| latin phrase | english translation |
| |
| O curas hominum! O quantum est in rebus inane! |
Ah, human cares! Ah, how much futility in the world! (Lucilius) |
| O di immortales! |
Good heavens! (uttered by Cicero on the Senate floor) |
| O diem praeclarum! |
Oh, what a beautiful day! |
| O praeclarum custodem ovium lupum! |
An excellent protector of sheep, the wolf! (Cicero) |
| O quam cito transit gloria mundi! |
O how quickly passes the glory of the world! |
| O sancta simplicitas! |
Oh, holy simplicity! (Jan Hus) |
| O tempora, O mores! |
Oh, the times! Oh, the morals! (Cicero) |
| O! Plus! Perge! Aio! Hui! Hem! |
Oh! More! Go on! Yes! Ooh! Ummm! |
| Obesa cantavit |
The fat lady has sung |
| Obiit (ob.) |
He/she died |
| Obiter (ob.) |
In passing |
| Obiter dictum |
Something said in passingparenthetical remark |
| Oblitus sum perpolire clepsydras! |
I forgot to polish the clocks! |
| Obscurum per obscurius |
The obscure by means of the more obscure |
| Obsta principiis |
Resist the beginningsNip it in the bud |
| Occasio aegre offertur, facile amittitur |
Opportunity is offered with difficulty, lost with ease. (Publius Syrus) |
| Occasio facit furem |
Opportunity makes a thief |
| Oderint dum metuant |
Let them hate provided that they fear. (Seneca) |
| Odi et amo |
I hate (her), and I love (her) (Catullus) |
| Odium theologicum |
Theological hatred. (a special name for the hatred generated in theological disputes) |
| Olevm addere camino |
To pour fuel on the stove adding gasoline to a fire |
| Olevm perdisti |
You have lost oil you've wasted your time on this criticism for a misallocation of resources |
| Olim habeas eorum pecuniam, numquam eam reddis: prima regula quaesitus |
Once you have their money, you never give it back: the 1st rule of acquisiton |
| Olim |
Formerly |
| Omne ignotum pro magnifico est |
We have great notions of everything unknown. (Tacitus) |
| Omne initium est difficile |
Every beginning is difficult |
| Omne trium perfectum |
Everything that comes in threes is perfect |
| Omne tvlit pvnctvm qvi miscvit vtile dvlci |
[he] has gained every point who has combined [the] useful [with the] agreeable |
| Omnes aequo animo parent ubi digni imperant |
All men cheerfully obey where worthy men rule. (Syrus) |
| Omnes deteriores svmvs licentia |
Too much freedom debases us |
| Omnes lagani pistrinae gelate male sapiunt |
All frozen pizzas taste lousy |
| Omnes una manet nox |
The same night awaits us all. (Horace) |
| Omnes vulnerant, ultima necat |
All (hours) wound, the last kills. (inscription on solar clocks) |
| Omnia iam fient quae posse negabam |
Everything which I used to say could not happen will happen now. (Ovid) |
| Omnia mea mecum porto |
All that is mine, I carry with me. (My wisdom is my greatest wealth) (Cicero) |
| Omnia mihi lingua graeca sunt |
It's all Greek to me |
| Omnia mors aequat |
Death equals all things |
| Omnia munda mundis |
Everything is pure to pure ones |
| Omnia mutantur nos et mutamur in illis |
All things change, and we change with them |
| Omnia mutantur, nihil interit |
Everything changes, nothing perishes. (Ovid) |
| Omnia mutantur, nos et mutamur in illis |
All things are changing, and we are changing with them |
| Omnia vincit amor |
Love conquers all |
| Omnia vincit amor; et nos cedamus amori |
Love conquers all things; let us too surrender to love. (Vergil) |
| Omnium gatherum |
Assortment |
| Omnium rerum principia parva sunt |
Everything has a small beginning. (Cicero) |
| Onus probandi |
The burden of proof |
| Opere citato (op. cit.) |
In the work just quoted |
| Optimis parentibus |
To my excellent parents. A common dedication in a book |
| Optimus magister, bonus liber |
The best teacher is a good book |
| Opus Dei |
The work of God |
| Ora et labora |
Pray and work. (St. Benedict) |
| Ora pro nobis |
Pray for us |
| Oratvr fit, poeta nascitvr |
An orator is made [but] a poet is born |
| Orbes volantes exstare |
Flying saucers are real |
| Orbiter dictum/dicta |
Said by the way (miscellaneous remarks) |
| Orcae ita |
Pretty straightforward |
| Ore rotundo |
With full voice |
| Osculare pultem meam! |
Kiss my grits! |