(Keep it) short and sweet

It giân it iōng, chhian giân bô iōng

Said of a speech, presentation, etc. Literally means One word (has) one use, (but) one thousand words are of no use.

Everything but the kitchen sink; loads of stuff

Khit-chia̍h kòe ke, hêng-lí chē

Literally: (Like) a beggar moving house: lots of baggage.

Said of someone going out, traveling, moving house, etc.

Beggars can’t be choosers

Khit-chia̍h sin, hông-tè chhùi

Literally: A beggar’s body, (and) an emperor’s mouth.

Sour grapes; armchair quarterback

Lâng teh chia̍h bí-hún, lí teh hoah sio

Literally: Others are eating rice noodles, while you complain they’re hot.

Dirty old man

Or, a man who goes out with a woman far younger then he”

Lāu gû chia̍h iù-koaⁿ-sún

Literally: An old bull eating tender bamboo shoots.

Burn one’s bridges

Kiô kòe, kóai-á tàn tiāu

Literally: Throwing away the walking-stick after crossing the bridge.

A prophet is without honor only in his hometown

Sian-ti tī ka-kī ê kò͘-hiong bē siū lâng hoan-gêng

Make haste slowly; haste makes waste

Kín sū khoaⁿ pān

Literally: “Take care of pressing matters slowly.”

Like father, like son

Or, “the apple never falls far from the tree:”

Liông seⁿ liông-chú, hó· seⁿ pa-jî

Literally: A dragon gives birth to a dragon-child, a tiger gives birth to a panther-child.

Like a Thanksgiving Turkey

I.e. doesn’t know it’s about to die / get hurt / get into trouble

Chhit-go̍eh-pòaⁿ ah-á, m̄ chai sí o̍ah.

Literally: “The middle-of-July duck doesn’t know death or life.”

The seventh month of the lunar year is Ghost Month, and Taiwanese people slaughter many ducks during the month to offer to the spirits.

(Bumped from August…seemed appropriate)