mejor ser cabeza de raton que cola de leon

English translation: better to be queen of bees, than king of fleas

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Spanish term or phrase:mejor ser cabeza de raton que cola de leon
English translation:better to be queen of bees, than king of fleas
Entered by: Marcelo González

23:20 Oct 24, 2005
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Folklore / sayings
Spanish term or phrase: mejor ser cabeza de raton que cola de leon
can somebody help me with an English equivalent of this Spanish saying? I found "big fish in a small pond", but that just doesn't seem to hit it. Help!
Catherine Harrison
Mexico
Local time: 00:59
better to be queen of bees, then king of fleas
Explanation:
It's not like it's anything I've actually heard, but it seems to fit (and rhymes, as well). :-)

Another option might be "better to be hated for who you are, then loved for who you aren't"

Good luck, Catherine!
Selected response from:

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 20:59
Grading comment
although this is not a well known folk saying, it does get the point across very well, as well as being short, sweet and to the point. Thank you everybody!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +12better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond
David Russi
3 +2better to be queen of bees, then king of fleas
Marcelo González
5Better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion.
Gandhus


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +12
better to be a big fish in a small pond than a small fish in a big pond


Explanation:
Oxford

David Russi
United States
Local time: 00:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Muriel Vasconcellos
2 mins

agree  Marina Soldati
6 mins

agree  Elizabeth Lyons
6 mins

agree  Alicia Casal
12 mins

agree  Anne Grimes
32 mins

agree  Maria Karra
35 mins

agree  Valdelicio Silva
1 hr

agree  Georges Tocco
2 hrs

agree  Adam Deutsch: This captures the meaning. The only problem I see is that in English, the expression "big fish in a small pond" is somewhat negative, the implication being that it is actually better to expand one's horizons than to stay cooped up in a small organization.
2 hrs

neutral  María Eugenia Wachtendorff: I'm sure there is a very close equivalent...
4 hrs

agree  Jonia Tamburi: Well done.
4 hrs

agree  Sheila Hardie
7 hrs

agree  Jo-Hanna Goettsche
12 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
better to be queen of bees, then king of fleas


Explanation:
It's not like it's anything I've actually heard, but it seems to fit (and rhymes, as well). :-)

Another option might be "better to be hated for who you are, then loved for who you aren't"

Good luck, Catherine!

Marcelo González
United States
Local time: 20:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
although this is not a well known folk saying, it does get the point across very well, as well as being short, sweet and to the point. Thank you everybody!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  María Eugenia Wachtendorff: I'm sure you meant to spell "than" in both sentences, Marcerlo ;))
56 mins
  -> You're right, Maria Eugenia. I spent too much time/energy thinking of the words to be used and the rhyme to be created. :-) Thanks!!

agree  mar52: Corto y con rima.
9 hrs
  -> muchas gracias, mar52!
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2641 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Better to be the head of a mouse than the tail of a lion.


Explanation:
That's the literal translation. It's better to be a principal or controlling part of a smaller, meek animal than a not so important part of a larger, powerful animal. The "big fish in a small pond" connection is probably closest.

Gandhus
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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