- English translation
Flies keep landing in the honey.
- Literal wording
The flies: their dropping into the honey is frequent.
- Meaning and lesson
Said of someone who flings themselves eagerly and repeatedly at something they want. Just as flies are drawn back to honey time after time, the person described cannot keep away from whatever attracts them, and the stress falls on how often the eager rush recurs, not on a single moment of wanting.
The image leaves its tone open, and two readings remain. It may be heard as a mild rebuke of grasping, undignified eagerness, or simply as a wry observation that people swarm toward what appeals to them. The setting and the speaker's delivery decide which reading applies.
- When it is used
Use it when someone keeps rushing toward a prize, opportunity, or pleasure, returning to it again and again. Because hearers may take it as a jab at greed rather than a neutral remark, it suits teasing or critical moments better than formal praise.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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