Metaphors were a common quotation, a figure of speech, usually offering a piece of wisdom in reference to a present situation. Idioms had phrasing that had figurative meaning often unrelated to the actual phrasing, while peoverbs were commonly sourced from folklore, historical allusion, or tribal memories.

Contents 1 Idioms 1.1 Between a rock and a hard place 1.2 Burning the midnight oil 1.3 C'est la vie 1.4 Chicken and the Egg 1.5 For all the tea in China 1.6 I couldn't fill your shoes 1.7 If we play our cards right 1.8 Needle in a haystack 1.9 Penny for your thoughts 1.10 Stone knives and bearskins 1.11 Wash my hands of it 1.12 Wild goose chase 2 Proverbs 2.1 Atrean 2.2 Bajoran 2.3 Cardassian 2.4 Denobulan 2.5 Ferengi 2.6 Founders 2.7 Human 2.8 Jem'Hadar 2.9 Klingon 2.10 Mikhal Traveler 2.11 Romulan 2.12 Talaxian 2.13 Vulcan 2.14 Xindi 2.15 Other and of unknown origin 2.16 Comparisons 3 External link

Idioms Edit

Between a rock and a hard place Edit

Being "between a rock and a hard place" is an Earth idiom, meaning that someone is in a situation where he or she can choose between two alternatives, and neither of them are acceptable.

In 1986, Bob Briggs told Gillian Taylor, they're "between a rock and a hard place" regarding the fate of George and Gracie. (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Burning the midnight oil Edit

"Burning the midnight oil was an Earth idiom meaning staying up late at night working or studying.

In 2143, A.G. Robinson, who got to be the first Human to test the NX-Alpha test vehicle, told Jonathan Archer that he didn't get this assignment because he tried too hard, "burning the midnight oil" in the simulator eighteen to twenty hours a day. (ENT: "First Flight")

In 2376, Captain Kathryn Janeway, who was working very late one night in the mess hall, told Neelix that she was "just burning the midnight oil", to which Neelix replied that it was way past midnight. (VOY: "Fair Haven")

In an alternate timeline in 2364, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordered Miles O'Brien to bypass the secondary plasma inducer, which required O'Brien to realign the entire power grid, stating "we're all going to be burning the midnight oil on this one." Data, who overheard O'Brien, told him that that would be inadvisable because any "attempt to ignite a petroleum product on this ship at 0:00 hours [would] activate the fire suppression system."(TNG: "All Good Things...")

C'est la vie Edit

"C'est la vie" (French: "that's life") is a Human idiom, meaning bad things happen, it's the way of life.

In 2285, when Admiral James Kirk self-destructed the USS Enterprise, killing most of Kruge's Klingon crew on board, he told the Commander on the surface of the Genesis planet: "Sorry about your crew, but as we say on Earth, ...'c'est la vie.'" (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock)

Chicken and the Egg Edit

The "Chicken and the Egg" was a paradox, usually posed as the question, "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?"

In an alternate anti-time future created by Q, retired captain Jean-Luc Picard, used the question of the chicken the egg as a metaphor to explain the paradox of the anti-time anomaly to Geordi La Forge, Beverly Picard, Data and William Riker aboard the USS Enterprise-D. (TNG: "All Good Things...")

In 2372, B'Elanna Torres described establishing communication with a duplicate of the USS Voyager by getting them to recalibrate their comm frequency carrier wave before they'd first made contact as "the chicken and the egg." (VOY: "Deadlock")

In the 31st century, Jonathan Archer described Daniels' urgent need to restore the original timeline by returning the captain to the 22nd century whilst lacking the technology to do so as "a chicken or the egg problem." (ENT: "Shockwave, Part II")

For all the tea in China Edit

"For all the tea in China", means something is so important to a person, he or she wouldn't exchange it for even the most precious things in the world.

In 1986, Gillian Taylor told time traveler Admiral James Kirk, when he explained to her that they want to bring George and Gracie to the 23rd century, and asked her if she's curious about the details, she said, "I wouldn't miss it for all the tea in China." (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

I couldn't fill your shoes Edit

"I couldn't fill your shoes" was a Human idiom, describing one being in a bad situation, which the other person couldn't bear.

