Lepszy rydz niż nic

Meaning: Something, however modest, is better than nothing.

Literally: Better a mushroom than nothing

Example: “Podwyżka jest mała, ale lepszy rydz niż nic.” — The raise is small, but half a loaf is better than none.

Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, and 3 more languages

English: Half a loaf is better than none
French: Faute de grives, on mange des merles (literally: Lacking thrushes, one eats blackbirds)
Spanish: A falta de pan, buenas son tortas (literally: Lacking bread, cakes are good)
German: Ein halbes Ei ist besser als eine leere Schale (literally: Half an egg is better than an empty shell)
Italian: Meglio poco che niente (literally: Better little than nothing)
Portuguese: Mais vale pouco que nada (literally: A little is worth more than nothing)
Dutch: Beter een half ei dan een lege dop (literally: Better half an egg than an empty shell)
Chinese: 聊胜于无 (Liáo shèng yú wú) (literally: Slightly better than nothing)

Origin: A rydz is a saffron milk cap, a humble but tasty forest mushroom, and it rhymes with nic, nothing.

Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.

空気が読めない (kūki ga yomenai) Completely oblivious to the unspoken social mood — the person who kills the atmosphere wi…
눈치가 없다 (nunchi ga eopda) Hopelessly socially oblivious — can't pick up on emotional cues, awkward silences, or uns…
حمار (ḥimār) A stubborn fool — the donkey being the universal symbol of obstinacy in Arabic culture.

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