ProverbWisdomEnglish origin

The mother's breath is always sweet.

Meaning: A child's unconditional love makes even a parent's flaws seem virtuous and perfect.

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.

Explore another collection: Untranslatable Words

Words that capture a feeling or idea English needs a whole sentence for.

  • Harryhandel The day trip over the border into Sweden to buy meat, sweets and drink far cheaper than a…
  • Matpakke The plain packed lunch of open sandwiches in paper, eaten at your desk — a small national…
  • Takk for sist A greeting that thanks someone for the previous occasion you met, acknowledging shared hi…

Browse all untranslatable words →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →