ProverbHuman Nature
Spanish origin
Spanish originQuien espera, desespera
Meaning: Waiting anxiously makes time drag and wears you down.
Literally: He who waits, despairs
Example: “Deja de mirar el móvil cada minuto. Quien espera, desespera.” — Stop checking your phone every minute: a watched pot never boils.
Equivalents in English and Japanese
English: A watched pot never boils
Japanese: 待つ身は長い (Matsu mi wa nagai) (literally: Waiting feels long)
Origin: A play on one root: espera (waits) and desespera (despairs).
Explore another collection: Tongue Twisters
Tricky phrases to practice out loud, from languages around the world.
- Pablito clavó un clavito, ¿qué clavito clavó Pablito? A bouncy drill on the 'cl' cluster.
- Tres tristes tigres tragaban trigo en un trigal. A relentless run on the 'tr' sound.
- El cielo está enladrillado, ¿quién lo desenladrillará? A brutal test of the rolled 'r' and 'l'.
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