PROVERBS AND IDIOMS

From Sampath’s Desk:

PROVERBS AND IDIOMS

 

Proverbs are short, well-known, and well-recognized pithy sayings representing human experiences based/backed knowledge products in use for generations, stating a general truth or giving pieces of advice generated through the collective wisdom of the society over a long period of time. They transcend times and generations. In short, they are brief, popular epigrams and maxims.

 

An idiom is a phrase that mostly means something different from its literal meaning which can be understood because of its popular recognition as such. Idioms are made of normal words that however have a special meaning. It is a form of expression, grammatical construction, phrase, etc., peculiar to a person or language, which is commonly understood by speakers of a particular language despite its meaning not being predictable from that of the individual words in them.

 

Proverbs and idioms are complementary to each other, interchangeably used sometimes. In fact, a particular use may even baffle people whether it is an idiom or proverb? Over time, the use of the two got so intertwined and interlocked rendering it difficult to say whether it is a proverb or idiom.

 

‘If you look after the child of your neighbour, then your own child will grow well on its own’. This is a Tamil proverb with a philosophical flavour highlighting the importance of mutual trust, co-existence, and caring for each other, the logic being that if everyone were to care for others as a benefactor, it will address social welfare as a common cause. ‘Charity will save your head’ again means that if everyone were to have the same pristine quality of charity and helping mindset both in thought and deed, as a natural corollary, everybody’s real needs will be met by others even without help being specifically asked for. Proverbs and idioms are exemplification and essence of experiences-based wisdom – both of individual(s) and society in collective measure. They are ones handed down from generation to generation mostly by word of mouth now having well entrenched in the minds of people as perpetual staunch beliefs.

 

While most proverbs have a positive tinge and approach, the likes of ‘Necessity knows no law', 'All is fair in love and war’ and 'Spare the rod and spoil the child’ may appear to be negative but still, lead to positive results in an indirect and roundabout way.

 

Some proverbs run mutually contradictory as in the case of ‘Haste makes waste’ vs. ‘Porridge, once cold, is old’. However, each has a unique nuanced impact and influence. But what matters here is the right spirit to be adopted with a proper application of mind, analysis, and judgment. Experiences of persons do differ and more so, their perceptions, assertions, and decisions. Let us absorb what is sensible, in our best interests and that of the society without drifting or straying away from the righteous path.

 

There are some confidence-boosters and morale-lifters like ‘Try and try again, you will succeed at last’. And, 'Failures are not sins and in fact, they are stepping stones to success’. It doesn't however mean you can afford to fail any number of times, but to emphasize that there is no need for disappointment, dejection, or guilt feeling at failures; contrarily, you need to multiply and reinforce your efforts and also trim/fine-tune them such that it meets with the inevitable success. The story of Robert Bruce taking inspiration from a spider’s many continuous attempts to weave its web is well-known. After the English repeatedly defeated his armies, the famed King of Scots was forced into hiding. The legend has it that when Robert's spirits were broken, he took refuge in a cave. Sitting in the cave, he noticed a small spider attempting to weave a web. The spider tried and failed over and over. Each time the spider fell, it didn’t give up and tried to bounce back. It climbed back up and tried again and again. Finally, the spider’s silk took hold, and it managed to spin a web. Robert Bruce saw himself reflected in the spider’s struggle. After watching the spider finally succeed, Robert found the inspiration to return and fought against the English despite overwhelming odds. He finally emerged victorious against the King of England in the Battle of Bannockburn (1314). This triumph  - etched as it were in golden letters of the history book – ultimately turned the tides enabling his victory for the independence of Scotland in 1328. The legendary Robert Bruce’s story gives us a spirited lesson ‘not to give up’ at any stage and keep trying. We can quote ‘Robert the Bruce and the Spider’s Struggle’ as an inspiring success story to assert the moral ‘never give up until it is finished’. Here it looks like both a proverb and idiom. Other examples are – ‘Herculean job’ and ‘David and Goliath’.

While one knows that Herculean job necessarily means a ‘stupendous task’, The story of David and Goliath goes thus. A giant and the champion of the Philistines challenged the Israelites to send out their champion and decide the outcome of their ongoing war in single combat. The small David conquers him. ('David and Goliath' story is often referenced as a moral lesson of how even the underdogs can overcome the odds and be successful). The moral lessons of the legendary story are:

   

Ø  Be bigger than your fears;

Ø  Size doesn’t matter;

Ø  Make use of what you already have;

Ø  Believe it’s possible; and

Ø  Don’t underestimate your capabilities.

Proverbs and idioms of one time may assume different connotations with the passage of time and in a changed scenario. However, whilst the spirit is retained intact, the letter is ignored, a glaring example being ‘Burning the midnight oil’. Though a misnomer in the present electricity era, the proverb is still in vogue to mean, ‘work will be done throughout the night as well’.

 

Proverbs and idioms are reflective of contemporary lifestyles, customs, traditions, culture, etc. of people who speak the language in which they are available. They are mostly based on their socio-economic and cultural backgrounds. 

 

Consider this. 'Where ignorance is bliss, it is foolish to be wise.' This militates against the saying 'Knowledge is power and leads to unity, and ignorance to diversity.' Again, 'Why keep a dog and bark yourself?' - a sarcastic and sullying remark indeed!

 

Although Proverbs and Idioms came to be coined and recognized at different points of time, some of them have a great intrinsic value forever or for a short period or may become outdated and archaic in due course. Some others may only be idealistic and not realistic, like in the case of, ‘Blessed are the meek; for they shall inherit the earth’. Some are funny as in the case of ‘Appetite comes with eating’ and ‘Eat to live, not live to eat.’

 

Proverbs and idioms not only embellish the language, written or spoken, but also give a great insight and food for thought. They are society’s collective knowledge power and reservoir of experiences-backed wisdom. 

 

(R.SAMPATH)

12/1/2021