Metaphors
In proverbs, just as in advertisements, surprising comparisons and intriguing images draw people’s attention. Sometimes exactly the same metaphors or comparisons are being used in widely different cultures, and, conversely, different metaphors often convey quite similar messages in the ideas they express due to common human experience. The metaphors listed below give a good impression of the numerous ways in which women have been imagined in proverbs.
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z
a top ↑
- Alfa [=plant]
- Adam’s rib
- amusement of the street
- anchor f vs canoe m
- angel
- at his side
- in bed
- in the street
- timid –
- young -
- ankle boot
- ants
- column of black -
- antelope
- ape (see also monkey)
- in bed
- apple
- ripe -
- apple tree
- April without rain
- apron
- vs trousers
- arrow
- directed at a rock
- arse
- big -
- ass
- she-
- ugly -
- autumn
- abundant -
- sky
- axe
b top ↑
- babe
- new-born -
- baboon
- back
- back door
- bag
- of fleas
- balconera [woman at the balcony waiting for men to pass by]
- bamboo
- pressed between two trees
- banana
- tree
- leaf
- leaves
- plant
- banana
- leaf
- leaves
- ripe
- bank f vs river m
- barbed wire
- bark of a tree
- bark cloth
- barn
- big -
- old -
- barrow
- basket
- full of caterpillars
- full of flour
- harvest winnowing -
- beast of burden
- beauty
- vs brain(s) m
- vs excellence m
- bed
- angel in -
- bee
- beehive
- bell
- beer, sour
- beetle
- on a flower
- belly
- bent sheath f vs bent sabre m
- berries
- berry
- red -
- bird
- caged -
- ngongongo -
- singing -
- talkative -
- vs cat m
- biscuit
- bitch
- barking -
- hasty -
- young -
- blanket
- blessing
- blockhead
- blossom
- hau -
- lehua -
- boat
- to cross the water with
- without steering wheel
- vs steersman
- vs wheel m
- without a rudder
- body vs head m
- bolacha (Brazilian biscuit)
- book
- borderlands
- boss
- in the house
- bottle
- of medicine
- small -
- bottom
- of every lawsuit
- bow and arrow f
- vs spear m
- bowl f vs. spoon m
- box f
- vs key m
- bracelet
- f vs wrist m
- brain(s)
- empty -
- little -
- of an ass
- short -
- shorter than a frog’s tail
- branch, that does not bear fruit
- bread
- big -
- cooked bread of Hakipuu
- slice of -
- breadfruit
- breasts
- more than her -
- sweetness of -
- bridge
- bridle, mule’s -
- brittle ware
- broken leg
- broom
- new -
- new f vs old brush f
- brush
- old -
- bucket f vs well m
- in the public bath
- without a rope
- bug
- bugs all over the body
- buffalo f
- in a stable
- bullet
- bullock
- bunch
- of grapes on the wayside
- of onions
- burden
- heavy -
- burlap f vs fire m
- burning piece of coal
- bus
- butt, big -
- butterfly
c top ↑
- cabbage
- unsalted
- cachaça [= cake in the oven]
- calabash
- empty -
- neighbour’s -
- full of palm oil
- unornamented -
- calamity f vs blessing m
- camel
- vs beauty
- canary
- cane f vs nerves m
- candle
- candlestick f vs candle m
- capon
- car
- carrot
- case
- locked -
- vs lost key m
- cassava
- castle on the border on the frontier
- cat
- angry -
- f vs dog m
- silent f vs miaowing f
- cattle
- bad -
- cattleman’s mug
- chain round the feet
- chatterbox
- chattering
- cheese
- freshly made -
- f vs bread m
- fresh - f vs old mouse m
- cherry
- cherry blossom
- chick
- chest f vs key m
- chestnut f vs breadfruit m
- chicken
- chimney, smokey -
- chop
- chrysalis
- chrysanthemum
- church, as safe as
- cigarette
- ashes
- extinguished
- claim-beatings-again
- clay pipe climbing plant
- climbing plant
- clock
- clockwork, unsafe -
- cloth
- clothes, discarded -
- cluster of palmnuts
- coal
- coat near the thornbush
- cob f. vs parakeet m
- coconut
- coffee, hot -
- coins
- colony of hares
- column of black ants
- common road
- company
- cooking-pot with a lid
- copper pot
- coral
- corn, grain of -
- corn cob
- cotton flower
- cover
- cow
- bellowing -
- capricious -
- in the stable
- lowing -
- of the devil
- of Satan
- old -
- roaring - (check orig.)
