ProverbChallenge
Spanish origin
Spanish originMala hierba nunca muere
Meaning: Tough or troublesome people always survive; often said jokingly.
Literally: Bad weeds never die
Example: “¿Otra vez de pie después del accidente? Mala hierba nunca muere.” — Back on your feet after the accident already? Ill weeds grow apace.
Equivalents in English, French, Japanese, German, Italian, and 2 more languages
English: Ill weeds grow apace.
French: Mauvaise herbe croît toujours (literally: Ill weeds grow apace)
Japanese: 憎まれっ子世にはばかる (Nikumarekko yo ni habakaru) (literally: The hated child thrives in the world)
German: Unkraut vergeht nicht (literally: Weeds do not perish)
Italian: La mal erba cresce presto (literally: Ill weeds grow apace)
Portuguese: Erva ruim, não a queima a geada (literally: Frost doesn't burn a bad weed)
Dutch: Onkruid vergaat niet (literally: Weeds don't perish)
Origin: Weeds outlast everything the gardener does to them. German has the same weed: Unkraut vergeht nicht.
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- en la estacada abandoned or left in a difficult situation without help.
- ahogarse en poca agua to panic or overreact to a minor problem.
- morder el polvo to be defeated or to die.
Keep exploring