Rodgers Dictionary of Proverbs
When the goat goes to church, he does not
stop till he gets to the altar.
When the gods are angry with a man, they
give him what he asks for.
When the going gets tough, the tough gets
going.
When the goose trusts the fox, then woe to
her neck.
When the gorse is out of bloom, kissing's
out of fashion.
When the government has no ears to listen
with, then she has no head for
governing.
When the grandmothers speak, the earth
will be healed.
When the great lord walks by, the wise
peasant bows deeply and passes wind
silently.
When the guest is in most favour, he will do
well to quit.
When the hand ceases to scatter, the heart
ceases to pray.
When the hand is clean, it needs no screen.
When the hand is put in, the foot follows.
When the hare leaps, there are no lame
greyhounds.
When the head aches all the body is the
worse.
When the head aches all the limbs ache.
When the head aches, all the members suffer
with it.
When the head acheth, all the body is the
worse.
When the head does not work, the legs
suffer.
When the head is big, it cannot avoid
punches.
When the head is sick the whole body is
sick.
When the head of a snake is cut off, the rest
of his body is an ordinary rope.
When the head of the family dies, that
family breaks up.
When the head rope of a net is pulled up, all
the meshes open.
When the healthy dog fights with a mad
dog, it is the ears of the healthy one that
701
are bitten off.
When the heart acts, the body is its slave.
When the heart is at ease, the body is
healthy.
When the heart is full the tongue will speak.
When the heart overflows, it comes out
through the mouth.
When the heat has past, you forget about the
shade tree.
When the helm is gone, the ship will soon be
wrecked.
When the hen gets fat, she stops laying.
When the hen had laid an egg, she cackles.
When the hen steps on the feet of her
chicken, she does not mean to kill them.
When the horse dies, dismount.
When the host smiles most blandly he has
an eye to the guest's purse.
When the house is burned down, you bring
water.
When the hunt is not successful, go find
snails.
When the hunter returns and is holding
mushrooms, don't ask him about how
his hunt went.
When the hunting dog barks, it's a signal
that the prey is near.
When the husband earns well, the wife
spends well.
When the husband is a hen and the wife is a
cock, the house is in a jumble.
When the husband is a hen and the wife is a
cock, the house is topsy-turvy.
When the hyena drinks, the dog can only
look on.
When the Indian wins, it is a massacre.
When the iron is hot, then is the time to
strike.
When the itch is inside the boot, scratching
outside provides little consolation.
When the jest is at its best, 'twill be well to
let it rest.
When the journey is finished to lay up
provisions for the journey.