Proverbs with opposite meanings

@JudyEv (325854)
Rockingham, Australia
November 22, 2021 3:04am CST
The photo has nothing to do with the discussion. It’s just a pretty azalea. MyLotter Vicki (@1creekgirl) mentioned in a discussion ‘Who was it that said, "Man plans and God laughs". A similar saying I know is ‘Man proposes and God disposes. This got me thinking about proverbs which contradict each other. Here is a couple I came up with. Can you suggest others that have opposite meanings? Too many cooks spoil the broth BUT Many hands make light work Absence makes the heart grow fonder BUT Out of sight, out of mind. I’m sure there are more but these are the only ones I could come up with in a hurry. Can you think of more?
32 people like this
31 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
22 Nov 21
We have exactly the same ‘Man proposes and God disposes" (l'uomo propone e Dio dispone). Some that comes to my mind You’re never too old to learn. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. Look before you leap... He who hesitates is lost. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Clothes make the man.
17 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (458230)
• Switzerland
22 Nov 21
@Fleura This is a very good one that I had never heard.
6 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (29126)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
Those are good ones. The only 'pair' I can think of are 'Time and tide wait for no man' and 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread'.
10 people like this
Thelma
@thelme55 (76476)
• Germany
22 Nov 21
@LadyDuck I have not heard it either.
5 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (29126)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
I would have said that "Man plans and God laughs" and ‘Man proposes and God disposes" have the same meaning, or is that not what you meant? I can't think of any contradictory ones at the moment - or many at all really. Those are good pairs you came up with.
9 people like this
Gruffydd Rhydderch
@Orson_Kart (6114)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
Bit sexist! In my experience it’s often man plans and woman laughs anyway.
3 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (29126)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
@Orson_Kart What is sexist, the 'man' bit? I took that to mean 'mankind'.
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Yes, they mean the same but thinking about them got me thinking about proverbs that are opposites.
2 people like this
changjiangzhibin89
@changjiangzhibin89 (16533)
• China
22 Nov 21
I think the two have opposite meanings: silence is golden,the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
7 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Yes, they fit the bill nicely.
2 people like this
askme123
@askme123 (6150)
•
22 Nov 21
Stitch in time saves nine
5 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Nov 21
@JudyEv "Don't be too hasty"
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
So now we need another proverb that means the opposite.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
@BarBaraPrz Good one!
2 people like this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Nov 21
It's thrilling, I'll share mine: 1. Blow your own trumpet 2. Barking up the wrong tree 3. Head over heels and 4.Bend over backwards
5 people like this
Gruffydd Rhydderch
@Orson_Kart (6114)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
@cacay1 Are they contradictory? Can you bend over backwards?
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
@Orson_Kart We're not going to get too hung up with the technicalities.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Thanks for the suggestions.
2 people like this
Josh
@Joshael (299)
• Nigeria
22 Nov 21
Heres one: Haste makes waste. Time waits for no man.
8 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Yes, that's a good one too.
3 people like this
BarBaraPrz
@BarBaraPrz (45498)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
22 Nov 21
"A stitch in time saves nine" vs "Don't be too hasty"
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Yep, they're opposites.
1 person likes this
Nawsheen
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
22 Nov 21
I am still thinking about it. Will come back later on
4 people like this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Nov 21
3 people like this
Nawsheen
@Nawsheen (28644)
• Mauritius
22 Nov 21
@cacay1 I discussed this with my colleagues and this is what we came up with - Look before you leap But Strike while the iron is hot
7 people like this
Erly Maglangit
@cacay1 (83223)
• Cagayan De Oro, Philippines
22 Nov 21
@Nawsheen, perfect
3 people like this
OceanTiara
@RebeccasFarm (86764)
• United States
22 Nov 21
At this minute my brain is asleep..let me wake up more Okay I thought of one. You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. ..Mama and Granny RIP
3 people like this
Gruffydd Rhydderch
@Orson_Kart (6114)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
You need two to pass Judy’s test. Guess what, you failed!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
You do need two that contradict but that's okay. There is no pass or fail despite I'm OK's (@Orson_Kart) comment.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
@Orson_Kart BEHAVE!!
1 person likes this
Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
22 Nov 21
No idea but are the two you mentioned with buts in the middle were they said as one or are they two distinct ones that contradict each other? In the kitchen the first might be true while working in the yard or with housework or other tasks might for the other better. So they may not contradict but be meant for different things.
4 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
They are two separate proverbs (in each line) which contradict each other. And you're right. It depends on the circumstances which works better.
1 person likes this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
22 Nov 21
Those ones are good. Not at the moment.
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Several have come up with some but it's not that easy.
2 people like this
Valerie J. Routhieaux
@just4him (306386)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Nov 21
@JudyEv No, it's not easy.
1 person likes this
Arunima Singh
@arunima25 (85328)
• Bangalore, India
22 Nov 21
Few just pop up in my mind 1. Slow and steady wins the race...Time and tide waits for none 2. Opposites attract... Birds of a feather flock together. I might come with more.
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Those are good. There are more and more appearing that I hadn't thought of.
1 person likes this
Raj
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
22 Nov 21
How about practice makes a man perfect and little knowledge is a dangerous thing LOL although they are different ,we can combine these
5 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Yes, that pretty much hits the target.
2 people like this
Raj
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
23 Nov 21
1 person likes this
Miftahul Huda
@Chakimmm (999)
• Indonesia
22 Nov 21
Sorry I haven't found such contradicting proverbs, because the proverbs here are very different from there, maybe I'll think about it first.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
That's okay. I know other countries have their own proverbs which don't always translate, I'm sure.
1 person likes this
Vree0937
@Vree0937 (3879)
• Indonesia
23 Nov 21
@Chakimmm You're translating "anjing menggong, kafilah berlalu?" Thats not caravan in english. They had idioms for that, but cant remember for now.
1 person likes this
Miftahul Huda
@Chakimmm (999)
• Indonesia
23 Nov 21
@JudyEv Yeah i could name one but it's very different from there. "dogs bark the caravan goes by" Which means; let them ridicule or gossip about us, but stay focused on our goals so that we will be successful in the future.
2 people like this
Heather Echola
@GardenGerty (157562)
• United States
22 Nov 21
Anna did well. All of you guys are sharper than I am today.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
I could only think of my two and I wondered if maybe there weren't so many after all but you have all proved me wrong.
1 person likes this
Gruffydd Rhydderch
@Orson_Kart (6114)
• United Kingdom
22 Nov 21
Great minds think alike Fools seldom differ
2 people like this
Gruffydd Rhydderch
@Orson_Kart (6114)
• United Kingdom
23 Nov 21
@JudyEv Phew!
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Those are good - you pass!
1 person likes this
askme123
@askme123 (6150)
•
22 Nov 21
Once a man twice a child
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
Thanks for joining in.
1 person likes this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95261)
• Marion, Ohio
22 Nov 21
Right now I cant.
2 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (95261)
• Marion, Ohio
23 Nov 21
@JudyEv I read comments and seen several.
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
I could only think of the two but I knew there were more.
1 person likes this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73473)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
23 Nov 21
Very lovely azaleas. Yep, here are some If at first, you don’t succeed, try, try again. Don’t beat your head against a stone wall. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Out of sight, out of mind. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.
2 people like this
RasmaSandra
@RasmaSandra (73473)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
24 Nov 21
@JudyEv very many if you search online
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Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
23 Nov 21
Those are good ones. There is quite a few, isn't there?
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156271)
• United States
22 Nov 21
I love azaleas. Can't think of any contradicting proverbs.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (325854)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Nov 21
I thought there were lots of them but now I can only think of a few.
2 people like this