Let's imagine a typical working day at the office. During working hours, you can hear a lot of funny phrases. For example, a senior manager might cheer up her subordinates by saying, “It's useless to cry over spilled milk. Today, we can still achieve great things!” “That's right! Rome was not built in a day,” adds his assistant. Milk? Rome? Iron? WTF?!
It's simple: English proverbs work. Like the Russian language, English is replete with ornate and vivid catchphrases.
To understand their sometimes not entirely transparent meaning, today we are some sayings that will be 100% useful to you in a conversation in English. C "mon!
Why you need to learn proverbs in English
A proverb is a traditional (historical) saying that characterizes a particular country.
Native speakers often use such expressions in everyday conversation, sometimes without even realizing it. Sayings can tell you more about the culture of the country whose language you are learning than any textbook. Such sayings clearly demonstrate what things or phenomena play a big role for a particular nation, and also help to understand what is considered good form and what is bad.
Moreover, proverbs sometimes tell about the place where they are often used in speech. For example, the sayings of the inhabitants of farming towns abound in agricultural language, and in fishing villages you will hear popular expressions about the sea.
Therefore, in order to understand English better, below are 45 English proverbs with translation into Russian.
The difficulty of translating English proverbs
The problem of translating English proverbs into Russian is that not every one of them is translated literally. This is due primarily to the fact that each country has its own realities, which usually vary from one nation to another.
For this reason, when studying new English proverbs, it is recommended to study the etymology and history of occurrence, as well as Russian equivalents.
Top 45 English sayings and proverbs
Original: Don't cross the bridge until you come to it.
Literally: Do not cross the bridge until you reach it.
Russian equivalent: Don't say "gop" until you jump over.
Original: Don't make a mountain out of an anthill.
Literally: Do not make a mountain out of an anthill.
Russian equivalent: Don't make an elephant out of a fly.
Original: The cat is out of the bag. /Truth will out.
Literally: The cat came out of the bag. / The truth (will) expel.
Russian analogue: Everything secret always becomes clear.
Original: Put your best foot forward.
Literally: Put your best foot forward.
English equivalent: Try to make the best impression (appear in the best light).
Original: It's better to be safe than sorry.
Literally: Better to be careful than sorry.
Russian equivalent: God saves the beneficiary.
Original: Don't bite off more than you can chew.
Literally: Do not bite off more than you can chew.
Russian equivalent: Don't get greedy for a piece that you can't swallow. / Don't take on too much.
Original: Still water run deep.
Literally: Still waters run deep.
Russian equivalent: There are devils in still waters.
Original: Curiosity killed the cat.
Literally: Curiosity killed the cat.
Russian equivalent: Curious Varvara's nose was torn off at the market.
Original: You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
Literally: If you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.
Russian equivalent: The hand washes the hand. / One good turn deserves another. / You - to me, I - to you.
Original: Two wrongs don't make a right.
Literally: Two errors do not make (one) truth.
Russian equivalent: Evil cannot be corrected. / The second error does not fix the first.
Original: The pen is mightier than the sword.
Literally: The pen is mightier than the sword.
Russian equivalent: A word is worse than a gun.
Original: The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Literally: Lubricate first the wheel that creaks.
Russian equivalent: Water does not flow under a lying stone. / If you want to live, know how to spin.
Original: No man is an island.
Literally: Man is not an island.
Russian equivalent: One is not a warrior in the field.
Original: People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Literally: People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Russian equivalent: He sees a mote in someone else's eye, but does not notice a log in his own. / Pot calls the kettle black?
Original: Birds of a feather flock together.
Literally: Birds of the same flight come together.
Russian equivalent: A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar. / Your reluctant friend.
Original: There's no such thing as a free lunch.
Literally: There is no free lunch.
Russian equivalent: Free cheese - only in a mousetrap.
Original: The early bird catches the worm.
Literally: The early bird catches the worm.
Russian analogue: Who gets up early, God gives him. / Whoever gets up first gets slippers.
Original: Beggars can't be choosers.
Literally: The poor cannot be selectors.
Russian analogue: On lack of fish and cancer - fish. / Hunger is not an aunt. / In need, every bread is tasty.
