ProverbWisdom
Russian origin
Russian originНе так страшен чёрт, как его малюют (Ne tak strashen chyort, kak ego malyuyut)
Meaning: Things are rarely as bad as they're made out to be.
Literally: The devil isn't as scary as he's painted
Example: “Я боялся экзамена, но не так страшен чёрт, как его малюют.” — I was afraid of the exam, but it wasn't as bad as it was made out to be.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, German, and 2 more languages
English: There are more threatened than struck.
French: Il y a plus de peur que de mal (literally: There is more fear than harm)
Spanish: Más son los amenazados que los heridos (literally: The threatened outnumber the wounded)
Japanese: 案ずるより産むが易し (Anzuru yori umu ga yasushi) (literally: Giving birth is easier than worrying about it)
German: Es wird nicht so heiß gegessen, wie es gekocht wird (literally: Things are not eaten as hot as they are cooked)
Italian: Il diavolo non è così brutto come lo si dipinge (literally: The devil isn't as ugly as he's painted)
Polish: Nie taki diabeł straszny, jak go malują (literally: The devil isn't as scary as he's painted)
Origin: The devil is not as frightening as he is painted; малюют is a colloquial verb for daubing paint. Italian and Polish paint the same devil.
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Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
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