Yiddish Phrase

Nationality: American
Age: 20
Occupation: Student
Residence: Seattle, WA
Performance Date: 4/23/17
Primary Language: English
Language: Polish

Informant Description/ Context of performance: My friend’s grandma always used to tell her this proverb while growing up.

Transliteration:

Mit eyn tokhes ken nit tantsn af tsvey khasenes.

Translation: You can’t dance at two weddings with one behind.

Meaning: You can’t do everything at once.

Conclusion: It is rather a simple and direct saying. This Yiddish proverb is seen throughout various cultures. For example, my grandpa used to always say “one thing done well is a very good thing, as anyone can tell.” It encompasses the same idea of taking on the appropriate workload and doing it to the best of one’s ability.