Original: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Literally: Beauty (located) is in the eye of the beholder.
Russian analogue: There are no comrades for the taste and color. / Tastes could not be discussed. / Everyone sees beauty in their own way.
Original: A penny saved is a penny earned.
Literally: A penny saved is a penny earned.
Russian analogue: A penny saves a ruble.
Original: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Literally: Separation makes the heart grow hotter.
English equivalent: Love grows stronger in separation. / Further from the eyes - closer to the heart.
Original: A cat may look at a king.
Literally: A cat can look at a king.
Russian equivalent: Not holy pots are fired.
Original: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Literally: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Russian equivalent: Half-knowledge is worse than ignorance. / An undereducated person is worse than an unlearned one.
Original: Like father,like son.
Literally: Like father, so son.
Russian equivalent: An apple does not fall far from an apple tree.
Original: All good things must come to an end.
Literally: All good things must come to an end.
Russian equivalent: A little bit of good. / Not all Maslenitsa cat, Great Lent will come.
Original: One drop of poison infections the whole tun of wine.
Literally: One drop of poison infects the whole barrel of wine.
Russian equivalent: Fly in the ointment in a barrel of honey.
Original: Easy come, easy go.
Literally: Easy to come, easy to go.
English equivalent: Easy to find, easy to lose. / It came in one fell swoop - it went to dust.
Original: You can't have your cake and eat it too.
Literally: You can't have your own cake and eat it too.
Russian analogue: If you like to ride, love to carry sleds.
Original: A great dowry is a bed full of brambles.
Literally: A rich dowry is a bed full of thorns.
English equivalent: It is better to marry a poor woman than to quarrel with a rich woman.
Original: A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Literally: A bad conscience does not need an accuser.
Russian equivalent: A cat smells whose meat it has eaten. / An unclean conscience won't let you sleep.
Original: A Jack of all trades is master of none.
Literally: Jack, who takes on many crafts, is not good at any.
Russian equivalent: Everything is taken, but not everything succeeds. / Seven nannies have a child without an eye.
Original: A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.
Literally: A liar is not believed, even when he speaks the truth.
Russian analogue: Once you lied, you became a liar forever.
Original: A little body often harbors a great soul.
Literally: A great soul often lurks in a small body.
Russian analogue: Small spool, but expensive.
Original: .
Literally: A rolling stone does not grow moss.
Russian analogue: Whoever does not sit still, he will not gain any good. / Walking around the world - you can’t make good.
Original: You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.
Literally: You can't teach old dogs new tricks.
Russian analogue: Young - will go crazy, and old - will not change. / You can't train an old dog to chain.
Original: Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl.
Literally: He who hangs out with wolves will learn to howl.
Russian analogue: With whom you behave, you will gain from that.
Original: When the fox preaches, take care of your geese.
Literally: When the fox talks about morality, take care of the geese.
Russian equivalent: Shed crocodile tears. / Beware of the crocodile when it sheds tears.
Original: We never know the value of water till the well is dry.
Literally: We never know how valuable water is until the well is dry.
Russian analogue: What we have, we do not store, having lost, we cry.
Original: That throw a stone in one "s own garden.
Literally: Throw a stone into your own garden.
Russian equivalent: Put a pig on yourself.
Original: .
Literally: A leopard cannot change its spots.
Russian analogue: The grave will fix the humpbacked one.
Original: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Literally: A bird in the hands is worth two in a bush.
Russian equivalent: Better a titmouse in the hands than a crane in the sky.
Original: .
Literally: A chain is as strong as its weakest link.
Russian analogue: Where it is thin, it breaks there.
Original: He that mischief hatches mischief catches.
Literally: Who bears evil, evil also receives.
Russian analogue: Mouse's tears will shed to a cat.
Original: As the fool thinks, so the bell clinks.
Literally: As a fool thinks, so the bell tolls.
Russian equivalent: The law is not written for fools.
Original: .
Literally: Where there is dirt, there are copper coins.
Russian equivalent: You can't even catch a fish from a pond without effort. / He who does not take risks does not drink champagne.
And for dessert, we suggest that you familiarize yourself with additional English sayings and vivid expressions, divided by subject:
- A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
- A leopard cannot change its spots.
