"Life is not a..."

Forums: Languages, Language, Life, Sayings, Resignation
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Here in Hungary, there is a saying (which originated in a popular movie): "az élet nem habostorta". That means "life is not a cream cake". Which, you know, is true -- it's not.

I was randomly thinking today about how the English language has an equivalent -- or two, even. "Life is not a bed of roses" and "Life is not a bowl of cherries".

What other languages have the same kind of saying?

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@nimh,

Another English one I've heard a lot — "Life is not a dress rehearsal."

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Life is just a bowl of All-Bran
You wake up every morning and it's there
So live as only you can
It's all about enjoy it 'cause ever since you saw it
There ain't no one can take it away.

So life is just a bowl of All-Bran - very true!
What you say has made it very clear
To be sure I'll live as best as I can
But how can I remember to keep it all together
When half the moon is taken away?

Well, I've got the very thing
If you can laugh and sing
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smiles
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
When you're untogether and feeling out of tune
Sing this special song with me, don't worry 'bout the moon
Looks after itself

Can I have a go?
Yes
Yeah?
Sing now:

Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now you've got the hang of it
There's nothing you can't do with it
If you're very tuned to it you can't go wrong.

All together!
Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now we've got the hang of it
There's nothing we can't do with it
And now we're very into it we can't go wrong!

Give me those happy days toytown newspaper smile
Clap twice, lean back, twist for a while
Well now we've got the hang of it
There's nothing we can't do with it
And now we're very into it we can't go wrong!

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@nimh,

"La vida es dura." (Life is hard/tough.) Spanish.

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This was a favorite expression of someone I once knew: Life is not a cherr of bowlies. It was also used in the affirmative.

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@Foofie,

Life is like a box of chocolates...

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In German, apparently:

"Das Leben ist kein Ponyhof"

(Life is not a pony farm)

Also:

"Das Leben ist kein Wunschkonzert"

(Life is not like a concert on request?)

"Das Leben ist kein Zuckerschlecken"

(Life is not like swallowing sugar?)

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@nimh,

Yes, life is not a bowl of cherries, but ...

Geld is een sleutel die op alle sloten past ... as they say in the Low Countries

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@Walter Hinteler,

Never heard that one, but it fits the stereotype!

Here's some French ones:

"La vie n'est pas un long fleuve tranquille"
(Life is not a long, peaceful stream)

"La vie n'est pas une partie de plaisir"
(Life is not a joyful party)

"La vie n'est pas un lit de roses"
(Life is not a bed of roses)

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"Life is not a..."

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