Informant:

I had a conversation about proverbs they had learned from their families with three female employees at a local taco shop during one of the less busy times of the day.  Mercedes Rodriguez, 42, Maria Lopez, 23, and Rosalba Valdez, 18 each consider themselves Mexican.  Rosalba was the only one born in the United States, though she is a second generation immigrant.  People used to say the following proverb regarding Maria because she was shy and did not like to go out much.

Text:

Es más corta que las mangas de un chaleco.

Transliteration: She is more shy than the sleeves on a vest

Translation: A person who is shy will always stay away from social gatherings

Analysis:

This proverb comments, in a slightly negative light, on the behavior of those who are extremely shy.

Informant:

I had a conversation about proverbs they had learned from their families with three female employees at a local taco shop during one of the less busy times of the day.  Mercedes Rodriguez, 42, Maria Lopez, 23, and Rosalba Valdez, 18 each consider themselves Mexican.  Rosalba was the only one born in the United States, though she is a second generation immigrant.  Maria’s mother used to tell her the following proverb because she never wanted to do her homework right away.

Text:

No dejes para otra hora, lo que puedas hacer ahora.

Transliteration: don’t leave for another hour what you can do now.

Translation: Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today.

Analysis:

This proverb is very similar to an American proverb, “Don’t leave for tomorrow what you can do today.”  Who originated the proverb, though, is unknown.