Proverb Meanings

proverb: a piece of common-sense wisdom expressed in practical, homely terms ("A stitch in time saves nine")
A proverb (from Latin: proverbium) is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim. Proverbs are often borrowed from similar languages and cultures, and sometimes come down to the present through more than one language. Both the Bible (including, but not limited to the Book of Proverbs) and medieval Latin (aided by the work of Erasmus) have played a considerable role in distributing proverbs across Europe, although almost every culture has examples of its own. "The best things in life are free." We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health. "A stitch in time saves nine." Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches! (Why nine and not eight or ten? Because "nine" rhymes, approximately, with "time".) stitch (noun) = a link made with thread in sewing in time = not late

"Still waters run deep." Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality. still (adjective) = calm, motionless deep (adjective) = going far down

"He teaches ill, who teaches all." The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to "He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means "badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students discover some things

for themselves. ill (adverb) = badly "You can't take it with you when you die." When we die we leave everything on earth. We don't take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some material things are not really so valuable as we think. "Better untaught than ill taught." This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly. This idea is echoed in Pope's famous line: "A little learning is a dang'rous thing;". taught = past participle of verb "teach" (here used in passive voice) ill taught = badly taught

"Don't cross your bridges before you come to them." Don't worry about problems before they arrive. "Soon learnt, soon forgotten." Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget. "Even a worm will turn." Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even the lowest of people, or animals, will revolt and hit back at some stage. Even a worm, the simplest of animals, will defend itself. worm (noun) = small thin animal with soft body and no bones or legs turn (verb) = revolt, fight back

"It was the last straw that broke the camel's back." There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something. straw (noun) = dried stalk of grain (like dry piece of grass) camel (noun) = large long-necked animal used for riding and carrying goods in the desert

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart. way (noun) = path; route "If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the

egg!" Life just isn't fair, and this realistic Arabic proverb recognizes that. The stone will always break the egg. Life's like that! alas = bad luck; pity; tough; regrettable "Where there's a will there's a way." If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it. will (noun) = strong determination, desire. way (noun) = path, method

"Marry in haste, and repent at leisure." If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry. in haste = quickly repent (verb) = feel sorry, regret at leisure = slowly, over time

"One tongue is enough for a woman." Some people think that women talk too much. If they already talk too much, they don't need another tongue. One tongue is sufficient. This proverb is another way of saying that women talk too much. tongue (noun) = large, movable fleshy part in the mouth that we use for talking and tasting

"If you wish good advice, consult an old man." Old people have a lot of experience. If you want to have good advice or recommendations, ask an old person, not a young one. wish (verb) = want, desire advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do consult (verb) = ask; go to for advice or information

"The best advice is found on the pillow." If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep. People also often say: "I'll sleep on it." advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do pillow (noun) = cushion that you rest your head on while you sleep

"All clouds bring not rain." We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings rain." And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn't rain. Sometimes it's the same with problems, or what we think are problems.

"You can't tell a book by its cover." We need to read a book to know if it's good or bad. We cannot know what it's like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books. "Bad news travels fast." "Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly. "No news is good news." This is like the proverb "Bad news travels fast." If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly. "Live and let live." This proverb suggests that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives. The title of the famous James Bond story Live and Let Die was a play on this proverb. "Birds of a feather flock together." "Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type. feather (noun) = part of the soft, light covering of a bird's body flock (verb) = gather in a crowd

"Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are." Similar to "Birds of a feather...", this proverb suggests that like minds stick together.

26 Sayings beginning withA

A bad penny always turns up Nasty or bad people have a habit of showing up or returning. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush It's better to have one of something for certain than to run after two of the same thing and not be sure of getting them. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link If one link in a chain is weak, and all the other links are strong, the whole chain is weak. A fool and his money are soon parted Stupid people spend their money carelessly and soon become poor.

A good husband makes a good wife If a woman is happy with her husband, she will be a good mate for him. A good man is hard to find This saying talks about the difficulties for women in finding a suitable male partner. A good name is better than riches Your good reputation is worth more than money. A good payer is master of another's purse Someone who is known to always pay exactly as promised can borrow money from other people at any time. A good paymaster never wants workmen An employer who pays well is never short of staff. A just war is better than an unjust peace Fighting between countries for a fair and good cause is better than no fighting in a situation that is unfair. A little learning is a dangerous thing It may be safer not to learn something at all than to half-learn it. A man is as old as he feels, and a woman as old as she looks This somewhat sexist saying suggests that men age better than women. A nod is as good as a wink to a blind horse A very small hint is enough to convey our meaning. It is not always necessary to say what we want explicitly. A short prayer penetrates heaven The implication is that brevity is effective in winning the ear of Heaven, and, by extension, anyone from whom we seek help. A still tongue makes a wise head Someone who does not talk much, but listens to other people, probably has experience, knowledge and good judgement. A stitch in time saves nine Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches! A watched pot never boils If you want to heat water until it boils, and you watch it while you wait, then it seems to take a very long time. In the same way, anything that we wait for with eager attention seems to take a very long time: like waiting for someone to arrive, waiting for the phone to ring, waiting for a letter to come.

