“Lou mourtié sènt toujou à l'aiet”: meaning and translation of this Provençal expression

Literal translation

The mortar always smells of garlic

Meaning

you can never fully shake off where you come from

Explanation

States that, happily, one can never fully erase one's origins, like a kitchen mortar which, whatever gets ground in it afterward, always keeps a trace of garlic smell. A domestic image used to voice a truth about identity.

Browse all 457 Provençal expressions

Other expressions on the same theme

Lou peiròu mascaro la sartanto mock a fault one shares oneself es la cinquiemo rodo dóu càrrihe's a fifth wheel, of no real use Lou se gasto l'aubretdon't count too much on how things will turn out se crèi mai que Mèste Mouchohe thinks he's more important than he is es uno limo douçohe's sly beneath a soft, gentle manner se vèi lou bout dóu nashe can't see past the end of his nose