Yiddish Sayings

Kehillat Israel Reconstructionist Synagogue

Yiddish Proverbs, Phrases, Aphorisms, Curses, and Insults
A bad peace is better than a good war	A shlekhter sholem iz beser vi a guter krig.
A bad penny always turns up.	A falsheh matba'ieh farliert men nit.
A bad person is capable of doing anything bad (lit., what's in the cards).	Vos in der kort.
A blow will heal but words you feel.	A patsh farheylt zikh, a vort gedenkt zikh.
A buzzing in one's (mind) head.	Zhu met (mir) in kop.
A crowd of people, and not one real person among them.	A groyse oylem, un nito eyn mentsch.
A curse on my enemies.	A klog tsu meineh somin.
A curse on you!	A brokh tsu dir!
A cutie-pie showing off her (new) dress.	A maidel mit a klaidel.
A fault that the bride is too beautiful.	A khasuren die kalleh is tsu shayn.
A fitting expression makes a good impression.	A guter oysdruk makht a gutn ayndruk.
A fool gives, a wise man takes.	A nar git, a kluger nemt.
A fool grows without rain.	A nar vakhst on regn.
A fool remains a fool.	A nar bleibt a nahr.
A friend is not someone who wipes your tears; he's someone who doesn't make you cry.	A khave iz nit dafke der vos visht dir op di trern nor der vos brengt dikh bekhlal nit tsi trern.
A gentle word can even break a bone.	A veykh vort brekht a beyn.
A golden key opens all doors.	A goldener shlisl efent ale tirn.
A happy mommy and daddy, and an easy upbringing.	A freylekhe tate-mame, un a gringe hodevaniye.
A homely girl hates the mirror.	A meiseh moyd hot faynt dem shpigl.
A human being learns to speak early and to keep silent late.	Der mentsh lernt fri redn un shpet shvaygn.
A kind word is better than charity.	A gut vort iz karanter vi a nedove.
A lazy person has to do a task twice.	A foiler tut in tsveyen.
A leopard cannot change his spots (lit., a wolf loses his hair but not his nature).	A volf farlirt zayne hor, ober nit zayn natur.
A lot of words, a lot of foolishness—the less you talk, the healthier.	Marbe dvorim, marbe shtus—vos vintsiker m'ret, gezinter iz.
"A man comes from the dust and in the dust he will end"—and in the meantime it is good to drink vodka.	“Odem yesode meofe vesofe leofe,” beyno—lveyno iz gut a trink bronfn.
A meowing cat can't catch mice.	A katz vos m'yavket ken kain meiz nit chapen.
A person is recognized by his speech.	A mentshn derkent men in zayn redn.
A piece of meat with two eyes (insult).	A shtik fleish mit tsvei oygn.
A pig remains a pig.	A chazer bleibt a chazer.
A plague on you! (lit., cholera on you)	A khaleryeh (chaleyre) ahf dir!
A pony-tailed cutie-pie.	A maidel mit a vayndel.
A proverb tells the truth.	A shprikhvort, iz a vorvort.
A rich miser and a fat goat are of no use until they are dead!	Fyn a kargn gvir in fet bok genist men ersht nukhn toyt!
A saintly man who knows he is a saintly man is not a saintly man	A tsadik vos veyst az er iz a tsadik is keyn tsadik nit.
A shame and a disgrace.	A shandeh un a charpeh.
A sick man you ask; a well man you give.	A kranken fregtman; a gezunten gitman.
A silent fool is half a sage.	A shvaygediker nar iz a halber khokhem.
A story without a moral is like a meal without a sweet dish.	A mayse on a moshl iz vi a moltsayt on a tsimes.
A strange fool is laughable, but your own fool is shameful.	A fremder nar iz a gelekhter, an eygener a shande.
A superfluous word has no place.	An iberik vort hot keyn ort.
A word and an arrow are the same—both deliver with speedy aim.	A vort iz azoy vi a fayl—beyde hobn groyse ayl.
A young child should be named after him.	A kleyn kind zol nokh im heysn.
Ah, I’m getting tired (lit., oh my, I'm not getting good).	Oi, mi nisht gut gevorn.
Aimless wandering (lit., he wanders around like a fart in a pickle-barrel).	Er drayt sich arum vie a forts in roosl.
All brides are beautiful—all the dead are pious.	Ale kales zenen sheyn—ale meysim zenen frum.
All his teeth should fall out except one to make him suffer.	Ale tseyn zoln bay im aroysfaln, not eyner zol im blaybn oyf tsonveytung.
All in one (person) is to be found in no one.	Alles in einem is nisht do bei keine.
All problems I have in my heart, should go to his head.	Ale tsores vos ikh hob oyf mayn hartsn, zoln oysgeyn tsu zayn kop.
All spruced up (lit., like Chavele on her way to her divorce).	Vie Chavele tsu der geht,
All the world is on the tip of the tongue.	Di gantse velt shteyt oyf der shpits tsung.
An unlucky person is a dead person.	A mentsh on glik is a toyter mentsh.
(Oh,) Are you ever a clever child! (or, nice work!)	(Oy,) A gezunt dir in kepele!
Are you starting up again?	Du fangst shoyn on?
As many years as he’s walked on his feet, let him walk on his hands, and for the rest of the time he should crawl along on his ass.	Vifil yor er iz gegangn oyf di fis zol er geyn af di hent un di iberike zol er zikh sharn oyf di hintn.
As pretty as the moon.	Shein vi der lavone.
At a distance you fool others, close at hand just yourself.	Fun vaytn nart men laytn, fun neont zikh aleyn.
