Proverbial Sayings

Ní legand bruith omh einní.

Ní legand bruith omh einní.

(not * melts * cooking * raw * anything)

Half-cooking softens nothing.

 
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Do·tét torcc mór do orcann…

Do·tét torcc mór do orcann is do áibill fhásas breo.

(comes * boar * big * from * piglet * and * from * spark * grows * flame)

A great boar comes from a piglet and and from a spark a flame grows.

 
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Ní bheantar a hainm don bhairíghin.

Ní bheantar a hainm don bhairíghin.

(not * is taken * its * name * from the * loaf)

One must call a loaf of bread a loaf of bread.

 
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Cond bó búachaill i mbánsoilsi.

Cond bó búachaill i mbánsoilsi.

(sense * of cow * cowherd * in * white-light)

A herdsman is the good sense of a cow in daylight.

 
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Ní túalaing mór nad·fhulaing in mbec.

Ní túalaing mór nad·fhulaing in mbec.

(not * capable of * great(ness) * who does not endure * the * small)

He who cannot bear the small is not capable of the great.

 
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Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.

Ná séit oíbell cen atúd.

(not * blow * ember * without * (power of) kindling)

Do not blow on an ember that has no fire in it.

 
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Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.

Íarus fis, túathus cath, airthius bláth, teissius séis.

(in the west * knowledge * in the north * battle * in the east * blossom * in the south * melody)

Knowledge in the west, battle in the north, prosperity in the east, music in the south.

 
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Mairg téid a tacaib in chraind.

Mairg téid a tacaib in chraind.

(woe betide * (who) goes * from * rungs * of the * pole)

Woe to the one who slips from the rungs of the ladder.

 
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Ní mochen nech nos·fothraic nád·ib dig.

Ní mochen nech nos·fothraic nád·ib dig.

(not * lucky * person * that bathes himself * that not drinks * drink)

Not lucky the man who takes a bath without taking a drink.

 
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Droch do drochaib, dag do dagaib.

Droch do drochaib, dag do dagaib.

(bad * to * bad ones * good * to * good ones)

Bad to the bad, and good to the good.

 
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