Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italian term or phrase:
Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi
English translation:
The truth will out
Added to glossary by
Beatrice Martinelli
Dec 11, 2014 18:14
9 yrs ago
6 viewers *
Italian term
United Kingdom
Native in: Italian (Variant: Standard-Italy)
Works in: English to Italian, Arabic to Italian, Spanish to Italian, and 1 more.
Il diavolo fa le pentole ma non i coperchi
Italian to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I have a list of sayings to translate, anyone knows whether there is an English equivalent of this one? It means that if you do something maliciously you will be found out.
Thank you in advance!
Thank you in advance!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
2 days 19 hrs
Katherine Zei
Canada
Canada
Native in English
Canada
Super-fast, Superior Translations
Native in: English
Works in: Italian to English, French to English, English to Italian, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
The truth will out
Aphorisms are some of the most difficult phrases to translate. That`s why I love them so much. My favorite (sexist) is "non puoi avere la botta piena e la moglie ubriaca" for "you can`t have your cake and eat it too".
This one made me think, and the above is what I came up with. I thought of it when I read the definition of the aphorism in Italian on this site http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.ca/2010/05/italian-proverbs-...
"It means that when one decides to do something dishonest or evil (like the devil), plans are made, lies are told, people and facts are manipulated. But something always happens to foil the plan. The truth comes out, or the wrongdoer is punished, or the plans fail. It is similar to the saying according to which there is no perfect crime."
What do you think? It's a very well known phrase in English. I think it's from Shakespeare. HTH!
This one made me think, and the above is what I came up with. I thought of it when I read the definition of the aphorism in Italian on this site http://smilingeggplant.blogspot.ca/2010/05/italian-proverbs-...
"It means that when one decides to do something dishonest or evil (like the devil), plans are made, lies are told, people and facts are manipulated. But something always happens to foil the plan. The truth comes out, or the wrongdoer is punished, or the plans fail. It is similar to the saying according to which there is no perfect crime."
What do you think? It's a very well known phrase in English. I think it's from Shakespeare. HTH!
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you, I have used this solution. "
10 mins
Elena Zanetti
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Works in field
Italy
Translation is my life!
Native in: Italian
Works in: English to Italian, Spanish to Italian, French to Italian, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
ill-gotten goods never prosper
,
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Note added at 14 min (2014-12-11 18:28:56 GMT)
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The devil can make a pot but he can't make a lid.
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Note added at 14 min (2014-12-11 18:29:11 GMT)
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http://www.special-dictionary.com/proverbs/keywords/devil/47...
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Note added at 14 min (2014-12-11 18:28:56 GMT)
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The devil can make a pot but he can't make a lid.
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Note added at 14 min (2014-12-11 18:29:11 GMT)
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http://www.special-dictionary.com/proverbs/keywords/devil/47...
+3
50 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
The devil makes the pots, but not the lids
Again, you haven't said what you're translating these for, or exactly what the client has requested, but my inclination would be to do a literal translation, with an explanation in brackets.
The sense is "the devil teaches us evil things, but not how to hide them".
There are a couple of approximate English equivalents, but they're not nearly so colourful: "Truth will out," or "Your sins will find you out".
The sense is "the devil teaches us evil things, but not how to hide them".
There are a couple of approximate English equivalents, but they're not nearly so colourful: "Truth will out," or "Your sins will find you out".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Lara Barnett
1 hr
|
| agree |
Shabelula
: keep it literal, however the meaning is not "teaches us evil things but not how to hide them", in fact the meaning is that the poor thing is limited in doing his tricks, because good things are always finished 100%
18 hrs
|
| agree |
EleoE
2 days 3 hrs
|
| neutral |
Katherine Zei
: I totally wouldn't keep it literal. I would put "disagree" but I don't want to be rude. Why translate literally when a proper translation is possible?
2 days 19 hrs
|
-1
21 hrs
Pompeo Lattanzi
Italy
Italy
Native in Italian
Italy
INTELLIGENCE INSIDE
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
14
the devil is in the details
I would put it this way
3 days 1 hr
James (Jim) Davis
Seychelles
Seychelles
Native in English
Seychelles
25 years experience constantly improving
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: Italian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
30
Your sins will always find you out
Another idea. It is probably in the Bible somewhere.
3070 days
Hope for the best, but be ready for the worst
The meaning of this Italian adage, is that the Devil's feat is never complete thus, something could always go wrong
Example sentence:
I went to buy that car, but as the engine broke down the devil had made the pot but not the lid
Discussion