The moon falls into one’s lap
Unexpected good fortune. In luck’s way. Having all your Christmases come at once.
Let the bones turn white but not the
eyes
Death
before dishonor. (White bones signify death.
White eyes suggest, cowardice,
shame, or disgrace.)
The teeth sometimes bite the tongue
Even the
best of friends sometimes have fallings-out and hurt each other.
Treat a friend
as if he might become a foe.
81. Hidung
tak mancung,
pipi tersorong-sorong
pipi tersorong-sorong
The nose isn’t pointed, but the cheeks
are prominent
+
Originally
an allusion to the unseemly behavior of a forward woman (symbolized by the
cheeks) before an unwilling suitor (the flat nose). A more domesticated
interpretation suggests: “Don’t stick your nose into affairs beyond your
comprehension.”
82. Jauh
di mata dekat di hati
Far from view but close to heart
Absence
makes the heart grow fonder.
A man with no hands receives a ring
A waste of
resources (not to mention adding insult to injury).
84. Menarik rambut di dalam tepung (rambut tak putus,
tepung tak berserak)
Easy as pulling a strand of hair out of flour
(the hair doesn’t break and the flour is undisturbed)
A simple operation, easy as pie. At least, in theory.
One who
slanders his family discredits himself. And vice versa.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
(A warning to would-be investigative journalists?)
Cutting off your nose to spite your face.
(A warning to would-be investigative journalists?)
86. Telunjuk
lurus, kelengkeng berkait
The forefinger is straight,
but the
little finger is crooked
There may
be more than meets the eye. Check the fine print.
I bow my head respectfully,
I’m
not inviting you to step on it
Deference without
servility. Acknowledgement of rank need not cause a loss
of self-respect. “I
refuse to be treated like dirt,” said the earth.
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