Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.
Fly
A fly before his own eye is bigger than an elephant in the next field.
A fly even has its anger.Latin.
Big flies break the spider’s web.Italian.
Even a fly hath its spleen (anger)Italian.
Even the lion must defend himself against the flies.German.
Every fly has its shadow.Portuguese.
Flies are busiest about lean horses.
Flies are easier caught with honey than with vinegar.French.
Flies don’t light on a boiling pot.French, Italian.
Hungry flies bite sore.German, Dutch.
Is it an emperor’s business to catch flies?
No flies get into a shut mouth.French, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese.
No flies light on a boiling pot.Spanish.
One fly does not provide for another.
The busy fly is in every man’s dish.Spanish.
The fly flutters about the candle till at last it gets burned.Dutch.
The fly that bites the tortoise breaks its beak.Italian.
The fly that playeth too long in the candle singeth her wings.
The fly that sips treacle is lost in the sweets.John Gay.
To a boiling pot flies come not.
Where the wasp has passed the fly sticks fast.French.
You shall never beat the fly from the candle though she burn for it.