Sayings in Spanish represent the linguistic heritage of all that we use on a daily basis.
Sayings are phrases that contain great popular wisdom . They have been used since ancient times, and there is no doubt that they can be very useful. Sometimes they are able to accurately explain situations that have already been experienced in the past by other people.
This article collects a large selection of these short and popular sayings, including their meaning. These are widely used phrases, and can be relevant to different circumstances.
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Best short sayings of great popularity and what they mean
Every day millions of people use proverbs to express themselves . They are not always infallible when it comes to describing all the possibilities of life, but they are generally very good at expressing certain ideas in a few words.
Below are the most popular short proverbs in Spanish and their meaning. What they mean is well known to most, but sometimes there are some easy questions to resolve.
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1. Think wrong and you will be right.
Sometimes you tend to misthink certain situations, but suspicion can lead much closer to the truth than paranoia.
2. The one who gets up early, God helps him.
This short saying is religious and very popular. To get results in life you have to make certain sacrifices.
3. An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.
Today it is a proverb, but this phrase was part of the Law of Talion and the Bible, and it considers the proportionate revenge lawful.
4. All that glitters is not gold.
This is a very popular short saying whose meaning is that not everything is what it seems.
5. Throw the stone and hide the hand.
A saying that refers to people who claim to be innocent despite having done something reprehensible.
6. In the variety is the taste.
What this saying comes to say is that always doing the same thing can be very monotonous.
7. Barking dog, little biter.
This saying is dedicated to those who try to prove something with speech but do not do so with facts.
8. He who does not cry does not suck.
A short saying that means that you have to fight and not settle to get what you want.
9. Where the captain rules, the sailor does not rule.
This phrase is used to remember a hierarchy and who has the power of decision in a group.
10. Who sings, his evil frightens.
A short and popular saying that means that you have to face fears with daring and joy.
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11. Faith moves mountains.
It is popularly known that a person can go very far by following his beliefs.
12. In a blacksmith’s house, a wooden spoon.
Ideal to designate those situations in which someone does not dedicate their professional skills to the needs of the home.
13. Raise crows and they’ll gouge out your eyes.
A saying not without humor that refers to how ungrateful and self-centered children can be.
14. A gift horse do not look at the teeth.
There are those who object even when they give him things. This saying goes to say that you cannot pretend to demand in this type of situation.
15. Weed never dies.
The difficulties in getting rid of those who do not do things well is expressed through this saying, although it is often used humorously.
16. Full belly, happy heart.
Sometimes happiness should not be sought much beyond the small (or great) pleasures of life.
17. There is no evil that lasts a hundred years.
In life, surely the greatest constant is change, both for better and for worse.
18. Like wood, like wood.
This saying is commonly used to express how similar parents and children can be (beyond the physical).
19. The one that covers a lot little squeezes.
There is no doubt that you cannot do everything in this life, and there are those who cannot focus on something because they attend to too many things.
20. He who is silent grants.
A phrase that warns that whoever uses silence as a response does not express any objection, which in practice means giving consent.
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21. Time heals everything, except old age and madness.
A phrase that comes to say that everything has a solution in life except these two things.
22. Light things and thick chocolate.
Just as really good chocolate has to be thick, things said should be as unambiguous as possible.
23. The bulls look better from the sidelines.
A popular short saying used to explain that things are easier when seen from a distance.
24. From saying to doing there is a long way.
The meaning of this saying is that there can be a lot of difference from what is said to what is done.
25. Who makes the law, cheats.
A saying that describes the situation in which someone with power circumvents the rules that everyone must follow.
26. Do well and do not look at who.
We must always act favorably for everyone without distinction.
27. Eyes that do not see heart that does not feel.
A short and popular saying applicable to a wide variety of situations. It means that to feel something you have to see it and have it close.
28. What does not kill makes you fat.
This is a well-known popular short saying, and it describes an attitude in life based on action.
29. To foolish words, deaf ears.
We must not let words spoken from ignorance can hurt us.
30. He who laughs last, laughs best.
This saying is used when someone celebrates something in a bad way without being sure that something is not going to change.
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31. Music tames the beasts.
Sometimes it is opportune to bear in mind that music has the ability to give peace of mind.
32. To bread, bread, and to wine, wine.
This short and popular saying means that things must be said clearly and by name.
33. The devil knows more because he is old, than because he is a devil.
This popular saying comes to say that experience is a degree, and that in certain situations something can be known thanks to it and not by being a specialist.
