Polish Proverbs Explained — R (13)
All Polish proverbs (przysłowia) starting with the letter R — explanations, vocabulary, and cultural context for learners.
- "A goat dies only once." You only live once, so take the chance. Said when someone chooses a bold or risky action and accepts what may happen.
- "Sometimes on the cart, sometimes under the cart." Life has good and bad times. Luck changes: today you may be on top, tomorrow at the bottom.
- "Work is not a hare; it will not run away." There is no rush, because the work will still be there later. Often said to justify a break or moving slowly.
- "A clear New Year means a bountiful harvest." This weather proverb says that a sunny, clear New Year's Day will bring a rich harvest later in the year.
- "The Holy Spirit advises beating children with a switch; a switch will not harm their health at all." This old proverb supports corporal punishment as good for …
- "Fish and guests smell after three days." Guests who stay too long become as unwelcome as fish left to rot. Even hospitality has limits.
- "Fish like to swim." A joke used to justify drinking alcohol with a fish meal, or any meal. The fish needs to swim, so give it something to swim in.
- "A fish rots from the head." Corruption, failure, or problems in an organisation start at the top, with its leaders rather than ordinary staff.
- "A little fish likes to swim." A playful excuse for drinking alcohol with a fish meal, or any food. It is used as a joke to encourage a drink.
- "Fish, though they may be good, become tiresome by the third day." Even good things lose their appeal when repeated. Variety helps keep things enjoyable.
- "Agreement between brothers is a rare thing." Harmony among siblings or close partners is hard to keep. Rivalry and disagreement are more common than unity.
- "Rare is the feast day of Saint Dorothy without frost, blizzard, or sleet." Saint Dorothy's day, 6 February, almost always brings hard winter weather. It is a …
- "Rarely does the hawk catch a partridge when it chases the whole flock." Trying to chase everything at once means catching nothing. Focus works better than …