Frigyes Karinthy's funniest explanations of proverbs from his "Simple-Minded Lexicon"
The top 3 according to 24 votes from people: All appearances deceive. · A barking dog doesn't bite. · Walk slowly and you will get further.. (Updated Aug 4, 2025.)
"You can't make bacon out of a dog. Lard, at most." In his Együgyű lexikon, the Hungarian humorist Frigyes Karinthy (1887–1938) explained the best-known Hungarian proverbs literally and turned them upside down. The best ones, from the text in the Hungarian Electronic Library.
Automatically translated (original in Magyar). See the original
Top 15
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1
All appearances deceive.
Karinthy's explanation: But every deceiver shows.
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2
A barking dog doesn't bite.
Karinthy's explanation: Beginners are warned, however, that dogs do not know this proverb.
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3
Walk slowly and you will get further.
Karinthy's explanation: For a schoolboy facing his final exams it works the other way round: he matures slowly, so he stays in school longer.
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4
He who is not content with little does not deserve much.
Karinthy's explanation: And so he gets it undeservedly.
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5
A cloak after the rain (too late).
Karinthy's explanation: A health rule: after rain the air is usually cooler, so it is advisable to put on a coat.
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6
In the dark all cows are black.
Karinthy's explanation: An industrial discovery of extraordinary importance, which can save large amounts of black lacquer and paint.
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7
You can't make bacon out of a dog.
Karinthy's explanation: Lard, at most.
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8
Everyone is the smith (kovács) of his own fortune.
Karinthy's explanation: Except Gyula Kovács.
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9
Patience bears roses.
Karinthy's explanation: Nothing else.
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10
All that glitters is not gold.
Karinthy's explanation: Under favourable circumstances it may also be diamond.
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11
The early riser finds gold.
Karinthy's explanation: But whoever has found gold goes to bed late and cannot get up early the next day. Best not to go to bed at all.
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12
Blood does not turn into water.
Karinthy's explanation: An experience refuted by the latest medical science (see: dropsy).
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13
Stretch only as far as your blanket reaches.
Karinthy's explanation: A health tip that is unpleasant mainly for those with very long blankets.
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14
Whoever digs a pit for another falls into it himself.
Karinthy's explanation: Whoever causes trouble for someone else ends up in trouble himself.
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15
The wise learn from others' losses.
Karinthy's explanation: For example, if someone learns French, it is his father's loss, because he has to pay the teacher.
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