# The sardines are eating the anchovies: Is this an Italian proverb? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 18, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675 "2020-07-18T14:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/1 "2020-07-18T14:57:01Z")
Many years ago, I occasionally encountered a middle-aged Italian-American guy who would respond to my query of “What’s up?” with something like “le sarde si mangiano le alici.” I’m not good at Italian grammar, but he said the literal meaning was “the sardines are eating the anchovies” and it was a standard reponse, meaning something like “not much” or “the usual.” This guy was many generations removed from his Italian ancestry, and didn’t speak any other Italian, so he couldn’t give me much detail. Is this a real phrase in Italian? If so, what’s the correct grammar and usage? ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/2 "2020-07-18T15:06:01Z")
Yes, there is an Italian saying: _Le sarde mangiano le alici_. It means “the sardines eat the anchovies.” It is used to refer to the situation where the wealthy can support themselves and lead a happy life whereas the less wealthy get to be supported by friends. Or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/3 "2020-07-18T15:14:26Z")
I meant to say “le sarde si mangiano le alici,” but “le sarde mangiano le alici” can also occur as in the following comment: “Come si dice, le sarde mangiano le alici, chi è ricco vive felice, chi non lo è viene mantenuto dagli amici.” ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/4 "2020-07-18T17:16:29Z")
Thanks ! What does that last bit mean? ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/5 "2020-07-18T17:31:16Z")
This: > [@PlaceboTarget](#): > > the wealthy can support themselves and lead a happy life whereas the less wealthy get to be supported by friends. Or something like that. Although I am Romanian (not Italian) our languages resemble. I think it can be translated as:“As they say: the sardines eat the anchovies - he who is rich lives happily; who he is not gets to be supported by friends.” * * * So, this comment both includes the proverb and offers an indication as to its usage. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/6 "2020-07-18T17:41:59Z")
Thanks! So can it be used as a general response to “what up?” or “What’s happening?” or “How are things?” ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/7 "2020-07-18T17:44:11Z")
Not much to add, except that anchovy-flavored sardines sound delicious. 😏 ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/8 "2020-07-18T17:44:42Z")
Indeed: “I may not be swell, but I’m not doing badly either.” That is: “I’m moderately fine” or something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/9 "2020-07-18T17:45:37Z")
That’s great! Thanks! A 25-year-old mystery solved! ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/10 "2020-07-18T17:47:14Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > A 25-year-old mystery solved! You should visit Italy more often. 🙂 * * * I am joking, of course, but to be able to visit Italy whenever you want feels like a blessing. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/11 "2020-07-18T17:50:49Z")
Amico mio! I have been to Italy in 2018, 2016, and 2014!!! It’s my favorite place on earth! If possible, i would never leave. ---
**Author:** ![PlaceboTarget](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/placebotarget/32/1073_2.png) [@PlaceboTarget](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlaceboTarget)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/12 "2020-07-18T18:03:13Z")
Probably the world’s best vacation spot. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/13 "2020-07-18T18:18:04Z")
Do sardines eat anchovies IRL? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/14 "2020-07-18T18:20:19Z")
Yeah, I was gonna say that would be one awesome pizza! ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/15 "2020-07-18T18:54:09Z")
Moving up one level from sardines and anchovies as specific fish species, the literal English means “The small fish eat the tiny fish”. Going up one more layer metaphorically it means “The rich get richer, the poor get poorer.” As applied to the OP’s friend, I think when the OP asks “How’s it going?”, the answer is really more of a resigned & cynical “Same shit different day; the rich get richer, the poor get poorer. And I’m down here on the poor end w the schlubs like you.” ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/16 "2020-07-18T20:34:21Z")
This is my take on it too. They’re definitely at the bottom of the food chain. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/17 "2020-07-18T21:06:18Z")
The sardine Italians would be familiar with is the [European Pilchard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_pilchard), so no, they eat plankton, as do the anchovies. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2020, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/18 "2020-07-18T22:18:28Z")
You guys are great! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/19 "2020-07-19T00:53:24Z")
We know that _now_, but would the people who coined the expression have known it? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 19, 2020, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675/20 "2020-07-19T01:11:14Z")
No idea, but my first impression based on the expression is that they didn’t. And even though I know I wouldn’t have any qualms about using that expression. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sardines-are-eating-the-anchovies-is-this-an-italian-proverb/915675.md?page=2)