ProverbHuman Nature
International origin
International originOne man's trash is another man's treasure
Meaning: What one person discards, another may value.
Origin: A modern variation on the much older "one man's meat is another man's poison," which goes back to the Roman poet Lucretius: what is food for one may be bitter poison to others. The trash-and-treasure version is a favorite of flea markets and yard sales.
Equivalents in Japanese and German
Japanese: 捨てる神あれば拾う神あり (Suteru kami areba hirou kami ari) (literally: If there is a god who throws away, there is a god who picks up)
German: Was dem einen sin Uhl, ist dem annern sin Nachtigall (literally: What is one person's owl is another person's nightingale)
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
- Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.
- Eres un aguafiestas You're a killjoy — you pour cold water on everyone's fun the moment you arrive.
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