by Bjay on Nov.03, 2009, under Life, dichos, mexican culture
Dichos: Mexican Proverbs and Sayings #1
Did you grow up hearing Mexican dichos or saying/proverbs?
This is my first post featuring a Mexican dicho – or proverb/saying. Many of my fellow Mexican-Americans have fond memories (maybe not so fond then), of family elders sharing these little nuggets of wisdom or humor.
Many dichos are getting forgotten or their original meanings are lost and hard to interpret in modern times. For instance, many refer to the act of spinning or parts of a spinning wheel. Also, nowadays, having good character isn’t valued as highly as having a pretty face or lots of “stuff.” So, it’s very important to remember and preserve them and hopefully learn something.
Don’t get me wrong some dichos would make feminists and PETA members pretty mad. In those cases, it’s nice to see how far we have come.
Dicho in Spanish:
Para que buscarle tres pies al gato.
Dicho in English:
No sense in looking for three feet on a cat.
This was shared by my dad, and he did not share the context. He did say it means, “Don’t go looking for trouble, looking for three feet on a cat, you know they have four – or don’t get into a useless pursuit.”
My father may seem to wear a halo, but he is not as innocent as he looks! I can totally understand why someone might say this to him. Sorry dad!
I never heard this one myself, but I think there have been a few times in my life it may have been helpful to hear it. For instance, I’m sure we all have things we would like to “change” in our significant other or we get into relationships hoping they will change. We would like them to be something they aren’t – like looking for three feet on a cat.
Have you ever wished you could have put this dicho in a bridal shower card?
See a list of all my dicho posts here.
Do you have dichos to share? If so, email them to comments@bjaysplace.com.
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November 3rd, 2009 on 2:43 pm
I like it and can’t wait to see more dichos.
November 3rd, 2009 on 3:19 pm
Bjay…
Wonderful! More! More!
November 3rd, 2009 on 4:56 pm
Thanks you guys! I’ll be serving up some more soon.
November 3rd, 2009 on 5:15 pm
So interesting, Bjay.
Growing up, my best friend in elementary school was being raised by her Grandma, who didn’t speak English. Her Grandma had all kinds of sayings that my friend would try to translate to me, but some made no sense to me at the time.
Childhood memories….
November 3rd, 2009 on 5:24 pm
My grandma had a ton of them. Unfortunately, I was too stupid to try to remember them.
She had something for all occasions – from the proper way to get dressed (something about your socks and undies being the foundation of your attire – like a the metal skeleton of a skyscraper – cause I always tried to skip the socks) to the right and wrong way to find love. I wish I could stick a cable in my ear and upload them to my computer, haha.
November 5th, 2009 on 11:12 pm
Ahora los patos le tiran a la escopeta, Hija!!
November 6th, 2009 on 12:09 am
Now the ducks shoot the shotgun? Am I the duck?
What does that mean?
November 6th, 2009 on 8:16 am
Thats what my mother would tell us, meaning its the parents’ job to chastise the children, not the other way around. You are casting aspersions on my genuine, well-deserved, hard-earned halo. You know I wouldnt hurt a fly.
November 6th, 2009 on 1:02 pm
Did I interpret it right? Hadn’t heard that one before. Ya, I know how innocent you are * whistles *
November 8th, 2009 on 6:13 am
Here is my favorite from my abuelo. I wish I could remember all of them now.
Spanish: En las bocas cerradas no entran mosca.
English: Literally, Flys cant fly into a closed mouth. Figuratively: Listening is much smarter than talking.
November 8th, 2009 on 11:25 am
Hi Chip! Thanks for the memory, my grandma told me that too! At the dinner table I talked a lot, fast, and without a lot of self-censorship, and often I put my foot in my mouth or just said stupid stuff. She told me everything from, I would end up too skinny when I grew up because I had swallowed too much air (maybe I should have tried that!) to the mosca saying. lol. I wish I remembered more of her sayings and also that I heeded them!
Let me know if you remember more! Thanks again!
November 9th, 2009 on 1:11 pm
My favorite is one my parents used every time we would demand to get something. They would say “Mira, limosnero y con garrote”. Symbolically meaning that you would ask with one hand while holding a bat or weapon in the other. Leaving no other choice but to comply with the request. Fun times!!
November 9th, 2009 on 1:53 pm
Thanks for sharing! I love the “ask with a bat” one! That’s another one my son will really enjoy hearing, haha. Those are great, please post more if you remember.
November 9th, 2009 on 1:28 pm
Memory flood gates are open! More dichos that I can remember.
- “No hay mal que por bien no venga” – Meaning: Everything happens for a reason. Or no bad happens without a good reason. Usually referenced when something bad happens that if it did not, something worse could have happened. Balance of the universe kind of stuff.
- “El flojo, trabaja doble” - Meaning: Being lazy, forces you to work twice as hard. Usually a dicho my dad would use when we were putting off doing something.
- “A caballo regalado, no se le busca colmillo” - Meaning: That items and things that given are never seen with as much gratitude and appreciation as things are acquired by some effort.
- “Siempre hay un roto, para un decosido” – Meaning: There is always a match for you, no matter how you may be.
I will post more as I remember.
Enjoy.