In 2286, Leonard McCoy told Spock, when he suffered from memory loss after being resurrected, "What I mean is I may have carried your soul, but I sure couldn't fill your shoes," for what Spock replied, "My shoes?" (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

If we play our cards right Edit

"If we play our cards right" was a Human idiom, meaning "if things go well".

In 1986, Admiral James T. Kirk used this idiom when talking to Spock, leading Spock to ask "How will playing cards help?" (Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)

Needle in a haystack Edit

"Needle in a haystack" was a Human idiom which described the long-lasting search for something in a large variety of possibilities.

In 2267, when searching for the Galileo, James T. Kirk remarked that "Finding a needle in a haystack would be child's play." (TOS: " The Galileo Seven")

In 2364, William T. Riker described searching Starfleet records for an instance of someone showering in their clothes as "like looking for a needle in a haystack." (TNG: "The Naked Now")

In 2369 while searching for the crash-landed runabout USS Yangtzee Kiang in the Gamma Quadrant, Miles O'Brien compared the search with searching a needle in a haystack. O'Brien and Jadzia Dax had to search several planets, two dozen moons, and an asteroid belt. (DS9: "Battle Lines")

In 2370, a Paradan replicant of O'Brien commented "Needle in a haystack wouldn't do this job justice" when searching for a fault in Deep Space 9's upper pylons. (DS9: "Whispers")

In 2373, Jadzia Dax said to Benjamin Sisko "Do the words needle in a haystack mean anything to you?", after the USS Defiant had spent two days unsuccessfully searching the Badlands for cloaked missiles appropriated by the Maquis for a strike against Cardassia. (DS9: "Blaze of Glory")

Penny for your thoughts Edit

"Penny for your thoughts" is a Human idiom, meaning that someone is curious about what the other person is thinking.

In 2368, Doctor Beverly Crusher used the expression when she wanted to get Jean-Luc Picard to talk to her during a conversation. When Picard asked her if she has one, she told him, that the replicator probably has it on file. (TNG: "The Perfect Mate")

In 2369, when Q brought back Picard to the incident at Starbase Earhart in 2327, he told him (acting as a bartender): "Penny for your thoughts? You never told me you were such a lady's man," also jokingly referring to Picard's unsuccessful date with Penny Muroc. (TNG: "Tapestry")

In 2370, Crusher used the expression again, dining with Picard, after they shared thoughts for a time via the psi-wave device on Kesprytt III. (TNG: "Attached")

Stone knives and bearskins Edit

"Stone knives and bearskins" was a colorful term employed by Spock to describe the 1930s technology he was forced to use to construct a tricorder interface. Vital information was locked within Spock's tricorder: How had Leonard McCoy changed history? Spock was eventually able to construct an appropriate circuit, but retrieved two separate recordings: one in which Edith Keeler lived, and one in which she died. At that point, the improvised interface erupted in sparks and flame, ruining his chance to learn which of the recordings represented McCoy's alteration, and which the correct timeline. (TOS: "The City on the Edge of Forever")

Kathryn Janeway also used this expression when typing on a late 20th century computer keyboard trying to find out information about Henry Starling. (VOY: "Future's End")

Wash my hands of it Edit

"Wash my hands of it" is an expression used to avert a wrong decision, claiming that the person can not be hold responsible for it. It comes from the Bible, and was said by Pilate after he sentenced Jesus Christ to crucifixition, for the push of the crowd, however he saw he was apparently innocent.

In 2266, Doctor Simon Van Gelder accused Captain James Kirk of escaping responsibility by taking him back to the Tantalus colony, and told him, "You smart, button-pushing brass hat. Wash your hands of it. Is that your system? You're both quite sure of yourselves, aren't you?" (TOS: "Dagger of the Mind")

Wild goose chase Edit

"Wild goose chase" is an expression used to mean futile pursuit or search after something.

