Polish Proverbs Explained — L (21)
All Polish proverbs (przysłowia) starting with the letter L — explanations, vocabulary, and cultural context for learners.
- "A lord's favour rides on a dappled horse." The goodwill of those in power is unreliable and changeable — it can vanish as quickly as it appeared. Don't count …
- Literally: "What came easily, went easily." The proverb warns that things gained without effort — money, luck, skills — are easily lost. It is the Polish …
- Literally: "What came easily, went easily." Things that are acquired without effort — easy money, a lucky windfall, an unearned opportunity — tend to disappear …
- "Better to give to children than to take from them." It is nobler and more dignified to be a provider for the next generation than to become dependent on them …
- Literally: "Better late than never." This is a direct equivalent of the English proverb and is used in the same situations — to excuse or accept a delay while …
- "Better at night in the countryside than by day in Warsaw." Rural peace and quiet — even at night — is preferable to the bustle and stress of the big city. A …
- "Better to lose with a wise person than to find with a fool." The company you keep matters more than the outcome. Sharing misfortune with someone intelligent is …
- Literally "Better to prevent than to cure." This proverb advises that taking precautionary measures is wiser and easier than dealing with problems after they …
- "Better Agata than her father." A humorous proverb suggesting that daughters can surpass their fathers, or more broadly that the younger generation can outdo …
- "The better is the enemy of the good." Striving for something better can undermine what is already good enough. Perfectionism or the pursuit of improvement can …
- "Better a woodpecker in hand than an eagle on a branch." A variant of the 'bird in hand' family of proverbs. What you already possess, however modest, is worth …
- "Better a saffron milk cap than nothing." Even something small or modest is better than nothing at all. The rydz (a type of edible mushroom) stands in for any …
- "Better peas and cabbage at home than a fat hen at war." Simple, humble food enjoyed in peace and safety at home is worth more than rich fare obtained at the …
- "Better a sparrow in the fist than a pigeon on the roof." A certain, modest possession is more valuable than a larger but uncertain one. Don't risk what you …
- Literally: "Better a sparrow in the hand than a black grouse on a branch." This is the Polish equivalent of "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." It …
- Literally "Better a sparrow in the hand than a falcon on a branch." The proverb advises valuing what you already possess over chasing something grander but …
- "The devil doesn't sleep." Evil, mischief, or bad luck is always lurking and never rests. Used as a warning to stay vigilant, as trouble can strike at any …
- "To fish before the net." To act prematurely, before the proper tools or conditions are in place. Equivalent to counting your chickens before they hatch, or …
- "There are plenty of people, but a shortage of real human beings." A crowd of people does not guarantee the presence of true humanity, decency, or genuine …
- "In February, the ox will drink from the thaw." Despite February's cold, there are signs of the coming thaw — melting snow and ice give the ox water to drink. A …
- "February is shod in ice." February is the coldest, most frozen month of the year. A folk observation about the harshness of mid-winter weather in Poland.