As They Say In Zanzibar. David Crystal

new grain USA

      11 You can’t teach an old dog new tricks ENGLAND

      12 Only with a new ruler do you appreciate the value of the old MYANMAR

      13 New lords, new laws FRANCE

      14 New laws, new frauds ENGLAND

      15 New officials introduce strict measures CHINA

      16 There is always something to be cut off young trees if they are to grow well GERMANY

      17 Better keep under an old hedge than creep under a new furze-bush ENGLAND

45 OLDNESS

      1 Old purses shut badly NETHERLANDS

      2 Everything ancient is to be respected GREECE

      3 Custom is rust that mocks at every file BOHEMIA

      4 Once is no custom NETHERLANDS

      5 An old story does not open the ear as a new one does NIGERIA

      6 When an old barn begins to burn, it is hard to put out NETHERLANDS

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

      8 Old droppings don’t stink KENYA

      9 Out of old fields come new grain USA

      10 The older the buck, the harder his horn SCOTLAND

      11 The older the ginger, the more it bites CHINA

      12 Old sayings contain no lies SPAIN: BASQUE

      13 Better keep under an old hedge than creep under a new furze-bush ENGLAND

      14 An old moon’s mist never died of thirst IRELAND

      15 Even a young foot finds ease in an old slipper SCOTLAND

      16 Money is never old-fashioned NETHERLANDS

      17 To get out a rusty nail you must take away a piece of the wall MALTA

      18 A new broom sweeps clean, but the old brush knows the corners IRELAND

      19 An old broom still sweeps the room ESTONIA

      20 Beware of old streets and new inns GERMANY

      21 If you want to go fast, go the old road MYANMAR

      22 There is no better looking-glass than an old friend ENGLAND

      23 To read a book for the first time is to make the acquaintance of a new friend; to read it a second time is to meet an old one CHINA

      24 Only with a new ruler do you appreciate the value of the old MYANMAR

      25 You must go behind the door to mend old breeches ENGLAND

      26 Hunger doesn’t say, ‘Stale bread,’ and cold doesn’t say ‘Old coat.’ GEORGIA

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

46 AGE

      1 New-born calves don’t fear tigers CHINA

      2 The baby who does not cry does not get fed PHILIPPINES

      3 A frog’s baby is a frog JAPAN

      4 A burnt bairn dreads the fire SCOTLAND

      5 A child learns quicker to talk than to be silent NORWAY

      6 Parents who are afraid to put their foot down will have children who step on their toes CHINA

      7 Many kiss the child for the nurse’s sake ENGLAND

      8 Wine and children speak the truth ROMANIA

      9 A good child has several names ESTONIA

      10 To understand your parents’ love, bear your own children CHINA

      11 A child is more than a chip ESTONIA

      12 When you give a child a nut, give it also something to break it with GEORGIA

      13 Children regard their father’s guest as a slave REPUBLIC OF CONGO

      14 It’s a wise child that knows its own father ENGLAND

      15 Those who have no children do not understand love ITALY

      16 It takes a whole village to raise one child NIGERIA

      17 When you show the moon to a child, it sees only your finger ZAMBIA

      18 More precious than our children are the children of our children EGYPT

      19 Spare the rod and spoil the child ENGLAND

      20 If he calls it a silly and childish game, that means his wife can beat him at it USA

      21 A young doctor makes a full graveyard CHINA

      22 Three kinds of men fail to understand women – young men, old men, and middle-aged men IRELAND

      23 Even a young foot finds ease in an old slipper SCOTLAND

      24 A young saint, an old devil ITALY

      25 The house with an old grandparent harbours a jewel CHINA

      26 An old rat is a brave rat FRANCE

      27 It is a hard job to make old monkeys pull faces BELGIUM

      28 An old cat will not learn how to dance MOROCCO

      29 You can’t teach an old dog new tricks ENGLAND

      30 The mind does not grow old WALES

      31 An old horse doesn’t fear the whip SWITZERLAND

      32 The head is older than the book BELGIUM

      33 Age before beauty USA

      34 You do not teach the paths of the forest to an old gorilla REPUBLIC OF CONGO

      35 There are old pilots, and there are bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots USA

      36 Old soldiers never die ENGLAND

      37 Where paper speaks, beards are silent FRANCE

      38 To grow is to see SOUTH AFRICA

      39 Those who do not lie never grow up UGANDA

47 A TIME AND A PLACE

      1 There’s a time and a place for everything ENGLAND

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

      3 Although the river is broad there are times when boats collide CHINA

      4 When the occasion comes, the proverb comes GHANA

      5 Turn your tongue seven times before speaking FRANCE

      6 Every time we laugh a nail is removed from our coffin ITALY

      7 There is a time to squint, and a time to look straight SCOTLAND

      8 Transgressions should never be forgiven a third time CHINA

      9 Fall down seven times, get up eight JAPAN

      10 To read a book for the first time is to make the acquaintance of a new friend; to read it a second time is to meet an old one CHINA

      11 It is not enough to run; one must start in time FRANCE

      12 There’s no time like the present ENGLAND

48 SOMETIMES

      1 A blind hen can sometimes find her corn FRANCE

      2 The saddest dog sometimes wags its tail ENGLAND

      3 Idle curiosity sometimes fills the mousetrap NETHERLANDS

      4 The devil makes pots, but not always lids ITALY: SARDINIA

      5 The dog on three legs ain’t always lame USA

      6 Thunder-clouds do not always give rain ARMENIA

      7 Pilgrims seldom come home saints GERMANY

      8 Friends are lost by calling often and calling seldom SCOTLAND

      9 Where they like you, do not go often SPAIN

      10 Even