Be careful, you got burned once already! (said to a divorcé who's contemplating remarrying)	Hit zikh, du host zikh shoyn eyn mol opgebrit!
Beautiful as the seven worlds.	Shein vi di zibben velten.
Beautiful is not what is beautiful, but what one likes.	Nit dos iz sheyn, vos iz sheyn, nor dos, vos es gefelt.
Being single has its advantages. (lit., alone, one's soul is pure.)	Aleyn iz di neshome reyn.
Better a crooked foot than a crooked mind.	Beser a krumer fus eyder a krumer kop.
Better a good enemy than a bad friend.	Beser a guter soyne eyder a shlekhter fraynd.
Better barley soup at home than a roast at someone else's home.	Beser bay zikh krupnik, eyder bay yenem gebrotns.
Better not to live than to become dependent on children	Beser oyf der velt nit tsu lebn, eyder onkumen tsu kinder.
Better to be a wise person in Hell than a fool in paradise.	Beser mit a klugn in gehenem eyder mit a nar in ganeydn.
Better to die upright than to live on your knees.	Besser tsu shtarben shtai'endik aider tsu leben oif di k'ni.
Better to lose with a wise man than to win with a fool.	Beser mit a klugn tsu farlirn, eyder mit a nar tsu gevinen.
Beware of your friends, not your enemies.	Hit zikh far di fraynd, nit far di faynt.
Big deal! (sarcastically) (lit., a piece of luck happened to you).	A glick hot dich getrofen.
Black sorrow is all that his mother should see of him.	Finstere leyd zol nor di mama oyf im zen.
Boring, long-winded and annoying conversation; talking your ear off (lit., banging on the teapot).	Hoken a chainik (tchinik)
Break your own head! (lit., bang your head on the wall).	Shlog zich kop in vant.
Charm is better than beauty.	Kheyn geyt iber sheyn.
Couldn’t care less about it (lit., have him in the dirt).	Khob im in drerd.
Couldn’t care less about it (lit., have him in the bath).	Khob im in bod.
Cut it short (lit., without long introductions).	On langeh hakdomes.
Damn it!	A klog af defruf, halevay!
Damn you!	A klog af dayn kop, halevay!
Death doesn't knock on the door (i.e., doesn't warn of its impending arrival)	Der toyt (teyt) klapt nit in (der) tir.
Do me a favor.	Tu mir a toiveh.
Don't ask for credit! Pay in cash in advance! Cash on the barrelhead!	Ribi-fish, gelt oyfen tish!
Don't be an idiot! Don't be a damn fool!	Zei nit kain vyzoso.
Don't bother me! (lit., don't twist my head)	Drai mir nit kain kop!
Don’t butt in (lit., don’t mix yourself into that).	Mish zikh nisht (nit) arayn.
Don't do business with a fool.	Mit a nar tor men nit handlen.
Don't do me any favors (sarcastic).	Tu mir nit kayn toives.
Don't eat the challah before you've made the blessing.	Es nisht di khale far a-moytse.
Don't get excited! (lit., it's not burning!)	Se brent nit!
Don't get on my nerves; stop nagging me (lit., don't bang my teapot).	Hok mir nit kayn chainik (arain).
Don't give me a canary (lit., don't give me an evil eye).	Gib mir nit kain aynhorah.
Don't hit me and don't lick me	Shlog mikh nit, un lek mikh nit.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.	A geshenktn ferd kukt men nit in/af di tseyn.
Don't trust a relative in business.	In handlshaft iz nito ken bridershaft.
Don't worry about it (lit., do not say woe).	Zok nit kin vey.
Don't worry; doesn't worry.	Nisht gedeiget.
Drop dead!	Ver derharget!
Drop dead!	Ver geharget!
Drop dead (lit., I have you) (Americanism).	Ich hob dir.
Drop dead! (lit., you should get killed).	Geharget zolstu veren.
Drop dead! (lit., you should lie in the earth!).	Zolst ligen in drerd.
Eat like a bird, excrete like a horse!	Ess vie ein foygl sheise vie ein ferd!
Eat, pray, don't act like a jerk!	Ess, bench, sei a mensch!
Either all or nothing.	Oder gor oder gornisht.
Either too much or not enough (vulgar) (lit., either a wallop or a fart)	Oder a klop, oder a forts.
Enjoy it! (sarcastic) (lit., it [the food] should not “agree”)	Zol es dir farshatn!
Even though a cow has a long tongue, it can't recite a blessing.	A beheyme hot a lange tsung un ken keyn brokhe nit zogn.
Every limb wants to speak but the tongue alone does the talking.	Ale glider viln redn un di tsung aleyn shtelt men aroys.
Every word in its place.	Yedes vort oyf zayn ort.
Everyone else has committed a crime (lit., a thief's hat burns).	Afn gonif brennt das hittel.
For a little love, you pay all your life.	Far a bisel libe batsolt men miten gantsen leben.
For better, for worse.	Tsum glik, tsum shlimazel.
For this I went to college? Usually said when describing a menial task.	Darf min gehn in kolledj?
Friendship is stronger than kinship.	Khavershaft iz shtarker vi brudershaft.
From a fool one has grief.	Fun a nar hot men tsar.
From an old maid you get a faithful wife.	Fun an alte moid vert a getraye vayb.
From bad matches come good children.	Fun krume shidukhim kumen aroys glaykhe kinder.
From envy grows hate.	Fun kine vert sine.
From your mouth to God's ears.	Fun dayn moyl in gots oyern.
Get a move on.	Gib zich a traisel.
Get lost, hit the road; beat it! (lit., go defecate in the ocean!)	Geh kaken oifen yam!
