and water |
