French proverbs

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Bouche de miel, coeur de fiel. Show translation Mouth of honey, heart of gall. A honey tongue, a heart of gall.
Un bon avis vaut un oeil dans la main. Show translation A good opinion is worth an eye in the hand.
Il vaut mieux plier que rompre. Show translation It's better to bend than to break. Better bend than break.
Les corbeaux entre eux ne se crévent pas les yeux. Show translation Crows don't make eyes at each other. Hawks will not pick out hawks' eyes.
Le soleil brille partout. Show translation The sun shines everywhere. The sun shines everywhere.
Être et paraître sont deux. Show translation Being and appearing are two. Fair without, false within.
Regardez-y a deux fois. Show translation Take a second look. Look before you leap.
Un moineau dans la main vaut mieux qu'une grue qui vole. Show translation A sparrow in the hand is better than a crane in the air. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Chien en vie vaut mieux que lion mort. Show translation A living dog is better than a dead lion. A living dog is better than a dead lion.
La rouille ronge le fer, et les chagrins le coeur. Show translation Rust corrodes the iron, and sorrow the heart. Rust eats up iron.
Ne choisit pas qui emprunte. Show translation Don't choose who borrows. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
Qui bête va à Rome, tel en retourne. Show translation The beast goes to Rome, the beast returns. Send a fool to France, and a fool he'll come back.
La barbe n'amène pas toujours la sagesse. Show translation Beards don't always bring wisdom. A grey head is often placed on green shoulders.
Une conscience pure est un bon oreiller. Show translation A pure conscience is a good pillow. A good conscience is a soft pillow.
Le trompeur trompé. Show translation The deceived deceiver. The biter bit.
A chemin battu, il ne croît point d'herbe. Show translation No grass grows on a beaten track. Grass grows not upon the highway.
Quand la cornemuse est pleine on en chante mieux. Show translation When the bagpipes are full, they sing better. Mills will not grind if you give them not water.
Avare pour le son, prodigue pour la farine. Show translation Stingy with bran, lavish with flour. Penny Wise and pound foolish.
Nécessité est mère d'invention. Show translation Necessity is the mother of invention. Necessity is the mother of invention.
Une once de vanité gâte un quintal de mérite. Show translation An ounce of vanity spoils a quintal of merit. A man's praise in his own mouth stinks.

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French proverbs