Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 17, 2015:

Thanks to everyone for the suggestions!

Adoración Bodoque Martínez Jun 16, 2015:

I am forwarding a link to a list of "commonly-used" proverbs in the English language. I find it very useful. I hope you do too.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/proverbs.html

Billh Jun 16, 2015:

I also agree with Adoración

Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 16, 2015:

I think you're probably right, Lisa. Adoración's suggestion is probably the best fit as far as actual English proverbs go (unless somebody else comes up with something better). In fact I just found that the equivalent proverb is used elsewhere in the text (Cuánta verdad hay en las palabras “nadie es profeta en su tierra”!!).

Lisa McCarthy Jun 16, 2015:

Agree with Adoración In that "familiarity breeds contempt" does not have the same meaning as the Spanish saying (even though the second part of it is okay), and I think 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder" has a totally different meaning. "A prophet is not recognized in his own land" is kind of the opposite of saying that what you find more appealing is that which you don't have. It's like "you don't appreciate what you already have /the value of what you already have". And I feel that "Bird in the hand" is the same problem - basically to stick with what you have for certain, as you might lose everything if you take risks.

Adoración Bodoque Martínez Jun 16, 2015:

I see that "familiarity breeds contempt" appears to be the most popular answer. However, I personally do not think it is close in meaning to the proverb in question. The equivalent to "familiarity breeds contempt" would be "la mucha confianza es causa de menosprecio". It involves liking someone, and subsequently disliking them because they have become too familiar, too close. See link below:

http://cvc.cervantes.es/lengua/refranero/ficha.aspx?Par=5887...



I think the links below support my suggestion that "A prophet is not recognized in his own land" would be the equivalent.

https://mekongieme.wordpress.com/2009/11/02/los-tres-misione...

"El santo, cuanto más lejano, más milagroso. En cambio, en su propia tierra el profeta no hace milagros."

http://comoviajarbaratoylowcost.com/el-santo-cuanto-mas-lejo...

Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 16, 2015:

Sorry about the violation. I wasn't aware that quotation marks are against the rules. Live and learn.

Wilsonn Perez Reyes Jun 16, 2015:

Violation of Site Rule 1.4 1.4 Glossary form must be maintained. Draft glossaries are generated automatically from KudoZ questions and answers. For this reason, expressions such as "see below", "in this context", etc., must not be entered in the boxes provided for terms, either when posting source terms or proposing translations. ***Question marks, quote marks, unnecessary capitalization and anything else that would not be found in a dictionary, should not be entered***. Translations entered for glossary-building KudoZ must include the translated term, a definition and at least an example of use, all in the corresponding target language.
http://www.proz.com/siterules/kudoz_general/1.4#1.4

Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 16, 2015:

In the context I have, the proverb is used in reference to the fact that companies are (presumably) more likely to hire someone from outside rather than promoting one of their existing employees because the relatively unknown person is perceived as more impressive. The proverb is explicitly identified as such ("something my grandmother used to say"). If I can't come up with a very similar proverb in English, I'll probably have to use something along the lines of: "as my Spanish grandmother used to say... (with the Spanish and a fairly literal translation). The only problem with this is that the author is trying to pass himself off as American (though he still could have a Spanish grandmother!).

Anyway, I'm absolutely clear about what it means, I just need to find out if there's a proverb in English that's a very close match.

philgoddard Jun 16, 2015:

Agree with Lisa We need the context, please.

Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 16, 2015:

If there is no English proverb, I'll just have to work around. Looks like there's an unfilled need here: proverb translation website!

Ross Andrew Parker (asker) Jun 16, 2015:

The idea is that something always seems more impressive if you're less familiar with it. I'm not sure if we have a proverb for that in English. I think the Spanish have us "out-proverbed".

Lisa McCarthy Jun 16, 2015:

Hi Ross Can you give us some context? It sounds a bit like 'the grass is always greener on the other side'.