In 2153, Jonathan Archer told T'Pol, "Maybe we're just on a wild goose chase" after their initial attempts to locate a dark matter nebula failed. (ENT: "First Flight")

In 2268, Leonard McCoy accused Spock of "run[ning] off on some wild goose chase halfway across the galaxy," when Kirk, Uhura and Chekov disappeared from Gamma II. Spock replied, "Doctor, I am chasing the Captain, Lieutenant Uhura, and Ensign Chekov, not some wild aquatic fowl." (TOS: "The Gamesters of Triskelion")

In 2367, Data told Doctor Beverly Crusher, that he "could be chasing an untamed ornithoid without a cause," describing this idiom, when examining the clues of Ambassador T'Pel's presumed death. Crusher eventually recognized the idiom, and corrected him with its common form. (TNG: "Data's Day")

Proverbs Edit

Atrean Edit

"A child born from parents who love each other will have nothing but goodness in his heart." (TNG: "Inheritance")

Bajoran Edit

"He who studies evil is studied by evil." (DS9: "The Changing Face of Evil")

"If you're not fighting them, you're helping them." - In the Bajoran Resistance (DS9: "Rocks and Shoals")

"The land and the people are one" (DS9: "The Storyteller")

Cardassian Edit

"Confession is good for the soul." (DS9: "Tribunal")

"Enemies make dangerous friends." (DS9: "The Search, Part II")

Denobulan Edit

"When in Fellebia, do as the Fellebians do." (ENT: "Unexpected")

Ferengi Edit

The Rules of Acquisition performed a function similar to proverbs in Ferengi culture.

The following were quoted as Ferengi sayings, but were not stated to be included in the Rules of Acquisition:

"Never ask when you can take." (DS9: "Babel")

"A good lie is easier to believe than the truth." (VOY: "Shattered")

"Good things come in small packages" (DS9: "Move Along Home")

"discretion [is] the better part of valour" (DS9: "The House of Quark")

Claimed to be an old Ferengi saying by Quark.

Founders Edit

"To become a thing is to know a thing. To assume its form is to begin to understand its existence." (DS9: "The Search, Part II", "Behind the Lines")

"The drop becomes the ocean...The ocean becomes the drop..." (DS9: "Behind the Lines")

Human Edit

"A needle in a haystack." (TNG: "The Naked Now"; DS9: "Blaze of Glory")

"When in Rome... do as the Romans do." (TNG: "Justice"; DS9: "Let He Who Is Without Sin...")

"Fortune favors the bold." (DS9: "Favor the Bold", "Sacrifice of Angels")

"As healthy as a horse" (TOS: "Tomorrow is Yesterday")

"Easy as pie." (VOY: "Future's End")

"Power corrupts. And absolute power corrupts absolutely." (TOS: "Where No Man Has Gone Before", "Patterns of Force"

Sometimes shortened to "Power corrupts". (TNG: "Hide and Q"; )

"You don't kick a man when he's down." (ENT: "Judgment")

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me." (TOS: "Friday's Child"; VOY: "Warhead")

Claimed to be Russian in origin by Pavel Chekov.

"No good deed goes unpunished." (ENT: "The Andorian Incident")

"Blood is thicker than water." (VOY: "Survival Instinct")

"Even the eagle must know when to sleep." (VOY: "Resolutions")

Used amongst Chakotay's people.

"The road to hell is paved with good intentions." (DS9: "In the Pale Moonlight")

"May you live in interesting times." (VOY: "The Cloud")

This was described as "an ancient Chinese curse" by Harry Kim

"A stranger is a friend you just haven't met yet." (VOY: "Fair Haven", "Spirit Folk")

Michael Sullivan speculated that this might be of Irish origin.

"Home is wherever you happen to be." (VOY: "Deadlock")

Atributed to Kolopak.

"The devil finds work for idle hands." (VOY: "Good Shepherd")

"Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach him to fish and he eats for a lifetime." (ENT: "Marauders")

"In for a penny, in for a pound" (TNG: "Pen Pals"; VOY: "Rise")

"All good things must come to an end." (TNG: "All Good Things..."; DS9: "Business as Usual")

"Nothing ventured, nothing gained." (DS9: "Move Along Home")

"The early bird gets the worm." (TNG: "The Best of Both Worlds")

This was transformed into "The early bird gets the gagh" by the EMH when adressing B'Elanna Torres (VOY: "Drone")

"Best defense is a good offense." (VOY: "In the Flesh")

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth." (ENT: "Cold Front")

"A watched pot never boils." (TNG: "Timescape")

"The proof is in the pudding." (ENT: "Rogue Planet")

"Two heads are better than one." (DS9: "Bar Association")

"The ball's in your court." (ENT: "Cease Fire")

"If you're going to ride in the Kentucky derby, you don't leave your prized stallion in the stable" (Star Trek)

Used where Leonard McCoy was from.

