Bad weeds always grow — the undesirable things in life (bad people, problems, weeds) seem to thrive regardless of effort to remove them. A resigned observation on the persistence of trouble.
The farmer's eternal struggle with weeds gave this proverb its agricultural foundation. In the paddy fields of the Lomellina, the vegetable gardens of the Brianza, and the vineyards of the Oltrepò Pavese, weeds were the constant adversary: pull them today and they return tomorrow. The erba mata (bad grass, weed) was also used as a metaphor for the troublesome person in a community who never seemed to disappear, the persistent problem that no solution resolved, the pest that always came back. The proverb carries a mixture of resignation and dark humour: life is full of things that should not thrive but do. The Milanese deliver it with the dry acceptance of people who have seen enough of life to be unsurprised by its stubbornness.
Lombard agricultural proverb. The battle against weeds in the paddy fields, vineyards, and vegetable gardens of the region gave this saying its immediate experiential foundation.
A Lombard gardener on weeds
Ho diserbo il campo tre settimane fa. L'erba mata la cresc semper — sono già lì di nuovo come se non avessi fatto niente.
I weeded the field three weeks ago. Bad weeds always grow — they are already back as if I had done nothing.
A Milanese manager on a recurring organisational problem
Abbiamo risolto il problema della comunicazione due volte. L'erba mata la cresc semper — è di nuovo lì.
We have solved the communication problem twice. Bad weeds always grow — it is back again.
Two Lombard neighbours on a difficult community member
— Pensavo che si fosse trasferito. — L'erba mata la cresc semper. È tornato con un nuovo cane che abbaia tutta la notte.
— I thought he had moved. — Bad weeds always grow. He is back with a new dog that barks all night.
A Milanese investor on market volatility
Avevamo eliminato il rischio di cambio. L'erba mata la cresc semper — è tornato sotto forma di rischio di controparte.
We had eliminated the currency risk. Bad weeds always grow — it came back in the form of counterparty risk.