Passage 5 Proverbs in a Latin Am erican Talk from ...
Proverbs are the popular sayings that brighten somuch Latin American talk，the boileddown wisdom that you are as apt to hear from professors as from peasants，from beggars as from elegantes.Brief and colorful，theymore often than not carry a sting.
When a neighbor's dismally unattractive daughter announced her engagement，Imelda remarked，“You know what they say，Senora：‘There'sno potso ugly it can't find a lid’.”And when her son-in-law blustered about how he was going to get even with the bosswho had docked his pay，Imelda fixed him with a cold eye and said：“Little fish does not eat big fish.”
One afternoon，Iheard Imelda and her daughter arguing in the kitchen.Her daughter had quarreled with her husband's parents，and Imeldawas insisting that she apologize to them.Her daughter objected.“But，Mama，I just can't swallow them，not even with honey.They talk so big untilwe need something；then they are too poor.So today when they wouldn't even lend us enough to pay for a new bed，and I did was saying something that I've heard you say a hundred times：If so grand，why so poor？If so poor，why so grand？”
“Impertinent！”Snorted Imelda.“Have Inot also taught you，‘What the tongue says，the neck pays for？’Iwill not have it said that Icould never teachmy daughter proper respect for her elders.And before you go to beg their pardon，change those trousers fro a dress.You know how your mother-in law feels about pants on a woman.She always says，‘What was hatched a hen must not try to be a rooster！’”
Her daughtermade onemore try.“ButMama，you often say，‘If the saint is annoyed，don't pray to him until he gets over it.’Can't I leave it for tomorrow？”
“No，no and no！Remember：‘If the dose is nasty，swallow it fast.’You know，my child，you did wrong.But，‘A gift is the key to open the door closed against you.’Ihave a cake in the oven that Iwasmaking for the Senora's dinner，Iwill explain to the Senora.Now，dear，hurry home and make yourself pretty in your pink dress.By the time you get back，I will have the cake ready for you to take to yourmother-in-law.She will be so pleased that she maymake your father-in-law pay for the bed.Remember：‘One hand washes the other，but together they wash the face.’”
参考译文：(https://www.daowen.com)
爱说谚语的拉美人
谚语是拉丁美洲人的言谈显得生动活泼的流行俗语，洗练睿智的语言大学教授说，田野农夫也说，市井乞丐说，名门闺秀也说。谚语简洁明快、丰富多彩，而且常常带刺。
邻居的一个丑八怪女儿说她订婚了，伊梅尔达就说：“太太，你可听见大伙儿说了：‘罐儿再丑，配个盖子不发愁’”。当伊梅尔达的女婿气势汹汹要找克扣他工资的老板算账时，她冷眼瞪着他说：“小鱼吃得了大鱼吗？”
一天下午，我听见伊梅尔达和女儿在厨房争论开了。原来是女儿刚跟公婆吵了架，她非要女儿去赔不是。做女儿的却偏不依：“可是，娘，我受不了，就是掺了蜜也咽不下这口气呀！他们满嘴讲大话，可是一旦求上他们，却又穷得响叮当。就拿今天来说吧，我们想借一点刚够买一张新床的钱，他们却不肯，我只得讲了些你平日讲过几百遍的话：‘既然真阔气，何必又装穷；既然真正穷，何必摆阔气！’”
伊梅尔达鼻子哼了一声：“没家教！难道我还没教过你：‘舌头欠债，脖子还债？’我才不愿意让人指脊梁骨，说我根本就不会教女儿尊重长辈。去赔个不是吧，可你先得用女装换掉男裤。你婆婆最讨厌妇女穿男裤，你是知道的。她总是唠叨：‘孵出来的母鸡还想冒充公鸡吗？’”
做女儿的还想争论一番：“可是，娘，你不是常说吗，‘得罪了菩萨也得等菩萨消了气再说嘛！’”
“不，不，不成！要记住：‘药越难吃，越要快吃。’你知道，孩子，是你错了嘛！不过，‘大门把你关在外，礼物送到自然开。’我炉里正烤着蛋糕，本来是给太太当正餐的，我可以跟太太解释解释。好吧，乖孩子，赶紧回家，穿一身粉红衣服，打扮得漂漂亮亮的。等你回来时，蛋糕也就好了，拿去送给婆婆。婆婆准会高高兴兴，说不定会向你公公说情，替你们付床钱呢。可你得记住：‘一只手洗另一只手，两只手儿把脸洗。’”