Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе
With accent marks:
Лу́чше сини́ца в рука́х, чем жура́вль в не́бе.
Translation:
A titmouse in hands is better than a crane in the sky.
Meaning:
It is better to have at least something but today, than to rely on vague promises but for tomorrow - this is the meaning of this proverb.
It has many variations in different languages. Even the ancient Romans used an expression that can be translated as follows:
- Better a sparrow in hands than a goose in the sky.
The English equivalent of this proverb is "a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush".
Other Russian proverbs
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Как аукнется, так и откликнется
What goes around comes around.
-
A well-fed man does not understand a starving one.
-
Волков бояться – в лес не ходить
Don't go to the woods if afraid of wolves.
-
Strike the iron while it's hot.
-
Laws are not written for fools.
-
The forbidden fruit is sweet.
-
They do not seek good from good.
-
Better late than never.
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