The core repertoire
You can only twist what everyone recognises instantly. Practically every Italian knows these proverbs. Their wording is fixed, even when it sounds old-fashioned: piglia, not prende.
Proverb and meaning
| Proverbio | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Chi dorme non piglia pesci. | The early bird catches the worm. |
| Chi trova un amico trova un tesoro. | A true friend is a treasure. |
| Paese che vai, usanza che trovi. | When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| Tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il mare. | Easier said than done. |
| L'abito non fa il monaco. | Don't judge a book by its cover. |
| Non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco. | You can't win them all. |
Many of these have an English counterpart with the same meaning but completely different images. Quote the Italian image, not a translation of the English one: Chi dorme non piglia pesci, not a sentence about birds and worms.
Four ways to twist
Every technique has one condition: the rhythm and shape of the original stay recognisable. You usually change just one part, the last one, because that is where the listener expects the familiar ending.
Cutting it short
The first half is enough; the listener supplies the rest. It sounds familiar and slightly ironic.
Volevano finire i lavori entro maggio, ma si sa: tra il dire e il fare…
They wanted the work done by May, but you know what they say: easier said…
Adding a tail
After the full quote, ma introduces a twist that undercuts the moral.
Chi dorme non piglia pesci… ma dorme bene.
He who sleeps catches no fish … but he does sleep well.
L'abito non fa il monaco… ma aiuta.
The habit doesn't make the monk … but it helps.
Swapping a word
One or two parts are replaced with words from the current situation. The rest stays word for word.
Chi trova un parcheggio in centro trova un tesoro.
Find a parking space in the city centre and you've found a treasure.
Ufficio che vai, modulo che trovi.
Every office has its own form.
In a headline
Newspapers like to swap the final word for the topic of the article. Readers recognise the model and get the comment along with it.
Riforma fiscale, tra il dire e il fare c'è di mezzo il bilancio
Tax reform: between saying and doing stands the budget
