Three women and a goose make a market.
Meaning: Excessive noise and commotion from small groups can create an illusion of bustling activity or importance.
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.
Equivalents in Italian
- Italian: Tre donne e un papero fanno un mercato (literally: Three women and a goose make a market)
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From our compliments & insults
- Du hast doch einen Vogel — You're a bit out of your mind.
- Du gehst mir auf den Keks — You're getting on my nerves.
- Schlaumeier — A smart aleck or know-it-all.