One of the main components of American culture are proverbs . Indeed , these statements pass from mouth to mouth from fathers to children . However, it cannot be argued that American proverbs originated specifically in this country . Most of these expressions were borne by people from all over the world . The people of America call themselves " melting pot of many cultures ", which is translated from English as " hodgepodge " of many cultures .
Proverbial cultural value
Such expressions were supposed to increase the education of the population and convey to the young people the worldly wisdom of the elderly . Their main goal was to instill various behaviors .
Some American proverbs and sayings were based on the Bible , although they have survived to this day in an altered form . And this happened because many people were illiterate and simply could not write them down . Each perceived the ideas that the pastor delivered to the audience in different ways , and accordingly conveyed them to the others in a different way .
Proverbs and sayings are simultaneously called the wisdom of the whole world and the wit of a particular person . These short statements can caress the ear with praise and approval , or they can sharply “ prick ” with a stinging mockery .
The problem of proverbs, sayings and aphorisms
Despite the fact that such sayings are perceived by people as truth , they often contradict each other . For example , one of the American proverbs says : " He who is shy , he disappeared ." We say " Procrastination is like death ." Another saying firmly states : " Look where you are jumping before you do it ." We are used to saying that we need to measure it once , and cut it off only once . The first proverb clearly urges us not to stop , but to immediately go forward , towards the goal . The second , on the contrary , advises you to think a thousand times before doing something .
Of course , the meaning of each such saying also depends on the context . The proverb will work in its own way in different situations . The first proverb is more appropriate to use when you need to quickly make a decision , on which future life will depend . And the second - upon delivery of an important document , in needlework , etc. d .
Consider some American proverbs with translation into Russian . They will be grouped by various topics .
Money
You must have heard the expression " America is a land of opportunity ." People come here not only from the poor , but also from the developed countries of Europe . Immigrants are coming for the " American Dream ". This word means a better life and a high level of freedom .
That is why money is one of the leading themes of American proverbs . Check out some of them :
- Get the money honestly if you can .
Literal translation of the proverb : “ If you can , make money honestly .” There is a Russian proverb with the same meaning : “ Better poverty and honesty than profit and shame .” - "After a person becomes rich , his next goal is to get rich stronger . " There is no equivalent proverb in the Russian language.
- " If a person has one hundred dollars and he makes one million out of them , then this is unbelievable ; and if he has one hundred million and he makes a million , this is inevitable . "
- In America, people say about stupid people and their attitude to their means: "D urak quickly parted with money . " In Holland there is a similar saying : “ A fool and money are incompatible things .”
Russian proverb : “ A fool has a hole in his handful .”
Work
The love of work was instilled in America since childhood . That is how this stubborn and disciplined people built this country .
We invite you to meet a number of American proverbs about labor :
- "Hard work has never been harmful to anyone . " Russian proverbs : “ Labor feeds, and laziness spoils .” “ Patience and work will grind everything .”
- "No profit without pain . " And they say that it’s easy not to catch a fish from a pond .
- "A worker is judged by his work . " Russian proverbs : " At work and masters to know ." “ What a worker is , so is the pay .”
- "If there is work to be done , then it must be done well . " In our country, they say that "the game is worth the candle " or "the game is a game of the sheep ."
There are those conflicting sayings about work :
- " Horses will either plow or fools . " In our homeland there is a phrase : “ Fools love work .”
It is likely that the sayings contradict each other , because they were in use either at different times or in different layers of society .
Homeland
Americans are very fond of their country and proud of it . Of course , patriotism is reflected in the culture , including in the small genre of folklore : proverbs and sayings .
It is worth noting that the British and Americans do not praise their homeland as much as the Russians . They identify the country in which they were born with a house where it is always nice and cozy . We suggest you get acquainted with English and American proverbs about the homeland :
- "East or West , but better at home" - the famous saying in English.
We say that visiting is good , but home is always better . - “ There is no better place than home, ” is another proverb about the homeland .
The Russians say that the stingy side is a dense forest, or that the land is howling and pretty . - " Your house is where your heart is . " This is another very beautiful American proverb that has a " sister " in Russian : " Native land - paradise for the heart."
A family
Americans praise people-to-people relationships . Family is a great value that people strive to protect with all their might . Be sure to look at the following sayings :
- "You are free to choose with whom to be friends with you , but the family is one . " The same meaning is made by the saying “ Parents are not chosen, ” which we are used to hearing .
- "First a daughter , then a son - that’s a good family . "
- " Happiness comes to a friendly family by itself . " The Russians say : " In a close-knit family happiness spills over the edge ."
- "Any family has mercy . " And we say that mercy begins at home .
- "The beautiful wife will have a good husband . " In Russian they say that a good wife and a husband are honest .