Interesting and Unusual Honey Proverbs
Here at Simply Honey we are more than a little bit honey and bee-crazy which means we even know honey proverbs from around the world and their meanings…
Here are some interesting and Unusual Honey Proverbs and Their Meanings…
Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you.
This seemingly scary English proverb is in fact used to describe a person whose behaviour is so very servile and obsequious that people have no respect for him and treat him with contempt.
The modern equivalent would be “Don’t be a Yes Man.” It makes me think a little of Basil Fawlty on the rare occasions when he tries to make his guests feel comfortable…
PS If you are too young to know about Basil Fawlty, look up Fawlty Towers on You Tube but don’t worry, in the meantime you can still enjoy real, quality Australian honey.
If your friend is honey, don’t lick him thoroughly.
Bet this one got your attention! Sorry, it’s not as exciting as it sounds. It’s an Egyptian proverb that warns that that you should not abuse generosity that is given to you.
A person would use this proverb if they were criticising another of abusing the generosity of a friend. The wording of the proverb does conjure up other images though!
A wife should be as humble as a lamb, busy as a bee, as beautiful as a bird of paradise and faithful as a turtle dove.
I think this Russian proverb is self explanatory but soo not PC! It is a brave man in today’s society who sprouts this philosophy
Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.
This proverb is a warning that you need to be very careful (or questioning) if someone who seems to be too friendly.
Honey in excess is no longer sweet.
Basically this proverb is saying that excessive consumption actually reduces the pleasure and benefit. This could be applied to goods, food and behaviour.
In terms of food and drink…
Looking back into our childhood some of us may remember when we ate so much of a particular sweet, that we could never eat them again. For my brother it was pink sugar coated peanuts, for me it was Lattice Slice. Thankfully I have overcome the aversion now but it took a few years after my initial binge.
As adults, some of us (not myself of course 😊) have indulged a little too much of a Beveridge. So much so that sometimes even the smell now makes one feel ill!
PS It is often very tempting to enjoy (consume) too much of AB’s Honey – but remember, even honey in excess is no longer sweet!
One who handles honey, licks his fingers.
This delightfully descriptive Turkish proverb suggests that a person who is in charge of financial resources may sometimes benefit financially as well. Surely this would never apply to our culture, right ???
Though honey is sweet, don’t lick it off a briar.
An Irish proverb that warns you not to draw conclusions too quickly simply because the arguments seem to support that conclusion. A briar by the way is a prickly shrub, possibly a wild rose – and would definitely not be pleasant to lick!
Free vinegar is sweeter than honey.
This Turkish proverb means that just because something is cheap it does not necessarily mean that it is worth having.
Can anyone help us out with the explanation for this Bulgarian proverb?
When the sea turned into honey, the beggar lost his spoon.
