- English translation
It came out of nowhere, as if it had been stashed away all along.
- Literal wording
It was in its jar and came out outside.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying describes something that suddenly becomes visible when it was not previously known to exist. The image is of an object concealed as if inside a jar, which then comes out into the open, so the focus falls on the sudden move from hidden to apparent.
The emphasis rests on the unexpected appearance, and it makes no claim about why the thing stayed unseen or who kept it out of view. The two closing words share an ending sound, a rhyme that gives the saying its rhythm. The jar is an image of concealment, not a remark about storing things.
- When it is used
Use it when something appears suddenly that nobody knew was there, focusing on the moment of its appearance rather than a planned or expected arrival. It works as a brief comment on an unforeseen discovery or emergence, where the surprise itself is the notable element.
Cite or copy proverb
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