Open Means Open Means
- Boddunan.com Updates - - Announcements - - Contests & Rewards - - Group Discussions - Discussions - - General Discussions - - Improving English Writing Skills - - Q n A - Find answers to your questions - - Daily Dose - - Topics of Interest - - - Current Affairs & Latest News - - - Education & Learning - - - Humor & Jokes - - - Movies & Entertainment - Your Vote Counts - - Feedback - - Suggestion Box - Shoutbox - - Introduce Yourself - - The Lounge - - Help - - Testimonials
Need help with phrasing a proverb!
in Improving English Writing Skills
  • 0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    • Add Favorite Report
    Like it on Facebook, Tweet it or share this topic on other bookmarking websites.
    A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P


    The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.


    I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!


    Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?

    G. K. Ajmani Tax consultant
    http://gkajmani-mystraythoughts.blogspot.com/

    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P


    The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.


    I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!


    Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?


    You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!
    Thank you said by: Gulshan Kumar Ajmani
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

    A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!


    The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:

    Pay no mind to those who talk behind your back, it simply means that you are two steps ahead !!!

    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

    A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!


    The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:


    I also thought of 'diamond....' .And it does come closer to capturing the essence. Here again I have to emphasize the figurative aspect of it!!
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P


    The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.


    I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!


    Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?


    You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!


    This is 'personification' - a figure of speech. There are different ways to say a thing. How someone uses a phrase depends on his style.

    G. K. Ajmani Tax consultant
    http://gkajmani-mystraythoughts.blogspot.com/

    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    A thorn is used to extract another thorn
    embedded in the hand
    Like a diamond is used
    to cut another diamond.
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

    A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!


    The one that is close to this would be Diamond cuts Diamond which is a well known usage ...how about A thorn to remove a thorn...... :dry:


    Yes the phrase diamond cuts a diamond is similar to it and the phrasing you have used for 'A thorn to remove a thorn' is about the closest that I am looking for!! Thanks ! :)

    "I am free of all prejudice. I hate everyone equally."
    - W. C. Fields :)

    Thank you said by: usha manohar
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    There is a proverb in Marathi and Hindi which goes like this 'kaante se kaanta nikalana' meaning 'to remove a thorn with help of a thorn.' Only problem is that this doesn't really sound so right so can any one help me rephrase it better!

    A request to those who cannot help or do not know this, please do not post replies like I don't know or ask this one and that one! This is a genuine query I have and am expecting proper replies!


    In Tamil we usually say "Mullai[thorn] Mullal[using thorn] Than Edukka[Remove] Vendum"
    http://rebacca-vethathiri.blogspot.in/
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    In Sanskrit there is a proverb 'Sathe Sathang", be foxy with a fox!! :lol: :lol:
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    A thorn fights another thorn - the very best!!! :P :P :P :P


    The proverb is about using some one- a wicked- against another wicked. The phrase- A thorn fights another torn- does not indicate that some one is using. If two wicked persons fight each other on their own without being used by someone, your phrase would be correct.


    I think the proverbs lose their appeal if these are rendered literally and their beauty lies in figurative imaginations. Why a thorn - any object for that matter which is not endowed with mobility or initiating actions on their own need agency of humans to perform it. Here the suggestion of 'use' is subtle and needs to be explained from that perspective!!! I can readily refer to one of 'one stone killing two birds' to illustrate my point!!


    Is it 'killing two birds with one stone' or 'one stone killing two birds'. ?


    You are right but there are some proverbs which are based on figurative interpretations!!! A rolling stone gathers no moss!!!


    This is 'personification' - a figure of speech. There are different ways to say a thing. How someone uses a phrase depends on his style.


    Similes, metaphors, allegories are all parts of our expressions which lift our language to a surreal level. If I use ' a lion 'thunders' instead of 'roars' its impact is terrific. Roaring is a matter-of-fact expression and 'thunders' suggests so many possibilities!!!
    Thank you said by: Kalyani Nandurkar, Gulshan Kumar Ajmani
    0 Dislikes 0 Likes
    Report
    You do not have permissions to reply to this topic.
    Related Topics
    Title Category Replies
    DEAL WITH IT Discussions 0
    WHY READ PHILOSOPHY Education & Learning 0
    What impact does ecommerce SEO create for your business? General Discussions 0
    Storms in Your Life Discussions 0
    Me and my polar opposites hobbies Introduce Yourself 0

    Forum Categories

    Trending Topics

    World needs expression!!
    Do you think 14 year olds should be allowed to have a job?
    Devil worship
    Best ayurvedic medicines
    DEAL WITH IT