Starting from Greece, we will cross into Italy, Portugal, and Spain.  Children from the project are lending their voices for the recording

Un viaggio tra proverbi e detti popolari italiani

A journey through Italian proverbs and popular sayings

          Italian Water-related 

         common expressions

      Espressioni comuni italiane                     sull'Acqua

Acqua in bocca

An invitation to keep a secret 

  to reveal absolutely nothing          about a given topic

Essere con l'acqua alla gola...

Finding yourself in an extremely difficult situation with almost 

         no way out...

Perdersi in un bicchiere d'acqua

    Be discouraged or 

    confused by trivial, 

       easily solvable                        problems...

   Essere due

gocce d'acqua

Being identical or extremely similar, referring to both       physical appearance and      character

Saggezza Popolare e Dialettale

 Popular and Dialectal Wisdo

   Cuegghi l'acqua quannu chioe  

     A dialect proverb that encourages you not to put off      what you can do now...

L'acqua ca nu cammina nfetisce

Idleness and immobility lead to degradation. It's  necessary to stay active and open to change

              to avoid ruin.  

Minti la manu ntra l'acqua frisca

An expression used to tell someone to stay calm or that a worry is excessive; or that a punishment wasn't that harsh.

Ti la trou iou l'acqua

A way of saying 'I'll fix you up' or 'I'll make sure you stay in line,' often used in a tone of defiance or authority.

Difficulties and Failures

Difficoltà e Fallimenti

Essere in cattive acque

Going through a difficult time, usually financially or personally

Fare un buco nell'acqua

To make a futile attempt that leads to no result; a total failure

Essere un pesce fuor d'acqua

Feeling uncomfortable in an environment or situation that is unfamiliar to us

Ognuno porta acqua al suo mulino

Acting exclusively in one's own self-interest, trying to turn every situation to one's advantage

Sfortune e Modi d'Agire

Misfortunes and Ways of acting

Piove sul bagnato

Acting exclusively in one's own self-interest, trying to turn every situation to one's advantage

Se vai al mare non trovi neanche l'acqua

An ironic saying addressed to someone who is extremely clumsy or unlucky, capable of failing even at the most obvious things.

Fare le cose all'acqua di rose

L'acqua crepa i ponti

Provérbios originais sobre a água -  Água que Ensina

Água que sabe esperar — chega sempre ao mar certo.

Onde a água repousa — a verdade aparece no fundo.

Quem segue a corrente — aprende caminhos que a pressa não vê.

Água clara não teme sol — porque nada tem a esconder.

Mar sereno engana olhos — mas nunca engana o vento.

Rio que se divide — leva sempre um pedaço de nós em cada margem.

Original Water Proverbs

Water That Teaches

 Water that knows how to wait — always reaches the right sea.

Where water comes to rest — truth appears at the bottom.

 Who follows the current — learns paths that haste cannot see.

 Clear water fears no sun — for it has nothing to hide.

A calm sea deceives the eyes — but never deceives the wind.

A river that divides — carries a piece of us on each shore.

Cuando el río suena, agua lleva

When there are rumors or signs that something is happening, there is usually some truth behind them.

When the river makes noise, it carries water

Cuando lleguemos a ese río, cruzaremos el puente

We´ll cross that bridge when we get to it

Let´s wait until we are there, (or that happens) before deciding what to do.

Agua pasada no mueve molino

Water under the bridge doesn´t move the mill

What’s done cannot be changed, so there’s no use worrying about it anymore.

A río revuelto, ganancia de pescadores

In troubled waters, fishermen profit

In times of disorder, confusion, or crisis, some people take advantage of the situation for their own benefit.

Nunca llueve a gusto de todos

It never rains to everyone’s liking

It is impossible for a situation, decision, or action to satisfy everyone.