Skip to content
Σ
ReadSuda
Browse
Topics
Random
About
Aa
Settings
Searching…
⌕
Search
Α
Letters
⤨
Random
Aa
Settings
Keyboard shortcuts
j
Next entry
k
Previous entry
g
Toggle Greek
/
Search
?
Show shortcuts
Close
Search
Search the Suda
⌕
Search
All
Headwords
Translation
Greek
Notes
Filters (3)
Keyword
✓
proverbs
222
daily life
219
ethics
116
definition
65
imagery
61
zoology
57
comedy
54
geography
40
dialects, grammar, and etymology
39
food
36
religion
36
mythology
24
32 more
economics
23
poetry
23
botany
20
meter and music
19
biography
16
gender and sexuality
16
military affairs
16
medicine
15
women
15
trade and manufacture
14
tragedy
14
Letter
Α
alpha
177
Β
beta
23
Δ
delta
14
Χ
chi
7
Ε
epsilon
1
Vetting status
high
222
Length
✓
Short
222
Translator
✓
Jennifer Benedict
222
222 entries
Relevance
Adler order
Longest first
proverbs
×
Length: short
×
Translator: Jennifer Benedict
×
Clear all
α
292
Ἀγόμενος διὰ φρατέρων κύων μαστιγοῦται
a dog led through phratry-members is whipped
[no gloss]
high
short
α
442
Ἀδελφὸς παρείη
may a brother be at hand
Because it is preferable [to have] relatives [coming] to help in a time of crisis.
high
short
α
455
ᾌδεις ὥσπερ εἰς Δῆλον πλέων
you sing as if sailing into Delos
In reference to someone carefree and enjoying himself.
agriculture
agriculture
13
13
aetiology
12
aetiology
12
philosophy
12
philosophy
12
rhetoric
12
rhetoric
12
epic
11
epic
11
science and technology
11
science and technology
11
clothing
10
clothing
10
history
10
history
10
historiography
9
historiography
9
law
7
law
7
athletics
4
athletics
4
politics
4
politics
4
architecture
3
architecture
3
Christianity
3
Christianity
3
chronology
3
chronology
3
dreams
3
dreams
3
art history
2
art history
2
constitution
2
constitution
2
stagecraft
2
stagecraft
2
children
1
children
1
mathematics
1
mathematics
1
high
short
α
493
Ἀδμήτου μέλος καὶ Ἁρμοδίου
Admetos' song and Harmodios'
[A proverbial phrase] in reference to things which are easy and simple: for drinking-songs were said to be of this kind.
high
short
α
517
Ἀδώνιδος κῆποι
Adonis' gardens
[Made] out of lettuce and fennel, which they used to sow in earthenware pots. They apply the proverb to the superficial and shallow. Adonis' gardens: in reference to things that are untimely and transitory …
high
short
α
518
Ἄδων τὴν σπιθαμὴν τοῦ βίου πρὸς ἄνηθον
singing of the span of life to a dill-plant
In reference to parsimonious and mean-spirited men.
high
short
α
523
Ἀδράστεια Νέμεσις
Adrasteian Nemesis, Nemesis of Adrastos
[sc. So called because] from her, someone could not run away [a)podra/seien]. "Adrasteian Nemesis follows him, avenging haughty and unrestrained words." So Adrasteian Nemesis [is named] from Adrastos. [sc. It is a proverbial phrase] …
high
short
α
538
Ἀδύνατα θηρᾷς
you are hunting impossible things
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to those who undertake things too great for them.
high
short
α
554
Ἀέρα δαίρειν
to thrash air
[no gloss]
high
short
α
573
Ἀετὸν ἵπτασθαι διδάσκεις
you are teaching an eagle to fly
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those attempting to teach certain people things that they understand better than [do] those wishing to teach.
high
short
α
574
Ἀετὸν κάνθαρος μαιεύσομαι
I a dung-beetle will hatch an eagle
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those avenging themselves on their betters, with whom the bad thing started. For it is said that the dung-beetle steals the eggs of the eagle.
