Trop de cuisiniers gâtent la soupe.—Too many cooks spoil the broth.
I’ n’y a pas de rue sàns but.—There is no road but has an ending. Equivalent to “It is a long lane that has no turning.”
S’il y avait un démarieur, il airait (aurait) pûs (plus) à faire que tous les marieurs.—If there were an “un-marryer” he would have more work to do than all the “marryers.”
Ce n’est pas tout que les chaous, faut de la graîsse à les cuire.—Cabbages alone are not sufficient, one must have grease to cook them with. Generally applied to “parvenus,” who have money but no manners.
Nou’ n’engraisse pouit les p’tits cochons d’iau fine.—Little pigs are not fattened by pure water.
Vieille pie a plus d’un pertus à son nic (nid).—An old magpie has more than one hole in her nest. Said of a man who is skilful at evasion.
T’as acouare les jaunes talons.—You have still got yellow heels, is said to youngsters who are too presuming in giving their opinion in the presence of their elders. Compare the French “blanc-bec” and “béjaune.”
Ch’est la vermeïne (vermine) qui mànge (mange) l’tâs (le tas).—It is the vermin that eats up the stack. Said of a father who has a large family of children drawing upon him and eating up all his savings.
[256] Editor’s Note.—The version I have heard of this proverb is: “Il est niais coume Dadais qui se fouittait de crêpes et tout-le-temps mourait de faim.”