fine words butter no parsnips en · X
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
Etymology
Attested as early as 1639 as faire words butter noe parsnips, alluding to the English habit of buttering foods to make them more palatable. It was found in the 17th century in various forms with the first and last word being different, thus allowing combinations of fine/fair/soft with parsnips/cabbage/fish/connie before becoming standardized in the form fine words doth butter no parsnips.
Meanings
- Nothing is achieved by empty words or flattery.
Relateds
actions speak louder than words
Translations (6)
fi ei suuret sanat suuta halkaise (talking about doing something does not get it done) · nl praatjes vullen geen gaatjes (talking about doing something does not get it done) · it le belle parole non danno da mangiare (talking about doing something does not get it done) · pl słowami się nie najesz (talking about doing something does not get it done) · nb det hjelper ikke med snakk (talking about doing something does not get it done) · de von schönen Worten kann man sich nichts kaufen (talking about doing something does not get it done)