IdiomFood & Drink
Afrikaans
Afrikaans'n Halwe eier is beter as 'n leë dop
Meaning: Half a loaf is better than none.
Literally: Half an egg is better than an empty shell
Example: “Die salaris is nie groot nie, maar 'n halwe eier is beter as 'n leë dop.” — The salary isn't big, but half a loaf is better than none.
English equivalent: Half a loaf is better than none
Origin: "Half an egg is better than an empty shell": a little is better than nothing. The Afrikaans proverb comes from Dutch beter een half ei dan een lege dop, recorded around 1550 in a proverb collection quoted by Stoett, and matches English "half a loaf is better than none."
More Afrikaans idioms
- Nou is die gort gaar Now we're really in trouble.
- Jakkals trou met wolf se vrou A sunshower — rain while the sun shines.
- Hy is van sy trollie af He has lost his mind.
- Koeitjies en kalfies Idle small talk.
- Bobbejaan agter die bult To worry about troubles that may never come.
- So skaars soos hoendertande Extremely rare; almost non-existent.
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