34. He who has a mouth is wrong.
It is human to give opinions and make mistakes, so you have to keep in mind that this can always happen to anyone.
35. In the absence of bread, cakes are good.
You have to be conformist in certain situations, because despite not having what you wanted, you really have to be practical.
36. What is promised is debt.
This saying claims that when you give your word about something you have to be consistent with it.
37. To bad weather, good face.
The attitude should never be lost. Against adversity there is nothing better than the good predisposition to overcome them.
38. It is better to be alone than in bad company.
A very popular short saying whose meaning leaves no room for doubt.
39. The thief believes that everyone is of his condition.
Some people think that everyone behaves in a reprehensible way, which in turn tends to be used as a justification.
40. Wherever you go, do what you see.
This saying comes to say that you have to respect the people of the place where you are and act according to their customs.
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41. When the river sounds, water carries.
The idea of this saying is that when there is a certain rumor mill around something, it is very likely that there is part of it.
42. There is no worse blind than the one who does not want to see.
A saying that implies that those people who do not want to know anything about a subject are capable of ignoring it completely.
43. Although the monkey dresses in silk, the monkey stays.
There is no way to change the essence of a person, despite efforts to hide their nature.
44. To a good listener, few words are enough.
It is not always necessary to explain something very explicitly if the listener is someone who knows how to represent things well.
45. The fish dies through the mouth.
This saying means that you have to be careful and watch what you say, since it is possible to screw up irremediably.
46. Tell me who you hang out with and I’ll tell you who you are.
A popular saying in the Spanish language that comes to say that the identity of each one is defined by the people with whom they are.
47. A bird in the hand is better than hundreds flying.
The idea behind this saying is that you have to be conservative and have something to risk and lose everything.
48. Ass I see, ass I want.
This saying talks about desire and whims, and how easy it is to want what you don’t have.
49. Better late than never.
Some unpunctual people joke with this saying, but what it comes to say is that settling for something that is late is not so bad either.
50. From the fallen tree everyone makes firewood.
A saying that indicates the tendency of people to criticize someone when things are not going well, being the easy target of everyone.
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51. To cry, to the valley.
A saying that indicates that we do not want to listen to complaints or regrets.
52. Greed breaks the sack.
When we are too greedy, we are likely to end up losing. Being too ambitious often leads to obsession.
53. The one who follows it gets it.
Who is willing to fight for something usually achieves his goal.
54. They paid just for sinners.
This saying indicates that, in a conflict situation, those who ended up losing or being sanctioned were those who were not to blame for anything.
55. Love is paid with love.
We must always give the same as what we receive, in quality and quantity.
56. Whoever sows winds, reaps storms.
If someone is spreading hate and negative comments, life may throw the negativity back at them.
57. Evil of many, consolation of fools.
If there are many people affected by something, usually the comfort they receive is quite personal.
58. Water that you should not drink, let it run.
If you are not going to take advantage of something, better not use it.
59. Breed comes to the greyhound.
Similar to “like wood, like chip.”
60. The dog died, the rabies is over.
It means that we have eliminated the root cause of a problem, even if that leads to collateral damage.
61. Who puts the bell on the cat?
Rhetorical phrase that refers to the fact that no one is willing to do dangerous work.
62. From a mangy foal, a beautiful horse.
Over time, ugly things can become beautiful.
63. Each pig gets its San Martin.
It indicates that everyone will come to an end, especially applied to thugs, criminals, etc.
64. The best hunter loses the hare.
We can all make a mistake, no matter how expert in the field we are.
65. To the done, chest.
We must be consistent with our actions.
66. The world is a handkerchief.
An expression that we can use when, for example, we meet a close relative in a remote place in another country.
67. Not so, not so bald.
Neither excess nor absence.
68. Do good and do not look at who.
A saying that invites us to be magnanimous, whoever it is.
69. The courteous does not take away the brave.
We can be passionate and bold without losing form.
70. If I have seen you, I do not remember.
Popular expression to refer to someone who pretends not to have seen us, even when it is obvious that he has recognized us and has chosen to hide and pass by.
Bibliographic references
- Baptist, J. (2015). Spanish proverbs. Literary Criticism.
- Fernandez, V. (2016). Grandma’s proverbs… commented. Independent publication.
- Susaeta SA (2019). Anthology of Spanish proverbs (Jokes, Curiosities, Riddles). Susaeta SA
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.