quando um burro fala, o outro abaixa a orelha

Portuguese

Meaning

when one person is speaking, the other should listen and not interrupt

Example

Espere a Ana terminar: quando um burro fala, o outro abaixa a orelha.

Wait for Ana to finish: when one person speaks, the other listens.

Origin

This anonymous proverb uses two donkeys as a teasing image for conversational turn-taking: while one speaks, the other lowers an ear and listens. It is normally used to tell someone not to interrupt.

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Source: UESB — comparative study of phraseological dictionaries.

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