As They Say In Zanzibar. David Crystal

one calls in the wood, so comes the echo back again ESTONIA

      7 Those who run away will fight again GREECE

      8 The end of separation is meeting again TURKEY

      9 Boldness, and again boldness, and always boldness FRANCE

      10 By trying often, the monkey learns to jump from the tree CAMEROON

      11 Friends are lost by calling often and calling seldom SCOTLAND

      12 The wise make proverbs but fools repeat them ENGLAND

31 TIME

      1 There is time enough to yawn in the grave ESTONIA

      2 A stitch in time saves nine ENGLAND

      3 Truth is the daughter of time GERMANY

      4 The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now CHINA

      5 You cannot jump over two ditches at the same time NETHERLANDS

      6 No one can blow and swallow at the same time GERMANY

      7 It takes a long time to sharpen a hammer made of wood NETHERLANDS

      8 Time heals all wounds ENGLAND

      9 Seconds are the gold dust of time USA

      10 Those who wait long at the ferry will get across some time SCOTLAND

      11 Those who wait for roast duck to fly into their mouth must wait a very, very long time CHINA

      12 Procrastination is the thief of time ENGLAND

      13 What greater crime than loss of time? GERMANY4 COUNTRY VARIATIONS – CLIMATESome of the most noticeable contrasts between the proverbs of different countries relate to the differences in their climate and weather. References to the seasons are especially common.A padded jacket is an acceptable gift, even in summer (JAPAN)In December and January have mercy on the poor (LEBANON)Every mile is two in winter (ENGLAND)No more leaves can fall in autumn than were grown in spring (GERMANY)You do not know who is your friend or who is your enemy until the ice breaks (ICELAND)The autumn chill is the first thing felt by a thin person (CHINA)After a typhoon there are pears to gather up (CHINA)SEE ALSO Country variations – artefacts; animals; plants; beliefs and behaviour

      14 Time and tide wait for no one ENGLAND

      15 Money cannot buy time CHINA

      16 Time is anger’s medicine GERMANY

      17 If they do not open after three knocks, do not wait POLAND

      18 Make hay while the sun shines ENGLAND

      19 Time to catch bears is when they’re out USA

      20 One should not ask the time of a rusty clock NETHERLANDS

      21 Those in love always know the time GERMANY

      22 Someone with a watch knows what time it is; someone with two watches is never sure FRANCE

32 YEARS – SEASONS – MONTHS – WEEKS

      1 A weasel comes to say Happy New Year to the chickens CHINA

      2 Errands are small on a spring day ICELAND

      3 A padded jacket is an acceptable gift, even in summer JAPAN

      4 One swallow does not make a summer ENGLAND

      5 The autumn chill is the first thing felt by a thin person CHINA

      6 No more leaves can fall in autumn than were grown in spring GERMANY

      7 Every mile is two in winter ENGLAND

      8 A kind word warms for three winters CHINA

      9 In December and January have mercy on the poor LEBANON

      10 No annual fair without a thief NETHERLANDS

      11 An hour of play discovers more than a year of conversation PORTUGAL

      12 If you want one year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want a hundred years of prosperity, grow people CHINA

      13 A smile will gain you ten more years of life CHINA

      14 The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago; the second-best time is now CHINA

      15 Before marrying live wildly for three years POLAND

      16 A dog last year is a dog this year SERBIA

      17 A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy CHINA

      18 For the diligent, a week has seven days; for the slothful, seven tomorrows GERMANY

      19 Seven days is the length of a guest’s life MYANMAR

      20 Those who lose Monday lose all the week GEORGIA

      21 Every Sunday brings a week with it SCOTLAND

33 DAYS – NIGHTS

      1 Every day cannot be a feast of lanterns CHINA

      2 An apple a day keeps the doctor away ENGLAND

      3 A hug a day keeps the demons at bay GERMANY

      4 Errands are small on a spring day ICELAND

      5 A good day is that in which to lay by cold porridge MALAWI

      6 Another day, another dollar USA

      7 The better the day, the better the deed ENGLAND

      8 Those who lose Monday lose all the week GEORGIA

      9 Those who spend a night with a chicken will cackle in the morning TUNISIA

      10 Sunday plans never stand CANADA

      11 Every Sunday brings a week with it SCOTLAND

      12 The absent get farther off every day JAPAN

      13 After three days without reading, talk becomes flavourless CHINA

      14 Seven days is the length of a guest’s life MYANMAR

      15 A guest and a fish after three days are poison FRANCE

      16 A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy CHINA

      17 Every dog has its day ENGLAND

      18 Every day is not Friday; there is also Thursday USA

      19 Friday begun, never done USA

      20 Who teaches me for a day is my father for a lifetime CHINA

      21 For the diligent, a week has seven days; for the slothful, seven tomorrows GERMANY

      22 Go fishing for three days and dry the nets for two CHINA

      23 Two happy days are seldom brothers BULGARIA

      24 One missing button strikes the eye more than one missing day ESTONIA

      25 There are more days than sausage USA

      26 The most wasted of all days is the day when we have not laughed FRANCE

      27 The night washes what the day has soaped SWITZERLAND

      28 Gossip lasts but seventy-five days JAPAN

      29 Rome was not built in a day ENGLAND

      30 Birds hear talk in daytime, rats hear talk at night KOREA

      31 Old countries don’t disappear overnight; they stay for breakfast EGYPT

      32 Have patience, fleas, the night is long NICARAGUA

34 MORNINGS – AFTERNOONS – EVENINGS

      1 Dawn does not come twice to wake us SOUTH AFRICA

      2 The darkest hour is just before the dawn ENGLAND

      3 We can never see the sun rise by looking into the west JAPAN

      4 A misty morning may have a fine day ENGLAND

      5 The morning is the mother of trades and the evening the mother of thoughts ITALY

      6 Those