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If there is no garbage, dogs do not poo
Proverb explanation
If there is no garbage, dogs do not poo
Meaning
If unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably a reason for it
Culture
It shows that people get knowledge from seeing the nature of dogs when they poo and compare this understanding with the reasons for unpleasant things happening. Dogs naturally poo where there is garbage, very dirty areas, and will not poo at in clean places; therefore, people compare this to something bad which usually has a reason for it (Sorsotthikul, 1994, p. 412).
English proverb |
No smoke without fire |
No smoke without fire
Proverb explanation
If there is smoke, that means there is fire that causes smoke
Meaning
If unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably a reason for it
Culture
In terms of culture, British people obtain the knowledge from nature and express it through language as a proverb. The expression of this Scottish poet’s idea was first recorded in English form by an English poet Thomas Hoccleve in 1422 as “Wher no fyr maad is may no smoke aryse” meaning that there is always a reason for unpleasant things (Oxford dictionary of proverbs, 2007; Oxford Dictionary of English, 2010, p. 1685). Definitely, the poet compared the truth of life to the nature of fire.
References
Speak, J. (2007). Oxford dictionary of proverbs (5th ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
Stevenson, A. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English (3rd ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
รัชนี ซอโสตถิกุล. (2544). สุภาษิตอังกฤษ คำสอนใจของไทยที่มีความหมายคล้ายคลึงกัน (พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 5).กรุงเทพฯ:สำนักพิมพ์แห่งจุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย.
Stevenson, A. (2010). Oxford Dictionary of English (3rd ed.). Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.
รัชนี ซอโสตถิกุล. (2544). สุภาษิตอังกฤษ คำสอนใจของไทยที่มีความหมายคล้ายคลึงกัน (พิมพ์ครั้งที่ 5).กรุงเทพฯ:สำนักพิมพ์แห่งจุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย.