Proverb Examples from around the world

Proverbs Starting with letter W - part 4
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When sheep get angry they are worse than wolves.
When shepherds quarrel, the wolf has a winning game.
When shit is piled up, can only pong or damnify' (Verona).

When silent men speak they speak to the purpose.
When somebody goes to war, he not only beats, but also is beaten.
When someone falls everybody steps on him.
When someone gives you a drop of water reward him with a never ending source.
When someone is already approaching, there is no need to say 'Come here.'.
When someone is going downhill everyone likes to give them a kick.
When someone offends you, you haven't given him enough love.
When something has been denied of you, you can still do it once.
When sorrow is asleep wake it not.
When sorrow is asleep, wake it not.
When spiders unite, they can tie down a lion.
When spiders' webs unite, they can tie up a lion.
When ten thousand soldiers lie rotting, the general's reputation is enhanced.
When the Frenchman sleeps the devil rocks him.
When the Indian ('pejorative', meaning 'a fool') slides / falls on his butt, there is no ravine to escape through.
When the Indian wins, it is a massacre.
When the Nile knows a secret the desert will soon know it too.
When the Spaniard sings he is either stupid or without money.
When the Spaniard sings, he is either mad or has no money.
When the Tsar sins the Empire must do penance.
When the Turk becomes richer he takes another wife.
When the affected lady is doing well she eats her peas with a pin.
When the alms is too large, even a saint will be suspicious.
When the angels appear, the devils run away.
When the angels present themselves, the devils abscond.
When the apple is ripe it will fall.
When the mule is too happy he begins dancing on the ice.
When the mule was invited to the wedding feast he said, 'They need more wood and water.'.
When the axe came to the forest, the trees said: 'The handle is one of us.
When the battle is over you make your appearance.
When the bed breaks, there is the ground to lie on.
When the bee comes to your house, let her have beer; you may want to visit the bee's house some day.
When the bee sucks, it makes honey, when the spider, poison.
When the beer goes in the wits go out.
When the belly is full the mind is amongst the maids.
When the big bells ring, the little bells are not heard.
When the big fish fight the shrimps must lie low.

When the big tree falls, the goat eats its leaves.
When the bigger (greater, older) speaks, the less (younger) quits (speaking).
When the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
When the blind man carries the banner, woe to those who follow.
When the blind man carries the lame man, both go forward.
When the boat reaches mid-stream, it is too late to stop the leak.
When the boss is out, is a holliday at the shop.
When the bush is on fire, the antelope ceases to fear the hunter's bullet.
When the cage is ready the bird is flown.
When the calf is drowned they cover the well.
When the calf is stolen, the peasant mends the stall.
When the cart breaks down, advice abounds.
When the cart rolled over, there are many roads.
When the cat and mouse agree, the grocer is ruined.
When the cat and the mouse agree the farmer doesn't stand a chance.
When the cat and the mouse agree, the grocer is ruined.
When the cat gets too old, the mice are not afraid any more.
When the cat is away from home, the mice dance (on the table).
When the cat is away, the mice will play.
When the cat is away, the rats dance on the table.
When the cat is gone, the mice come out to stretch.
When the cat is missing, the mice dance.
When the cat is not at home the mice dance on the table.
When the cat sleeps, the mice play.
When the cat's away the mice dance.
When the cat's away the mice will play.
When the cat's away the mouse sits on its throne.
When the cat's away the rats dance.
When the cat's away the rats will play.
When the cat's away, it is jubilee with the mice.
When the cat's away, the mice will play.
When the cat's stomach is full, the rat's back is bitter.
When the character of a man is not clear to you, look at his friends.
When the child cuts its teeth, death is on the watch.
When the child falls the mother weeps; when the mother falls the child laughs.
When the child is christened you will have godfathers enough.
When the rooster is drunk, he forgets about the hawk.
When the cook and the steward fall out, we hear who stole the butter.
When the cord is tightest it is nearest snapping.
When the crocodile says that the river crossing is deep you must believe it.
When the crocodiles leave, the caymans come.
When the cup is full, carry it even.
When the curry is tasty, the rice is hard.
When the danger has passed, the saints are soon forgotten.
When the danger is past God is cheated.
When the daughter dies, the son-in-law is dead as well.
When the deal is done, discuss it no more; it is difficult to collect dispersed water.
When the devil finds the door shut he goes away.
When the devil goes to mass he hides his tail.

