ProverbMorality
German origin
German originEine Hand wäscht die andere
Meaning: People help those who help them; favors are returned.
Literally: One hand washes the other
Example: “Er hilft mir beim Umzug, ich repariere sein Fahrrad. Eine Hand wäscht die andere.” — He helps me move, I fix his bike: one good turn deserves another.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 4 more languages
English: One good turn deserves another.
French: À beau jeu, beau retour (literally: Fair play, fair return)
Spanish: Amor con amor se paga (literally: Love is repaid with love)
Japanese: 情けは人の為ならず (Nasake wa hito no tame narazu) (literally: Compassion is not for another's sake (it returns to you))
Italian: Una mano lava l'altra (literally: One hand washes the other)
Portuguese: Uma mão lava a outra (literally: One hand washes the other)
Dutch: De ene hand wast de andere (literally: One hand washes the other)
Polish: Ręka rękę myje (literally: Hand washes hand)
Chinese: 礼尚往来 (Lǐ shàng wǎng lái) (literally: Courtesy calls for reciprocity)
Origin: A Latin proverb, manus manum lavat, already spoken by a character in Petronius' Satyricon in the 1st century. It can mean fair cooperation or a cozy exchange of favors, depending on who says it.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- Tomaten auf den Augen haben To be oblivious to what's right in front of you.
- Ich glaub mein Schwein pfeift I can't believe it! That's outrageous!
- Um den heißen Brei herumreden To beat around the bush.
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