- that butts
- vs tiger m
- vicious -
- crab
- creeper (ivy)
- poisonous -
- f vs prop m
- crocodile
- crooked hole f vs crooked nail m
- crooked rib
- cross
- a man’s -
- crow
- crown
- f vs head m
- of gold
- on the (man’s) head
- of/to her husband
- crystal
- cup
- cupboard
- cunt f vs bird m
d top ↑
- dam f vs river m
- dangerous rock
- date (fruit)
- date palm
- day
- drairy, rainy -
- days of spring
- death
- as true as -
- more bitter than -
- debts
- deer
- demon
- desert
- destiny
- best -
- worst -
- destroyer of the world
- devil
- at his elbow
- at home
- husband’s -
- in the house
- in the kitchen
- unhorned -
- worse than the -
- devil’s
- cushion
- daughter
- doornail
- friend
- nets
- trap
- whip
- work
- dew
- diamond
- dictionary f vs word m
- dirt heap
- disease
- of the head
- of the stomach
- dish
- earthenware - f vs wooden spoon m
- for the gods
- new -
- of rice
- old -
- shallow -
- someone else’s -
- tastiest -
- without salt
- dish towel
- distaff
- f vs sword m
- divinity
- dog
- f vs leash m
- doll
- donkey
- childless f vs wolves m
- door
- back –
- to the backyard
- dove
- f vs hawk f
- dowry
- dragon
- dress
- beautiful -
- green -
- lace -
- long -
- of silence
- silk -
- threadbare -
- torn -
- drop of water on a lotus leaf
- drum
- dryness, superfluous -
- duckweed on a river
- dung, duikers’ -
- dung beetle
- dustbin
- dzomo (hybrid of yak and cow)
e top ↑
- earth
- red -
- echo in her husband’s house
- egg
- eggplant
- elephant
- tusks
- embroidery of life
- enemy
- of a brave man
- to bread
- essence
- good -
- precious -
- Eve vs Adam
- evil
- at the bottom of all -
- essential -
- eternal -
- necessary -
- root of all -
- store of all -
- treasury of -
- worst of all -
- ewe vs ram
- eye
- of a cat
- of the needle
f top ↑
- family
- fan in autumn
- farthing, old
- fashion doll in the street
- feast
- fence, low
- fetish
- fever
- daily -
- ficus
- fiddle strings
- field
- bean -
- fertile -
- horse in the -
- infertile -
- open -
- overgrown -
- pea -
- fig
- green -
- tree
- filly, wild -
- fire
- f vs firewood m
- f vs kitchen m
- fire bearing fire
- firefly, silent -
- fireplace for cooking
- firewood, green f vs fire m
- fish
- caught -
- dead -
- hilie –
- rotten -
- sea-
- sinking -
- without bones
- fleas
- bag of a hundred -
- sack full of -
- flood
- flour
- basket full of –
- sack of
- flower
- alive
- beautiful -
- cotton -
- deadly -
- faded -
- in the house
- lonely - on a mountain top
- lotus -
- of the swamp
- of beauty (her husband’s)
- on the wall
- poplar -
- pretty -
- that poisons
- vs bee m
- vs rock m
- withered -
- fly
- dead little -
- flying fox
- food
- good -
- handful of –
- without salt
- foolishness
- foot
- bound -
- forest, holy
- fortress f vs guard m
- fortune
- best -
- worst -
- fowl
- black -
- domestic -
- fox
- frailty
- friend
- best friend at home
- good friend
- of the devil
- frog
- fruit
- fast riping -
- forbidden -
- garden
- green -
- of the bread tree
- ripe -
- ripe pandanus -
- fruit tree
- fruitless tree
- fur coat
- furniture
- the best piece of -
- ugly
g top ↑
- garden
- fruit –
- inhibited -
- of blessings
- one’s own -
- trespassed by cattle
- gargatea [fruit]
- garment
- discarded -
- gate to hell
- chief -
- gazelle
- skin
- general