A word to the wise is enough A very brief warning or explanation is enough for an intelligent person. All cats are grey in the dark The implication is that beauty, or physical appearance, is unimportant. All clouds bring not rain We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings rain." And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn't rain. Don't judge things by appearances. All that glitters is not gold The attractive exterior of something is not a good indicator of its real nature. It may look valuable, but not be valuable. All things are difficult before they are easy The implication is that we should be patient with learning, and with learners. It takes time to learn to do things. What seems easy to us now may have been difficult at first. All truths are not to be told Some truths are better left unspoken. It is not always necessary to repeat something even though it be true. Any port in a storm In times of danger, any shelter is better than none. In an emergency, we have to accept whatever solution presents itself (for the time being). Appearances are deceptive The way something or someone looks from outside may give us the wrong impression. As soon as man is born he begins to die The process of dying starts at birth. This saying reminds us of our own mortality, whatever our age.

Sayings
Bad news travels fast "Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly. Barking dogs seldom bite Don't be afraid of dogs that bark or people that threaten you (say they will do something bad to you) - in both cases they rarely take action. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Different people see beauty in different ways. What one person finds beautiful may not appeal to another person. Beauty is only skin deep Physical beauty is superficial. A pleasing exterior is no guide to a person's interior or

character. Behind every successful man is a woman Many men owe their achievements in life to women. Better safe than sorry We should be careful in a dangerous situation. It is better to stay safe than to have an accident (and be sorry about it). The full "grammatical" sentence would be: "It is better to be safe than to be sorry." Better the foot slip than the tongue It is better to take a bad step in walking than to say the wrong thing in talking. We can do a lot of damage when we say something by mistake. The elliptical nature of this saying may make it difficult to understand. The full version might be something like: "It is better that your foot should slip than that your tongue should slip." Better untaught than ill taught This proverb drops the verb "to be" (It is better to be untaught than ill taught). We understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly. Beware of a silent man and still water A large expanse of water that is still and does not move is often deep and dangerous. We should be careful of it. In the same way, we should be careful with a person who does not talk much. Beware the fury of a patient man The implication is that the anger of people who are normally slow to anger is, when it eventually comes, terrible. Birds of a feather flock together "Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type. Boys will be boys This somewhat humorous saying is often used to excuse male behaviour (of both boys and adult men). Brevity is the soul of wit The real art of speaking (especially when speaking humorously) is to use as few words as Charity begins at home Our first responsibility is to our own family and friends. Cleanliness is next to godliness This (humorous) saying suggests that being clean is nearly as good as being godly or very holy. Cold hands, warm heart A cool, reserved exterior may hide a kind heart.

Comparisons are odious Comparison (especially of people) is not productive and can have unpleasant consequences. People should be judged on their own merits. Count your blessings Instead of worrying about the problems that we may have, we should think about the good things that we have. We should be grateful for what we have. Crime doesn't pay If you engage in illegal activities, you will not make money in the long run.

11 Sayings beginning withD

Dead men tell no tales People who are no longer living cannot give evidence. Death is a remedy for all ills When we die, all our problems are solved. Death keeps no calendar In this saying, "Death" is personified as a spiritual being who may call upon us at any time - he has no appointment book. We never know when we will die. Death pays all debts Dying cancels everything, including anything that we owe to other people. Discretion is the better part of valour It may sometimes be better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it. Don't bite the hand that feeds you It is not be a good idea to hurt the person (or company) that pays you or takes care of you. Don't cross your bridges before you come to them Don't worry about problems before they arrive. Don't put all your eggs in one basket If all your eggs are in one basket and you drop the basket, you lose everything. Don't put all your money in one bank. Don't put all your faith in one person. Don't rock the boat This saying advises people not to upset the status quo (or try to change a comfortable, existing situation). Dumb dogs are dangerous People who say little or nothing are more dangerous than people who speak a lot.

Dying men speak true When people are about to die, they usually tell the truth.

8 Sayings beginning withE

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise It is good for us to sleep early in the evening and wake early in the morning. Easy come, easy go If we get something (like money) easily and without effort, we can lose it easily too. Empty vessels make the most noise Stupid people speak loudest. Even a worm will turn Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even the lowest of people, or animals, will revolt and hit back at some stage. Even a worm, the simplest of animals, will defend itself. Even the prayers of an ant reach to Heaven God hears all living beings. Every dog has his day 1) Even the lowest of us at some time has a chance to get revenge on an oppressor, no matter how powerful that oppressor may be. 2) We will all have good luck or success at some point in our lives. Every man has his price According to this saying, all people can be bribed if you pay enough. Everything comes to him who waits Patient people eventually receive all things.

8 Sayings beginning withF

Facts are stubborn things We cannot avoid the truth, even when it is not what we want to hear or express. Faint heart never won fair lady We should have the courage to pursue what we want if we wish to succeed in life. Fair exchange is no robbery Swapping one thing fairly in return for another is not the same as stealing. Familiarity breeds contempt When we know someone or something very well, we lose respect for them or it. First things first 1) Be patient: do things in the logical order. 2) Do the most important things before the less important things.