- Where there's muck there's brass.
- A rolling stone gathers no moss.
It is quite possible that both of these meanings served to form the expression that has been used in the speech of native English speakers for several centuries now.
The weakest link. Nowadays, we can hear this expression, popular thanks to a television program, in different life situations.
By the way, there was a transmission in the UK, and later in many other countries. The meaning of the show was to demonstrate general knowledge in various fields: from art and philosophy to the natural sciences. Actually, it's all known fact that any chain will break easily if one of its links is thinner than the others. In a figurative sense, this phrase began to be used in the 18th century.
Who would have thought that some proverbs even refer to sayings from scripture. So, the seemingly trivial phrase “A leopard cannot change its spots”, taken out of context, actually refers to religion:
"Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots?Then may ye also do good, that are accustomed to do evil."
Can a Cushite change its skin color or a leopard change its spots? So you are incapable of doing good, having learned to do evil.
The expression itself, as it exists today, appeared in the 20th century, and originated in Yorkshire, England. Word " brass" was once used as a name for copper and bronze coins, and later for all forms of money in Great Britain in the 16th century. The English satirist, Joseph Hall, wrote in 1597: "It is a shame that inspiration is bought and sold for every peasant coin."
Now it's a slang word. The saying is rarely used nowadays, although the authors deliberately use it when they want to create an image of a character from Yorkshire.
As with all proverbs, this is not a literal meaning that conveys meaning, but a metaphor. A "rolling stone" refers to a person who is unable to fix a problem or finish a job, and is therefore considered unreliable and unproductive.
Conclusion
Proverbs and sayings are a great solution to decorate colloquial speech with bright and funny phrases. Learn English with fun and do not be afraid of new expressions, and we will help you with this.
Big and friendly family EnglishDom
Birds in their little nests agree.
Love and advice - so there is no grief.
Where there is peace and harmony, there is God's grace.
What is the treasure, if the family is in harmony.
(The practical application of the proverb is that if they don't agree some hapless nestling is going to be pushed out and killed. The same applies in a figurative sense to human families and communities. If human families wish to be happy they must live together in harmony.)
Blood is thicker than water.
Native bush and hare roads.
Quarrel in his family before the first sight.
What kind of scores, what should we reckon with. Our people - let's count.
Your reluctant friend.
(Family relationships are usually stronger than other types of relationships. Unlike blood, water soon fades when it is spilt, and leaves no trace afterwards. Figuratively 'blood' means 'relationship'. The interest we take in those not so close to us as blood relations can be compared to water, which is thinner and less enduring.)
The child is the father of the man.
The childhood shows the man, as morning shows the day.
What was born, such is.
What is in the cradle, such is in the grave.
What is the arable land, such is the brush.
It was not in milk, and you will not find it in whey.
(By studying the character of a child we can tell what sort of a man he is going to be.)
He that would the daughter win, must with the mother first begin.
To marry a daughter - to drag after a mother.
(Most mothers exercise a considerable influence over their daughters, so to gain the goodwill of the mother is an important step towards marrying the daughter.)
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
It will not be good if there is enmity between their own.
(Discord breaks up families.)
He that has wife and children has given hostages to fortune.
Motovat, but unmarried, to one's own expense.
One head is not poor, but poor, but alone.
(A man with a wife and family cannot be so adventurous, or take so many chances, as an unmarried man. ‘Hostages to fortune’ are persons or things that one may lose.)
He travels the fastest who travels alone.
One jumps, one cries, and all alone (carefree).
(An ambitious man can get along much better when he is not hampered by a wife and family, or by friends who hold him back.)
It is a sad house where the hen crows louder than the cock.
It is bad for a husband who has a large wife in the house.
Wife to lower - no good to be seen.
Whoever gives freedom to his wife beats himself.
(No home is happy in which the husband is such a weakling that it is his wife who gives all the orders.)
Like father, like son.
The apple does not roll far from the apple tree.
An apple does not fall past an apple tree.
Apples do not grow on spruce, but cones.
What is the root, such is the offspring.
(Many sons take after their fathers, not only in looks but also in character.)
