por «From the plate to the mouth the soup falls» is a popular saying in Latin America. It means that even when a target appears to be safe, something can go wrong. Many claim that proverbs are the wisdom of the people turned into rhymes.
Sayings consist of metaphors that refer to a specific situation or case. They are short and sentenced, and are characterized by including a kind of moral or warning.
The metaphors are generally related to country life and the popular culture of the region. This is because the conception of proverbs has been associated with these geographical areas since ancient times.
The exact historical moment in which the proverbs were created cannot be determined. But it was from the Middle Ages when they began to be registered.
The sayings are common among the senior citizens of the communities. They are the carriers and transmitters of that cultural manifestation.
Etymologically, the word proverb can be traced back to Old Occitan. But the closest antecedent linked to Spanish is the Latin word frangere.
From the plate to the mouth the soup falls
Sayings can have different intentions. Some are advice, some are calls for attention, and some are warnings.
In the case of this saying, it consists of a warning. It is commonly used in Mexico, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, and Puerto Rico. It has a structure that is sustained by brevity and rhyme.
Other versions of the saying are «from hand to mouth the soup is lost», «from the plate to the mouth the soup cools», «from the spoon to the mouth the soup falls» and «from the plate to the mouth to sometimes the soup falls”.
Meaning
Generally, the path taken by the spoon full of soup between the plate and the mouth is not considered. It is assumed that there will be no mishaps on that journey and that filling the spoon is almost the same as eating the soup.
But, even if it is ignored, the possibility of the soup spilling on the way to the mouth is there, latent. This unforeseen event is what the saying points out.
What it intends is to show is that, although things seem safe, they may not ultimately be. It indicates that unforeseen events can arise at any time, even in the final stretch. And that even the smallest setback can bring down something that seemed stable.
So a victory should not be taken for granted until it is confirmed. In its meaning it is related to the saying «do not count the chicks before they are born».
Origin
The origins of the proverbs are not possible to determine exactly. Anonymity is also a characteristic feature; it is unlikely to get the original source of a saying.
This is so mainly because they are expressions of spontaneous creation that are molded over time. This is how they acquire their current form.
The proverb that is being analyzed is no exception. Taking into account the characteristics of the sentence, it is not possible to say with certainty even the continent of origin.
It can be both European and American. But if it can be affirmed that his language of origin is Spanish.