List of in-multiverse idioms, adages, and proverbs

These are idioms, adages, and proverbs of various forms known to exist in the Multiverse. This list is not meant to capture phrases that are used universally (like "on my honor"), only those that are culturally significant. This table will always be incomplete, and filling it in can prove a useful resource for future authors.
Phrase 	Attribution or User 	Meaning or Usage
Bend as the wave breaks or it will break you as well. 	Saprazzan saying 	
The best use for a unicorn's horn is to adorn a unicorn. 	Femeref adage 	
Better to flare out than to gutter. 	Flamekin expression 	
Better to stare death in the face than take it in the back.Clayton Emery (1994). Whispering Woods, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-0061054181. 	Brown Bear 	
Beware anything born among the dead. 	Tolarian saying 	
The bigger the purse, the greater the fool. 	Rishadan saying 	
A blossom's petals close inward to shut out the frost. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Busy as a bumblebee, blistered as a goblin. 	Alaborn saying 	
A busy man has no time to brood. 	Brown Bear 	
The ceiling and the floor fell in love, but only the wall knew. 	Dal saying 	
calm as a wisent's watch 	Elvish expression 	safe
Clenched teeth do not bite. 	Cho-Arrim saying 	
Clouds are the soil, dreams are the crop. 	Rathi kor saying 	
Condor's flight augurs sleepless night. 	Skyshroud proverb 	
Count carefully the souls and see that none are lost. 	Vec teaching 	
a crash of rhinos in my head 	Femeref expression 	a severe head pain
the dance of angry feet 	Nantuko expression 	stampede
Death is a moth that dances toward our inner flame. The brightest fire can singe its wings. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Do not judge a lizard by its size. 	Ghitu proverb 	
Don't insult a Talruum unless your mount is swift. 	Suq'Ata saying 	
Don't step on the livelihood of other vendors, or they may step on you. 	Mercadian saying 	
Dreams' riches are easily spent. 	Suq'Ata adage 	
Drop a dagger into the murky deep and the merfolk will cut your throat with it. 	Skyshroud saying 	
as elusive as the footprint of a djinn 	Suq'Ata expression 	
embrace the harbinger 	Suq'Ata expression 	abandon hope
Enemies can be your weapons or your shields. Simply show them which they are. 	Zho 	
Even the grandest forest begins with a single seedling. 	Llanowar saying 	
Ever proud, ever vigilant. 	Grenadier motto 	
Every little cub has its mother's teeth to guard it. 	Elvish saying 	
The falcon slits the sky to let the light drip through. 	Rathi kor saying 	
Fall like night upon the foe. 	Knights of Dusk motto 	
The feet have no eyes. 	Saprazzan saying 	
The first step into death is the hardest. 	Sidar Kondo 	
five-toed grave 	Kithkin phrase 	a giant's footprint
Flash like daybreak to the fray. 	Knights of Dawn motto 	
follow the pathmage 	Otarian expression 	escape quickly
fouler than a necromancer's kiss 	Jamuraan expression 	
From Gaea grew the world, and the world was silent. From Gaea grew the world's elves, and the world was silent no more. 	Elvish teaching 	
A fruit must rot before its seed can sprout. 	Yavimaya saying 	
The gods watch over drunks, children, and fools. 	White Ridge proverb 	
Grieve for the soul in death dishonored. 	Shadow Guild saying 	
Healing is a matter of time, but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity. 	D'Avenant proverb 	
held in the lion's eye 	Zhalfirin saying 	caught in the moment of crisis
The hippo grows wings to fight the condor. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Honorable in battle, generous in death. 	Kjeldoran Royal Guard motto 	
Hyenas laughing-- what's the joke? 	Femeref phrase 	That's not funny.
If the ground is smooth, the way will be rough. 	Deepwood saying 	
If wishes grew in fields, we'd all farm. 	Eldraine 	
If you don't have your health, you don't have anything. 	Proverb 	
If you find yourself and a friend being chased by a king cheetah, you have but one chance: Trip your friend. 	Suq'Ata wisdom 	
Imagine a dove flying through smoke. Does the dove injure the smoke? Does the smoke impede the dove? 	Eight-and-a-Half-Tails 	
It is best to conquer dragons before they hatch. 	Femeref adage 	
It is the hub. We are the wheel. 	Dryad saying 	
Just as the noble soul calls virtue to itself, the evil soul summons harm. 	Eight-and-a-Half-Tails 	
Kicking the warren 	Argivian expression 	Causing trouble
Let it burn! 	Institute of Arcane Studies motto 	
Lightning tethers souls to the world. 	Rathi kor saying 	
like arguing with ice 	Vodalian expression 	wasting your time
the lion blinked 	Femeref expression 	situation avoided
Love is like a rhino, short-sighted and hasty; if it cannot find a way, it will make a way. 	Femeref adage 	
Master the sky and you rule everything beneath it. 	Metathran saying 	
May the gods keep us hale and hearty, and spare us the ravages of any wizard. 	White Ridge prayer 	
May Svyelun’s waves drown your memory. 	Traditional merfolk curse 	
The mightiest clouds sit upon spires of fire. 	Femeref adage 	
Never forget your feet. 	Elvish expression 	Watch your step.
