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Italian proverbs are short expressions of popular wisdom from Italy and other countries where Italian is spoken.

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A cane scottato l 'acqua fredda pare calda.

English equivalent: Once bitten twice shy.

Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 2.

A chi bene crede, Dio provvede.

English equivalent: God listens to those who have faith/ Have faith and God shall provide.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 873. ISBN 0415096243.

A chi parla poco, gli basta la metà del cervello.

English equivalent: Least said, soonest mended.

"In private animosities and verbal contentions, where angry passions are apt to rise, and irritating, if not profane expressions are often made use of - the least said, the better in general. By multiplying words, cases often grow worse instead of better."

Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. pp. 125.

Emanuel Strauss (1994). "1383". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 1053. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6.

A chi vuole, non mancano modi.

English equivalent: Where there is a will, there is a way.

"If you are sufficiently determined to achieve something, then you will find a way of doing so."

Source for meaning of English equivalent: Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 299. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5.

Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 95.

A mali estremi, estremi rimedi.

English equivalent: Desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Drastic action is called for – and justified – when you find yourself in a particularly difficult situation."

Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 53. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5. Retrieved on 10 August 2013.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "797". Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 687. ISBN 978-1-136-78978-6. Retrieved on 27 November 2013.

A goccia a goccia s'incava la pietra.

English equivalent: Constant dropping wears away the stone.

"A drop hollows out the stone by falling not twice, but many times; so too is a person made wise by reading not two, but many books."

(Giordano Bruno, Il Candelaio)

Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 187. ISBN 0415160502.

A padre guadagnatore figlio spenditore.

English equivalent: A miserly father makes a prodigal son.

von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Ida; von Reinsberg-Düringsfeld, Otto (1875). "523, Vater" (in German). Sprichwörter der germanischen und romanischen Sprachen. II. p. 292.

Ad ogni pazzo piace il suon del suo sonaglio.

English equivalentː Every fool is pleased with his own folly.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "147". Dictionary of European Proverbs. I. Routledge. p. 139. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7.

Ad ogni uccello il proprio nido è bello.

English equivalent: The bird loves her own nest.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). "923". Dictionary of European Proverbs. II. Routledge. p. 776. ISBN 978-1-134-86460-7.

Aggiungere legno al fuoco.

English equivalent: To add fuel to the fire.

Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 78.

Al buon vino non bisogna frasca.

English equivalent: Good wine needs no bush.

"A good product does not need advertising."

Martin H. Manser (2007). The Facts on File Dictionary of Proverbs. Infobase Publishing. p. 109. ISBN 978-0-8160-6673-5.

Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 34.

Al piu potente ceda il più prudente.

English equivalent: Better bow than break.

"It is better to make some confession, or pay a little deference to others, our neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and especially our superiors, rather than lose our credit or break friendship."

Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 46.

Ward, Caroline (1842). National Proverbs in the Principal Languages of Europe. J.W. Parker. p. 20.

Alla buona derrata, pensaci su.

English equivalent: The best goods are cheapest in the end.

Mawr, E.B. (1885). Analogous Proverbs in Ten Languages. p. 116.

Anche il pazzo dice talvolta parole da savio.

English equivalent: Even a fool may give a wise man counsel.

Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 40. ISBN 0415160502.

Anche il sole passa sopra il fango, e non s'imbratta.

Translation: The sun passes over filth and is not defiled.

Italian proverb, quoted in Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages : Classified Subjectively and Arranged Alphabetically (1887) by Robert Christy, p. 322.

Anche in paradiso non è bello essere soli.

English equivalent: There is no greater torment than to be alone in paradise.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1106. ISBN 0415096243.

Amare e non essere amato, quanto risponde sens esser chiamato.

English Equivilent: To love and be loved as it is meant to be

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 676. ISBN 0415096243.

Amicizia di signore non è retaggio; chi troppo se ne fida non è saggio.

English equivalent: A king's favour is no inheritance.

Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 24. ISBN 0415160502.

Amor, tosse e fumo, malemente si nascondono.

English equivalent: Love, smoke and cough are hard to hide.

Kelly, Walter Keating (1859). Proverbs of all nations. W. Kent & co. (late D. Bogue). p. 50.

Amor tutti eguaglia.

English equivalent: Love makes all equal.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 767. ISBN 0415096243.

Anche la legna storta dà fuoco diritto.

English equivalent: Crooked logs make straight fires.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 683. ISBN 0415096243.

Andara a Roma senza vedere il papa.'"

English equivalent: He was in Rome and did not see the pope.

Emanuel Strauss (11 January 2013). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 274. ISBN 978-1-136-78971-7.

A caval donato non si guarda in bocca.

English equivalent: Look not a gift horse in the mouth.

"And so with respect to gifts and donations in general, whether their value be more or less, they should be accounted tokens of kindness and received with promptness and cordiality."

Porter, William Henry (1845). Proverbs: Arranged in Alphabetical Order .... Munroe and Company. p. 127.

Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1998). Dictionary of European Proverbs. Routledge. p. 52. ISBN 0415160502.

A carne di lupo, zanne di cane.

English equivalent: You must meet roughness with roughness.

Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 12. ISBN 0415160502.

A chi dai il dito si prende anche il braccio.

English equivalent: Give an inch and they'll take a mile.

Source: Strauss, Emmanuel (1994). Dictionary of European Proverbs, Volym 1. Routledge. p. 828. ISBN 0415096243.

A chi Dio vuol castigare leva il cervello.

English equivalent: Whom God will destroy, he first make mad.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 841. ISBN 0415096243.

A torto si lagna del mare chi due volte ci vuol tornare.

English equivalent: He complains wrongfully at the sea that suffer shipwreck twice.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 898. ISBN 0415096243.

Aiutati che Dio ti aiuta

English equivalent: Help yourself, and God will help you.

"When in trouble first of all every one himself should do his best to improve his condition."

Paczolay, Gyula (1997). European Proverbs in 55 languages. DeProverbio.com. p. 150. ISBN 1-875943-44-7.

Maurus (2002). Nella sofferenza aiutati che Dio ti aiuta. Segno. ISBN 8872826551.

Al confessore, medico e avvocato, non tenere il ver celato.

English equivalent: Hide nothing from thy minister, physician and lawyer.

Barosso, Pietro Antonio (1837). Proverbj e detti proverbiali scelti e ristampati per cura di P. A. Barosso con gli equivalenti latini. p. 3.

Assai pampini e poca uva.

English equivalent: He says the moon is made of cheese.

Strauss, Emanuel (1998). Concise Dictionary of European Proverbs (Abbreviated ed.). Routledge. p. 92. ISBN 0415160502.

Aspetta, caval, che l'erba cresca.

English equivalent: While the grass grows the steed starves.

Strauss, Emanuel (1994). Dictionary of European proverbs (Volume 2 ed.). Routledge. p. 1228. ISBN 0415096243.

 

- Italian proverb

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