I think it would be useful to have a topic on proverbs, they are an interesting aspect of the lanuage. Post here the ones you find interesting, or you want to learn the meanings.

it ürür, kervan yürür.

My favorite. "Great enterprises are not deflected by the yips and yaps of petty critics."

Literally -- "Dogs bark, the caravan moves on."

Eski hamam, eski tas.

(Same old bathhouse, same old water bowl.)

(( damlaya damlaya gul olur))

tear plus tear will make a lake
thanks

Alyaa, that proverb is actually 'Damlaya damlaya göl olur'. The meaning is correct, but gül means rose, lake is göl

(( iyi dost kara gunde belli olur))

good friend will be discovered in the black day.
thanks

(( allah gumus kapiyi kaparsa, altin kapiyi acar))

if god closed a silver door, a golden door will be opened

thanks

there was kind of mistake in the proverb
(( allah gumus kapiyi kaparsa , altin kapiyi acar))

if God closed a silver door, God will open a golden door

alyaa

az soyle cok dinle

(( talk alitle and listen too much))

this another proverb but i dont understand what does it mean
( bugunun isini yarini birakma)

help me?

and one more

( bakarsan bag, bakmazsan dag olur)

- Bugünün işini yarına bırakma.

The direct translation for this proverb is "Don't delay the work of today to tomorrow." I think the interpretation is pretty straightforward.

- Bakarsan bağ, bakmazsan dağ olur.

This one is a little more implicit, but the actual meaning is "If you take care of sth, it will become beautiful and productive, it will turn into something you can make use of. If you don't take care of it, however, it will become useless and unproductive, like something that makes life more difficult for you."

bilmemek ayip degil, sormamak ayip

it is not ashame not to know something but it is ashame if you dont ask about it.

bilmemek ayip degil, sormamak ayip

it is not ashame not to know something but it is ashame if you dont ask about it.

bilmemek ayip degil, sormamak ayip

it is not ashame not to know something but it is ashame if you dont ask about it.

* The hungry is obvious from cheek, thirsty from lips.
* The cursed can not be rich, cruelty will be paid back.
* Don’t embrace white dog as a sheep.
* Wise is a capital for a young man.
* Buy a good merchandize and don’t be anxious.
* Buying is easy, but the payment is difficult.
* Golden sword can open the iron door.
* Short hen shows itself as chick.
* Lip can not be black by kissing Arab hand.
* The horse dies the area left behind, the hero dies the fame left behind.
* There is no smog if there is no fire.
* The person fell down from horse is not die, the one does who fells from donkey.
* The one who earns less gains much, but the one who gains much gains none.
* Don’t left hungry since became thief, don’t tell much became shameless, don’t touch too much become impudent.
* The goods of the crying person can not be beneficial to the laughing.
* Let your brain simmer in August and your saucepan in winter.
* Heavy head is good, if it were light it could be gone with the wind.
* The one who does not do any good to his father, does not anybody either.

(http://www.kulturturizm.gov.tr/portal/kultur_en.asp?belgeno=1595)

hi there!

Could anyone translate the following proverb into French ?

"Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaç olur."

many thanks!

hi any one can translate this preverb to english
allan razi, sattan razi

and another one,

dosta dusmana karsi

cogu gitti azi kaldi

this proverb mean that the much has gone and alittle is still.
they say when people try to help someone to be patient for something too long

bir yastiga bas koymak

this proverb has a surface meaning that is a pillow to put ur head on.
but also it has inner meaning that is what person need to feel rest is asmall place to be safe on.

this one i dont understand

iyi olacak hastanin hekim ayagina gelir???

and one more

para ila degil sira ile

the proverb

komsu mosunin kulunu muhtac olur

what does komsu mean first?? in english

I will give my interpretation for some of these proverbs.

1. Alan razı, satan razı -> the buyer is satisfied, the seller is satisfied.

This phrase is used when a third party interrupts a deal or sth like that on which two parties have already agreed.

2. Dosta düşmana karşı -> Facing the allies and the foes.

This has a meaning like "In front of everybody". It is used when you are proud about sth. and there are people jealous of you for that.

3. Bir yastığa baş koymak. -> To put heads on one pillow.

This phrase has the meaning of being together, being with each other on an issue. The heads on one pillow here implicitly refers to the close relationship of husband and wife where the two are together in the course of life and supporting each other.

4. İyi olacak hastanın hekim ayağına gelir. -> The doctor comes himself to the patient that will recover.

This proverb basically says, if sth is in your destiny, it will happen one way or another.

5. Parayla değil, sırayla. -> Not with money, with the line.

This is not a proverb, it is just a not-so-polite way of saying sth like "This is free, but you need to wait for your turn".

6. Komşu komşunun külüne muhtaçtır. -> One needs the ash of his neighbor.

This is a proverb about the importance of neighborship relationships and how neighbors need/depend on each other.