Djamila
Bosnjakinja
What are some of the expressions your people use, some of their proverbs?
The most famous two from Bosnia are probably: "Two things rule the world: reward and punishment" and "He who lies for you, will lie against you". But we also have many others.
There are funny ones, like "Bog visoko, a Turska daleko" (God is high above, and Turkey is far away) - it can be used two ways. "Do want you want, who cares." or "Don't bother waiting for help."
One the Bush administration should hear: "Don't plant anything where it's not grown on its own".
"Half the work is a good rest"
"What's on her neck is in his home" (Treat your wife well (metaphor here is jewels around the neck) and your home will be nice and happy and well-kept)
"Mixed emotions is a beautiful daughter"
Gentle rain wears down the biggest mountains, so why kill with poison when honey works as well.
He paid 50 cows to get her, and 100 to give her back. (Be careful what you're wishing for, metaphor here is man's dowry to bride's family)
Who drinks wine for dinner, has coffee for breakfast (Face the consequences)
Even the old woman doesn't give it away for free.
He's making a Queen from a servant girl (Exxagerating)
After shaking hands with a Christian, count your fingers (obvious enough)
No flowers grow on the trails the Serbs have walked
P)
Bolje ikad nego nikad. (Better now than never)
Morning is smarter than evening (Don't procrastinate)
Kako dolo, tako prolo (How it comes is how it goes)
Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata (Speak of the world, and he's at my door)
Od Kulina bana i dobrijeh dana (Since the time of King Kulin of Bosnia and the good days, like... "For as long as I can remember)
The most famous two from Bosnia are probably: "Two things rule the world: reward and punishment" and "He who lies for you, will lie against you". But we also have many others.
There are funny ones, like "Bog visoko, a Turska daleko" (God is high above, and Turkey is far away) - it can be used two ways. "Do want you want, who cares." or "Don't bother waiting for help."
One the Bush administration should hear: "Don't plant anything where it's not grown on its own".
"Half the work is a good rest"
"What's on her neck is in his home" (Treat your wife well (metaphor here is jewels around the neck) and your home will be nice and happy and well-kept)
"Mixed emotions is a beautiful daughter"
Gentle rain wears down the biggest mountains, so why kill with poison when honey works as well.
He paid 50 cows to get her, and 100 to give her back. (Be careful what you're wishing for, metaphor here is man's dowry to bride's family)
Who drinks wine for dinner, has coffee for breakfast (Face the consequences)
Even the old woman doesn't give it away for free.
He's making a Queen from a servant girl (Exxagerating)
After shaking hands with a Christian, count your fingers (obvious enough)
No flowers grow on the trails the Serbs have walked
P)Bolje ikad nego nikad. (Better now than never)
Morning is smarter than evening (Don't procrastinate)
Kako dolo, tako prolo (How it comes is how it goes)
Mi o vuku, a vuk na vrata (Speak of the world, and he's at my door)
Od Kulina bana i dobrijeh dana (Since the time of King Kulin of Bosnia and the good days, like... "For as long as I can remember)
