"Soup falls from plate to mouth" is a popular saying in Latin America. It means that even when a target appears to be safe, something can go wrong. Many claim that sayings are the wisdom of the people turned into rhymes.
Sayings consist of metaphors that refer to a specific situation or case. They are short and sententious, and are characterized by including a kind of moral or warning.
The metaphors are generally related to rural life and the popular culture of the region. This is because the conception of sayings is associated with this geographical areas since ancient times.
The exact historical moment in which the sayings were created cannot be determined. But it was from the Middle Ages when they began to be registered.
Sayings are common among seniors in communities. They are the carriers and transmitters of that cultural manifestation.
Etymologically, the word proverb can be traced back to ancient Occitan. But the closest antecedent linked to Spanish is the Latin word frangere.
From plate to mouth the soup falls
Sayings can have different intentions. Some are advice, some are wake-up calls, and some are warnings.
In the case of this saying, it consists of a warning. It is commonly used in Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Puerto Rico. It has a structure that is sustained in brevity and rhyme.
Other versions of the saying are "from hand to mouth the soup is lost", "from plate to mouth the soup cools down", "from the spoon to the mouth the soup falls" and "from the plate to the mouth to Sometimes the soup falls.
Meaning
The path that the spoonful of soup takes between the plate and the mouth is generally not considered. It is assumed that there will be no mishaps on that journey and that filling the spoon is almost the same as having the soup.
But, even if ignored, the possibility of the soup spilling on the way to the mouth is there, latent. This unforeseen event is what the saying indicates.
What it is trying to show is that, although things seem safe, they may not be.
It indicates that unforeseen events can arise at any time, even in the final stretch. And that even the smallest slip can topple something that looked stable.
So a victory should not be taken for granted until it is confirmed. In its meaning it is related to the saying "do not count the chicks before they are born."
Origin
The origins of the sayings are not possible to determine exactly. Anonymity is also a characteristic trait; it is unlikely to get the original source of a saying.
This is so mainly because they are expressions of spontaneous creation that are molded over time. This is how they acquire their current form.
The saying that is being analyzed is no exception. Taking into account the characteristics of the sentence, it is not possible to say with certainty even the continent of origin.
It can be both European and American. But if it can be stated that his language of origin is Spanish.
References
- What does "from plate to mouth" mean? (2012) spanishdict.com
- Phrasebook classics. (2011) bbc.co.uk
- Sayings. (2017) refranes.celeberrima.com
- Hispanoteca. hispanoteca.eu
- The soup falls from the plate to the mouth. (2016) milenio.com
- From hand to mouth, the soup is lost. (2017) cvc.cervantes.es