The proof is in the pudding

Meaning: Results speak louder than promises.

Origin: The full saying is "the proof of the pudding is in the eating," recorded by the antiquarian William Camden in 1605. A pudding then was often a sausage-like dish of meat and grain boiled in an animal's gut, which could look fine and still be spoiled — the only real test was to eat it. The shortened "the proof is in the pudding" loses that logic.

Equivalents in French, Spanish, Japanese, and German

  • French: C'est au pied du mur qu'on voit le maçon (literally: It's at the foot of the wall that you see the mason)
  • Spanish: Al freír será el reír (literally: When frying will come the laughing)
  • Japanese: 論より証拠 (Ron yori shōko) (literally: Evidence over argument)
  • German: Probieren geht über Studieren (literally: Trying beats studying)

More proverbs about Wisdom

From our compliments & insults

  • Eline sağlık — Praise and thanks to someone — especially a cook — for something made beautifully by hand.
  • És uma joia — You're a gem — a precious, lovely person.
  • Sei un salame — You're a clumsy, dopey softie — said with a smile.

Browse all compliments & insults →

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