sticks and stones: meaning & examples

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Language: English

Meanings:

  • 1.

    WorldwideUSUKcolloquialchildren's rhyme
    • A proverb asserting that physical attacks (sticks and stones) can cause bodily harm but verbal insults cannot.
    • A dismissive remark used to indicate that spoken insults should not be allowed to cause emotional harm.

    Examples

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    • The legend 'sticks and stones may break my bones' is often taught to children to help them ignore insults.

      Le proverbe 'des bâtons et des pierres peuvent briser mes os' est souvent enseigné aux enfants pour les aider à ignorer les insultes.

    • Parents often remind kids with 'sticks and stones' to encourage resilience against teasing.

      Les parents rappellent souvent aux enfants le proverbe 'bâtons et pierres' pour encourager la résilience face aux moqueries.

    • When confronted with name-calling, she repeated 'sticks and stones' to keep her composure.

      Face aux insultes, elle répétait 'bâtons et pierres' pour garder son calme.

    • The teacher wrote 'sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me' on the board during the lesson on bullying.

      Le professeur a écrit 'des bâtons et des pierres peuvent briser mes os, mais les mots ne me feront jamais de mal' au tableau pendant la leçon sur l’intimidation.

  • 2.

    Worldwideinformalironic
    • Used ironically to acknowledge that words can in fact cause real emotional or psychological damage, contrary to the proverb's claim.

    Examples

    Beta

    • After the harsh comments online, she sarcastically muttered 'sticks and stones' knowing words had hurt her deeply.

      Après les commentaires virulents en ligne, elle a murmuré sarcastiquement 'bâtons et pierres', sachant que les mots l’avaient profondément blessée.

    • He used 'sticks and stones' ironically when his friend admitted the insults stung more than expected.

      Il a utilisé 'bâtons et pierres' de manière ironique quand son ami a admis que les insultes faisaient plus mal que prévu.

    • People often say 'sticks and stones' but forget that words can leave lasting scars.

      Les gens disent souvent 'bâtons et pierres' mais oublient que les mots peuvent laisser des cicatrices durables.

Examples:

  • EN: Yeah, well, sticks and stones...
    ES: Pues no me ofendes.
  • EN: They're just sticks and stones.
    ES: Son sólo palos y piedras.
  • EN: Oh, sticks and stones.
    ES: A palabras necias, oídos sordos.
  • EN: Is this about sticks and stones?
    ES: ¿Es lo de: "A palabras necias, oídos sordos"?
  • EN: Well, sticks and stones will break my bones, and names'll never harm me.
    ES: Me hacen daño los palos, pero no los insultos.
  • EN: Pick up your sticks and stones.
    ES: Tomad bastones y piedras.
  • EN: Well, sticks and stones may break my bones but words'll never hurt me.
    ES: Puede que me muelas a palos, pero tus palabras no me hacen nada.
  • EN: Darling, didn't your mother ever tell you about sticks and stones?
    ES: ¿Nunca te habló tu madre de los palos y las piedras?
  • EN: And I know that sticks and stones...
    ES: Y sé que piedras y...
  • EN: I'm so mad I could throw sticks and stones.
    ES: Estoy tan enfadada que podría lanzar piedras.
  • EN: Aye, sticks and stones may break his bones but words will never hurt him.
    ES: Piedras y palos pueden herirme, pero las malas palabras, nunca. Ahora escribiré una canción sobre este tema.
  • EN: - Sticks and stones, sticks and stones.
    ES: Me entra por un oído, me sale por otro.
  • EN: Haven't you heard '"sticks and stones will break my bones... '"...but names will never hurt me'"?
    ES: Nunca han escuchado que los golpes y los palos rompen huesos ¿"Pero que las palabras nunca podrán herirme"?
  • EN: He said he didn't know how they're gonna fight World War Three... but he knew how they would fight World War Four. With sticks and stones...
    ES: Dijo que no sabía como se pelearía la 3a guerra... pero sabía como sería la 4a... con palos y piedras.
  • EN: Until Monday, this is Barry Champlain reminding you that... sticks and stones can break your bones, but words cause permanent damage.
    ES: Hasta el lunes, soy Barry Champlaign recordandote que... palos y piedras pueden romper tus huesos, pero las palabras causan daños permanentes..

Related Idioms

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Sourced from Wiktionary

Source: Wiktionary

sticks and stones | Idiomator