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proverbs
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584 entries for
proverbs
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ε
1740
Ἐξηπάτησεν ἡ χάραξ τὴν ἄμπελον
the stake deceived the vine
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase used] when that which is preserved is deceived by that which preserves.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
3196
Ἐς πῦρ ξαίνεις
you are carding wool into the fire
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to impossible things.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
3214
Ἑστίᾳ θύομεν
we are sacrificing to Hestia
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to things which are not carried away from the sacrifice.
Matched in translation
high
meter and music
meter and music
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47
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34
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34
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1
short
ε
3238
Ἐς ὕδωρ γράφειν
to write on water
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those labouring in vain.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
3408
Εὐδαίμων ὁ Κορίνθιος ἐγὼ δ' εἴην Τενεάτης
fortunate is Corinth but for myself I would rather be a Teneate
Tenea [is] a verdant village near Corinth . The
proverb
originated from the fact that the Corinthians, in their large city, were subject to jealousies and preoccupations, whereas the Teneates lived a more carefree …
Matched in translation
high
short
ει
284
Εἰς κόπρον θυμιᾷς
you are burning incense for shit
[sc. This
proverb]
is said by Attic writers in reference to things ineffectual and non-existent.
Matched in translation
high
short
ει
313
Εἰς πῦρ ξαίνειν
to card wool into a fire
Proverbial.
In reference to those doing or saying something for themselves which goes to waste. Compare 'to sow seed upon rocks'.
Matched in translation
high
short
ει
334
Εἶτ' ἐφ' ὕδωρ κακός
then a wretch on water-duty
The
proverb
is applied to those down on their luck. For in the [sc. Athenian] jurycourts the most menial task was to measure out the water for the [sc. speeches of the] litigants. This …
Matched in translation
high
short
η
187
Ἡ κύων ἐν τῇ φάτνῃ
the bitch in the manger
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those neither using [something] themselves nor allowing others [to do so]; inasmuch as she does not eat the barley and prevents the horse [from doing so].
Matched in translation
high
short
η
290
Ἡμένη πελειάς
sitting dove
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to very simple [people], by a comparison of [= with] decoying. For the [she-doves] flying away deceive others; for to decoy means to deceive.
Matched in translation
high
short
η
358
Ἢ Μορσίμου τὶς ῥῆσιν ἐξεγράψατο
or (if) someone has copied out a passage of Morsimos
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to despicable and calumniated persons. For Morsimos was a tragedian, a rather frigid writer, son of Philokles, ophthalmologist, small; he had a son, Astydamas.
Matched in translation
high
short
η
657
Ἡφαίστειος δεσμός
Hephaistian chain, Hephaestian chain
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to what is inescapable. "He was seized by afflictions -- as if by Hephaistian chains -- unbreakable, indissoluble, and he remained stuck in them; they were sex-mania and …
Matched in translation
high
short
η
672
Ἡ χάραξ τὴν ἄμπελον
the stake (deceived) the vine
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to what is under control.
Matched in translation
high
short
η
689
Ἢ χρὴ τραγῳδεῖν ἢ μελαγχολᾶν
one must either make tragedy or be melancholic
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to neither grieving nor (?)letting go.
