The young suckers drain the old tree.
Meaning: Young dependents exhaust elderly parents' resources and vitality through continuous demands.
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
- That suit is best that best fits me. — Individual circumstances determine the right choice, not universal standards or what suit…
- No sunshine but hath some shadow. — Even the brightest circumstances contain unavoidable difficulties or imperfections.
- One swallow does not make a summer. — A single favorable occurrence cannot establish a lasting pattern; sustained evidence requ…
- One swallow makes not a spring, nor one woodcock a winter. — A single favorable occurrence cannot establish a pattern; sustained evidence is needed to…
- They have need of a besom that sweep the house with a turf. — Using inadequate tools wastes effort; poor implements cannot accomplish their intended pu…
- He must needs swim that's held up by the chin. — Desperation forces you to learn survival skills you'd never develop in safety or comfort.
From our untranslatable words
- Duende — A mysterious quality in art or performance that moves you to your core — a dark, soulful,…
- Querencia — A place where you feel safe, grounded, and most fully yourself — a sanctuary from which y…
- Estrenar — The specific pleasure of wearing, using, or showing off something brand new for the very…