Since then, the phrase “ el huevo de Colón” is used to encourage people not to rule out something as impossible without trying it first.ĥ. Then he sat down and said that not everything that seems difficult actually was. He took out an egg from his pocket and challenged everyone around the table to try to make it stand.Īfter every person in the room had tried and failed to do the challenge, Colombus took a spoon, hit the base of the egg softly so that the shell would crack just a little, and made it stand with an air of expertise to the astonishment of his noble guests. Have you ever tried to do something that looked difficult or even impossible but turned out to be quite easy?Īccording to history books, Christopher Columbus was having dinner with the Spanish nobility one evening when he had an idea. El huevo de Colón - Spain “A Columbus egg“ Other common Argentinean Spanish sayings with the same meaning are “ estar en la lona” (to be against the ropes) and “ no tener donde caerse muerto” (not even have a spot where one can drop dead).Ĥ. So famous, in fact, that the great singer Ada Falcón named one of her most famous songs (a tango about girls who only date rich men) after it. The expression “ en la palmera” has since become one of the most popular Spanish sayings in Argentina and other countries. Apparently, those who lost all their money used to sit under the tree to cry, curse their bad luck, and think what the heck they were going to tell their wives. It all started in a clandestine gambling house which, according to popular belief, had a tall palm tree in the backyard. In Buenos Aires, saying that you are under a palm tree means that you are going through a rough time, especially in relation to your finances. Estar en la palmera - Argentina “To be under the palm tree” Since ancient times, this phrase has inspired Mexican people not only to take care of animal and plant species but also to be kind to each other.ģ. After all, the world we live in will be as beautiful and just as we make it. And unlike most sayings, it does have an author: Nezahualcóyotl, an undeniable symbol of aboriginal wisdom and monarch of the ancient Mexican city/state of Texcoco, was as good as a poet as he was beloved as a political leader.Īccording to our Mexican tutor Mónica, Nezahualcóyotl coined this phrase to warn his followers that one cannot merely take from the land or from a fellow human being without giving anything back. Though this is a list of Spanish proverbs, this náhuatl expression actually has its origins in pre-hispanic Mexico. Tlalticpac Toquichtin Tiez - Mexico “The Earth shall be as good as men are” With time, the phrase Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres lost its religious connotation and became a sort of warning for travelers and migrants who hold so tight to their own customs that they fail to experience the new culture in all its richness.Ģ. Milán used an older version of this phrase, “ Cuando estés en Roma, haz lo que hacen en Roma” (When in Rome, do as the Romans do) to remind his followers that they should follow the ideas of the Roman Church and not those of Arian theologists. ![]() According to our Spanish teacher Juan Carlos, it was said for the first time during the IV century by Ambrosio de Milán, one of the fathers of the Roman Catholic Church.Īt this time, the Aryan theology started to challenge the divinity of Christ, arguing that the Son was distinct from the Father and therefore subordinate to Him. Like most Spanish proverbs, this expression comes with an interesting story. Whether this new place is a country, a city, or even a family home, integrating yourself into it is not just a sign of respect towards your hosts it’s also the only way in which you can be truly happy. This Spanish saying is used to highlight the importance of adapting to the customs and lifestyle of a new environment. ![]() Donde fueres, haz lo que vieres - Spain “Wherever you go, do what you see”. Now that you’ve finally decided to study Spanish, what about doing things differently this time? Every time you hear a curious Spanish saying, ask a local about their origin! I’m sure you’ll be surprised at how much you can learn about the culture of a country from these idiomatic expressions.īelow, you will find 7 Spanish proverbs with fascinating origin stories to get you started!ġ. And second, not many of us know where they come from. First, they have been consistently used across several English-speaking generations. Phrases like “A bad workman always blames his tools” and “All that glitters is not gold” have two things in common.
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