- giant
- girauman (vegetable)
- glass
- fragile -
- f vs stone m
- thin -
- Venice
- glory
- gloves
- goat
- by candlelight
- in the field
- vs hill
- vs.pig
- without horns vs goat with horns
- god
- God’s gift
- goddess
- gold
- in purses
- f vs straw m
- f vs. mirror m
- newly forged -
- golden coin Check
- golden pillar
- gombo [plant]
- good (a)
- gong
- goose
- good -
- wild -
- gossip
- gourd
- empty -
- grain receptacle f vs ear of corn m
- grape juice
- grapes
- wild - and black berries
- grass
- fresh - f vs old horse
- new - f. vs old bull
- tender -
- young -
- green leaf
- shoots
- wood
- grey mare
- greyhound
- guanabana [tropical fruit]
- guerdon, goodly -
- guest in her own house
- guinea fowl
- guinea hen
- guinea pig
- guitar
- old -
- gunpowder f vs fire m
h top ↑
- hag
- hair
- long - f vs brain m
- red -
- half a cent
- hammock
- hand
- left - f vs right - m
- right f (of man)
- of gold
- of silver
- that rocks the cradle
- handful of trouble
- handle without a pan
- happiness
- more than pearls
- harbour
- hare
- harlot
- harp-lute
- harvest
- bad -
- bad – , 60 years in a row
- hat f vs head m
- hay f vs horse m
- old -
- vs stallion
- head
- scarf
- without a -
- heap
- dirt -
- heart f vs house m
- heart and pan f vs cup and head m
- hearth
- heaven
- on earth
- hedge
- around the garden
- hedgehog
- hell
- gate to -
- at home
- for the soul
- f vs devil m
- hemp
- hen
- bald -
- black -
- broody -
- crowing -
- vs cock
- gaily coloured -
- fat -
- old -
- plucked -
- someone else’s -
- stray -
- young -
- f vs eagle m
- wandering -
- white -
- wood -
- hide
- legs of a -
- highroad full of curves and dangers
- hilie [fish]
- hoe
- vs. matchet
- hog
- hole
- crooked -
- holy forest
- home
- crown of the -
- heart of the -
- hell at -
- honor of the -
- a man’s -
- f vs house m
- f vs townsquare m
- of death
- soul of the -
- f vs world m
- home devil
- honey
- in the comb
- pancake with -
- horse f
- fierce -
- good -
- grunting -
- in the field
- loose -
- old -
- on which an old man gallops to hell purchased -
- saddled -
- sick -
- skinny -
- stumbling -
- tethered -
- that fills your legs
- that has thrown off its rider
- f vs rider m
- white -
- wild -
- without reins
- horse shoe, new f vs old horse m
- house
- adornment of the -
- boss in the -
- decoration for the -
- leaking -
- light of the -
- foundation of the
- greatest wealth of the -
- misfortune for the -
- old -
- mistress of the -
- ornament of the -
- quiet -
- soul of the -
- slattern in the -
- spinning wheel of the -
- steering wheel of the -
- that whitens up -
- thief in the -
- three corners of the - f vs one m
- tiger in the -
- thorn hedge in the -
- f vs forest m
- without a centre-pole
- without curtains
- without a roof
- household treasure
- humiliation
- husband’s body
- flower of beauty
- soul
- hyena
i top ↑
- invalid man
- iron
- cold
- - fallen onto the earth
- iskni (see harvest basket)
- ivy
j top ↑
- jackcrow
- jar
- jewel
- precious -
- Jill vs Jack
- joom (forest clearing by burning)
- joy
- in life
- jug
k top ↑
- kettle
- cracked -
- small -
- key
- golden -
- to life’s mystery
- killer
- wizard -
- king
- kittle [queer] cattle
- knife
- f vs fork m
- short - f vs long - m
- knitted sock