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
64
Χαμαί
on the ground
[Meaning] on the earth. And [there is] a
proverb:
'to draw water on the ground', the equivalent of achieving nothing. Another instance is 'to wash a brick'. Used in reference to things that are …
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
171
Χαιριδεῖς
Chairideis
… come, to play the pipes uninvited". And [there is] a
proverb:
'Chairis singing in a steep-pitched style'. The steep-pitched [is] a style [no/mos] for playing the pipe, so called because it was rising and …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
601
Χοῖρος
pig, piglet, piggie
… [the word means] the female genitalia. From which [comes] a
proverb:
'you seem about to sell 'piggie' in Acrocorinth.' Meaning you seem to be about to earn a wage in Corinth. For [there are] …
Matched in translation
high
short
α
518
Ἄδων τὴν σπιθαμὴν τοῦ βίου πρὸς ἄνηθον
singing of the span of life to a dill-plant
The phrase 'span of life' appears as, seemingly,
proverbial
in its own right in some of the paroemiographers (with a gloss like the one at sigma 942), but as a whole this
proverb-like
headword …
Matched in notes
high
short
αι
165
Αἴ κε πάθοι τά κ' ἔρεξε δίκη δ' ἰθεῖα γένοιτο
if he should endure the sufferings which he has inflicted, the punishment would be just
… di/kh k'), and attributed to Rhadamanthys (rho 12, rho 13);
proverbial
in Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.12. An anonymous commentator on the Ethics quotes this as two verses -- the first one is ei) kaka/ tis …
Matched in notes
high
short
γ
42
Γάλλους
Galli
… not before revealing that it had continued by explaining the
proverb's
application. Some of the paroemiographers have it in full ("in reference to those wishing to make an end of things thoughtlessly": so e.g. …
Matched in notes
high
short
δ
273
Δεσμοὶ Τυρρηνοί
Etruscan chains, Etruscan fetters
… Hesychius, whose (mysterious) gloss is 'the ones [the] Athenians used'.
Proverbial
in Apostolius 5.97, with the same glossing as here. In Appendix
Proverbiorum
1.96 a second sentence of explanation is added: 'applied to those …
Matched in notes
high
short
δ
1168
Διονύσια
Dionysia
… Many quotations of Aristophanes in the Suda are introduced as
'proverbs'
(paroimiai), even if they would be better described as “pithy sayings”: cf. e.g. delta 1282, epsilon 3234, nu 597. It is possible that …
Matched in notes
high
medium
δ
1419
Δοῦλος ὢν κόμην ἔχεις
despite being a slave you have [long] hair
[1] Aristophanes, Birds 911 (web address 1), and scholion;
proverbial
in Apostolius 6.34. [2] As at e.g. Herodotus 7.7.1 (web address 2), of Egypt after Xerxes' punitive invasion. Note also the
proverb
'more enslaved …
Matched in notes
high
short
δ
1560
Δοῖδυξ
pestle
… word, and a)letri/banos an Asian one. The scholia refer to
proverbial
expressions: scholia to Knights 984b paroimi/a, doi/duc au)/cei: e)pi\ tw=n li/an mikrw=n, "there is a
proverb,
"the grinder causes [things] to augment: [it …
Matched in notes
high
short
ε
97
Ἐγκιλικίζεται
is acting the Cilician
… kappa 1607.) Whatever its origins, the headword was treated as
proverbial:
see Diogenianus 2.51 and Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.7. [1] See kappa 1606.
Matched in notes
high
short
ε
1331
Ἐνιαυτὸς Μέτωνος
year of Meton, Meton's year
… Babylonian practice" (OCD, below). The headword phrase is preserved as
proverbial
(with a similar but longer gloss) in Appendix
Proverbiorum
3.83.
Matched in notes
high
short
ε
1717
Ἐξηκεστίδης
Exekestides
… of this play (414 BCE), see Dunbar 137-8. For the
proverb
implied by the last sentence here see (e.g.) Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.70.
Matched in notes
high
medium
ε
2807
Ἐποποῖ
epopoi (in hoopoe-ese)
… 'a wailing, curlew-like koo-ree.' This is probably the Greek charadrios
(proverbial
for its gluttony at Plato, Gorgias 494B). Pisetaerus congratulates Tereus at line 266 on his imitation of this bird. We should take this …
Matched in notes
high
long
ε
3347
Ἔοικα βοῦς ἐπὶ σφαγὴν μολεῖν
I seem to be going as an ox to slaughter
… as comica adespota fr. 631 Kock (not in K.-A.). Later
proverbial:
Apostolius 7.59, Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.73, etc.
Matched in notes
high
short
ε
3348
Ἐοίκασι τοῖς ἐκ Πύλου ληφθεῖσι τοῖς Λακωνικοῖς
they look like those taken out of Pylos -- the Lakonians
… soi dokou=sin ei)ke/nai;, 'What do they look like to you?')
Proverbial
in Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.74. [2] cf. kappa 1731. For the events of 425 BCE, see Thucydides 4.3-41. A total of 292 Spartans who …
Matched in notes
high
medium
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