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it either stays on everybody’s foreheads or it withers in the woods.

Portuguese translation: ou fica na cabeça de cada pessoa ou murcha na floresta

00:00 Sep 14, 2013
English to Portuguese translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: it either stays on everybody’s foreheads or it withers in the woods.
"The faith of wise men is like that of a flower garland: it either stays on everybody’s foreheads or it withers in the woods."

Dear all

I need some help with this idiom/maxim.

The problem is I don't understand the meaning of it.

If you can assist at least with meaning of this would be great.

thank you in advance for your suggestion
joaopina
Portugal
Local time: 15:06
Portuguese translation:ou fica na cabeça de cada pessoa ou murcha na floresta
Explanation:
The author is comparing the wisdom of wise men to a flower garland. If this wisdom is not put onto (that is, into) people's heads, it has no value at all, just like flowers withering in the woods.

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Note added at 3 hrs (2013-09-14 03:13:02 GMT)
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By the way, this is a simile. Have a look here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/simile

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Note added at 10 hrs (2013-09-14 10:30:30 GMT)
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I should have written "... the faith of wise men...", and not "...wisdom...".
Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 11:06
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3ou fica na cabeça de cada pessoa ou murcha na floresta
Martin Riordan


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
ou fica na cabeça de cada pessoa ou murcha na floresta


Explanation:
The author is comparing the wisdom of wise men to a flower garland. If this wisdom is not put onto (that is, into) people's heads, it has no value at all, just like flowers withering in the woods.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2013-09-14 03:13:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

By the way, this is a simile. Have a look here: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/simile

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 hrs (2013-09-14 10:30:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I should have written "... the faith of wise men...", and not "...wisdom...".

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 11:06
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Marcelo da Luz
13 mins
  -> Obrigado, Marcelo!
agree  Claudio Mazotti
10 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Claudio!
agree  Spiridon: sim
2 days 5 hrs
  -> Obrigado, Spiridon!
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