Marry in haste, and repent at leisure.
To marry is not to put on a bast shoe.
Marry not for long, but God will punish, he will order to live long.
(You will have plenty of time to regret that you were in too much of a hurry to get married.)
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
He was taught when he lay down across the bench, but stretched out to the fullest, so you won’t teach.
Punish children in their youth, they will calm thee in old age.
(It does not improve a child's character if he is not punished when he has done wrong.)
Wedlock is a padlock.
Married - laid down for a century.
There is marriage, but there is no divorce.
(Wedlock is the married slate, in which you are imprisoned as by a padlock. There is no escape!)
What is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh.
The father is a fisherman, and the children look into the water.
One plant, such is the breed.
Not in a stump-deck, in your breed.
As is the seed, so is the tribe.
(We inherit certain characteristics from our ancestors, and the same characteristics will be inherited from us by our descendants.)
Hello my wonderful readers.
It is known that approximately 2% of speech consists of proverbs and sayings. But how many sayings do you use in conversations in English?
Today we will have a very interesting topic - proverbs in English. I will tell you about the meaning of English proverbs, and also do not forget about their Russian equivalents.
And for convenience, I propose to distribute them by topic. Go!
Friendship
Probably the most popular are proverbs about friendship. Let's start with them.
| Proverb | Direct transfer | Russian analogue |
| A friend in need is a friend indeed. | A friend in need is a true friend. | A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| Birds of a feather flock together. | Birds of the same color gather together. | Birds of a feather. |
| The chain is no stronger than its weakest link. | A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. | It breaks where it's thin. |
| A man is known by the company he keeps. | The man is known for his company. | Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are. |
| If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas. | When falling asleep with dogs, be prepared to wake up flea-ridden. | With whom you lead, from that you will gain. |
Health
Proverbs and sayings about health are loved not only by old women, but also by young people. I think it will be useful to learn a couple of the best of them with translation into Russian.
home and family
Songs and, not surprisingly, proverbs are composed about the family. Let's look at Russian analogues of English proverbs.
| All bread is not baked in one oven | Not all bread from one oven | Not everyone should be cut with the same brush. |
| An evil chance seldom comes alone. | Trouble rarely comes alone | Trouble does not go alone. |
| A good wife makes a good husband. | A good wife makes a good husband | A good wife and a bad husband will do well. |
| Like father, like son. | What a father and son. | The apple never falls far from the tree |
| Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards. | Before marriage, look into both eyes, and after marriage - half an eye. | Look into the eyes before the wedding night, and after - squint. |
| The rotten apple injures its neighbors. | A rotten apple also spoils the neighboring ones. | Rotten apple injures its neighbors. |
| A babe in the house is a well-spring of pleasure. | A small child in the house is an inexhaustible source of joy. | Children are not a burden, but a joy. |
| Blood is thicker than water. | Blood is thicker than water. | The voice of blood cannot be silenced. |
Love
| Love and a cough cannot be hidden. | Love and cough cannot be hidden. | You can't hide love, fire and cough from people. |
| Lucky at cards, unlucky in love. | Happy in cards, unhappy in love. | I'm not lucky in cards - I'm lucky in love. |
| Long absent, soon forgotten. | When you are away for a long time, you are soon forgotten. | Out of sight, out of mind |
| Love is blind. | Love is blind | Love is blind. |
| Love me, love my dog. | Love me love my dog too | Do you like to ride, love to carry sleds |
| Misery loves company. | Misfortune loves company. | Trouble has come - open the gate. |
| Love cannot be forced. | You can't force love. | You won't be forced to be nice. |
Money
Where without the theme of business and money. By the way, if you haven't noticed yet, comparing Russian and English proverbs is a very funny thing to do. Just take a closer look at how different they are, and you will immediately understand the whole logic of English proverbs.
| A bargain is a bargain. | A deal is a deal. | A bargain is a bargain. |
| A drop in the bucket. | A drop in a bucket. | A drop in the sea. |
| All are not hunters that blow the horn. | He is not every hunter who blows his horn | Not all that glitters is gold. |
| As plain as two and two make four. | It's clear as two times two is four | |
| Make provision for a rainy day but in good time. | Stock up for a rainy day at a good time. | Prepare the sleigh in summer and the cart in winter. |
Work and study
It is probably interesting for everyone to learn about studying and about the English language. Well, let's start then.