Go bang your head against the wall.	Geh shlog dein kup en vant.
Go fight City Hall! (lit., go fight with God).	Shlog zich mit gott arum!
Go look for someone who cares.	Lech hapess me yenanea otcha.
Go screw yourself (vulgar).	Geh tren zich.
Go split your guts (lit., go drop).	Geh plats.
Go talk to the wall.	Geh red tsu der vant.
Go to hell (lit., I have you in the ground).	Ich hob dir in drerd.
Go to hell!	Geh in drerd arein!
Go to the devil! (lit., a devil should enter your father's father!).	Ruach in dein taten's taten arein!
Go to the toilet.	Geh in der klozet.
God created a world full of small worlds.	Got hot geshafn a velt ful mit kleyne veltelakh.
God should bless him with three people: one should grab him, the second should stab him and the third should hide him.	Got zol im bentshn mit dray mentshn: eyner zol im haltn, der tsveyter zol im shpaltn un der driter zol im ba’haltn.
God should visit upon him the best of the ten plagues.	Gut zol oyf im onshikn fin di tsen makes di beste.
Gold never rusts (lit;, golden dishes will never turn black).	Goldene keylim vern ka mol nit shvarts.
Good for nothing! It's worth nothing!	Toig ahf kapores!
Good health to you (lit., good health on your head).	A gezunt ahf dein kop.
Goodness just radiates from her face!	Di gutskayt ligt ir uysgegosn afn punem!
Had they put your brain inside a bird, it would have started flying backwards!	Im hayu samim et hamo'ach shelcha betoch tsipor, hi hayta matchila la'uf achora!
Hang yourself with a sugar rope and you’ll have a sweet death.	Heng dikh oyf a tsikershtrikl vestu hobn a zisn toyt.
Have facts at one's fingertips.	Kenen oyf di finger.
Have no end of trouble (lit., to sing and to talk).	Hobn tsu zingen un tsu zogen.
He eats as if he just recovered from a sickness.	Er est vi noch a krenk.
He fell for her “hook, line, and sinker!”	Er iz gevorn far ir di kapore!
He is completely crazy!	Er iz meshuge afn gantsn kop!
He is smart whose good luck accompanies him.	Der iz klug vemes mazl geyt im nokh.
He just can't stop praising her! (Can't praise her enough)	Er ken zikh fun ir nit oploybn!
He may be frum, but he's still a thief!	Er iz Gott's ganef!
He owes everybody money.	Er iz Gott di neshome shuldik.
He owes him the hole in the bagel	Er iz im shuldik di lokh fun beygl.
He pretends he doesn't know he is doing something wrong, e.g., breaking into a line.	Er macht zack nisht visindicht.
He should be transformed into a chandelier, to hang by day and to burn by night.	Migulgl zol er vern in a henglayhter, by tog zol er hengen, un bay nakht zol er brenen.
He should burn up! (lit., a fire should meet him)	A feier zol im trefen!
He should drink too much castor oil.	Azoy fil ritzinoyl zol er oystrinkn.
He should drop dead.	Paigeren zol er.
He should give it all away to doctors.	Oyf doktoyrim zol er dos avekgebn.
He should go nuts and run around (through the streets).	Meshuga zol er vern un arumloyfn (iber di gasn).
He should grow a wooden tongue.	A hiltsener tsung zol er bakumn.
He should grow like an onion with its head in the ground.	Er zol vaksn vi a tsibele mit dem kop in drerd.
He should have a large store, and whatever people ask for he shouldn’t have, and what he does have shouldn’t be requested.	A groys gesheft zol er hobn mit shroyre: vus er hot, zol men bay im nit fregn, un vos men fregt zol er nisht hobn.
He should have Pharaoh’s plagues sprinkled with Job’s scabies.	Er zol hobn paroys makes bashotn mit oybes krets.
He should laugh with lizards.	Lakhn zol er mit yashtherkes.
He should see everything, but have no reason (with what) to buy it.	Er zol altsting zen, un nit hobn farvos (mit vos) tsu koyfn.
He who is aware of his foolishness is a wise person.	Der vos farshteyt zayn narishkayt iz a kluger mensch.
He who is no good to himself is not good to another.	Ver es toyg nit far zikh, toyg nit far yenem.
He who is silent means something just the same.	Der vos shveigt maint oich epes.
He's a low down good-for-nothing.	Er iz a niderrechtiker kerl.
He’s a motor-mouth! (lit., he talks like fire and like flood)	Er ret far fayer un far vaser!
He's got nothing to offer!	Er hot nit vos tsu farkoyfn!
He's playing the field (looking for a mate).	Er shteyt in shidukhim.
His luck should be as bright as a new moon.	Zayn mazl zol im layhtn vi di levone in sof khoydesh.
Hurry up! (lit., give yourself a shake)	Gib zich a shukl!
I am (not) in a hurry.	Ich eil zich (nit).
I am disappointed.	Ich bin ahntoisht.
I am fainting. A response to receiving extremely upsetting information or news (lit., it's getting dark in my eyes).	Es vert mir finster in di oygn.
I am happy to make your acquaintance.	A fargenign aich tzu kenen.
I can't lead you astray.	Ich ken dir nisht farfeeren.
I complain and I keep going.	Me krechts, me geht veyter.
I despise you. Go to the devil (lit., I whistle on you).	Ich feif oif dir.
I did wrong? So call me a nut!	Ruf mich k'nak-nissel!
I don't care.	A gesheft hob nicht.
I don't care. I should worry.	A deigeh hob ich.
I don't envy you.	Ich bin dich nit mekaneh.