Forewarned is forearmed If we know about a possible danger in advance, we have an important advantage. Fortune favours the bold Successful people are often those who are prepared to take risks. Fortune knocks once at every man's door We all get at least one good opportunity in life; everybody has the opportunity to be successful in life.

11 Sayings beginning withG

Garbage in, garbage out | GIGO Incorrect or bad input results in incorrect or bad output. Give a thief enough rope and he'll hang himself A bad person will sooner or later be the cause of his own downfall. Give credit where credit is due The implication is that even if we are reluctant to praise someone, we should do so if the praise is deserved. Give the devil his due We should admit the good qualities of even a bad or undeserving person. Give, and ye shall receive This idea from the Bible suggests that when we freely give something (money, love etc) to other people, we will receive the same or more back. God helps them that help themselves This semi-humorous saying suggests that we should not rely entirely on God to help us. God will help us if we make an effort. God moves in a mysterious way The implication is that God's plan is beyond human understanding. God has a reason for everything, however strange it may seem to us. Good wine needs no bush Something of good quality does not need to be advertised. Graves are of all sizes People die at all ages; no one is too young to die. Great minds think alike This saying suggests that very intelligent people think like each other. It is often said as a joke when two people think of the same thing. Great oaks from little acorns grow The normal order of words would be "Great oaks grow from little acorns." We

understand: sometimes small and modest things can become very large and impressive things with time.

14 Sayings beginning withH

Handsome is as handsome does Good character and behaviour are more important than good looks. He teaches ill, who teaches all The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to "He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means "badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students discover some things for themselves. He that complies against his will, is of his own opinion still If you force someone to do something or agree with something, it doesn't mean that they really agree. He that lives by the sword shall die by the sword The way that you treat others is the way that others will treat you. People who commit violence must expect to receive violence. He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea The sea is supremely powerful, and can be a terrifying and awe-inspiring place. He that wills the end wills the means If you are determined to do something you will find the way to do it. He who hesitates is lost The person who waits too long loses the opportunity; or, more seriously, delay or indecision may have disastrous results. He who laughs last laughs longest This saying advises against anticipating success, or thinking that you have won before you are sure. He who pays the piper calls the tune The person who pays a musician can decide what music he wants to hear. And the person who pays for any service has the right to say exactly what he wants. He who sups with the devil should have a long spoon If you eat with the devil, you need a (very) long spoon so that you can keep your distance. If you mix with bad people, you should be careful not to be influenced by them. A warning not to get too close when dealing with evil people. Health is better than wealth Being free from illness is better than being rich.

Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned A woman rejected in love can be very angry and dangerous. Honesty is the best policy Both in the short term and in the long term, honesty will repay you better than dishonesty. It is best to be truthful at all times. Hope springs eternal in the human breast The normal interpretation of this saying is that people will always be optimistic and think that something better is coming.

Sayings beginning withI

I felt sorry for myself because I had no shoes, until I met a man who had no feet. Before complaining, we should think of the context. If a job's worth doing it's worth doing well Don't start some work and then do it badly. If it ain't broke, don't fix it If something is not faulty or damaged, don't try to repair it. If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg! Life just isn't fair, and this realistic Arab proverb recognizes that. The stone will always break the egg. Life's like that! If you can't beat 'em, join 'em If you cannot win against someone or something, it may be easier or better to join forces with them. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys An employer who pays low wages will have bad staff. If you play with fire you get burned If you fool around with something that is potentially dangerous, you must expect to get harmed. If you wish good advice, consult an old man Old people have a lot of experience. If you want to have good advice or recommendations, ask an old person, not a young one. Ignorance of the law is no excuse It is no defence to say that we didn't know that something we did was illegal. It is best to be on the safe side 1) Don't take risks. Be careful and cautious. 2) It's best to be sure. It's best to be absolutely certain.

It was the last straw that broke the camel's back There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something. It's a man's world Everything in life is arranged to the advantage of men. Life is tough for women.

1 Saying beginning withJ

Jack of all trades, master of none Suggesting that a person who can do many different types of work is probably not very good at any of them.

2 Sayings beginning withK

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer You'll be safer if you know more about your enemies than you know about your friends. Look after your enemies better than you look after your friends. Knowledge is power Facts, information and skills give us strength and influence.

8 Sayings beginning withL

Least said soonest mended When we do or say something bad to someone, a long apology and discussion does not help. In such a case, the less we say the better. Let sleeping dogs lie Don't restart an old argument or conflict. Let the dead bury the dead This is generally taken to imply that we should spend our time and energy on living people, not on dead people. (But see Origin below.) Life is what you make it It is up to you to make of your life what you want. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place The idea here is that the same misfortune or bad luck will not happen again to the same person. This saying is often shortened, with the same meaning, to: "Lightning never strikes twice." (In reality, it has been proven that lightning often does strike two or more times in the same place.) Live and let live This proverb suggest that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should

live our own lives and let others live their lives. Look before you leap This saying advises us to think carefully before any action. Don't jump without looking where you are jumping. Look upon death as a going home We may consider dying to be a kind of returning to house and family.

