Home › Proverbs

It is an ill bird that defiles its own nest.

Meaning: Betraying your family or community harms the very foundation of your own security and belonging.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

Translations

  • Spanish: Aquella ave es mala, que en su nido caga (literally: It is an ill bird that fouls its own nest)

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…