- Kuan Yin [very beautiful woman and goddess of Mercy]
l top ↑
- ladder
- of woe
- lady
- lake
- vs flood m
- vs river m
- vs waterfall m
- lamb f vs wolf m
- land
- lantern without light
- lap
- virginal -
- Latin
- Latin-bred
- laurel
- leaf
- fallen -
- lotus -
- pierced -
- tobacco -
- leaves and branches f vs tree m
- leftovers from dead man
- leg, broken -
- lehua blossom
- leopard
- leprosy
- licker
- light of the house
- lightning
- lilies that fester
- lily
- linen
- lion/ess
- liquor
- load
- loaf already cut
- log of wood
- loneliness
- long braid
- long dress
- long hair
- looking-glass
- lotus flower
- loud-in-the-lawn
- love-potion
- low fence
- luck
- bad -
- good -
- lump of dough
- Lutheran
m top ↑
- magpie
- at the door
- maize cob
- mango
- man
- with better clothes f
- man’s
- anchor
- body
- equal
- glory
- life
- slave
- manioc
- mare
- grey -
- without a rider
- young - that rears
- with a sweet gait
- Maria
- marriage
- mast
- master
- mat
- floor-
- rolled up
- mate, bitter
- meadow
- tree
- meat
- f vs cat m
- Mediterranean f vs Nile m
- melancholy
- melon
- bad -
- big and sweet -
- uncut -
- merchandise
- bad –
- on offer
- metate [= a woman always working]
- midrib of a coconut tree
- milk f (young) vs yoghurt f (old)
- milk of a young coconut
- mill
- old -
- without flour
- millet (someone else’s)
- millstone, worn out -
- mimosa tree
- mind
- short -
- tiny -
- minister f vs king m
- mint
- mirror
- mischief
- misfortune
- modesty
- molar
- mongoose skin
- monkey
- in a glass ship
- money for a beggar
- moneybox
- moon
- in the middle of the day
- f vs sun m
- mortar
- golden f vs iron pestle m
- motorcycle
- mountain
- goat
- mouse
- tender – f
- young -
- mud
- puddle
- mulberry on the wayside
- mule
- on heat
- tamed by somebody else
- mule’s bridle
- mushroom
- music
- muwogo [cassava plant]
n top ↑
- nail
- at the hell’s door
- crooked -
- of cart
- nanny-goat vs billy-goatneedle
- on-the-seabed
- ’s eye
- without an eye
- neck
- net
- worn out -
- nettle, stinging -
- newspaper
- night without moon
- nightcap f vs head m
- nightingale
- no person
- not a human being
- noodle f
- vs rice m
- ntsatsi
- nut
- wild palm’s -
o top ↑
- ogress
- oil palm
- old man’s
- coffin
- mail horse to the grave
- olive tree
- vs. tadpole
- one-I-place-under-me
- onion
- onions, bunch of -
- orange (fruit)
- orchard
- neighbour’s -
- ornament
- of the house
- ornaments f vs. intelligence m
- oven
- old -
- oven shovel
- owl
- ox
p top ↑
- package of smuggled salt
- palavers
- palm
- oil -
- straight –
- wild -
- palmwine
- pan
- vs dipper m
- earthen -
- frying-
- on the fire
- of a widow
- tin -
- without a handle
- pancake with honey f vs bear in the forest m panther
- paradise for the eye(s)
- parcel
- big
- of sorcery
- parrot
- on a stake
- partridge f
- vs hen at home f
- parwe
- pastry
- patchwork
- path
- paved road
- pea, bitten
- peach
- peacock
- outdoors
- peanut
- pear
- soft -
- sweet -
- pear tree
- pears, prickly -
- peas on the pavement
- pen
- pepper
- red -
- perfume
- petticoat
- red -
- f vs pants m
- petrol f vs match m
- pheasant
- wild -
- pie
- piece of cloth
- piece of land
- piece of wood
- pig
- guinea -
- pig’s snout
- pigeon
- pilchard
- pill
- pillar
- golden -
- in the house
- of the house
