ProverbCommunication
Latin origin
Latin originA word once spoken can never be recalled
Meaning: Choose your words carefully, for once said they cannot be unsaid.
Origin: The Roman poet Horace made the point twice: nescit vox missa reverti, a word once uttered cannot return (Ars Poetica), and semel emissum volat irrevocabile verbum, a word once let slip flies beyond recall (Epistles).
Equivalents in Spanish, Russian, Polish, and Chinese
Spanish: Lo dicho, dicho está (literally: What is said is said)
Russian: Слово не воробей: вылетит — не поймаешь (Slovo ne vorobey: vyletit — ne poymayesh') (literally: A word is not a sparrow: once it flies out, you won't catch it)
Polish: Słowo wróblem wyleci, a powróci wołem (literally: A word flies out as a sparrow and comes back as an ox)
Chinese: 一言既出，驷马难追 (Yì yán jì chū, sì mǎ nán zhuī) (literally: Once a word is out, a team of four horses can't catch it)
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