History of the Village Visheni

The following proverbs were in common use in our village and possibly in the surrounding villages. Perhaps some of them were even in other parts of Macedonia.

ZNAE KOLKO POPO TIKVENTSKI EVANGELIETO. (He knows as much as the priest from Tikveni knows the Gospel.) Meaning: He is ignorant.
ZNAE KOLKO KURSTO OT MOKRENI. (He knows as much as Chris from Mokreni.) He is ignorant.
OSHCHE NE VYANA DUPNA. (He stirred before riding a horse.) He is unprepared. (whatever his undertaking)
TI DE ODISH, YAS SI GREDA. (Wherever you are going, I'm coming back from.) I know more than you know.
TI NA TATKOTI NIVATA NEMOZHISH DA MU E KAZHISH. (You can't point out the paddock to your father.) I know more than you know.
ZNAE DA REZHI KATO PRSTENAROVOTO MAGARE. (He knows to prune like Prestenarov's donkey.) He is an amateur.
RAZBERVA KOLKO MAGARE OT MUZIKA. (He understands as much as a donkey understands music.) He is ignorant.
DA NE DONESE KUCHETO BALTAK? (Has the dog brought an axe?) When the purpose of your visit is other than the one claimed.
NE E MAGARSKA GRIZHA. (It is not for the donkeys to worry about.) Mind your own business.
SHARENIO VOL IMA LOY. (The fancy ox has plenty of fat.) The grass is greener beyond the fence.
CHUZHOTO SVE PO GOLEMO. (The other fellow's is always bigger.) The grass is greener beyond the fence.
SHO MU BORJISH NA MIAYLETO! (You are in debt to Michael!) You are a fool!
ZHIVI MAGARE ZA ZELEVA TREVA. (Stay alive, donkey, for green grass in spring.) When you ignore the problems of the present and look hopefully to the future.
BEGALA BABA - BELO NOSILA. (Granny ran - she is wearing white.) Retreat from danger and live.
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RODI. BABO, DETE! (Granny, bear us a child!) When you ask the impossible.
NE KUTSA MAGARETO OT USHITE. (The donkey does not limp because of his ears.) When you fail to see the real cause.
STO STAPOVI PO CHUMI GUS ICH NE BOLI. (A hundred lashes on someone else's behind don't hurt at all.) One on mine hurts, obviously.
VZEMI MU GO UMO ODI ZA KRUSHI. (Follow his thoughts and go and buy pears.) He is stupid.
OT BULVATA LOY MADVA. (He tries to get fat from a flea.) He is a stinker.
I PETELO YAYTSA MU NESI. (Even his rooster lays eggs.) He is lucky.
BABA LUZHI, TRAP NE LUZHI. (Granny may tell lies, but the gully does not.) When you try to hide the evidence.
AKO NE KAZHI VOLO KE KAZHI ROGO. (If the ox does not tell, the horn will.) When a secret is exposed.
PO KRACHUN KRASTAVITSI! (Cucumbers after Christmas!) Too late!
DO GODINA, YA KOLA YA BIVOLA. (Next year either the cart or the buffalo.) When the future is uncertain.
NAYDE TSURKVA DA SE KLANISH. (You have found a church to bow.) Everything runs smoothly for you.
YAYTSE MU SE PECHI NA GUZO. (You can roast an egg on his behind.) He is too busy.
TIA GO KURSTAT TOY PURDI. (He farts while being baptized.) When you reject the advice of elders.
NA SLEPIO SHCHURK GOSPO MU GO PRAVI SEDELOTO. (God builds the nest of the blind stork.) When things run in favour of a poor man.
SE FATI SIROMAO NA OROTO, SE SKINA TEPANO. (As the poor man started dancing, the drum burst.) When you fail to achieve your goal.
KOGA KE OSTARA DA SE POFALA. (When will I get old so as to brag?) When an older person praises himself.
I NA GUZO OKO IMA. (He even has an eye on his behind.) He Is very smart.
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SE OBLECHE ALIA, PAK VO TIA. (Ali changed but still wears the same clothes.) When things remain the same as before.
VULKO VULNATA E FURLA UYO NE GO FURLA. (The wolf changes his fur but not his habits.) When a person does not change his ways.
KE MESA KE MU ZANESA. (I will bake it and take it (to him).) When you keep postponing doing things.
DE STOTO I ZLOTO. (Where the hundred goes, let the disaster be also.) When you pay a little extra for something.
KOY NE MUCHIL TOY KERDOSAL. (The one that did not suffer benefits.) When someone inherits that which he does not deserve.
KOY OT KOL KOY OT FURTOMA. (Some from the peg; some from the rope.) When strangers group together for something.
KOY NA KLINETSO KOY NA PLOCHATA. (Some on the nail; some on the horseshoe.) When there is a lack of agreement about anything.
OT TIA SHO BIE NA KAMBANATA. (From those who hit the church bell.) When someone is arrogant and stubborn.
ZAVURNA SNEGO SE POSIPAA TRAGITE. (The snow fell and covered up the tracks.) When someone tries to hide his past.