"A hundred thousand welcomes" (VOY: "Fair Haven")

"The enemy of my enemy is my friend" (TNG: "Legacy")

"there's a warm wind blowing in from Minicoy" (DS9: "The Circle")

"Those who can't, coach" (DS9: "Take Me Out to the Holosuite")

"A man who's always looking over his shoulder is waiting for trouble to find him" (DS9: "Captive Pursuit")

"one cannot cheat fate" (TNG: "Time's Arrow")

"Look before you leap" (VOY: "Bliss")

Claimed to be an antiquated adage by Seven of Nine.

"times flies when you're having fun" (TNG: "We'll Always Have Paris")

"Follow your heart" (ENT: "E²")

"The customer's always right" (ENT: "Dead Stop")

"To beard the lion in its den" (DS9: "In the Cards")

"Time heals all wounds, but absence makes the heart grow fonder" (ENT: "These Are the Voyages...")

Picard also once referenced an old horse trainer's adage about putting too much weight on a young back. (TNG: "Pen Pals")

Various Latin phrases and Biblical allusions served a function similar to proverbs in Human society.

Jem'Hadar Edit

"Obedience brings victory." (DS9: "Rocks and Shoals")

"Victory is life" (DS9: "by Inferno's Light")

Klingon Edit

"Four thousand throats may be cut in one night by a running man with a knife." (TOS: "Day of the Dove")

"Only a fool fights in a burning house." (TOS: "Day of the Dove")

"Revenge is a dish that is best served cold." (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)

"You cannot loosen a man's tongue with root beer." (DS9: "Rapture")

"Today is a good day to die"

In addition, various sayings of Kahless served a function similar to proverbs in Klingon culture.

Mikhal Traveler Edit

"My course is as elusive as a shadow across the sky." (VOY: "Darkling")

Romulan Edit

"Never turn your back on a Breen." (DS9: "By Inferno's Light")

In addition, a Romulan Commander described the fact that Vulcans are incapable of lying as a well-known saying. (TOS: "The Enterprise Incident")

Talaxian Edit

"Good news has no clothes." (VOY: "Lineage")

"When the road before you splits in two, take the third path." (VOY: "Author, Author")

"The dream dreams the dreamer." (VOY: "Tinker Tenor Doctor Spy")

Vulcan Edit

"Only Nixon could go to China." (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country)

"One man can summon the future." (ENT: "United")

Among mirror universe Vulcans, this saying was "One man cannot summon the future." (TOS: "Mirror, Mirror")

"In accepting the inevitable, one finds peace." (VOY: "Once Upon a Time")

Xindi Edit

"It's easier to count the stars in the sky than it is for an aquatic to reach a decision." (ENT: "The Council")

"Dealing with reptilians is like bargaining with the sun. You make no progress, and you come away burned." (ENT: "Azati Prime")

"Patience is for the dead." (ENT: "Azati Prime")

Other and of unknown origin Edit

"It's lonely at the top." - Claimed to be an Arachnian saying by Queen Arachnia.

"Stay out of harm's way." - Claimed to be a Chinese expression by Harry Kim, but disputed by Tom Paris

"Put the shoe on the right foot first, but put the left foot first into the bathtub." - quoted by Jadzia Dax while under the influence of Saltah'na energy spheres. (DS9: "Dramatis Personae")

"There's no time like the past." - In use by crews of 29th century timeships. (VOY: "Relativity")

"There's no time like the present" - In use by Starfleet's Temporal Mechanics Department in an alternative 2404. (VOY: "Endgame")

"The early bird that hesitates gets wormed"

"Little birds in their nest get along" (VOY: "Real Life")

"Once a thief" (DS9: "Resurrection")

Comparisons Edit

"Healthy as a Rigellian ox" (TNG: "The Schizoid Man")

"Hot as Vulcan" (TOS: "Amok Time")

"Dry as Vulcan" (VOY: "Concerning Flight")

"Colder than a Breen winter" (DS9: "Crossfire")

"Blind as a stump" (TNG: "Loud As A Whisper")

"Bigger then Elvis" (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")

"Rich as Rockefeller" (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")

"Poor as a church mouse" (DS9: "It's Only a Paper Moon")

"Clear as Tabalian glass" (DS9: "For the Cause")

External link Edit

• Metaphor at Wikipedia
• Idiom at Wikipedia
• Proverb at Wikipedia