
IdiomDaily Life
English
a word to the wise
Meaning: A hint or warning that a sensible person will heed.
Example: “A word to the wise: the boss hates people arriving late.”
Origin: From the Latin verbum sapienti sat est (a word to the wise is enough), found in the Roman playwrights Plautus and Terence.
Equivalents in other languages
French: À bon entendeur, salut Literally: To the good listener, greetings
More English idioms
- at a snail's pace Very slowly.
- no picnic Not easy or pleasant.
- the lean years A period of hardship and scarcity.
- worship the golden calf To value money and wealth above everything.
- a poisoned chalice Something that seems attractive but brings trouble to whoever accepts it.
- at the top of one's lungs As loudly as possible.
Explore another collection: Proverbs
Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.
- Silks and satins put out the fire in the kitchen. Luxury goods cannot substitute for practical necessities; fine things won't feed your fam…
- Knavery may serve for a turn, but honesty is best in the long run. Dishonest shortcuts yield temporary gains but ultimately destroy trust and prosperity.
- Knaves and fools divide the world. Manipulative people exploit opportunities while naive ones create them through gullibilit…
Keep exploring