A proverb translation.
There's a proverb in Russian: " Cъесть-то он съест, только кто же ему даст?"

Well, I'm looking for a closest translation. My version is " He would have eaten it off if he could but who's really going to give it to him? "

Wanted your variants or a similar proverb in English.

Thanks in advance.

Question

A proverb translation.
There's a proverb in Russian:  " Cъесть-то он съест, только кто же ему даст?"

Well, I'm looking for a closest translation. My version is " He would have eaten it off  if he could  but  who's really going to give it  to him? "

Wanted your variants or a similar proverb in English.

Thanks in advance.

Answer

Alex, 

This is an interesting question. 

For the anecdote a good translation would be: 
-He can eat it, and he would eat it, but who's going to give it to him? 
This isn't a word-for-word translation, of course, but it fits the anecdote well. 

If you want to consider Съесть-то съест, да кто ему даст? as a saying, apart from the anecdote, and you want an answer that sounds like a proverb in English, the translation is more difficult. You have to take into account the perfective aspect of the verb Съесть and the special emphasis of the particle -то. A more literal translation could be: 
-He'll eat it up just to eat it, but who'll give it to him? 
This translation implies that it is the nature of the elephant to eat that much, although no one is likely to give him that much. 


Only a couple of equivalent English sayings came to mind, although I am sure there are more. 

-If wishes were horses then beggars would ride. 
An old English proverb. 

And a more modern American saying: 
-It's nice work if you can get it. 
This saying refers to an easy way to earn a lot of money or a very desirable career. Everybody wants a job that will make you rich without much work, but very few people can find such a job. 

He made a million dollars for a five minute appearance on television. It's nice work if you can get it.

Answer

If shit were gold, we'd be born without asses.

Answer

Я бы сказала 'he would have eaten it UP'. Лучший русско-английский фразеологический словарь  - Большой русско-английский фразеологический словарь С.И.Лубенской, а англо-русский А.В.Кунина.
Конечно, там не всегда есть полностью эквивалентные единицы, но Лубенская даёт все возможные варианты.

Answer

Добрый вечер!  
Не могу не согласиться с твоим переводом. Все правильно, смысл понят верно.
Eсли не пословица, мне она тоже  нравится.
На испанском языке нет ничего похожего.

http://englishwell.org/12085-anglo-russkiy-russko-angliyskiy-slovar-frazeologizmov.html
 Попробуй посмотреть здесь.
пока !

Answer

Ха-ха..значит не пословица, но типа того.;) Иногда используют в разных ситуациях как поговорку и мне она нравится.