14 Sayings beginning withM

Make hay while the sun shines If we want to make hay, we need sunny weather, so when the sun comes we should take the opportunity to make hay. Thus the proverb suggests that we should make good use of any opportunity while it lasts. Make love not war 1) Sex between people is better than fighting between countries. 2) Peace is better than war. Man does not live by bread alone This proverb suggests that people have a spiritual side as well as a physical side. We need to take care of our spirit as much as our body. Man proposes, God disposes Human beings can make any plans they want, but it's God that decides their success or failure. Many a true word is spoken in jest Something said as a joke may often contain wisdom and truth. Many hands make light work The more people that do a job, the easier the job for each person. Marry in haste, and repent at leisure If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry. Mighty oaks from little acorns grow The normal order of words would be "Mighty oaks grow from little acorns." We understand: sometimes small and modest things can become very large and impressive things with time. Money doesn't grow on trees It's not easy to get money. We have to work hard to make money. We can't just walk around and pick it like fruit from the tress.

Money is a good servant, but a bad master If you have money, it will serve you and work for you well. But if you owe money to other people, that money will control you in an unpleasant way. Money is the root of all evil According to this saying, all immorality and wickedness is caused by money. This saying is a misquotation, and the original version ("the love of money is the root of all evil") implies that all immorality and wickedness is caused by people loving money, not by money itself. Money isn't everything There are other important things in this world, not just money. Money makes money If you have money, you can use it to get more money through investment. Money talks If you have a lot of money, it gives you power and influence.

16 Sayings beginning withN

Nature abhors a vacuum Empty spaces become filled very quickly. Necessity is the mother of invention If we absolutely need to do something that has never been done, we will find a way to do it. It is this need or necessity that forces people to invent things. Neither a borrower nor a lender be Do not borrow things. Do not lend things. Never do evil that good may come of it Do not do something bad to achieve something good. Never speak ill of the dead Show respect to people who have died by not saying anything bad about them. Since dead people can no longer hurt us, or defend themselves, it is better to forget their bad actions and remember only their good ones. Never spur a willing horse Don't urge someone who is already working well to work harder and faster. If you do, he may work less hard or be less eager. No man is an island Human beings do not (or should not) live in isolation. All people are interconnected. A person is not like an island, standing alone and surrounded by sea. No news is good news If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because

"bad news" would arrive quickly. No pain, no gain If we do not do hard work, and suffer some pain, we will achieve or gain nothing. No reply is best It is often advisable not to give any answer. Don't say no. Don't say yes. Say nothing. None so blind as those who will not see Nobody is blinder than the person who decides he does not want to see. Often used in reference to prejudice and intolerance. None so deaf as those who will not hear Nobody is deafer than the person who decides he does not want to listen. Often used in reference to prejudice and intolerance. Nothing is certain but death and taxes This saying may be seen in three ways: 1) We cannot be 100% sure about anything (except dying and having to pay the taxman - in this case the latter idea being added for humour). 2) We cannot escape taxation (in this case the idea of death serving only to highlight the certainty of taxes). 3) We can be absolutely sure that we will die (in this case the idea of taxes being added for humour). The first interpretation seems to have been the original intent (see Origin below). Nothing is impossible to a willing heart Someone who is eager, keen and determined can achieve anything. Nothing so certain as death We can be 100% sure that we will die. Nothing ventured, nothing gained We can't expect to achieve anything if we never take any risks.

10 Sayings beginning withO

Oil and water don't mix If you add oil to water, the oil tries to stay separate. This proverb is a way of saying that certain people or characteristics do not go together. Once bitten, twice shy If an animal (such as a dog) bites you one time, you will be extra careful the next time. This saying talks about learning from our mistakes. One good turn deserves another If someone helps you, they merit being helped in return.

One might as well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb If you are going to be killed for stealing a lamb, then why not steal a sheep (which is bigger and more valuable)? In general, it means that if you are going to get the same punishment, you may as well commit the greater offence. One tongue is enough for a woman Some people think that women talk too much. If they already talk too much, they don't need another tongue. One tongue is sufficient (but see Origin below). Opportunity only knocks once We should take an opportunity (or chance) when it comes. According to this saying, it will not come again. Opportunity seldom knocks twice Take any opportunity or chance when it comes - it may not come again. Out of debt, out of danger When we no longer owe money to anyone, we are safe and secure. The implication is that it is dangerous to owe anyone. Out of office, out of danger The implication is that people in high government or official jobs are not safe. They will be safe only when they leave their job. Out of sight, out of mind When we don't see something, we don't think about it. We soon forget people who are no longer present.

10 Sayings beginning withP

Patience is a virtue The ability to wait for something without getting angry or upset is a valuable quality in a person. Patience surpasses learning 1) The ability to wait for a long time without getting angry is even better than education. 2) the capacity to accept delay without getting upset will achieve more than study in the end Pay beforehand was never well served If you pay for a service before you receive it, you will not get good service. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones This saying warns us against hypocrisy. We should not criticize other people for things we do ourselves. Poor men go to heaven as soon as rich God makes no distinction between people with money and people without money.

