Category Archives: folk simile

Time is like a sword

Nationality: American
Age: 50
Occupation: Homemaker
Residence: Dallas, Texas
Language: Arabic

Orignial Script: الوقت كالسيف إن لم تقطعه قطعك 

Romanization: alwaqt kalsayf ‘iin lam taqtaeh qiteuk

English Translation: Time is like a sword. If you do not cut it, it will cut you

Context: “I first heard this saying when I was younger, probably from my parents or elders in the family. It was something that was repeated in conversations about being disciplined and making the most of my time. Back then, I didn’t fully understand its weight, but as I grew older, I realized how true it was. It wasn’t just a phrase, it was a reminder, almost like a warning, that time doesn’t wait for anyone. If you don’t take control of it, it will slip away before you even notice. For me, this quote has always meant that time is precious, almost like money, you have to spend it wisely, or you’ll regret wasting it. It shaped the way I think about productivity and responsibility. When I was in school, I would hear this and remind myself to focus on my studies instead of putting things off. It’s a saying that stuck with me because it makes you realize that time isn’t something you can control, it keeps moving whether you do something meaningful with it or not. If you don’t take charge of your time, life will move forward without you, and you’ll be left wondering where all the time went. So I always try to be mindful of how I spend my days. I think about this saying often, and I’ve even repeated it to others when I see them struggling with time management or feeling like they can just put things off. It’s a lesson I carry with me, and I hope you do too.”

Analysis: From a cultural perspective, this saying emphasizes the importance of productivity and time management, which are deeply rooted in many societies, particularly in Middle Eastern and Islamic traditions. Many classical Arabic proverbs stress the value of hard work, wisdom, and self-discipline, often framing time as something that must be controlled rather than wasted. This reflects a broader worldview where time is seen as a finite resource, and one’s success is directly tied to how well they manage it.

From a historical standpoint, the use of the sword as a metaphor is significant. Swords were historically symbols of power, precision, and urgency. By comparing time to a sword, the proverb suggests that time, like a weapon, must be wielded skillfully, or else it will turn against the person who fails to take control of it. This imagery evokes a sense of duty and urgency, reinforcing the idea that individuals must take action in their own lives or risk being “cut down” by wasted opportunities.

This saying operates as a verbal tradition, a piece of wisdom that is passed down orally and becomes embedded in the cultural consciousness. Proverbs like this are often repeated within families and communities to teach younger generations essential life lessons. In this case, the proverb serves an educational function, warning people of the dangers of procrastination while promoting discipline and self-control.

More Lost Than A Goat In The Garage

Text:

“Mas perdido que una cabra en un garaje.”

Translation:

More lost than a goat in the garage.

Context:

The informant heard it a lot growing up, usually in the context of whenever they or their siblings did something stupid. It can both be used in physically lost in a space or described a ridiculous action.

Analysis:

It is a clear simile from literal textual meaning, but also a fun and lighthearted way to tease someone because of the ridiculousness nature of this phrase. The mention of goats might seem random, but through some research, I learned that goats are important livestock in El Salvador. Perhaps there are more situations of goats ending up in a garage than we think there could be.

TC Love

Age: 22
Occupation: Student
Residence: Rochester, Minnesota
Language: English

Story: “In this organization that I’m in, Troy Camp, we have this saying: TC Love. It’s something we use to appreciate each other and the work that we do. In Troy Camp, we do mentorship programs for kids from elementary school to seniors in high school. I love the work that I do in this organization, and I adore the people and kids that I get to work with. So, to show appreciation for these people, we love giving each other shoutouts, and we like to say that TC Love is different than any other kind of love. Just the other day, another member of Troy Camp shared with me her cousin’s embroidery business so that I could get my name embroidered on one of my Troy Camp quarterzips .. so at our next meeting, I made sure to share the TC Love with her by giving her a shoutout! Typically we say, “TC Love to …” and then the person’s name, and then why we are giving them TC Love. Out of all the traditions in this org, this one is my favorite.

Analysis: After speaking with this informant, I could tell that this organization and this tradition means the absolute world to them. Community builds community, and I could tell that this person and this organization fosters such a great community for both the people and the kids in it. Love is such a strong word, and it’s beautiful how different cultures and communities can take that word and adapt it to make it mean something entirely new, but just as special–I could tell this is something that took place for Troy Camp. After our conversation, this informant shared TC Love with me, and just from that, I could feel the weight that the phrase carries.

What would a monkey know of the taste of ginger?

Age: 19
Occupation: Student
Residence: Naperville, Illinois
Language: English

Story: “There is this proverb in Hindi that my mom used to say to me to let me know that I wasn’t smart enough to appreciate certain things. Basically she would use this proverb to roast me. The proverb is: Bandar kya jaane adrak ka swad. Which in English translates to “What would a monkey know of the taste of ginger?” But yeah, basically my mom would say this to me if I wasn’t appreciating something she did for me. If I didn’t love the dinner she made for me one night, she would say “What would a monkey know of the taste of dinner?”

Analysis: This is a phrase that really means a lot to this informant. Growing up they said, it kind of annoyed them, hearing their mom yell this at them, but now when they hear it, it carries a sense of nostalgia for them. Cultural folk phrases carry such deep meaning already, but its the people who use it that increase that meaning tenfold. Without context, “What would a monkey know of the taste of ginger?” is a totally random question–but to this informant, they know exactly what this means. This is the importance of cultural folk phrases: they create bonds amongst families, they bring nostalgia, and they have much deeper meaning than what meets the eye.

Letting go of things proverb

Information Info

Age: 20

Date_of_performance: 02/18/2025

Informant Name: HH

Language: English

Nationality: Puerto Rican  

Occupation: Student/works at the National History Museum

Primary Language: English/Spanish

Residence: Los Angeles, CA

Text:

“One saying I grew up hearing (and learned wasn’t that common?) was “let it roll off you like water off a duck’s back.” I think this came from my dad who’s from Alabama so it might have southern roots. The idea of the saying is to encourage someone to let something go, to be flexible, and not to fixate on something too much. Basically a cute way to tell someone to let it go, or that it’s not that deep”

Analysis:

This proverb sounds like it could have southern roots because I haven’t heard of it until H told me in our interview and I’m from the east coast. I can understand why her dad would tell her this proverb growing up, it’s a sweeter version of saying “Don’t freak out. You need to calm down”. It gives you the idea that you need to breath and let it all go. Let go of things you can change, it isn’t the end of the world. We all needed to hear this proverb growing up with all of the pressure being put on us. “Let it roll off you like water off a duck’s back”, ducks don’t get upset when water rolls off their back, they don’t even pat an eye towards it. They let the water roll off them and move on like it never touched them in the first place. This is what the saying wants to feel, like the uncomfortableness come over us and let it go without a second thought or care.