| A bird may be known by its song. | The bird can be recognized by its song. | The bird is visible in flight. |
| A cat in gloves catches no mice. | A cat with gloves won't catch mice. | You can't even pull a fish out of a pond without effort. |
| Best defense is offence. | Offense is the best form of defense | The best defense is an attack. |
| It's the early bird that gets the worm. | The early bird will peck the worm. | Who gets up early, God gives him. |
| Little strokes fell great oaks. | Small blows fell huge oaks. | Patience and a little effort. |
| The dog that trots about finds a bone. | The dog prowls when he wants to find a bone. | Feet feed the wolf. |
Man and character
We are all different, but still there are character traits and mistakes that we make that unite us.
| A burden of one "s own choice is not felt. | The load that you yourself have chosen, you carry without feeling. | It does not carry its own burden. |
| A burnt child dreads the fire. | A burned child is afraid of fire. | If you burn yourself with milk, you will blow into the water. |
| Actions speak louder than words. | Actions speak louder than words. | Actions speak louder than words. |
| He wouldn't hurt a fly. | He won't hurt a fly. | And won't hurt a fly |
| Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm. | Oaks may fall, while reeds stand before the storm. | Mal, yes removed. |
| A little body often harbors a great soul | A small body often hides a great soul. | Small spool but precious. |
Well, my dears, are you still afraid of all these sayings? I hope no! And I also hope that you will encounter them more than once and will not be scared anymore! About love, life and the weather - these topics can always be discussed. So show your knowledge using a couple of interesting sayings. By the way, cool quotes in English are also an opportunity to improve your knowledge - just for you best quotes.
Or maybe you know some interesting sayings in English? Share - it will be interesting!
If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again Translation: If you don't succeed at first, try, try and try again. Analog: Patience and a little effort. If you suffer for a long time - something will work out If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings Translation: If God wanted us to fly, he would give us wings. Analog: One who is born to crawl cannot fly. If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well Translation: If the work is worth doing, then it is worth doing it well. Analog: The game is worth the candle. If you can't, don't take it. If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers Translation: If "if" and "and" were pots and pans, there would be no work for tinkers. Analog: If yes, if only. Grandmother wondered, but said in two. If life deals you lemons make lemonade Translation: If life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Analog: Turn your troubles into victories. If wishes were horses beggars would ride Translation: If wishes were horses, beggars could ride. Analog: If a gray horse had a black mane, it would be buckskin. If you can't be good, be careful. Translation: If you can't do well, do it carefully. Analog: If you can't beat em, join em Translation: If you can't win, join. Analog: Can't fight, then lead. If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen Translation: Can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen. Analog: He took up the tug - do not say that it is not hefty. Gruzdev called himself get in the body. If you run after two hares, you will catch neither Translation: Analog: If you chase two hares, you won't catch one. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery Translation: Analog: Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king Translation: In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. Analog: In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. In the midst of life we are in death Translation: Analog: Nothing is eternal under the Moon. Into every life a little rain must fall Translation: There must be some rain in every life. Analog: Every day is not Sunday. It goes without saying Translation: It will go without talking. Analog: Of course. It is better to wear out than to rust out Translation: Better to wear out than rust Analog: It never rains but it pours Translation: Troubles do not come with rain, but with a downpour. Analog: Misfortune never comes alone. Trouble has come - open the gate. It takes a thief to catch a thief Translation: It takes a thief to catch a thief. Analog: A thief stole a club from a thief. It takes one to know one Translation: Analog: Birds of a feather flock together. It's all grist to the mill Translation: It's all grain for the mill. Analog: Everything will grind, there will be flour. It's an ill wind that blows no one any good Translation: It is an evil wind that does not bring good to anyone. Analog: A plague on three yards. It's better to give than to receive Translation: Better to give than receive. Analog: What you hid is gone; what you gave is