Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
On ne lance des pierres que sur un arbre qui porte des fruits.
English translation:
stones are only thrown at fruit-laden trees
Added to glossary by
Unbounded Arts
Feb 6, 2008 13:15
16 yrs ago
French term
On ne lance des pierres que sur un arbre qui porte des fruits.
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
proverbs/sayings
Is there an English equivalent?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+6
10 mins
Selected
stones are thrown only at fruit-laden trees
I've never heard the expression, either in French or in English, but the image is quite plain and obvious. I'd translate it.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
B D Finch
: I find the image ambiguous, depending whether you take the point of view of the tree or of the stone-thrower.
17 mins
|
It (probably) means "people only criticise those who are good/useful/have something to say/to offer"
|
|
agree |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
19 mins
|
agree |
Victoria Porter-Burns
:
37 mins
|
agree |
Emma Paulay
: BD's quote (below) shows that your interpretation is correct
46 mins
|
agree |
emiledgar
: Yes, the point is one doesn't waste one's time and energy on a barren tree.
1 hr
|
agree |
Najib Aloui
: Sorry, It's not Bd's interpretation but yours...
1 hr
|
agree |
AllegroTrans
: "only thrown" would sound more natural
1 hr
|
'Thrown only" to distinguish from "stone are only thrown at..." which would mean "the only use for stones is to throw them at ..." The workaround is to add "people", as in "people only throw stone at..."
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks!"
-1
29 mins
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
about being realistic
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
AllegroTrans
: this is an entirely different context - doesn't work
25 mins
|
+1
26 mins
There's no point flogging a dead horse
"Vous avez raison de le souligner Prosper, il y a tellement de gens qui ont eu une lecture de seconde main des oeuvres de Cheik Anta Diop. Je ne vous dis pas les ravages que cela cause encore aujourd’hui au près des jeunes africains qui n’ont pas un vision prospective de l’Afrique. Quant aux attaques sur A. Mabanckou par ses collègues, je dis que **l’on ne lance des pierres que sur un arbre qui à des fruits mûrs**. Si Alain n’était pas en vue personne ne s’y intéresserait. Il appartient à Alain de se faire les dents, un point c’est tout. Et surtout qu’il reste lui même, c’est-à-dire lucide et humble !"
http://www.congopage.com/article4504.html
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Note added at 31 mins (2008-02-06 13:46:50 GMT)
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I'm not sure, but it seems to me that this is about not wasting your effort throwing stones at a tree that doesn't have ripe fruit on it. It's a nicer image than the dead horse one, but seems to mean much the same.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Sandra Petch
: I think you're making a very good point.
23 mins
|
neutral |
Carol Gullidge
: I like the idea, but "flogging a dead horse" means something different: putting a lot of effort into a hopeless task. I don't feel that is what is meant here, but more context would help -www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/flogging a dead horse.html
53 mins
|
neutral |
Najib Aloui
: Stones are thrown at Alain because hes is "en vue" , enjoys reknown, he is a tree that bears fruit ...
2 hrs
|
57 mins
Invest in and with us and you'll get your reward.
That is what I think Moise is saying.
2 hrs
don't waste your time and effort on lost causes/hopeless causes
another possibility
+1
2 hrs
People only throw stones at trees that bear fruit
Even it there were an English equivalent , I'd be in favour of keeping the image of the original.
However, I just think my wording sounds more natural English than Pierre's.
However, I just think my wording sounds more natural English than Pierre's.
Discussion
It is a proverb from Congo indeed.
Thanks to all.
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proverbes_d'Afrique_noire
On ne lance des pierres que sur un arbre qui porte des fruits (Congo)