Possession is nine points of the law This saying suggests that the person who physically has ownership of something is in a stronger legal position than someone who claims to be the owner. Practice makes perfect The more you do something, the better you become at it. Regular exercise of a skill or activity helps you become expert at it. Prevention is better than cure It's better to take care that a problem does not happen than to have to solve the problem afterwards. It's easier to stop something bad from happening in the first place than to fix the damage after it has happened. Pride comes before a fall If we are too proud about ourselves or something, we will probably meet with failure or disaster. When we are too self-important or conceited, something is sure to happen to make us look foolish. Put the pedal to the metal Go as fast as possible.

1 Saying beginning withQ

Quietness is a great treasure Silence is valuable.

6 Sayings beginning withR

Rags to rags in three generations The first generation in a family makes money (goes from rags to riches); the second generation holds or keeps the money; and the third generation squanders or loses the money (and so goes back to rags). Revenge is a dish best served cold This saying suggests that if someone does something bad to us, it is better to pay them back later in time, not immediately. Vengeance may be more satisfying if it is not inflicted immediately. Revenge is sweet When someone does something bad to us, we get a good feeling when we do something bad back to them. Riches have wings Money can disappear easily. Money is like a bird with wings: it can fly away if you are not careful. Rome wasn't built in a day All things take time to create. And great things like the city of Rome take a very long

time. So we shouldn't expect to accomplish something or achieve success immediately. Rules are made to be broken This saying implies that there are times when we should think for ourselves and not obey every rule blindly.

12 Sayings beginning withS

Say well or be still If you cannot speak good of someone or something, then it is better not to speak. Scratch my back and I'll scratch yours I will help you if you will help me. If you do me a favour I'll do one for you in return. Seeing is believing The idea here is that we usually think something is true when we see it with our own eyes. We have to see something before we can accept its real value, or that it exists at all. Share and share alike Give everyone an equal portion. Silence is golden This saying emphasizes the value of saying nothing. Silence means consent The idea here is that if you don't disagree, you automatically agree. Keeping quiet is the same as giving permission. Slow help is no help When people need help they usually need it immediately. If you delay in helping, it is like not helping at all. Soon learnt, soon forgotten Something that is easy and quick to learn is easy to forget. Speech is silver, silence is golden Speaking is good but saying nothing is better. Discretion can be worth more than even eloquent words. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me A physical attack may injure me but a verbal attack cannot injure me. Still waters run deep Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality. Strike while the iron is hot Seize the opportunity! When we have the chance to do something, we should do it

immediately. Otherwise it will be too late.

37 Sayings beginning withT

Talk of the Devil, and he is bound to appear 1. Speaking about the Devil may invite him to come. 2. We often say "Talk of the devil!" (or "Speak of the devil!") when somebody that we have just been speaking about suddenly appears. Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are This proverb suggests that like minds stick together. If I know who your friends are, I know what your character is. The best advice is found on the pillow If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep. People also often say: "I'll sleep on it." The best things in life are free We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health. The darkest hour is always before dawn This proverb says that just before the sun rises the sky is at its blackest, suggesting that when times are at their worst for us they will soon get better. The devil can cite Scripture for his purpose 1) Bad people can appear to be good to achieve their objective. 2) Even good things can be twisted to achieve bad ends. The Devil sometimes speaks the truth 1) Sometimes what Satan says is true, to make us more ready to believe his lies. 2) Don't believe everything at face value. Be aware that liars can use the truth to trick us. The early bird catches the worm Birds that wake early in the morning will find worms to eat, but birds that wake late will find no worms. The saying suggests that the same is true for us in life. If we do something early, before other people, we will be successful. The end justifies the means If our objective is good, then it doesn't matter if the way we achieve it is bad or wrong or evil. The greater the sinner, the greater the saint 1) If a bad person can become good, a very bad person can become very good. Someone with great energy for doing bad, may, when he chooses, apply it equally to doing good. 2) Converts are the most zealous. In a day-to-day sense, for example, someone who has given up smoking may preach more about the virtues of not smoking than someone who never smoked.

The nearer the Church, the farther from God 1) The implication is that those who are most involved in any religious system, its organizers and high priests, are in danger of separating themselves from God. 2) If written as "The nearer the church, the farther from God", the implication might be a warning about placing too much importance on material buildings, and a reminder that God is everywhere. The pen is mightier than the sword This proverb suggests that written material like books or poetry has more influence than fighting or war. We may also understand from it that ideas (as often set down in writing) are more effective than violence. The rich knows not who is his friend When you have money, you don't know if people are friendly with you because they like you, or because they like your money. The structure of this saying is difficult. In normal English it would be something like: "Rich people do not know who their friends are." The road to hell is paved with good intentions 1) People who believe they are doing good can end up doing bad (the law of unintended consequences). 2) There is no value in simply planning to do good if you don't actually do it. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak Even though we may want to say "No" to temptation (doing something bad), our body may be unable to resist it. The squeaking wheel gets the grease The person who makes the most fuss gets all the attention. The tide must be taken when it comes We should use all opportunities when they come, before it's too late. The wages of sin is death If we sin we die. ("Death" here refers not to physical death but to spiritual death or eternal damnation.) The way to a man's heart is through his stomach Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart. The wish is father to the thought Our opinions or beliefs are often influenced by our desires and hopes. The phrase "father to" is used in the sense of parentage: the thought is born from the wish. There are two sides to every question In any dispute or discussion, we should acknowledge that people have different points of view.

