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proverbs
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389 entries for
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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
β
186
Βάττου σίλφιον
Battos' silphium, Battus' silphium
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those receiving rare honors. For the Cyrenaeans gave a special silphium to one of the Battoi, and on one side of the coin they stamped [a picture …
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
11
Ἔαρος χρῄζει
is in want of spring
… present headword phrase comes from those scholia, but appears as
proverbial
in its own right in Appendix
Proverbiorum
2.3. The
proverb
"One swallow does not make a spring" (we would say "summer"), Cratinus fr. …
medicine
medicine
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32
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32
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30
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30
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29
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18
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18
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16
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7
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6
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6
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6
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6
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6
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1
mathematics
1
Oliver Phillips â
Oliver Phillips â
3
3
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3
Roger Travis
3
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2
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2
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1
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Matched in notes
high
short
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
αι
86
Αἰδώς
shame
[Meaning] honor. And [there is] a
proverb:
"shame is not good for a man who is a beggar in need." In reference to those whose pleasantness harms them. Homer [says this]. Hesiod [writes]: "shame …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
2263
Ἀνέμῳ διαλέγῃ
you are talking to a wind
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those who are not heard. [Another]
proverb
[is]: "directions of winds"; "for locals know best not only the directions of the winds, according to the
proverb,
but …
Matched in translation
high
short
δ
1445
Δωδωναῖον χαλκεῖον
Dodonian bronze
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who speak a little. For Demon says that the oracle of Zeus at Dodona is surrounded by cauldrons in a circle. They touch each other, and …
Matched in translation
high
medium
β
261
Βὴξ ἀντὶ πορδῆς
a cough instead of a fart
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who, in a predicament, pretend to do something; since when people fart they pretend to cough in an attempt to avoid detection. And [there is] a …
Matched in translation
high
short
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 …
Matched in translation
high
medium
χ
478
Χρήματα χρήματ' ἀνήρ
money money (is the) man
This is
proverbial,
like the sayings of the Seven Sages. Pindar and Alcaeus mention it. Similar to it [are] "the office reveals the man", "steer your own course" and "know thyself". Alcaeus says it …
Matched in translation
high
short
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
β
293
Βίος
life
… sometimes the act of living itself. And [there is] a
proverb:
"a ready-kneaded life," in reference to those who are living prosperously in an extravagant and sweet life. And [there is] a[nother]
proverb:
"a …
Matched in translation
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.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
1510
Ἅμματα
[Kasiotic] knots
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who are crooked in their ways. [So called] from the Pelousians in Kasion, who by natural skill used to weave knots in order to attach one …
Matched in translation
high
medium
α
4472
Αὐτὴ κάμινος αὐτὸς εἵλκυσε καπνὸς ἢ τροχός
the oven itself, the smoke itself or the wheel dragged on
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those doing the same or similar things.
Matched in translation
high
short
β
190
Βάτραχος ἐκ Σερίφου
a frog out of Seriphos
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those without a voice. Inasmuch as when the frogs in Seriphos were carried to Skyros they did not make a sound.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
531
Ἑκοντί
willingly
[Meaning] voluntarily. And [there is] a
proverb:
"willing but with an unwilling heart."
Matched in translation
high
short
χ
610
Χύτραν ποικίλλειν
to decorate a cooking-pot
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to things that are impossible. And things that are endless.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
842
Ἀκεσίας ἰάσατο
Akesias healed
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who heal for the worse. It seems that Akesias treated someone for the worse.
Matched in translation
high
short
α
4438
Αὐλητοῦ βίον ζῇς
you are living a piper's life
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those living from means not their own; insofar as pipers live for free by watching out for those who are sacrificing.
Matched in translation
high
short
αι
125
Αἰθίοπα σμήχειν
to wash an Ethiopian white
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those exerting vain efforts.
Matched in translation
high
short
ε
49
Ἐγένετο καὶ Μάνδρωνι συκίνη ναῦς
even Mandron got a fig-wood ship
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] used in reference to those who have been fortunate beyond their hopes and deserts, and then give themselves airs at their present circumstances. For Mandron was chosen admiral amongst Athenians, …
Matched in translation
high
short
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
1194
Ἄλλην δρῦν βαλάνιζε
shake acorns from another oak
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those continually begging something or always borrowing from the same people. And [there is] another
proverb:
enough of oak. In reference to those eating something with difficulty …
Matched in translation
high
short
α
3668
Ἀπώλεσας τὸν οἶνον ἐπιχέας ὕδωρ
you ruined the wine by pouring in water
[sc. A
proverbial
saying] in reference to those who make a mess of things that were previously going well by means of some small fault. Or in reference to those who get what they …
Matched in translation
high
short
αι
69
Αἰγὸς τρόπον
goat-fashion, like a goat
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who bring an evil on themselves. From a Corinthian
proverb,
"The nanny-goat giving the knife."
Matched in translation
high
short
β
457
Βοῦς ἕβδομος
seventh ox
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those without feeling. For paupers when they did not have anything living to sacrifice used to mould [an ox] out of dough. When the 6 living [beasts] …
Matched in translation
high
medium
β
458
Βοῦς ἕβδομος
seventh ox
… in Euripides in Erechtheus and in Achaeus in Iris. The
proverb
is applied to those who are excessively unfeeling. Also [sc. attested is the
proverbial
phrase] "sea ox" [bous enalios], in reference to people/things …
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
319
Δειλότερος τοῦ παρακύπτοντος
more cowardly than a peeper
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference those who are extremely cowardly. For there was a certain cowardly man who, peeping out of a cave and seeing Heracles, was turned to stone; and the stone …
Matched in translation
high
medium
δ
1076
Δικαιότερον σταχάνης
more just than a stachane
[sc. A
proverbial
phrase] in reference to those who love justice; for stachane is what the Dorians call a pair of scales, perhaps by a link with stasis. And [there is] another [version of …
Matched in translation
high
short
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