None can find what hasn't been lost. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Not all victories require defeat. 	Onean idiom 	
One razorclaw is three bears too many. 	Elvish saying 	
Only death breeds in stagnant water. 	Urborg saying 	
to outrace the griffin 	Kipamu expression 	to do the impossible
petting the nodorog 	Gruul expression 	making a really big mistake
Plant a field with wishes, and you will grow more wishes. 	Nantuko teaching 	
plucking the chicken 	Elvish expression 	flinging the monkey
Reach in this hole, lose a hand. Reach in that hole, find a sparkly. 	Auntie wisdom 	
a rhino's bargain 	Femeref expression 	a situation with no choices
The satyr carves the path that all of Rushwood follows. 	Cho-Arrim saying 	
The scepter of power is fragile in a calloused hand. 	Cho-Arrim saying 	
The sea leaves no room for tears. 	Zhalfirin adage 	
Seek balance in all things-- as long as the scales are weighted in your favor. 	Vodalian saying 	
sharpen your ears 	Elvish expression 	grow wiser
A simple hug shows more love than all the loving in the world. 	Bittersweet 	
Sleep on any bargain. 	Brown Bear 	
sleeping in brambles 	Elven phrase 	plagued by guilt
Snuffing the light of a lantern without saying a small prayer is bad luck. Though its flame can only singe, its soul can repeatedly visit misery on one's house.	Eight-and-a-Half-Tails 	
Sometimes it is better to be swift of foot than strong of swordarm. 	Elven proverb 	
Sometimes the mountain takes. 	Keldon saying 	
The soul sheds light, and death is its shadow. When the light dims, life and death embrace. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Spot one ember beast, attack. Spot a second, best fall back. 	Dwarven saying 	
Spring follows winter. 	Elvish expression 	All things pass.
standing near a volcano 	Barbarian expression 	asking for it
stinkhorn 	Brazen Coalition 	insult
Storm and Sea 	Brazen Coalition 	Expression of surprise
That which grows without roots cannot be uprooted. 	Nantuko teaching 	
There are medicines for all afflictions but idleness. 	Suq'Ata saying 	
There is no drake that flies faster than a crossbow bolt. 	Vec saying 	
There is no gain without sacrifice. 	Icatian proverb 	
Those who most feel guilt don't need to, while those who most need to feel guilt never do. 	Order proverb 	
Throw stones, and throw away the world. 	Dwarven proverb 	
To be happy you must be busy. 	Brown Bear 	
To empty your mind is to fill your grave. 	Lat-Nam teaching 	
To renew the land, plow the land. To destroy the land, do nothing. 	Druids' saying 	
To treat flesh wounds, use earth. To treat earth wounds, use flesh. 	Barbarian saying 	
touched by moroii 	Undercity slang 	to grow old
Trade to trade, not to keep 	Suq'Ata motto 	
trod on by a gargadon 	Kipamu expression 	wiped out
Unanswered prayers are themselves answers. 	Nantuko teaching 	
victim of the two-toed faerie 	Suq'Ata expression 	broken
Walking the path of the kami only leaves you with singed feet. 	Soratami saying 	
watching the spider's web 	Llanowar expression 	focusing on the wrong thing
watching the windreaper 	Zhalfirin phrase 	daydreaming
We live on the serpent's back. 	Viashino saying 	
We all must profit for peace to last. 	Mercadian saying 	
Weave the magic so that it sings to you, and will always fly home. 	Verduran teaching 	
We're elite. You're not. 	Goblin Elite Infantry motto 	
When the bey runs, match his stride. 	Viashino saying 	
When elephants fight it is the grass that suffers. 	Kikuyu proverb 	
When the gods decide to punish a man, they do it all the way. 	Brown Bear 	
When the Lion roars, his cubs grow stronger. 	Kipamu saying 	
When merrows talk, listeners grow fins. 	Kithkin saying 	
When Torahn bellows, none survive-- not even the warrior whose horns he rides. 	Talruum adage 	
when wurms aren't hungry 	Nantuko expression 	never
When you've been chased by a dragon, you run from every lizard. 	Suq'Ata saying 	
Who harnesses fire controls the world. 	Ghitu proverb 	
Why not ask the winds? 	Tolarian expression 	Who knows?
