French proverbs

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Mieux vaut tenir que courir. Show translation It's better to hold on than to run. Have is have.
On revient toujours à ses premières amours. Show translation We always come back to our first love. Old love will not be forgotten.
Ils s'entendent comme larrons en foire. Show translation They're as thick as thieves. There is honour among thieves.
Un coup de langue est pire qu'un coup de lance. Show translation A lick is worse than a spear. The tongue is not steel yet it cuts.
A Rome comme à Rome. Show translation In Rome as in Rome. When at Rome do as the Romans do.
Une main lave l'autre. Show translation One hand washes the other. One hand washes the Other.
Nécessité n'a point de loi. Show translation Necessity has no law. Poverty is the mother of crime.
Quand le soleil est couché il y a bien des bêtes à l'ombre. Show translation When the sun goes down, there are plenty of animals in the shade. The world is full of fools.
Celui qui ne travaille pas poulain à coup sûr travaillera „rossin". Show translation Anyone who doesn't work as a foal is sure to work as a "rossin". They must hunger in frost that will not work in heat.
La répétition est la mère des études. Show translation Repetition is the mother of all studies. Practice makes perfect.
On apprend à ses dépens. Show translation You learn the hard way. It is easy to be Wise after the event.
Les bons maîtres font les bons valets. Show translation Good masters make good jacks. The house shows the owner.
Petite pluie abat grand vent. Show translation Little rain, big wind. A soft answer turneth away wrath.
Les amis sont rares dans le besoin. Show translation Friends are rare in need. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Le chat parti, les souris dansent. Show translation With the cat gone, the mice dance. A servant is known by his master's absence.
Morte la bête, mort le venin. Show translation Dead beast, dead venom. Dead dogs bite not.
Ce qu'on apprend au berceau dure jusqu'au tombeau. Show translation What you learn in the cradle lasts until the grave. The cask savours of the first fill.
Il n'est si bon cheval qui ne bronche. Show translation There's no horse that won't stumble. A horse may stumble that has four legs.
Où la guêpe a passé, le moucheron demeure. Show translation Where the wasp has gone, the gnat remains. Little thieves are hanged, but great ones escape.
Tout ce qui reluit n'est pas or. Not everything that glitters is gold. All that glitters is not gold.

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French proverbs