As They Say In Zanzibar. David Crystal
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afternoon knows what the morning never suspected SWEDEN
8 No day so long but has its evening FRANCE
9 The evening crowns the day SWEDEN
10 A clear conscience never fears midnight knocking CHINA
11 It cannot be later than midnight MYANMAR
12 An apple at night puts the dentist to flight ENGLAND
13 The later in the evening, the nicer the people NETHERLANDS
14 Even the moon does not shine before it rises FINLAND
35 HOURS – MINUTES – SECONDS
1 Many people are like clocks, they show one hour and strike another DENMARK
2 The one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; the one who does not ask a question is a fool forever CHINA
3 Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer NORWAY
4 There’s one born every minute USA
5 Where the minute-hand suffices the hour-hand is not needed NETHERLANDS
6 Seconds are the gold dust of time USA
7 God works in moments FRANCE
8 God listens to short prayers ITALY
36 LONG TIME
1 Who teaches me for a day is my father for a lifetime CHINA
2 As long as life lasts, the cow never stops moving its tail NIGERIA
3 Gossip lasts but seventy-five days JAPAN
4 It takes a long time to sharpen a hammer made of wood NETHERLANDS
5 If the bucket has been long in the well, it ought to come out with water NIGERIA
6 No matter how long a log floats on the river it will never be a crocodile MALI
7 A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy CHINA
8 The longest chant has an end SCOTLAND
9 If you follow a crow long enough you light on carrion ALBANIA
10 An apothecary ought not to be long a cuckold FRANCE
11 The one who asks a question is a fool for five minutes; the one who does not ask a question is a fool forever CHINA
12 No day so long but has its evening FRANCE
13 Longest at the fire soonest finds cold SCOTLAND
14 Heroism consists in hanging on one minute longer NORWAY
15 One generation plants the trees; another gets the shade CHINA
16 The rod that will hang him is still growing IRELAND
17 Who goes around the village long enough will get either a dog-bite or a dinner SERBIA
18 It is the prudent hyena that lives long ZAMBIA
19 Those who wait long at the ferry will get across some time SCOTLAND
20 Those who wait for roast duck to fly into their mouth must wait a very, very long time CHINA
21 Creaking wagons are long in passing NETHERLANDS
22 Want a thing long enough, and you don’t CHINA
37 NEVER
1 Sunday plans never stand CANADA
2 Driftwood never goes upstream USA
3 An elephant never forgets ENGLAND
4 Friday begun, never done USA
5 Better late than never ENGLAND
6 Tomorrow never comes ENGLAND
38 CLOCKS – WATCHES
1 Many people are like clocks, they show one hour and strike another DENMARK
2 One should not ask the time of a rusty clock NETHERLANDS
3 If it were not for the hands the clock would be useless POLAND
4 The clock must be the master in the house SWEDEN
5 The clock ticks nowhere as it ticks at home NETHERLANDS
6 Someone with a watch knows what time it is; someone with two watches is never sure FRANCE
39 BEGINNINGS – ENDINGS
1 Communities begin by building their kitchen FRANCE
2 Those who sing worst, let them begin first ENGLAND
3 Those that begin the play must continue it TURKEY
4 When you eat a round cake, do you begin at the centre? NIGERIA
5 When an old barn begins to burn, it is hard to put out NETHERLANDS
6 Friday begun, never done USA
7 Sooner begun, sooner done ENGLAND
8 Charity begins at home ENGLAND
9 The beginning of wisdom is to call things by their right names CHINA
10 Applause is the beginning of abuse JAPAN
11 In eating and scratching, everything is in the beginning COLOMBIA
12 Fish begin to stink from the head ALBANIA
13 If you know the beginning well, the end will not trouble you SENEGAL
14 Meeting is the beginning of parting JAPAN
15 It is the first shower that wets ITALY
16 To read a book for the first time is to make the acquaintance of a new friend; to read it a second time is to meet an old one CHINA
17 Those who make the first bad move always lose the game JAPAN
18 The first blow does not hurt like the second ZANZIBAR
19 The autumn chill is the first thing felt by a thin person CHINA
20 If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging USA
21 It is only the first bottle that is dear FRANCE
22 The first stage of folly is to consider oneself wise BELGIUM
23 Ideas start with ‘I’ USA
24 The first thread is not part of the yarn IRELAND
25 If you want an audience, start a fight CHINA
26 One loose pebble can start a landslide USA
27 When you sweep the stairs, you start at the top GERMANY
28 It is not enough to run; one must start in time FRANCE
29 When the fox starts preaching, look to the hens SPAIN: BASQUE
30 When one starts the song too high it isn’t finished GERMANY
31 Don’t start economizing when you are down to your last dollar USA
32 New officials introduce strict measures CHINA
33 Every cackling hen was an egg at first RWANDA AND BURUNDI
34 Your liberty ends where my nose begins USA
40 BEFOREHAND
1 Never say ‘whoopee’ before you jump CANADA
2 Before you go, think of your return BELGIUM
3 Honour physicians before you have need of them ENGLAND
4 The face came before the photograph USA
5 The fruit must have a stem before it grows LIBERIA
6 Open your mouth before you eat MAURITANIA
7 Don’t holler before you’re hurt USA
8 Don’t get off the merry-go-round before it stops USA
9 Don’t