yours. It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness Translation: It is better to light a candle than to curse the darkness. Analog: Better to go and spit than to spit and not go. It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive Translation: Better to go and hope than to come. Analog: The goal is nothing, the movement is everything. It's never too late Translation: It's never too late. Analog: It's never too late. It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted Translation: It is useless to lock up the stable when the horse has escaped. Analog: What has fallen is gone. It's too late to drink Borjomi when the kidneys have fallen off. They don't wave their fists after a fight. It's not worth crying over spilt milk Translation: Don't cry over spilled milk. Analog: What has fallen is gone. When you take off your head, you don't cry for your hair. It's raining cats and dogs. Translation: Analog: It's raining cats and dogs. It's the early bird that gets the worm Translation: The early bird will peck the worm. Analog: Who gets up early, God gives him. Who got up earlier, that and slippers. It's the empty can that makes the most noise Translation: An empty can is noisier. Analog: The dog barks - the wind wears. They say they milk the chickens. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease Translation: Lubricate first the wheel that creaks. Analog: A rolling stone gathers no moss. If you want to live, be able to spin. Keep your chin up Translation: Don't drop your chin. Analog: Don't hang your nose. Hold the tail with a carrot. Hold your tail with a gun. Keep your powder dry Translation: Keep your gunpowder dry. Analog: Keep your gunpowder dry. Look at both. Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and, you weep alone Translation: Laugh and the whole world will laugh with you, cry and you will cry alone. Analog: Laughter is the best medicine Translation: Laughter is the best medicine. Analog: Let bygones be bygones Translation: Leave the past in the past. Analog: What's gone is gone. Whoever remembers the old, that eye out. Let not the sun go down on your wrath Translation: Don't let the sunset catch you in anger. Analog: They carry water on the offended. Let sleeping dogs lie Translation: Let the sleeping dog lie down. Analog: Do not wake famously while it is quiet. Let the punishment fit the crime Translation: Let the punishment fit the crime. Analog: Measure for measure. An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth. Life begins at forty Translation: Life begins at forty. Analog: The Babi century is forty years old, and at forty-five - the woman is a berry again. Life is what you make it Translation: Life is what you make it. Analog: Man is the smith of his own happiness. As you sink, so you pop. Life's not all beer and skittles Translation: Life is not only beer and a bowling alley. Analog: Not all cat Shrove Tuesday, there will be a great post. An hour with kvass, and sometimes with water. Once in a while it doesn't have to. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place Translation: Lightning does not strike twice in the same place. Analog: Two bombs do not fall into one funnel. Like father, like son Translation: As a father, so is a son. Analog: The apple never falls far from the tree. Oranges will not be born on the aspen. Little pitchers have big ears Translation: Small pitchers have big ears (children love to listen to things they shouldn't). Analog: Curious Varvara had her nose torn off at the market. Live for today for tomorrow never comes Translation: Live today because tomorrow will never come. Analog: Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today. Look before you leap Translation: Look before you jump. Analog: Not knowing the ford, do not poke your head into the water. love is blind Translation: Love is blind. Analog: Love is blind. Love me, love my dog Translation: Love me, love my dog too. Analog: You love steam, love and fumes. You love to ride, love to carry sleds.Like FATHER, like son
The variant form like father, like daughter also occurs. Like MOTHER, like daughter evolved separately, although both it and this proverb were fixed in this form in the seventeenth century. cf. L. qualis pater talis filius, as is the father, so is the son.
c. 1340 Psalter (1884) 342 Ill sunnys folous ill fadirs.
1509 Ship of Fools 98 An olde prouerbe hath longe agone be sayde That oft the sone in maners lyke wyll be Vnto the Father.
1616 Adages 149 Like father like sonne.
1709 English Proverbs 30 Like Father, like Son …How many Sons inherit their Fathers Failings, as well as Estates?
1841 Ten Thousand a Year II. xiii. Two such bitter Tories .. for, like father, like son.
1936 south riding v.i. Perhaps Lydia might do it once too often …Like father, like daughter.
1977 Time 22 Aug. 41 Like father, like son-usually perhaps, but not in the Hunt family.
1983 ‘’ Appleby & Honeybath xi. And like son, like father, if one may so vary the old expression. Neither of them reading men.
children and parents ; similarity and dissimilarity
