Joey Black
Wolves are fed and sheep are safe Does such an expression exist in English? Word for word, not equivalents. The fact is that I meet this expression in English texts sometimes. But as far as I know, this is a Russian proverb. And the English equivalents sound like "hold with the hare and run with the hounds" or "have one's cake and eat it too" or "you can't have it both ways".
27 ago 2018 23:03
Risposte · 15
1
The short answer is "no". Nobody says that in English. Except of course that I am going to start saying it just because it sounds kind of cool...
27 agosto 2018
Answer updated; the phrase is a literal translation of the Russian, seen in translations of Russian texts, and in English texts written by Russians. Maybe it will take root in its new home...
27 agosto 2018
In Poland we are saying: so that the wolf is full and the sheep is whole
9 maggio 2024
It was my mistake when I gave equivalents. It would be better just to ask about existence of this phrase. Your point is very interesting. Still, you think that this phrase exists in the English-speaking world. And this is not just a translation from Russian, but already accustomed expression. Though, we can't say so judging by all the answers below.
28 agosto 2018
If it was originally Russian then there will not be an equivalent, The same applies with any translation from one language to another. you say not equivalents in your first sentence, but then say "English equivalents sound like 'hold with hare and run with the hounds' ". My suggestion is the correct version of "hold with the hare and run with the hounds. The other translations are totally different idioms. And yes such an expression as "Wolves are fed and sheep are safe" does exist In English. We got it from Leo Tolstoy's "war and peace" “But our idea is that the wolves should be fed and the sheep kept safe. ”
28 agosto 2018
Mostra altro
Non hai ancora trovato le tue risposte?
Scrivi le tue domande e lascia che i madrelingua ti aiutino!