I don't want to know.	Ich vill nicht vesn.
I hate him.	Ich hob im feint.
I have a heartburn.	Es brent mir ahfen harts.
I have no alternative.	A breyre hob ich.
I have no idea.	Ich hob nicht kain anung.
I have your measure (lit., I have you in my pocket).	Ich hob mir fer pacht.
I haven't got the faintest idea! (lit., I should know from trouble as I know about this!)	Zol ich azoy vissen fun tsores!
I keep on dropping things.	Oy! Es falt fun di hent.
I love you!	Ich hob dir lieb!
I need it like a hole in the head!	Ich darf es vi a loch in kop!
I should have such good luck.	Az a yor ahf mir.
I should know as little about trouble (as I know about what you are asking me).	Ich zol azoy vissen fun tsores.
I should outlive him long enough to bury him.	Vi tsu derleb ikh im shoyn tsu bagrobn.
I sure told him off!	Ikh hob em arayngezogt in tatn's tatn arayn!
I wish that I could have the pain instead of you, my child! (said by a loving mother to her suffering child)	Mir zol zayn far dir, mayn kind.
I wish you to have ten houses, each house with ten rooms, each room with ten beds and you should roll from one bed to the other with cholera!	Zolst hobn tsen haizer, yeder hoiz zol hobn tsen tsimern, in yeder tsimer zoln zain tsen betn un zolst zij kaiklen fun ein bet in der tsweiter mit cadojes!
I work for nothing! (lit., I work in an empty world)	Ikh arbet af a puster velt!
I'll give you nothing! (lit., I'll give you a fever).	Ich vel dir geben kadoches!
I'll give you such a smack!	Ich vel dir geben a khamalye!
I’m a worn-out old shoe.	Oy, ikh bin an alter shkrab.
I'm about to faint (from sheer exhaustion).	Ich gai chaleshen bald avek.
I'm gonna fix his wagon! (lit., I'll make him miserable!)	Ikh'l em umgliklekh makhn!
I'm not in a hurry.	Ich yog zich nit.
I’m nothing more than a piece of a broken old pot.	Ikh bin nisht mer vee a tsebrukhener sharbm.
If a girl has no other virtues, even a freckle can be considered one.	Az es zenen nito keyn andere mayles, iz a zumer-shprinkele oykh a mayle.
If dumbness was a drop of water, you would have been an ocean!	Im hatimtoon haya tippa, ata hayita okianoos!
If I don't come today, I'll come tomorrow (procrastinator's motto).	Kum ich nisht heint, kum ich morgen.
If my grandmother had testicles she would be my grandfather.	Az di bobe volt gehat beytsim volt zi geven mayn zeyde.
If one has nothing to say, it's best to shut up.	Az men hot nit tsu entfern muz men farshvaygn.
If one wants to beat a dog, one finds a stick.	Az mir vill schlugen a hunt, gifintmin a schtecken.
If someone tenders money, take it! (Take it now, and ask questions later...)	Az me git gelt, nemts!
If stupidity was a tree, you would have been a forest!	Im hatipshut hayta etz, ata hayita chorshat kakal!
If the fool didn't belong to me, I'd be laughing too.	Ven der nar volt nit geven mayner, volt ich oykh gelakht.
If the horse had anything to say, it would speak up.	Ven dos ferd volt gehat vos tsu zogn volt es geret.
If there's a bitterness in the heart, sugar in the mouth won't make life sweeter.	Az in harsn iz biter, helft nit in moyl arayn tsuker.
If they had to put your brain in a chicken, it would run straight to the butcher.	Im hayu samim et hamo'ach shelcha b'tarnegol, hu haya ratz yashar l'shochet tafsik lezyen.
If two people confirm something, it's true (lit., if two people say you're drunk, the third one goes to sleep).	Az tsvei zuggen shiker, leigst zich der driter shloffen.
If you don't eat garlic, you won't smell bad.	Az men est nisht kayn knobl, shtinkt men nit.
If you don't want to get old, hang yourself when you're young.	Az me vil nit vern alt, zol men zikh yingerheyt oyfhengern.
If you have—hold, if you know—keep silent!	Hostu—halt, veystu—shvayg!
If you're going to eat pork, eat the best kind (lit., if you're going to eat pork, get it all over your beard).	Ez men est khazer zol rinen ariber der bord.
It can’t (wouldn’t) hurt.	Es ken nisht (nit) shatn.
It doesn't matter to me.	Es macht mir nit oys.
It gives me great pleasure (often said sarcastically).	Es tut mir a groisseh hanoeh.
It helps like blood-cupping helps a dead person.	Zolst helfen vi a toyten bankes.
It is conceivable. It is imaginable.	Es ken gemolt zein.
It is written: silence is wisdom.	Es shteyt dokh geshribn: khokhme—shtike.
It melts in the mouth, delicious, yummy.	Tsegait zich in moyl.
It should bang in your head (the way it is bothering me!).	Zol dir klappen in kop!
It should not happen (to you); God forbid! (concerning a sad event) (lit., don’t you think [it])	Nisht du gedacht.
It stinks!	Se shtinkt!
It won't hurt in arranging a marriage.	Es ver nit shaten tsum shidekh.
It's a shame for the children!	Es iz a shandeh far di kinder.
It's a shame to waste money on that!	S'iz a shod di (dos) gelt!
It's a steal (lit., a bargain for/from a thief).	A metsieh far/fun a ganef.
It's as appropriate as a pig.	Es past vi a khazer.
It's as appropriate as a slap in response to a greeting of "good shabbos"	Es past zikh vi a patsh tsu gut shabes.
