Cats & Mice

In English:

When the cat is away, the mice will play.

In German:

"Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Maeuse auf dem Tisch." -- When the cat is out of the house, the mice dance on the table.

or: "Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, tanzen die Maeuse auf dem Dach." which means they are dancing on the roof.

or: "Wenn die Katze aus dem Haus ist, haben die Mäuse Kirtag." Literal Translation: If the cat is out of the house, the mice have a fair.

In Italian: "Quando il gatto non c'è, i topi ballano! " -- When the cat is gone, the mice dance!

In Portuguese: "Patrao fora, dia santo na loja!" -- Boss away, we do nothing!

In Spanish:

(in Venezuela) "Cuando el gato no está, los ratones hacen fiesta" -- When the cat is out, mice party.

(in Argentina and Perú) "Cuando el gato no está los ratones bailan".

(in Uruguay) "Cuando el gato no está los ratones están de fiesta"

(in Mexico) "Cuando el gato no está los ratones hacen fiesta"

The second part of a proverb is only seldom used in conversation, since it is shared knowledge, thus giving rise to a number of variations even in the same community.

In Russian: "Без кота мышам раздолье." -- The fine day for the mice when cat is away.

In Chinese: "山中无老虎，猴子称霸王。"-- When there is no tiger in the mountain, the monkey declares himself King.

In Moroccan Arabic : الغابة لي ما فيها سبوعة كايديرو فيها القرودة الطرابش

In a forest where there are no lions , apes wear hats !

In Egyptian Arabic:إن غاب القط إلعب يا فار [transliterated: en-3'aab el-2ot el-3ab ya faar] -- [translated: When the cat is away, the mouse [mice] will play]