汉语中的"牛"不一定就是牛

牛饮 drink like a fish
牛脾气 as stubborn as a mule
吹牛 talk horse
食量大如牛 to eat like a horse
九牛一毛 a drop in the bucket
牛马不如的生活 to lead a dog's life
初生牛犊不怕虎 Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
健壮如牛 as strong as a horse

如果遇到谚语“力大如牛”，英语中却没有 as strong as a cow的说法。在历史上战争频繁的西方，没有马便无法生存。而在中国，牛则是生活之本。在这种文化差异的背景下，上句话当然不能直译。所以英语把“力大如牛”译为 as strong as a horse