Provençal expression

S'acò's pas vuei, sara deman

Weather and Time

Literal translation

if it is not today, it will be tomorrow

Meaning

if not today, then tomorrow

Explanation

This proverb expresses a quiet fatalism when awaiting a hoped-for or feared event: what must happen will happen, if not today then the following day, with no need to worry over the exact timing. The very simple construction sets the two time adverbs vuei (today) and deman (tomorrow) against each other, joined by the conditional conjunction that frames the alternative as bound to resolve into one or the other of these two moments. The proverb reflects a rural wisdom accustomed to patience, the kind that governs harvests, weather, or births, where the outcome is certain but the exact timing escapes human control. It is said in a calm, resigned register, to temper the impatience of someone awaiting news, a payment, or an event, recalling that a day's delay changes nothing about the final outcome, only its deadline.

Browse all 432 Provençal expressions

Other expressions on the same theme

n'en passara d'aigo à la ribieroa lot of water will flow under the bridge dins un vira d'ueiin the blink of an eye dins un tourno-manin a trice avé bèu tèms, bello ouroto have all the time in the world duro que duraras, marcho que marcharasas long as it lasts, it lasts tua lou tèmsto kill time