When the devil grows old he turns himself hermit.
When the devil grows poor he becomes a tax collector.
When the devil is old he turns hermit.
When the devil reigns today God will be master tomorrow.
When the devil says his paternosters he means to cheat you.
When the devil says his prayers he wants to cheat you.
When the dog eats, he doesn't bark, or his food will run away.
When the dog is awake, the shepherd may sleep.
When the dog is down, every one is ready to bite him.
When the dog is down, everyone is ready to bite him.
When the dog is drowning every one brings him water.
When the door is low one must stoop.
When the drink is in, the sense is out.
When the ducks are quacking the frogs take it as a warning.
When the ear does not hear the eye will see better.
When the earth is hot, the worm stays in the ground.
When the elephant is slain all the tribes gather together to eat of it.
When the elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.
When the father has eaten too much salt in his lifetime, then his son thereafter will have a great thirst.
When the fields yield not, the saints have not.
When the figs are ripe all the birds want to eat.
When the flatterer pipes, the devil dances.
When the fool has made up his mind the market is over.
When the fool knows when to be silent, he would be sitting among the wise.
When the fox can't reach the grape, says it's unripe.
When the fox cannot reach the grapes he says they are not ripe.
When the fox licks his paw let the farmer look after his geese.
When the fox preaches to the goose her neck is in danger.
When the fox preaches, look to the geese.
When the fox preaches, look to your geese.
When the fox preaches, take care of yourselves, hens.
When the fox wants to catch geese, he wags his tail.
When the friar's beaten, then comes James.
When the furze is in bloom, my love's in tune.
When the game is most thriving it is time to leave off.
When the giver comes, the gate opens by itself.
When the goat goes to church, he does not stop till he gets to the altar.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
When the goose trusts the fox then woe to her neck.
When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing's out of fashion.
When the government has no ears to listen with, then she has no head for governing.
When the guest is in most favour, he will do well to quit.
When the hand ceases to scatter, the heart ceases to pray.
When the head aches all the limbs ache.
When the head aches, all the members suffer with it.
When the head acheth, all the body is the worse.
When the head does not work, the legs suffer.
When the head is sick the whole body is sick.
When the healthy dog fights with a mad dog, it is the ears of the healthy one that are bitten off.

When the heart acts the body is its slave.
When the heart is at ease, the body is healthy.
When the heart is full the tongue will speak.
When the heat has passed, you forget about the shade of trees.
When the heat has past, you forget about the shade tree.
When the helm is gone the ship will soon be wrecked.
When the hen had laid an egg she cackles.
When the horse dies, dismount.
When the husband earns well the wife spins well.
When the husband earns well, the wife spends well.
When the husband is a hen and the wife is a rooster, the house is topsy-turvy.
When the hyena drinks, the dog can only look on.
When the hyena is gone, the dog begins to bark.
When the iron is hot, then is the time to strike.
When the jest is at its best, 'twill be well to let it rest.
When the judge's mule dies, everyone goes to the funeral; when the judge himself dies, no one does.
When the king reigns it is thanks to the people; when a river sings it's thanks to the stones.
When the kitchenmaids are together the roast burns.
When the lamps in the house are lit it is like the flowering of lotus on the lake.
When the last tree has been cut down, the last river has been polluted and the last fish has been caught -- only then do you realize that money can't buy everything:.
When the leopard is away, his cubs are eaten.
When the light is crooked, the shadow is crooked.
When the lion is dead the hares jump upon his carcase.
When the liquor was gone the fun was gone.
When the man is away, the monkey eats his corn and goes into his hut.
When the manger is empty the horses fight.
When the mantis hunts the locust, he forgets the shrike that's hunting him.
When the master has a cold the servants sneeze.
When the master hurts his foot the servants limp.
When the master is absent, the frogs hop into the house.
When the master is away, the frogs hop in.
When the master of the house tells a lie, then offer him a chair.
When the measure is full, it runs over.
When the mice laugh at the cat, there is a hole nearby.
When the miller is also the mayor, there are two thieves in one pair of trousers.
When the millers are making an uproar, do you tie up your sacks.
When the monkey can't reach the ripe banana with his hand, he says it is not sweet.
When the moon is full, it begins to wane.
When the moon is not full, the stars shine more brightly.
When the moon is shining the cripple becomes hungry for a walk.
When the mother dies the father becomes an uncle.
When the mouse has had enough the meal is bitter.
When the mouse has had its fill, the meal turns bitter.
When the mouse is full, the flour tastes bitter.
When the mouse laughs at the cat there is a hole nearby.
When the mouse laughs at the cat, there is a hole nearby.
When the mouse laughs at the cat, there's a hole nearby.
When the mouth stumbles, it is worse than when the foot does.
When the music changes, so does the dance.

