
ProverbCommunication
Russian origin
Язык мой — враг мой (Yazyk moy — vrag moy)
Meaning: Careless talk gets you into trouble.
Literally: My tongue is my enemy
Example: “Зачем я сказал ему правду? Язык мой — враг мой.” — Why did I tell him the truth? My tongue is my own worst enemy.
Equivalents in English, French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian, and 3 more languages
English: Better that the feet slip than the tongue.
French: Mieux vaut glisser du pied que de la langue (literally: Better a slip of the foot than of the tongue)
Spanish: Por la boca muere el pez (literally: The fish dies by its mouth)
Japanese: 口は災いの元 (Kuchi wa wazawai no moto) (literally: The mouth is the source of calamity)
Italian: Ne uccide più la lingua che la spada (literally: The tongue kills more than the sword)
Portuguese: Pela boca morre o peixe (literally: The fish dies by its mouth)
Dutch: Beter met de voet dan met de tong te struikelen (literally: Better to stumble with the foot than with the tongue)
Chinese: 祸从口出 (Huò cóng kǒu chū) (literally: Disaster comes out of the mouth)
Origin: A longer form continues прежде ума глаголет: my tongue speaks before my mind does.
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Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Ты умница (ty umnitsa) You're bright, clever, and admirable — said warmly of someone who handles things well.
- У тебя золотые руки (u tebya zolotye ruki) You're extraordinarily skilled — able to make or fix anything with your hands.
- Золотые руки (Zolotye ruki) You're wonderfully skilled with your hands — a true master at making and fixing things.
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