French proverbs

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Où le diable ne peut aller, sa mère tâche d'y mander. Show translation Where the devil can't go, his mother tries to go.
Une pomme gâtée en gâte cent. Show translation One spoiled apple spoils a hundred. The rotten apple injures its neighbours.
Pour ventre plein il n'y a plus de ragoût. Show translation There's no stew for a full belly. To a full belly all meat is bad.
On ne peut prendre de tels chats sans mitaines. Show translation You can't take cats like that without mittens. Keep your eyes open.
Veux-tu des oeufs, souffre le caquetage des poules. Show translation If you want eggs, suffer the cackling of the hens. He that would have eggs must endure the cackling of hens.
Tel bat les buissons qui n'a pas les oisillons. Show translation The one who beats the bushes doesn't get the chicks. A toiling dog comes halting home.
C'est avec des cents qu'on fait des piastres. Show translation Pennies make piasters. Penny and penny laid up will be many.
Beauté de femme n'enrichit homme. Show translation A woman's beauty doesn't make a man rich.
Il est mon oncle, qui le ventre me comble. Show translation He's my uncle, whose belly fills me up. He loves me well that makes my belly swell.
Il y a fort loin de la coupe aux lèvres. Show translation It's a long way from the cup to the lips. Between promising and performing a man may marry his daughter.
On se heurte toujours où l'on a mal. Show translation You always hit where it hurts. Losers are always in the wrong.
De jeune angelot, vieux diable. Show translation From young angel to old devil. All are good lasses, but whence come the bad wives?
Plus vieux, plus sot. Show translation Older, dumber. The head grey, and no brains yet.
Il n'y a pas deux messes pour un sourd. Show translation There are no two masses for the deaf. Must I tell you a tale and find your ears too?
Le poisson commence toujours à sentir par la tête. Show translation Fish always start smelling from the head. Fish begins to Stink at the head.
Où il n'y a rien, le roi perd son droit. Show translation Where there is nothing, the king loses his right. Where nothing is the king must lose his right.
Il n'y a si vaillant qui ne trouve son maître. Show translation There's no one so valiant that he can't find his master. He's met his match.
A méchant chien court lien. Show translation A bad dog short link. The mad dog bites his master.
Les morveux veulent moucher les autres. Show translation Brats want to blow other brats' noses. No garden is without its weeds.
Il s'agit de toi, si la maison de ton voisin brûle. Show translation It's all about you if your neighbor's house burns down. Look after number one.

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French proverbs