When the old dog barks, he gives counsel.
When the ox falls, there are many that will help to kill him.
When the ox just stumbles, they all sharpen their knives.
When the pain has passed one forgets the medicine.
When the pear is ripe, it falls.
When the pig has had a bellyful it upsets the trough.
When the pirate prays, there is great danger.
When the poor man is buried, the large bell of the parish is silent.
When the poor man sets a trap only his dog gets caught.
When the pot boils over it cooleth itself.
When the prior plays cards, what will the monks do?.
When the rabbit has escaped, comes advice.
When the rain falls in the valley, the hill gets angry.
When the river makes noise, (is because) it's carrying water.
When the rooks are silent the swans begin to sing.
When the root is worthless, so is the tree.
When the sack is full it pricks up its ears.
When the sack is full, it pricks up its ears.
When the sad woman started to be happy, she could not.
When the sculptor is dead his statues ask him for a soul.
When the sea hits the rock it's the clam that gets scr*w*d.
When the sea is calm, every ship has a good captain.
When the sea turned into honey, the beggar lost his spoon.
When the sea turned into honey, the poor man lost his spoon.
When the shepherd strays, the sheep stray.
When the ship has sunk everyone knows how she might have been saved.
When the sky falls down, the earth shall melt.
When the sky falls we'll all catch larks.
When the snake is in the house, one need not discuss the matter at length.
When the snake is old, the frog will tease him.
When the soul hungers, even bitter things taste sweet.
When the sow is satisfied she throws the trough away.
When the spleen increases, the body diminishes.
When the steed is stolen, you shut the stable door.
When the steersmen are many the ship will sink.
When the stomach is full the heart is glad.
When the sun is highest it casts the least shadow.
When the sun rises, it rises for everyone.
When the sun shines on thee, thou needest not care for the moon.
When the sword of rebellion is drawn, the sheath should be thrown away.
When the tale of bricks is doubled, then comes Moses.
When the thief has stolen from a thief, God laughs in heaven.
When the tide of misfortune moves over you, even jelly will break your teeth.
When the tiger kills, the jackal profits.
When the time comes for you to live, there aren't enough years.
When the time comes, even a rat becomes a tiger.
When the tree dies, the grass underneath withers.
When the tree falls every one runs to cut boughs.
When the tree falls every one runs to gather sticks.
When the tree falls everyone runs to cut the branches.
When the tree falls, any child can climb it.
When the tree falls, the shadow flies.
When the tree is down everybody runs to the branches.
When the tree is down, everyone runs to it with a hatchet to cut wood.
When the tree is fallen every one runs to it with his axe.
When the tree is fallen, every one goeth to it with his hatchet.
When the tree waves, wind is stirring.
When the vine entwines your roof, it is time to cut it down.
When the waggon is tilting everybody gives it a shove.
When the war is over then comes help.
When the water falls the stone becomes visible.

When the water level decreases, the ice will crack.
When the white man wins, it is a battle.

These are Proverb Examples from around the world, some have been translated from their original language to english.


Full list:
A  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  B  2  3  4  C  2  D  2  3  E  2  3  4  F  2  3  G  2  H  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  I  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  J  K  L  2  M  2  3  N  2  3  4  O  2  3  4  P  2  Q  R  S  2  3  T  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  16  17  18  19  20  U  V  W  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  Y  2  Z