- English translation
Nobody cries out unless something truly hurts.
- Literal wording
No one says 'ouch' unless it comes from a real reason.
- Meaning and lesson
The saying holds that people do not cry out or complain without reason. When someone voices pain or grievance, there is usually a real hurt or wrong behind it, even if others cannot see it at first.
In practice it urges listeners to take a complaint seriously rather than brushing it aside, and it can imply that a visible reaction points to a hidden cause that deserves investigation.
- When it is used
Use it when someone's complaint is being dismissed, to suggest the grievance likely has a basis worth examining. Apply it with care: it presumes complaints are justified and can sound like taking sides before the other party is heard. It suits informal talk about disputes, hardships, or mistreatment.
- Register
- Colloquial
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
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