A peasant will not cross himself before it begins to thunder

Al Blanco · #1 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:22 PM

'A peasant will not cross himself before it begins to thunder'
Is there such a proverb in modern English? We have such one in Russian and it means that a person doesn't do anything before a trouble comes (while it is possible to take some measures). How it can be said in modern English?

polarbear31 · #2 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Blanco

'A peasant will not cross himself before it begins to thunder'
Is there such a proverb in modern English? We have such one in Russian and it means that a person doesn't do anything before a trouble comes (while it is possible to take some measures). How it can be said in modern English?

i guess i'm not sure on this translation, is this saying of yours meant to chastise weak minded people by referring to them as peasants for not having the courage to take action?

Al Blanco · #3 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarbear31

i guess i'm not sure on this translation, is this saying of yours meant to chastise weak minded people by referring to them as peasants for not having the courage to take action?

In our version, not exactly (however, maybe it was so in the origin). In Russian it means that a person is too lazy or just doesn’t want to bother himself with thinking about possible problems. Only when they come he begins to doing something.

polarbear31 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Blanco

In our version, not exactly (however, maybe it was so in the origin). In Russian it means that a person is too lazy or just doesn’t want to bother himself with thinking about possible problems. Only when they come he begins to doing something.

I understand the phrase, we are seeing this in action today here in the states with a rapid increase in fuel prices, for the longest time we refused to except the dangers of oil dependency with regards to supply and have built a market of oversized inefficient automobiles, now that the average american can not afford to gas this vehicle we are seeing a panic reaction and the more naive ones are actually shocked that 11 miles per gallon was not going to bite them in the ass some day.

Al Blanco · #5 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarbear31

I understand the phrase, we are seeing this in action today here in the states with a rapid increase in fuel prices, for the longest time we refused to except the dangers of oil dependency with regards to supply and have built a market of oversized inefficient automobiles, now that the average american can not afford to gas this vehicle we are seeing a panic reaction and the more naive ones are actually shocked that 11 miles per gallon was not going to bite them in the ass some day.

So is there any way to express it in a form of an idiom or proverb?

polarbear31 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Blanco

So is there any way to express it in a form of an idiom or proverb?

"chickens are coming home to roost" it is an expression that is used in a instance where one pays for his or hers sins , like the IRS knocking on your door after not paying taxes.

pjwky · #7 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by polarbear31

I understand the phrase, we are seeing this in action today here in the states with a rapid increase in fuel prices, for the longest time we refused to except the dangers of oil dependency with regards to supply and have built a market of oversized inefficient automobiles, now that the average american can not afford to gas this vehicle we are seeing a panic reaction and the more naive ones are actually shocked that 11 miles per gallon was not going to bite them in the ass some day.

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Yes, "polar Bear", you got that one right. Today CNN announced that if you want to sell your hummer, the price has now actually fallen $1000 below the blue book price. As for our Russian friend's proverb: perhaps our gas reality should be "the blind leading the blind": the politicians looked the other way & so they were blind, and the people that elected them closed their eyes & so they too were blind. .....pjwky

Oxymoron · #8 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 04:00 PM

I always loved "Zadnasti Fra'era Pogubit" Greed shall destroy the regular Joe Shmo.

TakuanSoho · #9 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 04:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Al Blanco

In our version, not exactly (however, maybe it was so in the origin). In Russian it means that a person is too lazy or just doesn’t want to bother himself with thinking about possible problems. Only when they come he begins to doing something.

Possible alternatives: "Fiddled while Rome burned"
"Being a grasshopper, not an ant" (from the Aesop fable about the grasshopper who played while the ants stored food for winter, who later starved during winter).

Realist1 · #10 (**permalink**) 05-19-2008, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjwky

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Yes, "polar Bear", you got that one right. Today CNN announced that if you want to sell your hummer, the price has now actually fallen $1000 below the blue book price. As for our Russian friend's proverb: perhaps our gas reality should be "the blind leading the blind": the politicians looked the other way & so they were blind, and the people that elected them closed their eyes & so they too were blind. .....pjwky

The Russians have plenty of gas...You just have to take it away from Putin, and his "Allies in Crime".

The same as us.....

We've the same problem with the Petroleum Companies.

Our Politicans are honest....They stay bought and paid for.