10 famous sayings from around the world (and what they really mean)

From samurai battlefields to modern-day America, these sayings carry hidden meanings you’ve never noticed. "You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs" and "Spill the beans" mean much more than you think. Let’s uncover the truth behind these expressions and why they’ve lasted for centuries.

You can usually tell when a friend has major news to share, and when you can’t handle the intrigue anymore, you need to use this great American saying: "Spill the beans".

It’s believed to come from a voting method in ancient Greece, where people dropped colored beans into a jar. Spilling the beans meant knocking the jar ahead of time to show the votes, and that’s precisely why it refers to revealing a secret.

Sometimes, maybe at a job interview, a distant family member's birthday, or a run-in with an old friend, things can get awkward fast. That’s when we need to think on our feet and find something to say that will kick off the conversation.

And that’s exactly what Americans describe as ‘breaking the ice’, a phrase that originally comes from sailing, back when big trade ships would get stuck in frozen rivers and harbors, and small sturdy boats called ‘icebreakers’ would be sent to smash open the waterways so trade could continue.

Wishful thinking can get you far, but some things are outright impossible, so when someone makes an unrealistic claim or promise, we need to turn to this classic expression, originally from Scotland: "When pigs fly".

This saying is an "adynton": a figure of speech so extreme it highlights the impossibility of a situation. It has been widely used, even in classic literature, including Lewis Carroll’s 1865 "Alice in Wonderland".

You’ve probably experienced the feeling that someone wants you to solve a problem you have nothing to do with. At that moment, look them in the eye and say, "Not my circus, not my monkeys".

This is a Polish proverb that means something is not your responsibility; the perfect way to set boundaries when you feel another person is "clowning around."

From the moment we wake up until we go to bed, the list of things we do is endless, and the time we have to do it all is limited. That’s why every minute counts and it's so important not "to carry coals to Newcastle".

This English proverb describes doing something pointless, since Newcastle was the heart of the country’s coal mining industry; so taking coal there was completely useless.

Have you ever made a mistake while doing "that" thing you are supposed to do be great at? Or that someone you idolized made a mistake, too? This Japanese idiom sums it perfectly: just like monkeys who are amazing at climbing trees can fall, even experts can make errors.

Records show it was used as early as the medieval period, especially during the Edo era (1603-1868). This saying reminds us to stay humble and also not to feel ashamed when we fail.

There are moments when you might feel alone or unsure about how to solve a problem. This is where the Japanese remind us that "strength is in unity"; in other words, just like a bundle of arrows, a group of people working together is much harder to defeat than a person on their own.

This proverb is often linked to a powerful samurai warlord named Mori Motonari, who, on his deathbed, explained to his sons that if they stayed united, like bundled arrows, they would be unbreakable.

This isn’t just about cooking; it came from a moment of real violence. The proverb was reportedly said by the Royalist leader François de Charette during the French Revolution (1796), meaning that winning the war would require heavy casualties.

Today you can use it to explain that to achieve a great goal or make progress, you have to be willing to accept that things can get messy and sacrifices are often necessary.

Which of us hasn’t spent a night unable to fall asleep because of a worry we can’t get out of our minds? When that happens, we should remember this French insight: worrying about something creates the same distress as it actually happening, so by fearing something you may suffer twice: before it happens and again if it does.

You know when you are trying your best and no matter what you do everything seems to go wrong? This is where the Portuguese and Brazilians have the answer: although we are human and can make mistakes, a greater power or destiny will weave things into a perfect outcome.

In other words, don’t stop trying and trust the process.

Portents of doom

Black cats and broken mirrors: 10 bad omens throughout history

Image: Kasturi Roy

Human societies have always been fascinated by what the future might hold—and with this yearning to glimpse what lies beyond the horizon came a host of very strange ideas. From the twitch of a cat's tail to the flight of birds, cultures around the world have interpreted various natural events as imbued with prophetic significance. And many of these foreboding signs were believed to predict misfortune or disaster, often helping people make sense of the unexpected. Join us as we explore 10 of the most notorious bad omens that have instilled fear and superstition throughout the ages.

Image: Kristin O Karlsen

In many cultures, and particularly in Western folklore, a black cat crossing your path is seen as a bad omen. This belief likely stems from the association of black cats with witchcraft during the Middle Ages, when they were often believed to be witches' familiars. However, in some instances, black cats could be considered symbols of good luck, and sailors were known for favoring black cats for company aboard their ships.

While many people today keep black cats as pets and no longer associate them with any superstition, the myths surrounding these felines remain well-known and frequently appear in fiction.

Image: Mick Haupt

Breaking a mirror is said to bring seven years of bad luck, a belief that originated in ancient Rome, where mirrors were seen as portals to the soul. The idea was that damaging one's reflection could harm the spirit or even anger the gods, who were also believed to spy on mortals through mirrors.