Wisdom is not the counting of all the drops in a waterfall. Wisdom is learning why the water seeks the earth. 	Soratami saying 	
And would you strip the bark from a treefolk? 	Elvish expression 	Are you crazy?
the wurm's wake 	Elvish expression 	ruined crops
the wurm's weave 	Elvish expression 	plowed fields
You may as well try to swat a faerie. 	Flamekin expression 	That's impossible.
Your past is a map to where you will go. 	Nantuko teaching 	
Never Surrender 	Icatian Motto 	
May your weapon be no sword forged. May your armor be no metal wrought. 	Elvish saying 	
Play no favorites. Everybody dies. 	Sparkmage saying 	
Vorracs are half boar, half appetite 	Viridian elf saying 	
Every sword drawn to defend is an angelic blade, guided to justice by an angelic hand. 	Auriok proverb 	
Don’t try to hit your enemies. Concentrate on the space between them, and fill the air with doom. 	Spear-Tribe teaching 	
The most reliable omen of a future hellion attack is a past hellion attack. 	Spear-Tribe teaching 	
After death you face paradise, damnation, or Tariel. 	Priest’s teaching 	
Let moss grow over gargoyles 	Gavony saying 	forget painful memories
Out chasing bears 	Kessig expression 	died in the woods
Guaranteed to leave your enemies sufficiently stabbed, bitten, cleaved, or exploded. 	Grezkrick’s Emporium motto 	
A beetle on your shoulder 	Elvish expression 	a blessing of luck
To prevent action is to prevent transgression. 	Azorius Arrester motto 	
Wonders hide where the trees grow thickest. 	Mul Daya proverb 	
Wood is wasted in the dirt. 	Orcish proverb 	
A grudge is a tattoo worn on the inside. 	Setessan warrior saying 	
Watch the waves too long, and you may never look away. 	Meletian proverb 	
Keep with you only this much: your mount, your blade, and your wits. The rest you can find, build, or take. 	Horse clans’ wisdom 	
Many scales make the skin of a dragon. 	Abzan wisdom 	
The arrow strikes one bird down, but the flock remains. 	Jeskai teaching 	
Got a diving lesson 	Sultai expression 	was fed to the crocodiles
ready for anything 	Expedition houses unofficial mottos 	
Innovation requires insatiable curiosity and a good source of light. 	Luminary League motto 	
Infiltrate and infuriate! 	Goblin Espionage League motto 	
We do not swerve. 	Tah-crop charioteer motto 	
Every little hatchling has a parent’s claws to guard it. 	Sun Empire saying 	
One alone is fearsome; one among many is unstoppable. 	Benalish proverb 	
The kavu might be above you 	Llanowar expression 	keep an open mind
Feed on food, you eventually rot. Feed on rot, you live forever. 	Kraul saying 	
Where divinity leads, victory follows. 	Silverblade motto 	
From now until the crystals stop glowing 	Ketria oath 	forever
Laughed at the brushwagg 	Hunters’ expression 	died unexpectedly
Riding the goat 	Dwarven expression 	a foolhardy act of bravery
As subtle as a bogbeast 	Witherbloom expression 	crude and clumsy
what goes up … feeds the arboretum. 	 	
Followed the kirin 	Ojutai expression 	died a hero’s death
The harsher the winter, the more glorious the spring. 	Yavimaya saying 	
May the ocean take it 	Nephalia expression 	good riddance
like death to a goblin 	Benalish saying 	a sudden, inevitable consequence of poor choices
Not me. Not today. 	Goblin idiom 	Spoken in the wake of a loss
To have rotted hornsMichael G. Ryan (June 1997). "Maelstrom". The Duelist #17, p.62-64 	Talruum 	To be untrustworthy
Horn-hater 	Talruum 	Someone racist against minotaurs
To visit Nyx 	Theran saying 	To sleep and dream
Adam CarthalionThe Shadow Mage 	Jared Carthalion 	
At Erebos's side 	Meletians 	Another way of saying "deceased" or " in the Underworld."
Beard of RagnarClayton Emery (2001). Johan, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 0-7869-1803-9. 	Jamuraa 	
bells of Kormus 	White Ridge 	
Blast Norda to the depths!Will McDermott (2002). Judgment, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786927432. 	Laquatus 	Expression of anger
Boris's Balls 	Aerona 	
By Heliod's bright spear 	Meletians 	Expresses surprise or wonder
By Kinjalli 	Inti 	Expresses surprise or wonder
By the balls of Bolas!Clayton Emery (2001). Jedit, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 0-7869-2679-1. 	Jamuraa 	
By the beard of Boris 	Jamuraa 	
By the Horns!Kij Johnson (1998). "Sisay's Quest" The Duelist #21, 23, &25. 	Tahngarth 	Expression of surprise
By the red eye of Mogis 	Meletians 	A mild profanity, often used in reaction to tragedy or violent death.
