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nas costas dos outros vemos as nossas

English translation: He who chatters to you, will chatter of you.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:nas costas dos outros vemos as nossas
English translation:He who chatters to you, will chatter of you.
Entered by: Adriana Veleda

01:09 Jan 6, 2010
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Portuguese term or phrase: nas costas dos outros vemos as nossas
I'm really stuck... Thanks for your time and help!

As fas as context goes: "Não diga mal do seu actual ou anterior patrão. Como se costuma dizer: 'nas costas dos outros vemos as nossas'".
Adriana Veleda
Portugal
Local time: 16:57
He who chatters to you, will chatter of you.
Explanation:
I've just scoured my Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs and I couldn't find one that is exactly the same. I found 3 or 4 about speaking ill of others but none of them makes the point the PT proverb is making.

However, I've found one that expresses the same idea: i.e., a person who gossips to you about others will gossip about you to others.

If you think that this isn't close enough, perhaps you can adapt it...

He who speaks ill of others, will speak ill of you.

Or some such thing. If I have a better idea I'll add a note.
HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2010-01-06 13:37:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OR maybe...:
He who behind their backs speaks ill of others, behind your back will speak ill of you.
Selected response from:

Paula Vaz-Carreiro
Grading comment
This is actually an Egyptian proverb, but it gets the point across... Thanks a lot!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3what goes around comes around
Ryan Green
4 +1He who chatters to you, will chatter of you.
Paula Vaz-Carreiro
3We reap what we sow . . .
David Drysdale (X)
3people living in glass houses...
Evans (X)


  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
what goes around comes around


Explanation:
I'm not completely sure, but this seems to me to carry the same meaning.... or have the same sort of ring to it.

Ryan Green
Portugal
Local time: 16:57
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
10 hrs
agree  Amy Duncan (X): This is exactly it.
15 hrs
agree  Elvira Alves Barry
1 day 9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
We reap what we sow . . .


Explanation:
Suggestion:

We reap what we sow . . .

David Drysdale (X)
United States
Local time: 09:57
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
people living in glass houses...


Explanation:
...shouldn't throw stones (this last bit is often implied rather than said), I think is a similar idea.

Evans (X)
Local time: 16:57
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
He who chatters to you, will chatter of you.


Explanation:
I've just scoured my Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs and I couldn't find one that is exactly the same. I found 3 or 4 about speaking ill of others but none of them makes the point the PT proverb is making.

However, I've found one that expresses the same idea: i.e., a person who gossips to you about others will gossip about you to others.

If you think that this isn't close enough, perhaps you can adapt it...

He who speaks ill of others, will speak ill of you.

Or some such thing. If I have a better idea I'll add a note.
HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2010-01-06 13:37:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OR maybe...:
He who behind their backs speaks ill of others, behind your back will speak ill of you.

Paula Vaz-Carreiro
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
This is actually an Egyptian proverb, but it gets the point across... Thanks a lot!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  José Crespo: This is the closest so far
1 hr
  -> Thanks a lot :-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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