high
short
α
575
Ἀετὸς ἐν νεφέλαις
eagle in clouds
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are hard to catch; inasmuch as an eagle is not caught when in clouds.
high
short
α
577
Ἀετοῦ γῆρας κορύδου νεότης
eagle's old age, lark's youth
Inasmuch as the eagle, even when old, is better than every [other] bird.
high
short
α
629
Ἀεί με τοιοῦτοι πολέμιοι διώκοιεν
always might such enemies pursue me
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are cowardly and worth no account.
high
short
α
642
Ἀεί τις ἐν Κύδωνος
always someone at Kydon's
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those who are hospitable and ready to receive [guests]; inasmuch as Kydon the Corinthian was very hospitable.
high
short
α
675
Ἄϊδος κυνῆ
Hades' dog-skin [helmet]
A proverb [directed] toward those concealing themselves with certain devices. For such was the dog-skin [helmet] of Hades, which Perseus used when he cut the throat of the Gorgon.
high
short
α
726
Ἀθηνᾷ τὸν αἴλουρον
(to compare) the cat to Athena
The proverb is applied to those badly equating major things with minor on account of a small similarity; as if someone were to compare the cat to Athena because of the greyness [sc. of …
high
short
α
749
Ἄθως καλύπτει πλευρὰ Λημνίας βοός
Athos conceals the flank of a Lemnian cow
A proverb in reference to those paining or harming anyone; since Mount Athos overshadows the cow, made of white stone, in Lemnos.
high
short
α
795
Ἀκαμπίας
bendless, unbending
[Meaning] straight-coursed. Also [sc. attested is the phrase] a)ka/mpios dro/mos ["bendless course"], a long and straight walk.
high
short
α
796
Ἄκανθα
prickle, thorn, spike
[Meaning] the plant, and the sea-monster's spine. Also the [fact that] a caltrop [takes its design] from this. "The wild beast in violent onslaught strikes against his bonds with his spike and cuts through …
high
short
α
806
Ἀκαρπότερος ἀγρίππου
more barren than a wild olive
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those completely poverty-stricken. For Laconians call the wild olive "agrippos".
high
short
α
807
Ἀκαρπότερος Ἀδώνιδος κήπου
more barren than a garden of Adonis
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to those unable to give birth to anything productive. Things grown in pots are described [in these terms].
high
short
α
827
Ἄκαιρος
ill-timed, inopportune
[Meaning] he who/that which which lacks good timing. Also [sc. attested is the proverbial phrase] "ill-timed goodwill is no different from enmity"; they say that Hippolytus said this to Phaedra when she maintained she …
high
short
α
888
Ἀκίνητα κινεῖν
to move the unmoveable
[sc. A proverbial phrase] in reference to things [being done] to excess. Because one should not even move altars, or tombs.
high
short
α
898
Ἀκλητί
unbidden, uninvited, unsummoned
[Meaning] without invitation. And [there is] a proverb: "friends party at friends' [houses] uninvited". Similar to this: "good men go to good men's feasts of their own volition".
high
short
α
915
Ἀκόλαστον καὶ ὑβριστὸν πρᾶγμα ἡ ἄνθρωπος
an uncontrollable and wanton thing is woman
One could also say insolent.
high
short
α
920
Ἀκόλῳ τὰ χείλη οὐ σύκῳ βῦσαι
to stuff the lips with a crumb (and) not with a fig
The saying advises dealing with problems vigorously.
high
short
α
1003
Ἀκροκορινθία ἔοικας χοιροπωλήσειν
you seem about to sell piggie in Acrocorinth
Look under khoiros.
high
short
α
1011
Ἄκρον λάβε καὶ μέσον ἕξεις
seize the extremity and you will have the mean
[sc. A proverbial saying] in reference to things that are mysterious and difficult to understand.
high
short
α
1019
Ἀκροσφαλεῖς
precarious
[Meaning they who are] stumbling in the [act of] walking. That is the Huns. In Philoctetes: "...that all things are awful for mortals and uncertain: to fare well or to fare otherwise. It is …
high
short
Page 1 of 8
Next →