By the suffering of Sunastian 	Jamuraa 	
By the windsWill McDermott (2003). The Moons of Mirrodin, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786929955. 	Bruenna 	
By Urza's rack and Mishra's ruin!Francis Lebaron (1999). Mercadian Masques, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786911882. 	Gerrard Capashen 	
By Urza's salty breeches... 	Jodah 	
By Urza's udders! 	Gull 	
devilsArena 	Kush 	
Dim-Bulb's stupid horns 	Jaya Ballard 	
djinns of ErhnamIce Age on the World of Magic: The Gathering 	Rabiah 	
Ebon Hand 	Storgard 	
Fiers' TeethScott McGough (2006). Time Spiral, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786948406. 	Corus 	
From the gods' voice to my ears (or simply "gods' voice") 	Meletians 	Used to emphasize that what the speaker says is true
Goddess 	Kaya 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
godsFallen Empires on the World of Magic: The Gathering 	Dominaria 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
gods and monsters 	Kaya 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
Gwendolyn Carthalion 	Jared Carthalion 	
Hell 	Kjeldor, Kush 	
Kinjalli scour 	Apatzec Intli III 	Expression of anger, surprise, intense excitement or frustration
Krokt 	Ral 	Expletive
Lady Evangela give me strength 	Jamuraa 	
Miko's blood 	Kjeldor 	
name of Chatzuk 	White Ridge 	
the Nether Void 	Dominaria 	
Nine Hells 	Jaya, Teferi, the Wanderer, Benalish 	
Norda bless me 	Laquatus 	
Scarzam's Dragon 	Jamuraa 	
Serra's grace 	Tiana 	
Suleiman 	Rabiah 	
Sun above 	Huatli 	
Ten Summits 	Adam Carthalion 	
Torahn gore you 	Tahngarth 	Expression to show discontent with the other party, or to show contempt
Uncle Istvan piss on itRobert E. Vardeman (1996). Dark Legacy, HarperPrism. ISBN-13 978-0061056970. 	Terisiare 	
What in Urza's name?Ari Marmell (2009). Agents of Artifice, Wizards of the Coast. ISBN-13 978-0786951345 	Liliana 	Expression of surprise
With Erebos 	Meletians 	Another way of saying "deceased" or " in the Underworld."
King's wounds 	Eldraine 	Expression of surprise and awe. A reference to the real-world saying God's wounds.
Sure as sheep's wool. 	Eldraine 	Expression of certainty
Once a witch, always a witch 	Eldraine 	
One's blood smells of pine 	Eldraine 	The subject is fae
Busy as a bumblesheep<c>Food Coma</c> 	Eldraine faerie expression 	Asleep
Sink me 	Ixalan Brazen Coalition expression 	Expression of disgust
Swear it on my song 	Ixalan siren expression 	To vigorously affirm the truth of a statement
Pull a Proft 	Ravnican Azorius expression 	To break a fellow lawmage's bindings to allow a criminal to escape simply to point out the inconsistencies in the other lawmage's arrest warrants
Keep your lids open, or you'll see with Urza's eyes 	An old Dominarian adage 	Don't act thoughtlessly.
Chasing the roadrunner 	Omenport slang 	Wasting energy on impossible pursuits.Flavor text of <c>Resilient Roadrunner</c>
Don't miss the morning sun waiting for evening rain 	Bloomburrow saying 	Don't waste the present worring about the future
My lands 	Bloomburrow expression 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
Stuff and nonsense 	Bloomburrow expression 	An expression of disbelief.
By my paws 	Bloomburrow expression 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
Sleeping beneath the sumac 	Squirrelfolk expression 	DeathFlavor text of <c>Feed the Cycle</c>
We all share one life and one death. 	Rotcaller sayingFlavor text of 	
May your bark be worse than your bite. 	Raccoonfolk war blessingFlavor text of <c>Bark-Knuckle Boxer</c>	
Sorting the seeds from the nuts 	Squirrelfolk expression 	Dwelling on unnecessary detailsFlavor text of <c>Stocking the Pantry</c>
Be the calm in the storm. 	Birdfolk sayingFlavor text of 	
Where you are is temporary. What you do is forever. 	Frogfolk sayingFlavor text of 	
When the night comes knocking 	Kessig expression 	"in dire times"Flavor text of <c>Fetid Gargantua</c>
Oh sweet suns 	Duskmourn 	Expression of anger, frustration, excitement, shock, awe, dismay, etc.
"Walk loudly, and carry a lot of things." 	Raccoonfolk travel mottoFlavor text for (Alchemy: Bloomburrow) 	
"Fly high. Fly true. Fly free." 	Skyknight’s oathFlavor text for 	
"Rubbing is racing." 	Avishkari adage 	
==References==
Category:Storylines