ProverbChallengeFrench origin

Chien sur son fumier est hardi

Meaning: Everyone is bold on their own ground.

Literally: A dog on its own dunghill is bold

Example: “Chez lui il fait le fier, mais au bureau il ne dit rien. Chien sur son fumier est hardi.” — He swaggers at home but says nothing at the office: every cock is proud on his own dunghill.

Equivalents in English, Spanish, Japanese, German, Russian, and 2 more languages

  • English: Every cock is proud on his own dunghill.
  • Spanish: Cada gallo canta en su muladar (literally: Every cock crows on his own dunghill)
  • Japanese: 内弁慶の外地蔵 (Uchibenkei no sotojizō) (literally: A Benkei (warrior) at home, a Jizō (meek statue) outside)
  • German: Jeder Hahn ist Herr auf seinem Mist (literally: Every cock is master on his own dung heap)
  • Russian: Дома и стены помогают (Doma i steny pomogayut) (literally: At home even the walls help you)
  • Polish: Każdy kogut na swych śmieciach śmielszy (literally: Every rooster is bolder on his own rubbish heap)
  • Turkish: Her horoz kendi çöplüğünde öter (literally: Every rooster crows on its own dunghill)

Origin: A dog on its own dunghill barks louder than anywhere else; English gives the dunghill to a cockerel.

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