It's completely useless, futile (lit., it helps like blood-cupping helps a dead person).	Zolst helfen vi a toiten bankes.
It's delicious (lit., one can lick the finger).	Me ken lecken di finger.
It’s garbage (lit., it never rose and it never flew).	Es iz nit geshtoygen un nit gefloygen.
It's good for nothing! I have no use for it (lit., I need it for a [useless] fowl sacrifice).	Ich darf es ahf kapores!
It's none of your business.	Es iz nit dayn gesheft.
It’s useless for me to talk (lit., there’s no one here to talk to!).	Nito tsu vemen tsu reydn.
Keep your mouth shut!	Nem-on a fuln moyl vaser!
Kiss my behind! (vulgar)	Kush meer in toches!
Leeches should drink him dry.	Trinkn zoln im piavkes.
Let him suffer and remember.	Zol er krenken un gedenken.
Let what I wish on him come true (most, even half, even just 10%).	Zol es im onkumn vos ikh vintsh im (khotsh a helft, khotsh halb, khotsh a tsent kheylik).
Life is nothing but a dream, but don't wake me up!	Dos/der lebn iz nit mer vi a kholem, ober vekt mikh nit uf!
Live till 100 like a 20-year-old.	Biz hundert azoi ve tsvantsik.
Loaf, do nothing, be completely inactive (lit., not to put a finger in cold water).	Nisht araynton keyn finger in kalt vaser.
Look down, and you'll know how high up you are.	Kuk arop, vest du visn vi hoykh du shteyst.
Love is sweet, but it's good with bread.	Di libe iz zis nor zi iz gut mit broyt.
Lying in the ground, baking bagels.	Lign in drerd un bakn beygl.
Make it round and to the point!	Makh es kaylekhdik un shpitsik.
Man proposes, God disposes (lit., man plans, God laughs).	Mentsch tracht, Gott lakht.
Many songs, but few dumplings.	A sakh zmires, un veynik kneydlekh.
Marriage is like a padlock, divorce the key.	Di khasene iz a shlos, der get a shlis'l.
Marry blindly and your wife will lead you by the nose.	Hostu khasene blind, vet dayn vayb dikh firn bay der noz.
May a beautiful, purified plague befall them.	A sheynem, reynem kapore of zey.
May a strange death befall you!	A mise meshune oyf dir!
May God help me!	Zol Gott mir helfen!
May God prevent!	Zol Gott ophiten!
May he rest in peace, and have a long wait (till I die and join him).	Zol er likhtik ru'en un lang vartn.
May you grow like an onion, with your head in the ground!	Vahksin zuls du vi a tsibeleh, mitten kup in drerd!
May you grow to health (said when someone sneezes).	Vahksin zuls du tsu gezunt.
May you grow to life (said when someone sneezes).	Vahksin zuls du tsu leben.
May you grow to long years (said when someone sneezes).	Vahksin zuls du tsu langeh yor.
May you never again experience (such) pain.	Ir zolt mer nit visn fun ken tzar.
May you suffer an ugly fate!	Chap ein a meesa meshina.
Money is not a problem.	Gelt is nisht kayn dayge.
Much ado about nothing! Impossible! (lit., in heaven there's a big fair!).	Oyfen himmel a yarid!
My money went down the drain! (lit., my money went into the ground [to Hell])	In drerd mein gelt!
My stomach aches.	Es tut mir vey der boykh.
Neither here nor there, in limbo.	Nisht ahir un nish aher.
Neither here nor there; it doesn't matter (lit., it won't fly, it won't fit).	Nisht geshtoygen, nisht gefloygen.
No answer is also an answer.	Nit keyn entfer iz oikh an entfler.
No one is as deaf as they one who will not listen.	Keyner iz nit azoy toyb vi der vos vil mit hern.
No one possesses all the virtues.	Ale mayles in eynem, iz mito bay keynem.
No one sees his own faults (lit., no one sees his own hunchback).	Keiner zeyt nisht zein eigener hoyker.
No tongue speaks as much ill as one's own.	Keyn tsung ret nit azoy fil shlekhts vi di eygene.
Not speaking also talks.	Nit geret iz oykh geret.
Not to have any choice available is also a choice.	Kein briere iz oich a breire.
Not what it's cracked up to be (lit., all seven lucky things).	Alle ziben glicken.
Nothing came of it! (lit., there's nothing up there but a small attic)	Es hot zich oysgelohzen a boydem!
On a beautiful person, it's good to look; with a smart person, it's good to live.	Of a shaynem iz gut tsu kukn; mit a klugn iz gut tsu lebn.
On summer days he should mourn, and on wintry nights, he should torture himself.	In di zumerdike teg zol er zitsn shive, un in di vinterdike nekht zikh raysn af di tseyn.
One even gets tired of eating only dumplings.	Kreplakh esn vert oykh nimes.
One fool can ask more than ten smart men can answer.	Eyn nar ken mer fregn eyder tsen kluge kenen entfern.
One misfortune is too few for him.	Eyn imglik iz far im veynik.
One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers.	Eyn mame dergreykht mer vi a hundert lerers.
One person speaks Russian like a Jew, another speaks Yiddish like a Goy.	Eyner ret rusish vi a yid, der anderer ret yidish vi a goy.
One who has no idea where he’s going or what he’s doing there (lit., blunders around like a fart in the pickle-barrel).	Drayt zakh vee a foorts in roosl.
One word becomes a herd.	Fun a vort vert a kvort.
Onions should grow from your bellybutton!	Zol vaksen tsibbelis fun pipek!
Only fools rely on miracles.	Nor naronim farlozn zikh oyf nisim.
