ProverbWisdom
Russian origin
Russian originБережёного Бог бережёт (Berezhyonogo Bog berezhyot)
Meaning: Taking precautions is wise; God, or luck, helps those who are careful.
Literally: God protects those who protect themselves
Example: “Возьми зонт, хоть и солнечно. Бережёного Бог бережёт.” — Take an umbrella even though it's sunny: better safe than sorry.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 4 more languages
English: Better safe than sorry
French: Mieux vaut prévenir que guérir (literally: Better to prevent than to cure)
Spanish: Más vale prevenir que lamentar (literally: Better to prevent than to regret)
Japanese: 備えあれば憂いなし (Sonae areba urei nashi) (literally: If prepared, there is no worry)
German: Vorsicht ist besser als Nachsicht (literally: Caution is better than hindsight)
Italian: La prudenza non è mai troppa (literally: You can never have too much caution)
Portuguese: Mais vale prevenir do que remediar (literally: Better to prevent than to cure)
Dutch: Voorzichtigheid is de moeder van de porseleinkast (literally: Caution is the mother of the china cabinet)
Polish: Strzeżonego Pan Bóg strzeże (literally: God guards those who guard themselves)
Origin: The play on one verb, беречь (to guard), does the work: whoever guards himself is guarded by God. Polish says the same: strzeżonego Pan Bóg strzeże.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- в долгах как в шелках (v dolgakh kak v shelkakh) To be deeply and hopelessly in debt.
- положа руку на сердце (polozhá ruku na sérdtse) Speaking with complete sincerity and honesty.
- до свадьбы заживёт (do svad'by zazhivyot) A minor injury or problem will resolve itself naturally and quickly.
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