ProverbMorality
English origin
English originWho sings drives away care.
Meaning: Singing actively displaces worry by occupying the mind with melody rather than anxious thoughts.
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 French, Spanish, and Portuguese
French: Qui chante son mal enchante (literally: He who sings charms away his sorrow)
Spanish: Quien canta, sus males espanta (literally: Who sings, drives away care)
Portuguese: Quem canta seus males espanta (literally: Whoever sings scares away his troubles)
Explore another collection: Idioms
Colorful expressions from dozens of languages, with their word-for-word translations.
- Un homme de paille A front man acting for someone who stays hidden.
- Envoyer paître To tell someone to get lost.
- La boîte de Pandore Something that releases a host of troubles once opened.
Keep exploring