Common Italian expression
| Pronunciation | |
| Literal translation | An old hen makes good broth |
| English translation | The old bull knows best |
| Meaning | Wisdom comes with age, because the longer a person lives, the longer they have experienced life |
It can also be taken literally: even though old chickens can have very tough meat, their broth smells and tastes great. And it’s one of nonna‘s remedies for colds and the flu! 🙂
Example
| La carne di una gallina vecchia è spesso dura, ma fa un buonissimo brodo! | The meat of an old hen is often tough, but it makes a great broth! |
Where does this idiom come from?
This proverb is very old. It dates back to the Middle Ages. The hen is an effective metaphor for old age: an old hen must be cooked for a long time to soften its flesh and make its broth delicious. At the same time, men must live for many years in order to experience life and become wise.
Related lessons
- fare (to do)
- gallina (chicken)
- brodo (broth)
- buon (good)
- vecchio (old)
- adjectives
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