There is a time to speak and a time to be silent We should know when to say something and when to say nothing. There is safety in numbers You are safer as part of a group of people than as an individual. Being in a group makes people more confident about taking action. There is truth in wine When people are drunk, what they say is often true. People often speak the truth when they lose their self-control. There's no such thing as a free lunch We cannot get something for nothing. We must pay for everything. Nothing in life is free. There's one law for the rich, and another for the poor The legal system treats people with money better than people without money. They also serve who only stand and wait We all have a place in this world and we all perform a function, regardless of our ability or disability. The word order of this sentence may make it more difficult to understand. In normal English it would be something like: "They (those people) who only stand and wait, also serve." They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind A warning that we must expect to suffer serious consequences as the result of our own bad actions. We get back what we give out. Things are not always what they seem Things may look like one thing but be another thing. This saying is often applied to situations, not just things or people. Time and tide wait for no man 1) Nobody can stop the progression of time. 2) We should act on favourable opportunities immediately, without delay. Too many cooks spoil the broth Sometimes it is better to have one or a few people do a job than to have many people do it. If too many people are involved, the task will not be done well. Truth has no answer It is difficult to argue against facts. We cannot refute what is true. Truth is stranger than fiction Real life can be more amazing and difficult to believe than made-up stories. Truth needs no colours Facts are facts. What is true is true, and it does not need decoration. Truth will out In the end, what is true will come to be known. The truth always appears eventually,

despite all efforts to hide it. It is impossible to keep something secret forever. Two heads are better than one Two people can usually solve a problem more easily than one person. Two wrongs do not make a right If somebody does something bad to you, it will not make things ok if you do something bad to them in return.

1 Saying beginning withU

United we stand, divided we fall If we work together we can be successful. If we fight each other we will fail.

2 Sayings beginning withV

Variety is the spice of life Monotony is bad for us. We need plenty of change. It adds interest to our lives, just as spice adds interest to food. Virtue is its own reward When we do something virtuous or good, we don't need any reward or compensation. The knowledge that we have done good is reward enough.

12 Sayings beginning withW

Waste not, want not If we do not waste things we will not be short of things. If we use our resources carefully, we shall never be in need. We must learn to walk before we can run We have to be patient when learning. Babies crawl before they walk. And children walk before they run. We cannot do difficult tasks before we can do easy tasks. What you see is what you get 1) There is nothing hidden. What you are looking at is the real thing. 2) In computing, the way something displays on the screen is the way it will display in print (or other media) -- hence the acronym WYSIWYG. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander In any question, what is appropriate in one case is also appropriate in the other case. When one door shuts, another opens An optimistic view on life, in which a refusal or failure is always followed by another opportunity.

When the cat's away the mice will play This famous saying suggests that when a person in authority is not present, the people under his rule will enjoy their freedom. When the devil cannot come, he will send The implication is that the devil is very persistent. He will always find a way to tempt us. If the devil cannot bring temptation to us himself, he will find someone else to bring it. When the going gets tough, the tough get going When a situation is difficult or dangerous, strong people work harder to resolve the problem. This saying relies on a difficult play on words; it could be rephrased word-forword as: "When the situation becomes hard, strong people start working." Where there's a will there's a way If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it. Where there's muck there's brass There is money to be made in dirt and dirty jobs. For example, many people have made fortunes by processing rubbish or waste materials. Women will have the last word A man cannot win an argument with a woman. Women talk more than men. They can always add something more to what they are saying. Would you buy a used car from this man? Do you trust this man? I don't.

5 Sayings beginning withY

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink You can show people the way to find something or to do something, but you cannot force them to act after that. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs Sometimes, when we want to create or achieve something, we must sacrifice or destroy another thing to do it. You can't take it with you when you die When we die we leave everything on earth. We don't take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some material or worldly things are not really so valuable as we may think. You can't tell a book by its cover You cannot judge what something or someone is like by looking at the exterior. You don't keep a dog and bark yourself If you pay someone to do a job, or you have servants to do it, it makes no sense to do the job yourself

2 Sayings beginning withZ

Zeal without prudence is frenzy If the energy of zeal is not counterbalanced by thought, then it is not zeal but a kind of mental derangement. Zeal, when it is a virtue, is a dangerous one According to this saying, "good zeal" cannot exist. It seems that zeal is inherently dangerous. When zeal is not a virtue, by definition it is not good. When zeal is a virtue, according to this saying it is dangerous, which is also not good. This saying relies heavily on paradox for its effect.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 1

A ___ penny always turns up. A bird in the hand is worth ___ in the bush. A chain is no stronger than its weakest ___. A fool and his money ___ soon parted. A friend in need is a ___ indeed. A man is known by ___ friends. A man is known by the company ___ keeps. A man's home ___ his castle. A rolling stone gathers ___ moss. A stitch ___ time saves nine. A woman's place is in the ___. A woman's ___ is never done.

