Abstract
This study investigates metaphorical functions in proverbs related to labor and idleness across three languages: English, Russian, and Kazakh. A corpus of 17 semantically equivalent proverbs was selected and analyzed through a comparative qualitative approach, drawing on the theoretical framework of Lakoff and Johnson’s Conceptual Metaphor Theory and Kharchenko’s classification of metaphorical functions. The findings reveal both universal and culture-specific patterns: English proverbs emphasize individual responsibility and rational pragmatism, Russian proverbs highlight collective values and moral lessons, while Kazakh proverbs embody the nomadic worldview, pastoral imagery, and ethical-religious undertones. The study demonstrates that metaphor in proverbs functions not only as a cognitive and linguistic device but also as a cultural code shaping attitudes toward work and idleness. These insights contribute to cross-cultural paremiology and cognitive linguistics, offering implications for translation studies, language teaching, and intercultural communication.