Out of sight, out of mind (lit., far from the eyes, far from the heart).	Vayt fun di oygn, vayt fun hartsn.
Pimples should grow on your tongue!	Zol makekhs vaksen offen tsung!
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.	Ho-oykheyz beyad iz di beste tefile!
Put up or shut up. Let's conclude this (lit., asses on the table).	Tokhes ahfen tish.
Quiet, don't make an uproar.	Sha shtil, makht nish keyn gerider.
Quit bugging me and get lost: go drive yourself crazy (lit., go turn your own head around).	Fardrai zich dem kop.
Scram! (lit., go whistle on the ocean).	Geh feifen ahfen yam!
Sewing and rending [opening a seam], both require a measure of skill.	Neyen un trenen muz men kenen.
She doesn't stop talking (lit., she doesn't close her mouth).	Zi farmacht nit dos moyl.
She has sexy legs.	Zi hot yeytser-hore fislakh.
She is absolutely beautiful!	Zi iz a (zeltene) sheynhayt!
She is absolutely beautiful!	Zi iz an emes'e yefastoyer/krasavitse!
She is ugly as sin.	Zi iz a (rikhtike) miyeskayt.
She was a whore in her mother's belly.	Sie haut gevain a courva in de momma's bouch.
She's a beauty, all right: large as a barrel, and wide as a gate! (humorous and/or sarcastic)	Zi iz take a yefastoyer: groys vi a fas, un breyt vi a toyer!
She's got it all! (Possesses every possible virture)	Zi iz mushlemes bekhol hamayles!
Shove it up your rectum! (vulgar)	Zolst es shtipin in toches!
Silence also conveys meaning.	Shvaygn heyst oykh geret.
Silence is the restraint of wisdom—but mere silence is not necessarily wisdom.	Shvaygn iz a tsoym far khokhme—ober nor shvaygn iz keyn khokhme nit.
Skin someone alive (lit., to tear the skin).	Reissen di hoit.
Slap your backside and yell "hooray" (Said to a child who complains about having nothing to do).	Patsh zich in tuchis und schrei "hooray."
So, does one have children? (Comment when a child does something bad).	Nu, dahf men huben kinder?
So I made a mistake. So what?	Host du bie mir an avleh.
So how is it with your new wife, great or bitter? (Asked of a newlywed husband.)	Vi iz ba dir, motso oder moytsey?
Someone else's backside is easy to smack.	Afh yenems tukhes is gut sepatchen.
Sometimes even a fool can say a smart word.	A nar ken a mol zoygn a klug vort.
Speech is good, silence is even better.	Redn iz gut, shvaygn nokh beser.
Stick your head in the mud (lit., go with your head in the ground).	Geh mit dein kop in drerd.
Stones on his bones.	Shteyner af zayne beyner.
Stop bending my ear! (lit.; stop banging on my head)	Hok mir nit in kop!
Stop talking yourself into illness (lit., a lung and a liver on the nose).	A lung un leber oyf der noz.
Sure, I can really afford this! (humorous and sarcastic)	Di bobe iz mir raykh gevorn!
Talk too much and you give yourself away.	Az men ret, deret men zikh.
Talk your heart out.	Me redt zich oys dos harts.
Tasty is the fish on someone else's table.	Geshmak iz der fish fun yenems tish.
Ten ships of gold should be his and the money should only make him sick.	Tsen shifn mit gold zol er farmorgn, un dos gantse gelt zol er farkrenkn.
Thank you so much! (lit., a pretty, pure thank you).	A sheyner veyer dank.
Thank you very much!	A groysn/sheynem dank dir/aykh!
Thanks a lot!	A groysn/sheynem dank!
Thanks for nothing. (lit., many thanks in your belly button).	A shaynem dank dir im pupik.
That person may be no good, but his money is okay!	Der mentsh iz treyf, ober zayn gelt iz kosher!
That which is practiced in youth will be pursued in old age.	Tsu vos men iz gevoynt in der yugnt, azoy tut men oyf der elter.
That's a tremendous bargain!	Dos iz a vilder metsiye!
That's chicken feed (chump change; a paltry sum). (lit., it’s nothing silver-coated; serebrom means silver-coated in Russian)	Dos iz khay kak serebrom.
That's how the cookie crumbles!	Azoy vert dos kichel tsekrochen.
The best horse needs a whip, the wisest man advice, and the most chaste woman a man.	Der bester ferd darf hoben a baytsh, der klugster man an eytse, un di frumste mekeyve a man.
The best speech is the one you don't make.	Di beste rede iz di vos men halt nit.
The bigger the beard, the bigger the crook!	Vos greser di bord, alts greser der ganef!
The clothes make the man.	Klaider machem dem mentshem.
The faster, the better.	Vos gicher, alts besser.
The first time it's smart, the second time it's cute, the third time you get a sock in the teeth.	Ain mol a saichel, dos tsvaiteh mol chain, dem dritten mol git men in di tsain.
The girl who can't dance says the band can't play.	Az di ken nit tantsen, zogt zi az di klezmorim kenen nit shpilen.
The greatest folly of the fool is that he thinks he is smart	Di greste narishkayt fun a nar iz az er meynt az er is klug.
The hell with it! (lit., let it burn!)	Zol es brennen!
The Hell with them!	Hengen zey zikh uf!
The Hell with you!	Hots mikh un zayts mikh!
The less said, the better (lit., the less you speak, the healthier).	Vos veyniker men ret, alts gezinter iz.
The longer a blind man lives, the more he sees.	Vos lenger a blinder lebt, alts mer zet er.
