Kidole kimoja hakivunji chawa
Meaning: You cannot do everything alone.
Language: Swahili
Literally: One finger can't crush a louse
Category: Body & Senses
Origin: Squashing a louse takes two thumbnails together, picturing the necessity of cooperation.
Equivalents in other languages
- Korean: 백지장도 맞들면 낫다 (Baekjijangdo matdeulmyeon natda) — literally: Even a blank paper is better when held together
- Hungarian: Sok lúd disznót győz — literally: Many geese defeat a pig
- Arabic: يد واحدة لا تصفق (yad wāḥida lā tuṣaffiqu) — literally: One hand does not clap
- Irish: Ní neart go cur le chéile — literally: There's no strength without unity
More idioms — Body & Senses
- Tynnu blewyn o drwyn — To provoke or tease someone.
- E ka gjuhën të gjatë — He gossips and speaks too freely.
- Essere in gamba — To be sharp, capable and on the ball.
- Fare orecchie da mercante — To turn a deaf ear deliberately.
- Chorar de barriga cheia — To complain when you have nothing to complain about.
- Положить зубы на полку (Polozhit' zuby na polku) — To go hungry; to tighten your belt.
More Swahili idioms
- Chovya chovya humaliza buyu la asali — Small indulgences add up to a big loss.
- Mgaagaa na upwa hali wali mkavu — Effort and initiative are always rewarded.
- Pole pole ndio mwendo — Slow and steady gets you there.
- Mvumilivu hula mbivu — Patience is rewarded.
- Haraka haraka haina baraka — Haste makes waste.
- Mtaka cha mvunguni sharti ainame — You must work and humble yourself for what you want.
From our proverbs
- To a crazy ship all winds are contrary. — A disoriented mind finds obstacles everywhere, even when circumstances remain favorable.
- The worst wheel of a cart creaks most. — The most damaged or weakest part of any system draws attention and creates problems dispr…
- Credit lost is a Venice glass broken. — Once trust in your reliability shatters, it cannot be perfectly restored, only roughly me…