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22 entries for
proverbs
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χ
191
Χελώνη μυιῶν
a tortoise [uncaring] of flies
[sc. a
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who think little of someone/something. Also [sc. attested is] 'to a tortoise'. "You think your frankness is 'worth four obols', as the saying goes. You do …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
2819
Ἄξιος λαβεῖν ὁ μισθός
the wage [is] worth taking
… hiding the anger with silence. Also [sc. attested is the
proverbial
phrase] "worth a hair"; in reference to something cheap and commonplace; inasmuch as hair is worth nothing. Aristophanes [writes]: "if I stole something …
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
400
Δηλίου κολυμβητοῦ
Delian diver
This [sc.
proverbial
phrase] was uttered in reference to a book of Heraclitus, because it was hard to understand, that it needed a Delian diver who would not be drowned in it. Some entitle …
history
4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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4
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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3
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2
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2
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2
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2
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Matched in translation
high
medium
α
249
Ἀγκών
elbow
… the evil exit of the man." And [there is] a
proverbial
expression: wiping one's nose with the elbow. Bion the philosopher said: "my father was a freed slave, wiping his nose with his elbow;" …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
1183
Ἀληλεσμένον
ground-up
… worked on, ready to eat. Also [sc. attested is the
proverbial
phrase] a)lhlesme/nos bi/os, in reference to those with an ample supply of what they need. But another
proverb
says: "for [there are] no …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
1355
Ἀλλ' οὐκ ἔνεστι συκοφάντου δήγματος
but it does not have [a charm] against an informer's bite
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to ineffectual things. It leaves out the [word] "charm". The attendant says in character that there is no spell on the ring that serves as an antidote for …
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
1164
λέγεται καὶ ἵππος
Diomedeian compulsion
Also found is '[Diomedeian] horse'. A
proverb,
[stemming] from [Diomedes [Author, Myth]] the son of Tydeus or from the Thracian [Diomedes]. The latter compelled his guests to have intercourse with his daughters and then …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
4599
Ἀφεὶς καὶ Ἀπαλλάξας
having let go and having set free
… This is also found in Demosthenes. And [there is] a
proverb:
"having let go the brace he chases the sheet". The
proverb
[is found] in Hyperides. In reference to those who ignore more important …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
362
Χοᾶ
chous; pitcher
… of the blame that befell Orestes. And [there is] a
proverb:
'[it] will hold six choas.' In reference to those who talk nonsense. That is, his brain [will hold six choas]. At the same …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
2190
Ἀνδρὸς γέροντος ἀσταφὶς τὸ κρανίον
an old man's head is a dried grape
[1] Zenobius 1.96. This
proverb
recurs at alpha 4223. [2] Diogenianus 1.78 & 86. [3] Zenobius 1.90. This
proverb
(Euripides fr.799a Snell) recurs at epsilon 586, omicroniota 72, and upsilon 300. See generally Tosi …
Matched in notes
high
medium
α
651
Ἀηδών καὶ ἀηδοῦς
nightingale, songstress
… "not even to the extent that nightingales sleep." [sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who lie awake. And elsewhere: "but those sighing strains please my heart, those which the bird, the sad …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
676
Ἄϊδος κυνῆ
Hades' dog-skin [helmet]
… for my sake the shadow-shaggy Hades helmet from Hieronymos." The
proverb
was [sc. originally] said about those who are invisible. But now about those who grow their hair exceedingly long. For this Hieronymos was …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
1002
Ἀκροθίνια
spoils, akrothinia
… fitting spoils of pygmies onto a colossus. [There is] a
proverb,
'to fit spoils of pygmies onto a colossus'; in reference to people labouring in vain.
Matched in translation
high
medium
αι
237
Αἲξ οὐρανία
heavenly goat
… extorting money from others. And so "heavenly goat" is [a
proverbial
phrase used] in reference to those getting as much as they want. For they say that the nanny-goat which nursed Zeus was placed …
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
1461
Δώριος
Dorian
… the Dorian mode of his fortune." And [there is] a
proverb:
"from a Dorian to a Phrygian." "I shall not present well-rounded phrases [as proems and preludes ...] but setting forth the plain expressions …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
90
Χαραδριός
charadrios, plover
… aren't selling plovers?" So Hipponax [writes]. And [there is] a
proverb
from this: 'mimicking a plover', in reference to those who are hiding themselves. So Euphronius [uses the phrase]. For since the plover when …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
135
Χάρων
Charon
… useless, since a donkey's wool is not useful. And the
proverb
is also uttered in the case of what is endless, just as we say "You are decorating a pot." Things in Hades go …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
905
Ἀκμὴ καλεῖ
a moment is calling
[1] The headword is a
proverbial-sounding
phrase which, beyond this opening gloss (also in Photius and other lexica), is lost sight of in the entry which follows. It comes from Euripides, Hecuba 1042. [2] …
Matched in notes
high
medium
α
1409
Ἁλσὶ διασμηχθεὶς ὄναιτ' ἂν οὑτοσί
this man might be helped if he were rubbed with salt
… (2.34), confirming the idea implicit here that the phrase become
proverbial.)
Compare the brevity of Dover (below) ad loc.: "Strepsiades pats the creditor's belly, pretending that one could make a good wineskin out of …
Matched in notes
high
medium
α
1825
Ἀναγκαία τράπεζα
necessary table, needy table
… phrase, not illustrated by either of the quotations given, sounds
proverbial;
cf. alpha 4543. [2] Sophocles, Ajax 485-6 (web address 1 below), with comment from the scholia there. [3] Iamblichus, Babyloniaca fr. 59 Habrich.
Matched in notes
high
medium
β
295
Βίος ἀκανθώδης
a thorny life
[1] The headword phrase sounds
proverbial,
like the others assembled for this entry, but it does not feature in the paroemiographers, and is indeed not otherwise attested. [2] For this and "a ready-kneaded life" …
Matched in notes
high
medium
δ
1504
Δραπέτης κλῆρος
runaway lot
… points out that the "runaway lot" was probably a traditional,
proverbial
trick. [1] Cratinus wrote a comedy of this name (frs. 53-68 PCG vol.4, p.147ff.), probably about the women of Sybaris. The present addendum …
Matched in notes
high
medium