To kill the snake and show the stick

Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 17, 2001

In Reply to: To kill the snake ann show the stick (or the rod) posted by HCD on February 17, 2001

: In portuguese there is a saying that is: Matar a cobra e mostrar o pau, which in literal english would mean: To kill the snake and show the rod.I'd like to know if in english there is a corresponding saying and how it is written. Can somebody bring some light to this question?

Maybe someone else can help but I dont understand what the phrase/proverb means.

I googled your phrase in Portugese and came up with tons of hits to English-Portugese phrase translation sites.
Talk about losing something in the translation!!

Here are some more Portugese phrases that lose everything in the translation:

Soltar a franga = To release the hen.

Escreveu, nao leu, o pau comeu = Wrote, didn't read, the stick ate.

Se der bolo eu tiro meu corpo fora. = If it gives cake I take my body out!

Huh????????