Dicho español · Spanish proverb
«Oveja que bala, bocado que pierde.»
¿Cómo se dice «Oveja que bala, bocado que pierde» en inglés? The squeaky wheel gets replaced, not greased.
Word for word
A sheep that bleats loses a bite.
What it really means
The closest English equivalent: The squeaky wheel gets replaced, not greased.
Used to say that complaining or talking too much makes you miss opportunities. It is a warning to focus on action rather than words.
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Hear it in a sentence
Oveja que bala, bocado que pierde; deja de quejarte y ponte a trabajar.
A sheep that bleats loses a bite; stop complaining and get to work.
More Spanish sayings
- El que no llora, no mama. — The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
- El que mucho habla, mucho yerra. — Talk too much, and you'll slip up.
- Obras son amores y no buenas razones. — Actions speak louder than words.
- Habla poco y bien, y serás tenido por alguien. — Speak little and well, and you'll be respected.
- Por la boca muere el pez. — Loose lips sink ships.
More: Spanish sayings about animals
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Why learn dichos?
Proverbs like this one are everywhere in spoken Spanish — dropped mid-conversation, usually just the first half, with the rest left for you to complete. Recognizing them is one of the fastest ways to sound less like a textbook and follow real speech. Every Lingocito edition signs off with the dicho del día, so you meet one a day next to news written at your level.