A Bird in the Hand
English is not my first language. Spanish is.
It becomes obvious when I butcher an English expression (pun intended).
Many expressions are insightful, funny, and strange at times.
Investment expressions are used frequently to explain a more complex idea.
We’ll start with some investment expressions that use animals:
Bulls make money. Bears make money. But pigs get slaughtered.
This is a Wall Street expression that warns against being too greedy.
Bulls are those who profit in a rising market. Bears are those who profit in a downturn. Pigs are those who are too optimistic or too pessimistic and suffer the most significant losses.
A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush
There is a similar expression in Spanish: "Más vale pájaro en mano que cien volando.”
This means it’s better to be content with what you have than risk losing everything by seeking more.
This is commonly referenced in finance when investors prefer the certainty of dividend payments now to the chance of future capital gains later.
Don't Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
Don’t risk everything on the success of one venture.
Simply diversify.
Diversifying across companies, industries, and countries could help reduce risk and grow your portfolio over time.
Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch
You shouldn’t assume something will happen until you know it has.
An investment example is spending money you don't have, thinking you’ll get it later.
A Dead Cat Bounce
This is a sad finance expression.
This is used when explaining stock price changes. It usually means that a stock has briefly recovered after a prolonged downturn just so that it can fall even further.
The idea is that if you throw a dead cat out of a building, it might bounce, but one shouldn’t confuse it with being alive.
Here are some Spanish money expressions:
No Todo Lo Que Brilla Es Oro
The English translation is "Not everything that shines is gold."
Shakespeare popularized this idea: “All that glitters is not gold.”
It's important to find an investment’s true value rather than be lured in by a fancy story.
Honra y Dinero Se Ganan Despacio y Se Pierden Ligero
The English translation is "honor and money are earned slowly and lost quickly."
This adage is like Warren Buffett's quote, "It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it.”
No Dejes Para Mañana Lo Que Puedes Invertir Hoy
The English translation is: "Don't put off an investment for tomorrow that you can make today."
This is the idea that we'll start investing when we have more money, win the lottery, pay off the car, or for any other reason that prevents us from investing more today.
Don't procrastinate. Build the saving muscle today.
The last one comes from the Oracle of Omaha, Warren Buffett:
Only When The Tide Goes Out Do You Discover Who Is Swimming Naked
Try telling this one to a non-native English speaker. They’ll look at you like you’re crazy.
This one cracks me up every time I hear it.
It means that financial weaknesses might be hidden from view when economic conditions are going well.
However, those who have taken excessive risks are exposed when difficult times come.
That’s all she wrote!
Let me know if I left an expression out!
Gracias!
Now here’s what I’ve been reading and watching lately:
The story why people need to have a minimum level of stress by Morgan Housel
The story of the richest woman in America in the early 1900s - Hetty Green - on Founders Podcast
The story of the founder of IKEA - Ingvar Kamprad - on Founders Podcast
How To Know A Person by David Brooks
One of favorite children’s book (I have a 5-year old): The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy
