BY MICHAEL PRINS
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CATHERINE MOYER
Sometimes you need just the right expression to ‘hit the nail on the head’. Check out these local idioms from FH-partnered communities — ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’! While they don’t come from your ‘neck of the woods’, you might just find they are your ‘cup of tea’.
It all starts with a good education. So, if you want to benefit the community, you need to invest in school.
This phrase is used within the context of the family to teach children not to disrespect their parents.
Some things just are what they are; it’s best to accept that.
With time, even an egg will hatch, or at least reveal its legs and get moving. With time, you too will reach your goal.
Some people just have no fear of saying whatever pops into their heads.
People’s behaviours change in different situations. You may have to adjust your expectations.
When things are going well, it’s easy to assume all will continue to go well. But don’t abandon prudence, or you may find yourself unprepared!
An encouragement for people to work within their means and not stretch beyond what they can afford. It is also advice to not crave for what you realistically cannot have, but rather to choose contentment.
Um, obviously? This implies everyone has their own fortune in life and just because someone else has received a certain privilege, you should not expect or desire the same.
ILLUSTRATIONS BY CATHERINE MOYER
Sometimes you need just the right expression to ‘hit the nail on the head’. Check out these local idioms from FH-partnered communities — ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’! While they don’t come from your ‘neck of the woods’, you might just find they are your ‘cup of tea’.
1. "Plant in the school, fruit in society."
It all starts with a good education. So, if you want to benefit the community, you need to invest in school.
2. "The cake is not bigger than the pan."
This phrase is used within the context of the family to teach children not to disrespect their parents.
3. "Clay will never be iron."
Some things just are what they are; it’s best to accept that.
4. "The egg goes on foot over a period of time."
With time, even an egg will hatch, or at least reveal its legs and get moving. With time, you too will reach your goal.
5. "They speak without hairs on the tongue!"
Some people just have no fear of saying whatever pops into their heads.
6. "The way the cat walks is not the way it holds the rat."
People’s behaviours change in different situations. You may have to adjust your expectations.
7. "A leaking roof may fool sunny weather, but cannot fool the rain."
When things are going well, it’s easy to assume all will continue to go well. But don’t abandon prudence, or you may find yourself unprepared!
8. "The short person touches where their height stops."
An encouragement for people to work within their means and not stretch beyond what they can afford. It is also advice to not crave for what you realistically cannot have, but rather to choose contentment.
9. "The blessing of a dog does not make a goat ignore the potato vines."
Um, obviously? This implies everyone has their own fortune in life and just because someone else has received a certain privilege, you should not expect or desire the same.
