English French Literal translation) Z# j, t/ {+ r
An apple a day keeps the doctor away. Il vaut mieux aller au moulin qu'au médecin. It's better to go to the mill than to the doctor.: f+ l/ G0 b6 \& `
A bad workman blames his tools. à mauvais ouvrier point de bons outils. To a bad worker no good tools.! E. L' d# X1 p4 E1 G
Beggars can't be choosers. Nécessité fait loi. Necessity makes law
; E+ j) F; N$ h% _ Clothes don't make the person. L'habit ne fait pas le moine. The habit doesn't make the monk.
) E, x% f+ s j9 _0 {0 _5 J$ n9 j Don't judge a book by its cover. Il ne faut pas juger les gens sur la mine. One shouldn't judge people on their appearance.
5 B. `- i1 }+ O5 l# s! m Do your work well and never mind the critics. Bien faire et laisser dire. Do well and let (them) speak.3 S" W$ X4 M \9 K- \8 [& V' ^
Every Jack has his Jill. Il n'est si méchant pot qui ne trouve son couvercle. There's no such mean jar that can't find his lid.! l# H, ]' A: X7 l" e0 Y2 ]
Givers of advice don't pay the price. Les conseilleurs ne sont pas les payeurs. Dispensers of advice are not the payers.2 c1 z& Y- P4 ]9 O1 ]* i# t7 q
A guilty conscience needs no accuser. Qui s'excuse, s'accuse. He who excuses himself accuses himself.* d, n9 N5 n/ P7 ]
Heaven helps those who help themselves. Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera. Help yourself, heaven will help you.8 I9 f3 H/ j/ e2 U" G
Honor to whom honor is due. à tout seigneur tout honneur." a+ X" w, w; a I' a5 y/ g2 |
In the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king. Au royaume des aveugles les borgnes sont rois.
" A* J% A" i& G; d5 S2 Z& \ It's better to talk to the organ-grinder than the monkey. Il vaut mieux s'adresser à Dieu qu'à ses saints. It's better to address God that his saints.
1 x1 Z7 x8 A- k: |2 Z! j2 G7 u A man's home is his castle. Charbonnier est ma?tre chez lui. A coalman is master at home.
; E1 G. ~- M8 N5 ^0 O% V5 b0 x3 t The miser's son is a spendthrift. à père avare fils prodigue. To a stingy father prodigal son.
( P$ }) E, L4 @, ]# G New converts are the most pious. Quand le diable devient vieux, il se fait ermite. When the devil gets old, he turns into a hermit.
! {9 B! J) S. y8 f) ] No man is a prophet in his own country. Nul n'est prophète en son pays.
" n# H+ D" h$ ? Opportunity makes a thief. L'occasion fait le larron.' m' P- D& [/ K
The rich man is the one who pays his debts. Qui paie ses dettes s'enrichit. He who pays his debts gets richer.
, w& g2 @, l& |) E1 U Robbing Peter to pay Paul. Il ne sert à rien de déshabiller Pierre pour habiller Paul. It serves no purpose to undress Peter to dress Paul.
, y* X5 \. X5 Z% C0 r The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot. Les cordonniers sont toujours les plus mal chaussés. Shoemakers are always the worst shod.
$ R# P' b, q# Z' W9 p; g$ e' _% Z4 _ The sky is the limit. Tout soldat a dans son sac son bat?n de maréchal. Every soldier has his marshall's baton in his bag.( V, @5 D( f7 J5 b
To err is human L'erreur est humaine The error is human
" k5 X7 a1 N' d To know a friend is to respect him. Comme on conna?t ses saints, on les honore. As one knows his saints, one honors them.# C0 N E! x: j% y$ I | D
Too many cooks spoil the broth. Autant de têtes, autant d'avis. Deux patrons font chavirer la barque. So many heads, so many opinions. Two bosses capsize the boat
4 I7 ~/ N2 G% M) S% F2 g! K. k$ ? The tree is known by its fruit. C'est au pied du mur qu'on voit le ma?on. It's at the foot of the wall that you see the mason.
& Q& @: m# o% O) G A word to the wise is enough. à bon entendeur, salut. To a good listener, safety.
* G: i4 {. ] N% ~% S You can tell an artist by his handiwork. à l'oeuvre on reconna?t l'artisan. By his work one recognizes the workman. |