Absence makes the heart ___ fonder. Actions speak louder ___ words. After a storm comes ___ calm.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 2

. All good things must come to an ___. All is fair in love ___ war. All roads lead ___ Rome. All that glitters is ___ gold. All the world ___ a lover. All work and no play makes Jack a dull ___. All's well that ends ___. An apple a ___ keeps the doctor away. Appearances ___ deceptive. April showers brings ___ flowers. As soon as man is born ___ begins to die. As you make your bed, so must ___ lie in it. As you sow, so shall ___ reap.

Ask no questions and hear ___ lies. Bad news travels ___.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 3

Barking ___ seldom bite. Beauty is ___ skin-deep. Beggars can't ___ choosers. Better late ___ never. Better ___ safe than sorry. Better die with honor than live ___ shame. Better the devil you know ___ the devil you don't know. Better to ___ alone than in bad company. Birds ___ a feather flock together. Blood ___ thicker than water. Boys will ___ boys. Business ___ pleasure. Business ___ business. Charity begins ___ home.

Christmas comes but ___ a year.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 4

Click the answer button to see the answer. Cleanliness is next ___ godliness. Crime does ___ pay. Curiosity killed ___ cat. Dead men have ___ friends. Dead men tell ___ tales. Death is the ___ leveler. Diligence is the mother of ___ fortune. Discretion is the better part ___ valor. Divide ___ rule. Do as I say, and ___ as I do. Do not wear out ___ welcome. Do unto others as you would like ___ to do unto you. Don't count your chickens ___ they are hatched. Don't cut off your nose to spite ___ face. Don't go near the water until you learn ___ to swim.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 5

Click the answer button to see the answer. Don't put all your eggs in ___ basket. Don't wash ___ dirty linen in public. Early to bed and early to ___, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. Easier said ___ done. Every bird loves to ___ himself sing. Every dog ___ his day. Every family has a skeleton ___ the cupboard. Every man ___ his faults. Every man ___ his price. Every man ___ his own worst enemy. Every picture tells a ___. Experience is the ___ teacher. Experience is the mother ___ wisdom. Failure ___ success. Faith will ___ mountains

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 6

Click the answer button to see the answer. Familiarity ___ contempt. Fear is stronger ___ love. Fear of death is worse ___ death itself. Fight fire ___ fire. Finders keepers, ___ weepers. First come, ___ served. First things ___. First think, and ___ speak. Fools rush ___ where angels fear to tread. Garbage in, garbage___. Give credit ___ credit is due. Give him an inch and he'll ___ a yard. Give ___ devil his due. God helps them ___ help themselves. Good fences ___ good neighbors.

Commonly-used Proverbs - Page 7

Click the answer button to see the answer. Goodness is better ___ beauty.

Great minds ___ alike. He is the ___ general who makes the fewest mistakes. He that is master of himself, will soon be master of ___. He that ___ nothing, doubts nothing. He that plants a tree plants ___ posterity. He who hesitates ___ lost. Honesty is the ___ policy. If a job's worth doing, it's worth ___ well. Ignorance ___ bliss. Ignorance of the law excuses ___ man. In for a penny, ___ for a pound. It is ___ to be on the safe side. It is no use crying ___ spilt milk. It never rains, but ___ pours. Many proverbs have been absorbed into English having been known earlier in other languages. The list here is specifically of English proverbs and the dates given are those when the proverb first appeared in English. A cat may look at a king A chain is only as strong as its weakest link A change is as good as a rest

A dog is a man's best friend A drowning man will clutch at a straw A fish always rots from the head down A fool and his money are soon parted A friend in need is a friend indeed A golden key can open any door A good beginning makes a good ending A good man is hard to find A house divided against itself cannot stand A house is not a home A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step A leopard cannot change its spots A little knowledge is a dangerous thing A little learning is a dangerous thing A little of what you fancy does you good A man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client A miss is as good as a mile A new broom sweeps clean A nod's as good as a wink to a blind horse A penny saved is a penny earned A person is known by the company he keeps A picture paints a thousand words A place for everything and everything in its place A poor workman always blames his tools A problem shared is a problem halved A prophet is not recognized in his own land A rising tide lifts all boats A rolling stone gathers no moss A soft answer turneth away wrath A stitch in time saves nine A swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly A thing of beauty is a joy forever A trouble shared is a trouble halved A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men

A watched pot never boils A woman's place is in the home A woman's work is never done A word to the wise is enough Absence makes the heart grow fonder Absolute power corrupts absolutely Accidents will happen (in the best-regulated families). Actions speak louder than words Adversity makes strange bedfellows After a storm comes a calm All good things come to he who waits All good things must come to an end All is grist that comes to the mill All publicity is good publicity All roads lead to Rome All that glisters is not gold All that glitters is not gold All the world loves a lover All things come to those who wait All things must pass All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy All you need is love All's fair in love and war All's for the best in the best of all possible worlds All's well that ends well A miss is as good as a mile An apple a day keeps the doctor away An army marches on its stomach An Englishman's home is his castle An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure Another day, another dollar Any port in a storm April showers bring forth May flowers As you make your bed, so you must lie upon it