The nearer to the synagogue, the farther from God.	Vos noenter tsu der shul, alts vayter fun Got.
The nuisance is here already!	Er iz shoyn du, der nudnik!
The pen is more deadly than an arrow.	A pen shist erger fun a fayl.
The shoemaker speaks of his last and the baker speaks of his paddle.	Der shuster ret fun der kopete un der beker ret fun der lopete.
The sneeze confirmed the truth.	G'nossen tsum emess.
The tongue is not in exile.	Di tsung iz nit in goles.
The tongue is the pen of the heart.	Di tsung iz der feder fun harts.
The truth can walk around naked; the lie has to be clothed.	Der emes ken arumgeyn a naketer; dem lign darf men bakleydn.
The wedding vow is a short prologue to a long drama. "Harey-at" (Hebrew) is the name of the traditional wedding formula: "Behold, you are consecrated unto me with this ring in accordance with the laws of Moses and Israel.”	"Der "harey-at" iz a kurtser prolog tsu a lange drame.
The whole word is one town.	Die ganzer veld is ein stat.
The wicked person fares well in this world, the saint in the life to come.	Dem roshe geyt gut ofy der velt, dem tsadik oyf yener velt.
There is a new question to every answer.	Oyf itlekhn terets ken men gefinen a naye kashye.
There's no lock on a mouth.	Oyf a moyl iz keyn shlos nito.
They are making a big deal out of this.	Me makht a gants yontef derfun.
They bury better looking ones.	Sheinere leygt men in drerd.
They don't let you live!	Me lost nit leben!
They should free a madman, and lock him up.	A meshugener zol men oyshraybn, un im araynshraybn.
They've buried nicer looking people than that.	Sheinera menchen haut me gelicht in drerd.
Thieves and those in love both love darkness.	Ganovim un farlibte hobn lib fintsternish.
Think fast!	Orientir zikh!
Three things can't be hidden: love, coughing, and poverty.	Dray zakhen ken men nit bahalten: libe, hisen un dales.
Throw salt in his eyes, pepper in his nose.	Zalts im in di oygen, feffer im in di noz.
To do all the talking (to have the greatest voice or authority).	A breyte deye hob'n.
To hell with him (lit., I have him in the bath house).	Ich hob im in bod.
To hell with it.	Ich hob es in drerd.
To hell with you (lit., I have you in the bath house).	Ich hob dich in bod.
To look like a rooster who’s just trodden his hens.	Oyszen vi a hon nokh tashmish.
To make promises and to love don't cost any money.	Tsuzogn un lib hoben kostn kayn gelt nisht.
To me you're beautiful.	Bei mir bist du sheyn.
To our future together.	Tsu undzer tsukunft tsuzamen.
Travail of raising children	Tsar gidul bonim
Troubles with soup is easier than troubles without soup.	Tsores mit yoykh iz gringer vi tsores on yoykh.
Truth is the safest lie.	Der emes iz der bester lign.
We grow accustomed to our troubles.	Me vert tsugevoynt tsu di tsores.
Well said! Well done! You are so smart! (affectionately) (lit., a life on your head)	A leben ahf dein kepele!
What a bargain!	Shoyn ainmol a metsieh.
What a fool can spoil, ten wise men cannot repair.	Vos a nar ken kalye makhn, kenen tsen khakhomin nit farrikhtn.
What a sober man has on his mind, a drunk has on his tongue.	Vos bei a nichteren oyfen lung, is bei a shikkeren oyfen tsung.
What are they lacking?	Vos failt zai?
What are you bothering me for? (lit., why are you twisting my head?)	Vos draistu mir a kop?
What are you screwing around for? What are you fooling around for? (vulgar)	Vos barist du?
What are you talking about?	Vos ret ir epes?
What are you talking my head off for?	Vos hakst du mir in kop?
What did I need it for?	Vos hob ich dos gedarft?
What difference does it make as long as he makes a living? (lit., nifter = deceased).	Nifter-shmifter, a leben macht er?
What difference does it make to me?	Vos macht es mir oys?
What difference does it make?	Vos iz der chil'lek?
What difference does it make?	Vos macht vos oys?
What do you hear around? What's up?	Vos hert zich?
What does it matter (to me)? What do I care?	Vos art es (mich)?
What does it mean?	Vos heyst?
What is the trick? (lit., what is the wisdom?)	Vos iz di chochmeh?
What you wish me, I wish you.	Vos du vinsht mir, vinsh ikh dir.
What's cooking?	Vos kocht zich in teppel?
What's new?	Vos hert zich epes nei'es?
What's on his mind is on his tongue!	Vos iz ahfen kop, iz ahfen tsung!
What's the point? What's the outcome? (lit., what's on the bottom line?).	Vos iz di untershteh shureh?
What's the purpose? Where does it lead to?	Vos iz der takhlis?
What's wrong with you?	Vos iz mit dir?
What’s wrong? (lit., is the bride too beautiful?)	Di kale iz tsu sheyn?
What’s your rush? (lit., so the messiah will be born a day later).	Vet moshiakh geboyrn vern mit a tog shpeter.
When a fool holds his tongue, he too can be thought clever.	Az a nar shvaygt vert er oykh gerekhnt tsvishn di kluge.
When a fool is silent, he too is counted among the wise.	Az a nar shvaygt, veyst men nit tsi er iz a nar oder a khokhem.
When a lion is sleeping, let him sleep.	Az a leyb shloft, loz im shlofn.
When God gives bread, the people give butter.	Az Got git broyt, gebn mentshn puter.
When I am eating, everybody can go to Hell! (lit., when I am eating, everything can be in the ground).	Ven ich ess, ch'ob ich alles in dread.
