# The best-known Brazilian sayings

The sayings every Brazilian has heard from their grandma, with what each one means. Chosen from Wiktionary, Ciberdúvidas and lists of the most used proverbs in Brazil.

- 0 votes · 16 items
- Sep 27, 2026 · Gustavo Marques
- https://even.best/en/l/456/the-best-known-brazilian-sayings

## Top 15

1. **Soft water on hard stone hits until it bores a hole.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Persistence beats any obstacle; it comes from Ovid's line about the drop that bores through stone.
2. **Who has no dog hunts with a cat.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — If you don't have the ideal tool, make do with what you have.
3. **Grain by grain, the hen fills her crop.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Little by little you get there.
4. **Don't look at the teeth of a gift horse.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Accept gifts without complaining.
5. **No mosquito gets into a closed mouth.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Sometimes it's better to keep quiet.
6. **Whoever has a mouth gets to Rome.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — By asking, you can get anywhere.
7. **Each monkey on its own branch.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Everyone should mind their own business.
8. **A fish's child is a little fish.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Children take after their parents.
9. **Who sees the face doesn't see the heart.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Appearances can be deceiving.
10. **Pepper in other people's eyes is a refreshment.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — It's easy not to care about someone else's suffering.
11. **The cautious man died of old age.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — You can never be too careful. English: better safe than sorry.
12. **In the blacksmith's house, a wooden skewer.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Things are often missing where you'd expect them most. English: the cobbler's children have no shoes.
13. **Whoever wounds with iron will be wounded with iron.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Whoever does harm gets the same in return.
14. **After the storm comes the calm.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Hard times pass. Same in English.
15. **God helps those who rise early.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Those who start early and work hard are rewarded. English: the early bird catches the worm.
16. **A bird in the hand is worth more than two flying.** (0 · ▲0 ▼0) — Better what's certain than the promise of something bigger.

How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.