REKATA GO KREVA---VIDITE KOLKO BEL GUS IMA! (He is being swept by the current---look at his white behindi) When you superficially praise another person.
NI ZMIA NI MAGARE! (Neither a snake nor a donkey!) Between the devil and the deep blue sea.
KONO GO KOVAT I ZHABATA KREVA NOGA. (They shoe the horse; the frog lifts a leg.) When you try to keep up with the Joneses.
NA SUSHATA I GRADO ARDISVA. (In a drought even the hailstones are beneficial.) When you don't get what you expected.
VIZHLA SI YA MECHKATA RIKA I BEGA. (The bear saw "hers" and thought it was a big wound!) When you complain about trivial things.
AKO NE ZAVURNI KE KAPNI. (If It does not rain, It will drip.) When you get less than expected.
NAYDE VLAO LUKANIK-KRIV BIL. (He found a sausage-it is bent.) When you are a whinger.
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UCHI, UCHI, TIKA BUCHI. (Teach, teach---the pumpkin is empty.) When you don't learn anything.
KO KE YASH KEVISH (Koga ke yadish ke vidish.) (You will see it when you eat it.) You will learn when you experience it (anything).
NE TERASH MECHKA! (You can't chase a bear.) You can't achieve your goal.
OSHCHE SO NUNKOVATA KOSHULA ODISH. (You still wear your godfather's shirt!) You haven't grown up yet.
KATO TOY SO ZHABATA. (Like the one with the froq.) When someone goes against you. (as explained elsewhere)
ZA BISHE BELI GASHCHI. (White pants for a pig!) When you are sloppy and unclean!
POD VOLO TELE BARA. (He looks for a calf under the ox!) When you look for a reason to attack.
GO VLECHI POYASO. (He drags his belt.) When you are looking for trouble.
VSE SHO LITA NE SE YADI. (Everything that flies is not edible.) When you act like a child.
UMNI BRALE, LUDI RASIPALE. (The wise collect; fools destroy.) When you disregard how you spend your possessions
OT KOL NA KOL. (From stick (peg) to stick.) When you take risks.
OT TUKA DOR DE ODAT SHCHURKOVITE. (From here to where the storks go.) When you describe someone's folly.
DA NE PADNI SKEPARO DA GO UBIE DETETO. (Lest the hatchet falls and kills the child.) When you are a pessimist.
MUVATA NA KAPATA. (The bee on his hat.) When you expose your guilt.
NA ZDRAVA NOGA TURN. (A thorn in a healthy foot.) When you will create problems with your actions.
GOLO GO VYAVA MAGARETO. (He rides the donkey without a saddle.) He is being childish.
TSURKNI SURKNI. (Spray and swallow.) From hand to mouth.
PSOVISANO MAGARE OT VULK NE SE PLASHI. (A dead donkey is not afraid of the wolf.) When you are experienced and can handle any situation.
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NI LUK YAL NI LUK MIRISA. (He neither has eaten garlic nor smells of it.) When you try to hide your quilt.
RASIPI KUKYA NAPRAVI PLEMNA. (Destroy a house to build a barn.) An achievement of less value than your efforts.
SELO SE TRAPISVA KURO SE DAVISVA. (A landslide carries away the village; the penis argues the point.) When you ignore the problems of others and strive for your selfish ends.
I STISO USHI IMA. (Walls have ears.) Obvious.
DOR DA NE SE SOTKAE PLATNOTO NE SE IZGORVA KROSNOTO. (You don't burn the spindle before you finish the cloth.) Obvious.
DO DE TI STIGA YORGANO DO TAMO PUSHCHI GI NOTZITE. (Stretch your legs according to your guilt.) When you try to "burn your candle from both ends."
ARIZAN KON ZA NAZABITSA NE SE GLEDA. (You don't look a gift horse in the mouth.) Obvious.
NE SE FURLAY GOL VO KOPRIVI. (Don't throw yourself naked in the stingy nettles.) Don't interfere in the arguments of others.
KACHILA SE VOSHKA NA ROSHKA. (The louse climbed on a twig.) When you move to a higher position and brag about it.
RANO E U TZVOLO. (It is early in Tzvolo.) When you are running late.
VIDE MALKO URDA MISLI BACHILO E! He saw some cottage cheese and thinks It is a cheese-making factory.) When you exaggerate your wealth.
OTKRIEN GUS MUVITE KE GO NAPLYUYAT. (An uncovered behind will be contaminated by the blowflies.) When you are careless and expose things.
SO GOLA RUKA ZMIYA NE SE FATVA. (You don't catch a snake with bare hands.) When you don't have sufficient means to do anything.
SO STISNATI NOTZI DETE NE SE RODVA. (You can't bear a child with your legs tight.) When you try to economize.
SO PURDESH YAYTSA NE SE VAPSUVAT. (You can't colour eggs with a fart!) Similar to above.
EDNA NULA, EDNA KULA! (One zero, one mansion!) When you make a blunder.
EM FTESEN EM BESEN. (He is guilty but goes berserk.) When you don't admit your quilt.

Atanas Leikov HISTORY OF THE VILLAGE VISHENI

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