- of half of heaven
- pineapple
- pipe
- pitcher
- plague
- plant
- akeyo -
- climbing
- plantation
- plate
- chipped
- earthenware
- plough
- golden
- new
- ploughing field
- handle pot
- plum
- poison
- sweet
- sweet-tasting
- poisoner
- poisonous creeper
- poisonous
- drink
- pest
- poncho
- pond
- vs field m
- porcupine
- pot
- cooking
- earthen -
- small -
- small but well strirred
- smaller -
- f vs lid m
- f vs spoon m
- potato
- hill
- plot
- potsherd in the sweepings
- potter
- precious jewel
- object
- stone
- priceless treasure
- problem
- prostitute
- pumpkin
- flower
- vine
- f vs knife m
- punishment
- purgatory
- daily -
- in the house
- for a neighbour
- for the guy
- for the moneybox
- for the purse
- on earth
- puzzle
q top ↑
- quail
- queen, Moorish -
r top ↑
- rabbit
- rain
- drizzling -
- drop
- rain kisses m vs earth smiles f
- rat
- young -
- revolver
- red hair
- reptile
- rib
- Adam’s -
- crooked -
- broken -
- ribs that snap when you want to straighten them
- ribbons of a petticoat
- rice
- cold -
- dish of -
- hulled - f vs paddy m
- pealed - f vs paddy m
- at night
- sack of -
- rice bin f vs ear of corn m
- riff-raff washtub
- rifle
- ring
- of a gate (everyone knocks at it)
- golden - in the snout of a swine
- road
- common -
- paved -
- rock, dangerous -
- rogue
- roof
- collapsed -
- root of all evil
- root of quarrel
- roots of yam
- rose
- in a small town
- f vs. bird m
- that still has to unfold its petals
- withered -
- without scent
- rose bud
- rose laurel
- rudder f (also rudder m)
- ruin
s top ↑
- sack
- of flour
- of rice
- full of accidents
- saddle
- saddled horse
- saffron
- saint
- saint in church
- salad
- without onions
- salt, smuggled -
- sample
- sandal(s)
- sardine
- Satan
- man’s -
- Saturday without sun
- sauce pan
- saw (bird)
- scarab
- scorpion
- screw
- sea
- at rest
- a waste -
- f vs dead bird m
- f vs river m
- wild -
- without shore
- sea fish
- seagull
- seat
- seed on a long stem
- serpent
- cruel
- more deadly than a
- poisonous
- sheath, bent f vs saber, bent m
- shoots
- green f vs old ox
- new f vs old monkey
- sickle
- silver
- f = straw m
- shadow
- in her husband’s house
- of a tree
- she-ass
- she-devil
- she-goat
- she-knitter
- she-mule
- she-wolf
- sheep
- well-fed
- shell
- with pearl
- without pearl
- shepherdess
- shield
- ship
- leaky
- vs rock m
- to be manned
- without helm
- without rudder
- without sail
- shipwreck
- a man’s -
- a home’s -
- shoe
- pinching the foot
- shoes
- shore f vs hills m
- short brain(s)
- short memory
- short mind
- short thoughts
- short wit
- shoulder f vs head m
- shrimps f vs fish m
- sister of the devil
- shrub
- silk
- silver
- skin
- beaten -
- grazed -
- mongoose -
- skirt
- leather -
- long -
- outer -
- under-
- wet -
- wrinkled -
- sky
- clear -
- dark -
- half of the sky
- rumbling -
- thundering s without rain
- slave
- sleeve f vs shirt m
- slipper
- slope in front of a man’s house
- slut
- smoke
- snake
- snow
- soap
- a man’s -
- sock, knitted -
- someone else’s
- bowl f vs spoon m
- cup f vs spoon
- dish f
- field f
- hen
- plate f vs spoon m
- shoe f vs foot m
- towpath f
- soul
- of the house
- husband’s -
- second -
- f vs shoulder m
- soup
- good
- source
- of all evil
- of the river
- sow
- indoors
- spear