When it comes to money, watch yourself! (from Heb. abbr. for gimel p'omim, gimel-pey, “three times,” used in the siddur to indicate a verse’s repetition.	Gelt, pavolye!
When it comes to one's own children, everyone is blind.	Oyf eygene kinder iz yederer a blinder.
When one always drinks vinegar, he doesn't know that anything sweeter exists.	Az men trinkt ale mol esik, veyst men nit az es iz do a zisere zakh.
When one lives, one experiences (lit., with life comes experience).	Az men lebt, erleybt men.
When one must, one can.	Az me muz, ken men.
When one shears the sheep, the skin on the ram trembles.	Az men shert di shepsn, freyen zikh di tsign.
When something's burning, there's a fire.	Az es brent, is a fayer.
When the father gives to his son, both laugh. When the son gives to the father, both cry..	Ven der tati/fater gibt men tsu zun, lachen baiden. Ven der zun gibt men tsu tati/fater, vainen baiden.
When the messiah comes, all the sick will be healed; only a fool will stay a fool.	Az meshiach vet kumen, vellen alleh krankeh oisgehailt verren; nor a nar vet bleiben a nar.
When you fight, do it in a manner that will allow you to make up.	Az du krigst zikh, krig zikh az du zolst zikh kenen iberbetn.
When you grease the palms of [bribe] the proper authority, then you get what you need (lit., when you grease [the axles], you can go [travel]).	Az men shmirt—fort men.
When you look to the heights, hold on to your hat.	Az du kukst oif hoichen zachen halt tsu dos hitl.
When you need the thief, you take him down from the gallows.	Az men darf dem ganef, nemt men em arop fun der t'liye.
When you're too smart, you ruin yourself.	Az m'is tsu klug, light men in drerd.
Where are you climbing with your crooked feet?	Vu krikhst du mit dayn krume fis?
Where the devil says good morning (has many meanings; used with other phrases).	Vi der ruach zogt gut morgen.
Where there's smoke, there's fire.	Az se brent, iz a fei'er.
Where you find Chava (Eve), there you'll find love.	Dort vu khave, dort iz ahave.
Who feels guilty, feels responsible.	Ver filt zikh, der meynt zikh.
Who would have believed it?	Ver volt dos gegleybt?
Wise children have short years.	Kluge kinder hobn kurtse jorn.
With the tongue anything is possible.	Mit der tsung ken men alts makhn.
Woe is me and my years!	Vai vind iz meine yoren.
Woe is me, down to my toes.	Oi vey tsu meina baina.
Words should be weighed and not counted.	Verter zol men vegn un nit tseyln.
You are too full of yourself and making much noise about it (lit., do not disturb the geese).	Strashen net de genz.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.	Me ken khapn mer flign mit honik vi mit esik
You can throw a cat however you want, it always stays on its feet.	Varf di kats vi du vilst, blaypt zi alts shteyn af di fis.
You can vomit from this.	Me ken brechen.
You can't make cheesecakes out of snow.	Mit shney ken men nit makhn gomolkhes.
You can't pee on my back and tell me that it's rain!	Du kannst nicht auf meinem rucken pishen unt mir sagen class es regen ist.
You could live, but they don't let you.	Meh ken leben nor men lost nit.
You don't frighten me (lit., go threaten the bed bugs).	Geh strasheh di vantsen.
You don't mean the hagadah, but the dumplings	Me meynt nit di hagode, nor di kneydlekh.
You low-life! (lit., despicable person)	Du menuvl menuvl, eyner!
You low-life! (lit., outcast)	Oysvorf, eyner!
You piece of nothing! (humorous) (lit., you hunk of meat with two eyes!)	Du shtik fleysh mit tsvey oygn!
You should be like a lamp: you should hang during the day and burn during the night!	Zolst zein vi a lomp, am tug sollst di hangen, in der nacht sollst di brennen!
You should choke on it.	Dershtikt zolstu veren.
You should get a stomach cramp!	Se zol dir grihmen in boych!
You should grow like an onion with your head in the ground.	Zol ze vaksen ze ve a tsibble mit de kopin dreid.
You should have a nightmare! (lit., a dark dream on your head and on your hands and feet).	A finstere cholem auf dein kopf und auf dein hent und fiss.
You should live and be well!	Zolst leben un zein gezunt!
You should live so!	Zolstu azoy lebn!
You should live! And be well!	A leben ahf dir!
You should lose all your teeth except one, and that one should ache!	Zolst farlirn ale tseyner akhuts eynem, un der zol dir vey ton.
You should swell up like a mountain!	Zolst geshvollen veren vi a barg!
You shouldn't know from evil.	Zolst nit vissen fun kain shlechts.
You'll never amount to anything (you loser)!	Du'st tomed blaybn a loy-yuts-lekh
You're a piece of meat with two eyes!	Vos a shtik fleish mit tsvei oygn!
You're all set! (lit., you're on the horse!)	Zeit ir doch ahfen ferd!
You're climbing on the straight wall.	Ikh zol azoy visn fun tsores.
You've gotten your way with me.	Bei mir hust du gepoylt.
Your life should be a disaster (lit., a curse on your life).	A brokh tsu dayn lebn.
Your own children can sometimes become your worst enemies!	Me hodevet kinder; me hodevet sonim!
Your stomach will rumble so badly, you'll think it was Purim noisemaker.	Es zol dir dunern in boykh, vestu meyen az s’iz a homon klaper.
Youth is a mistake, middle age a battle, and old age a regret.	Di yugnt iz a feler, di menlekhe yorn a kamf, un der elter a kharote.