Hunger makes hard bones sweet beans.
Meaning: Desperation transforms what we'd normally reject into something we gratefully accept.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Perseverance
- Be a good husband, and you will get a penny to spend, a penny to lend, and a penny for a friend. — Prudent household management creates surplus wealth to share generously with others while…
- An idle brain is the devil's workshop. — Unoccupied minds naturally drift toward mischief and destructive thoughts rather than pro…
- God never measures men by inches. — Height matters less than character; true worth is invisible to the eye.
- Industry is fortune's right hand and frugality her left. — Hard work and careful spending together create wealth; neither alone suffices.
- Better lose a jest than a friend. — Sacrificing a humorous quip protects valued relationships that require more care than mom…
- Tis a great journey to the world's end. — Long journeys require patience and persistence; ambitious goals demand sustained effort o…
From our false friends
- Lectura — Actually means 'reading'. A lecture is una conferencia.
- Compromiso — Actually means 'commitment', 'obligation', or 'engagement'. For a negotiated compromise,…
- Gracioso — Actually means 'funny' or 'amusing'. For gracious (kind and polite), say amable.