- spear shaft
- spider
- spittle
- as cheap as -
- splinter
- spring [source]
- weather
- stable f
- cow in the -
- vs door m
- stalk
- star Jupiter
- steak
- stew
- good -
- without salt
- stinging nettle
- stocking, torn -
- stone
- grinding-
- of the handmill
- precious -
- wall -
- stove
- stranger
- streetcar
- strife
- eternal -
- sugar
- f vs ants m
- suitcase
- worn-out -
- summer calf
- summer day
- sun
- pale -
- sunshine
- sweetcorn
- swine
- sword
t top ↑
- tapioca cakes
- tares
- tatami (= mat)
- teacup f
- vs teapot m
- tealeaves, stale
- tears
- teeth f
- vs tongue m
- temple
- nearby -
- faraway -
- tent
- without pegs
- termite
- thief
- thing
- bitter -
- devilish -
- large-size -
- most beautiful -
- that makes you blush
- thorn hedge
- in the house
- thorn’s point
- thorns
- thread f
- vs needle m
- follows needle
- silken -
- thunder
- tiger
- tiger mother
- tigress
- tit(s)
- toadstool
- tobacco f vs pipe m
- tobacco leaf
- tongue f
- of flesh vs bony neck m
- long -
- soft -
- toothache
- toothcleaner
- torment
- tortoise
- towel
- dish-
- tea- f vs glass m
- traitor
- treasure
- invaluable -
- main -
- priceless -
- worthless -
- tree f
- apple -
- bad -
- banana -
- barren -
- beautiful -
- birdless -
- bread -
- fig -
- grafted -
- green f vs desiccated m
- growing on the wall
- meadow-
- mimosa -
- olive -
- palm -
- pear -
- pine -
- planted -
- shadow of -
- straight -
- unpeeled bark of -
- walnut -
- with many branches
- without blossom
- without fruits
- tree m vs leaves and branches f
- trouble
- handful of -
- trunk [tree - ]
- tub
- tufts of hair
- turban
- turkey, fat
- turkey mum
- turnip
- inside of -
- turtle dove
- tusks
- elephant -
- tv
- twig
u top ↑
- ulcer
- umbrella
v top ↑
- vagina
- vs penis
- vanity
- vase
- china f vs cobble stone m
- vat, earthen -
- vegetable garden
- vegetables in one’s own garden
- vegetables from other gardens
- veil
- velvet
- verse
- vessel
- of wood
- vine
- vineyard
- along the wayside
- harvested -
- on the main road
- violin
- old -
- Virgin Mary
w top ↑
- wall
- round the house
- of mudbricks
- surface of a
- with cracks
- walnut
- tree
- wasp
- water
- beginning of the -
- clean -
- cloudy -
- vs fire m
- fresh -
- lily
- melon, unsliced -
- melon f vs pumpkin m
- muddied -
- rolling on a lotus leaf
- shallow -
- spilt -
- unwelcome -
- watch
- wave
- wax
- way to prison
- wayside
- mulberry on the -
- vineyard along the -
- wealth
- weapon
- weather
- weathercock
- well-trodden road
- weather in April
- weeds
- weight f vs weighing rod m
- well
- old -
- f vs bucket m
- weasel
- weather
- stormy -
- winter -
- weaving loom f vs axe m
- wheat
- wheaten bread
- wheel
- mill -
- moving -
- whistle, small -
- whip of Satan
- wili wili [plant]
- whore
- in bed
- to be
- wiggling arse
- willow
- alongside the road
- rotten -
- wind
- wind and water
- windows looking out on the street
- wine
- bad -
- new -
- old -
- stale -
- wings f
- an angel with –
- her husband’s –
- flying fox’s -
- of a man’s soul
- winter wind
- winter weather
- wisteria f vs pine tree m
- witch
- withered rose
- with trousers
- wizard
- woe
- ladder of -
- to man
- wolf
- Irish wolf
- she-wolf on her back
- womb
- wood
- dry -
- green -
- rotten -
- to make a farm gate with
- wood saw
