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Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino

English translation: "A good beginning makes a good ending"

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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Italian term or phrase:	Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino
English translation:	"A good beginning makes a good ending"
Entered by:	cfraser

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18:42 Aug 31, 2008

Italian to English translations [PRO]
Slang

Italian term or phrase: Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino

Does anyone know the meaning of this idiomatic expression? Thanks

CherylObal KudoZ activity Questions: 5 (none open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 2 Italy
Local time: 02:47

"A good beginning makes a good ending"

Explanation:
based on the meaning this idiom would appear to be a more fitting english equivalent of the Italian version...

Selected response from:

cfraser
Canada
Local time: 20:47

Grading comment

Thanks. I don't think there really exists a proper translation, but this sounds like the best answer.
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

well begun is half done

Alessandra Renna

If a good day starts with the morning

Barbara Toffolon

"A good beginning makes a good ending"

cfraser

3 +1

If you start the way you mean to continue....

Shera Lyn Parpia

3 -1

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Tom in London

Summary of reference entries provided
	BdiL

Answers

3 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

Il buongiorno si vede dal mattino The proof of the pudding is in the eating

Explanation:
I've never found an exact English equivalent....so this is my attempt.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2008-08-31 18:47:37 GMT)
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Literally it would be "you can tell what sort of day it's going to be by what the morning is like" but that's hardly idiomatic :)

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:47
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

If you start the way you mean to continue....

Explanation:
or, "if you want to start the way you mean to continue"
or "begin the way you mean to go on".

http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&q="start as you mean to go...
http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&q="begin as you wish to co...

Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 02:47
Native speaker of:

English

8 hrs confidence:

"A good beginning makes a good ending"

Explanation:
based on the meaning this idiom would appear to be a more fitting english equivalent of the Italian version...

cfraser
Canada
Local time: 20:47
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 1

Grading comment

Thanks. I don't think there really exists a proper translation, but this sounds like the best answer.

14 hrs confidence:

If a good day starts with the morning

Explanation:
Il buongiorno si vede dal mattino.
English: A good day starts with the morning.
Moral: Make a good first impression.

Barbara Toffolon
Local time: 02:47
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

il buongiorno si vede dal mattino well begun is half done

Explanation:
http://www.pensieririflessionisaggezze.eu/proverbi_inglesi_e...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 min (2008-08-31 18:53:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

it means you can see how things will end by the way they begin

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 min (2008-08-31 18:56:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.litterae.net/italian.htm

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 ore (2008-09-01 13:53:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

if "well begun is half done", then...

Alessandra Renna
Local time: 02:47
Native speaker of:

Italian

Reference comments

18 hrs

Reference

Reference information:
Non è la spiegazione pura e semplice del proverbio "Il buon giorno si vede dal mattino", è un periodo ipotetico: SE il buon giorno si vede dal mattino... ma c'è solo la protasi e manca l'apodosi. In più è evidente che si tratta di una affermazione quasi simile a una "domanda retorica" e MANCANDO IL CONTESTO, si può ipotizzare che sia utilizzata in modo ironico per negare il significato del proverbio...

Example sentence(s):

Prima delle elezioni tutti dicevano che si voveva reintrodurre la possibilità di dare un voto di preferenza. Ora c'è un progetto di legge per eliminare la preferenza anche nel voto per le elezioni europee: se il buon giorno si vede dal mattino... (si pu
immaginare che faranno tutto il contrario di quello che avevano sbandierato a destra e a manca!)

Reference: http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ITIT277&pwst=1...
Reference: http://www.google.it/search?source=ig&hl=it&rlz=1G1GGLQ_ITIT...

BdiL
Italy
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

Italian
PRO pts in category: 4

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Changes made by editors

Sep 5, 2008 - Changes made by cfraser:
Created KOG entry	KudoZ term => KOG term

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Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino

English translation: "A good beginning makes a good ending"

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Se il buongiorno si vede dal mattino

English translation: "A good beginning makes a good ending"

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Answers

Reference comments

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KudoZ™ translation helpThe KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

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The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.