The fifer don't pay a fiddler.
Meaning: A musician playing one instrument cannot compensate another musician for their work.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
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…
From our false friends
- Sensible — Actually means 'sensitive'. For sensible/level-headed, say raisonnable.
- Librairie — Actually means 'bookshop'. A library is une bibliothèque.
- Constipado — Actually means 'having a head cold'. Estoy constipado = I have a cold.