Common Lao idioms and proverbs with their figurative meanings explained, for an upper-level learner. Front: the Lao idiom. Back: English meaning and explanation.
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- ຂີ່ຊ້າງຈັບຕັ໊ກແຕນ (khi sang chap takkataen)
- Riding an elephant to catch a grasshopper (using excessive effort for a tiny result)
- ນ້ຳຂຶ້ນໃຫ້ຮີບຕັກ (nam kheun hai hip tak)
- When the water rises, hurry to scoop it (seize an opportunity while it lasts)
- ຄວາຍຢູ່ບໍ່ຮູ້ຄ່າຄວາຍ (khouay you bo hou kha khouay)
- You don't know the buffalo's worth until it's gone (you don't appreciate something until it's lost)
- ປາກຫວານກ້ນເປรี้ยว (pak van kon priao)
- Sweet mouth, sour bottom (someone who speaks kindly but acts unkindly)
- ໄກ່ເຫັນຕີນງູ ງູເຫັນນົມໄກ່ (kai hen tin ngou, ngou hen nom kai)
- The chicken sees the snake's feet, the snake sees the chicken's chest (two people who each know each other's secrets)
- ຊ້າໆໄດ້ພ້າສອງເຫຼັ້ມ (sasa dai pha song lem)
- Slow and steady gets two knives (patience and care bring greater reward)
- ຢູ່ບ້ານທ່ານຢ່າດູຖູກ ຢູ່ບ້ານເຮົາຢ່າດູຖູກໃຜ (you ban than nya doutouk)
- At another's home don't be looked down on, at your own don't look down on others (mutual respect)
- ຮ້ອນຄືໄຟ ໃຈເຢັນຄືນ້ຳ (hon kheu fai, chai yen kheu nam)
- Hot like fire, but a heart cool like water (staying calm under pressure)
- ຫົວອົກເບົ້າ (houa ok bao)
- One's chest feels hollow (to feel deep sorrow or emptiness)
- ໃຈຮ້ອນ (chai hon)
- A hot heart (an impatient or hot-tempered person)
- ໃຈເຢັນ (chai yen)
- A cool heart (a calm, composed person)
- ໃຈດຳ (chai dam)
- A black heart (a cruel or heartless person)
- ຫົວແຂງ (houa khaeng)
- A hard head (a stubborn person)
- ປາກຫນັກ (pak nak)
- A heavy mouth (someone who rarely speaks)
- ຕາໄວ (ta vai)
- Fast eyes (a sharp, observant person)
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