To be fair, in antiquity mirrors were difficult to manufacture and considered prized possessions, so it's understandable that various social fears and taboos arose around breaking one. But why seven years of bad luck specifically? Romans believed the body renewed itself every seven years, meaning technically no curse could last longer than that.

Image: Waldemar

The combination of Friday and the number 13 has long been considered particularly unlucky in Western culture, with roots in both Norse mythology and Christian tradition. In Christianity, the Last Supper featured thirteen attendees, with Judas Iscariot's betrayal occurring on a Friday, cementing the date as one of ill fortune.

Similarly, in Norse mythology, twelve gods were feasting in Valhalla when the uninvited trickster god Loki arrived as the thirteenth guest. His presence caused chaos, ultimately leading to the death of Balder, the god of joy. The extent of the myth surrounding the number 13 is such that, even today, some buildings skip the 13th floor entirely, and in the United States alone, nearly 20 million people are estimated to avoid traveling or following their normal routines on this date.

Image: Steve Smith

Crows and ravens have long been associated with various myths and legends throughout the ages. The ancient Romans believed that a crow’s call foretold impending doom, while Celtic traditions linked these birds to battle and death. In the Norse pantheon, Odin was often accompanied by a pair of ravens, who were considered messengers —or sometimes spies—of the gods.

For Native Americans, ravens were often seen as tricksters, much like coyotes, playing pranks on unsuspecting mortals or following their own mysterious designs. These superstitions deserve some credit, as corvids are known to be among the most intelligent species on the planet, with cognitive abilities comparable to those of great apes, according to some scientists.

Image: Lilian Jeane Schiffer

We have co-evolved with dogs to the point where we are highly attuned to their barks, howls, and tail wags—signals that our furry friends use to greet us or even alert us to unseen dangers. However, dogs weren’t always the friendly companions we know today, and there was a time when the howling of wolves in the dark could only mean imminent danger.

So, it should come as no surprise that howling wolves were often interpreted as portentous by ancient cultures. For example, Virgil noted that howling wolves were among the many omens that foretold the assassination of Julius Caesar and the onset of civil strife.

Image: Jason Tuinstra

Spilling salt has been seen as an ill omen for centuries, and even today, some people can’t help but flinch at the sight of a fallen salt shaker. The belief, however, might be rooted in practicality. In ancient times, salt was so valuable that it was often used as payment—hence the origins of words like "salary" or "soldier."

To counteract the bad luck associated with an accidental spill, some believe that tossing a pinch of the spilled salt over the left shoulder can ward off evil spirits. However, the most practical remedy might simply be to gather up as much of the spilled salt as possible and return it to the container.

Image: iridial

In various East Asian cultures, the number 4 is considered highly unlucky because it sounds similar to the word for "death." This aversion has led to buildings skipping the fourth floor and even changing phone numbers to avoid the ominous digit.

While the aversion to the number 4 may seem akin to the fear of 13 in Western cultures, the phobia associated with 4 far surpasses its Western counterpart. It is so deeply ingrained in the culture that even the business world takes significant precautions to avoid the number in any context.

Image: Mandy Ferrer

In Slavic cultures, whistling indoors is often seen as a bad omen, believed to invite misfortune or bad luck into the house. Whistling outdoors, however, is generally considered acceptable. This superstition may have originated from the belief that whistling could summon spirits or disrupt harmony within the home.

Among sailors, whistling aboard a ship was thought to encourage the wind to pick up, which could be either beneficial or detrimental depending on the weather—you might accidentally end up whistling up a storm.

Image: joel herzog

For millennia, strange animal behavior has been seen as an omen of impending misfortune. Interestingly, this superstition may have roots in actual truth, as the phenomenon of animals fleeing or behaving restlessly before natural disasters has been observed repeatedly. And there is ample historical evidence to support this belief.

The Greek historian Thucydides reported in 373 BC that rats, dogs, snakes, and weasels deserted the city of Helice in the days leading up to a catastrophic earthquake, and throughout history animals have been known to predict disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and even volcanic eruptions with remarkable precision. Some scientists even suggest that many animals can instinctively detect minute electromagnetic changes in the atmosphere, which might often precede impending earthquakes and other natural disasters.

Image: Steve Busch

Comets have historically been viewed as bad omens, often seen as harbingers of disaster or significant change. Their bright trails frequently incited panic and hysteria among the public, and recurring comets like Halley's Comet were even linked to the death of kings and other calamities.

More recently, during Halley's Comet's passage in 1910, spectroscopic analysis revealed the presence of the toxic gas cyanogen in the comet’s tail. This led to sensational newspaper reports claiming that the gas would contaminate the atmosphere and potentially extinguish all life on Earth. Despite reassurances from scientists that the gas posed no threat, mass hysteria ensued, leading people to buy gas masks and even "anti-comet pills."