Home › Proverbs

The fifer don't pay a fiddler.

Meaning: A musician playing one instrument cannot compensate another musician for their work.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

  • Fiddler's fare; meat, drink, and money. — A fiddler's performance rewards him with sustenance, refreshment, and payment all at once.
  • Fields have eyes, and woods have ears. — Watchful observers in open spaces and hidden listeners in concealed places mean privacy n…
  • He wants to have a finger in every pie. — Ambition to control multiple enterprises simultaneously often dilutes focus and prevents…
  • He that would catch fish must not mind getting wet. — Success requires accepting the inevitable discomforts and risks inherent to your goal.
  • The best fish are near the bottom. — Valuable things require effort and willingness to search deeper rather than accepting sur…
  • I have other fish to fry. — Pursuing multiple important goals simultaneously means you lack time for additional commi…

← Back to Proverbs

Loading the full interactive collection…