you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar

proverb

It is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

proverb
  1. It is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity.

Synonyms & antonyms

Also see
honey catches more flies than vinegar

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 良言一句三冬暖
  • 良言一句三冬暖It is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Dutch vliegen vang je met stroop en niet met azijn
  • vliegen vang je met stroop en niet met azijnIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Finnish hunaja toimii paremmin kuin etikka, kärpäsiä saa enemmän siirapilla kuin tervalla
  • hunaja toimii paremmin kuin etikkaIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
  • kärpäsiä saa enemmän siirapilla kuin tervallaIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
French plus fait douceur que violence, on n'attrape pas des mouches avec du vinaigre
  • plus fait douceur que violenceIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
  • on n'attrape pas des mouches avec du vinaigreIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
German mit einem Tropfen Honig fängt man mehr Fliegen als mit einem Fass Essig
  • mit einem Tropfen Honig fängt man mehr Fliegen als mit einem Fass EssigIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Hungarian kedvességgel / szép szóval többre mész, mint keménykedéssel
  • kedvességgel / szép szóval többre mész, mint keménykedésselIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Italian si pigliano più mosche in una gocciola di miele che in un barile d'acete
  • si pigliano più mosche in una gocciola di miele che in un barile d'aceteIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Polish możesz osiągnąć więcej, gdy jesteś miły dla innych
  • możesz osiągnąć więcej, gdy jesteś miły dla innychIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Spanish más moscas se cogen con miel que con hiel
  • más moscas se cogen con miel que con hielIt is easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude rather than with rude demands and negativity
Cite this entry
APA

you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can%20catch%20more%20flies%20with%20honey%20than%20with%20vinegar

MLA

“you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can%20catch%20more%20flies%20with%20honey%20than%20with%20vinegar. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/you%20can%20catch%20more%20flies%20with%20honey%20than%20with%20vinegar.

Source: you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.