As you sow so shall you reap Ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer Ask no questions and hear no lies Attack is the best form of defence Bad money drives out good Bad news travels fast Barking dogs seldom bite Beauty is in the eye of the beholder Beauty is only skin deep Beggars should not be choosers Behind every great man there's a great woman Better late than never Better safe than sorry Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness Better to remain silent and be thought a fool that to speak and remove all doubt Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Beware the Ides of March Big fish eat little fish Birds of a feather flock together Blood is thicker than water Boys will be boys Brevity is the soul of wit Business before pleasure Caesar's wife must be above suspicion Carpe diem (Pluck the day; Seize the day) Charity begins at home Cheats never prosper Children should be seen and not heard Cleanliness is next to godliness Clothes make the man Cold hands, warm heart Comparisons are odious

Count your blessings Cowards may die many times before their death Crime doesn't pay Cut your coat to suit your cloth Dead men tell no tales Devil take the hindmost Discretion is the better part of valour Distance lends enchantment to the view Do as I say, not as I do Do as you would be done by Do unto others as you would have them do to you Don't bite the hand that feeds you Don't burn your bridges behind you Don't cast your pearls before swine Don't change horses in midstream Don't count your chickens before they are hatched Don't cross the bridge till you come to it Don't cut off your nose to spite your face Don't keep a dog and bark yourself Don't let the bastards grind you down Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Don't meet troubles half-way Don't put all your eggs in one basket Don't put the cart before the horse Don't put new wine into old bottles Don't rock the boat Don't spoil the ship for a ha'porth of tar Don't throw pearls to swine Don't teach your Grandma to suck eggs Don't throw the baby out with the bath water Don't try to walk before you can crawl Don't upset the apple-cart Don't wash your dirty linen in public Doubt is the beginning not the end of wisdom

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise East is east, and west is west East, west, home's best Easy come, easy go Eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die Empty vessels make the most noise Enough is as good as a feast Enough is enough Even a worm will turn Every cloud has a silver lining Every dog has its day Every Jack has his Jill Every little helps Every man for himself, and the Devil take the hindmost Every man has his price Every picture tells a story Every stick has two ends Everyone wants to go to heaven but nobody wants to die Everything comes to him who waits Failing to plan is planning to fail Faint heart never won fair lady Fair exchange is no robbery Faith will move mountains Familiarity breeds contempt Feed a cold and starve a fever Fight fire with fire Finders keepers, losers weepers Fine words butter no parsnips First come, first served First impressions are the most lasting First things first Fish always stink from the head down Fish and guests smell after three days Flattery will get you nowhere

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the man was lost Forewarned is forearmed Forgive and forget Fortune favours the brave From the sublime to the ridiculous is only one step Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration Give a dog a bad name and hang him Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day... Give a man enough rope and he will hang himself Give credit where credit is due God helps those who help themselves Good fences make good neighbours Good talk saves the food Good things come to those who wait Great minds think alike Half a loaf is better than no bread Handsome is as handsome does Hard cases make bad law Hard work never did anyone any harm Haste makes waste He that goes a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing He who can does, he who cannot, teaches He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day He who hesitates is lost He who laughs last laughs longest He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword He who pays the piper calls the tune He who sups with the Devil should have a long spoon Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned Hindsight is always twenty-twenty History repeats itself Home is where the heart is

Honesty is the best policy Hope springs eternal Horses for courses If anything can go wrong, it will If a job is worth doing it is worth doing well If at first you don't succeed try, try and try again If God had meant us to fly he'd have given us wings If ifs and ands were pots and pans there'd be no work for tinkers If it ain't broke, don't fix it If life deals you lemons, make lemonade If the cap fits, wear it If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain If the shoe fits, wear it If wishes were horses, beggars would ride If you can't be good, be careful If you can't beat em, join em If you can't stand the heat get out of the kitchen If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys If you want a thing done well, do it yourself Ignorance is bliss Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery In for a penny, in for a pound In the kingdom of the blind the one eyed man is king In the midst of life we are in death Into every life a little rain must fall It ain't over till the fat lady sings It goes without saying It is best to be on the safe side It is better to give than to receive It is easy to be wise after the event It never rains but it pours It takes a thief to catch a thief It takes all sorts to make a world

It takes one to know one It takes two to tango It's all grist to the mill It's an ill wind that blows no one any good It's better to give than to receive It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all It's better to light a candle than curse the darkness It's better to travel hopefully than to arrive It's never too late It's no use crying over spilt milk It's no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted It's the early bird that catches the worm It's the empty can that makes the most noise It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease Jack of all trades, master of none Judge not, that ye be not judged Keep your chin up Keep your powder dry Laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone Laughter is the best medicine Least said, soonest mended Less is more Let bygones be bygones Let not the sun go down on your wrath Let sleeping dogs lie Let the buyer beware Let the dead bury the dead Let the punishment fit the crime Let well alone Life begins at forty Life is just a bowl of cherries Life is what you make it Life's not all beer and skittles Lightning never strikes twice in the same place

Like father, like son Little pitchers have big ears Little strokes fell great oaks Little things please little minds Live for today for tomorrow never comes Look before you leap Love is blind Love makes the world go round Love thy neighbour as thyself Love will find a way Make hay while the sun shines Make love not war Man does not live by bread alone Manners maketh man Many a little makes a mickle Many a mickle makes a muckle Many a true word is spoken in jest Many hands make light work March comes in like a lion, and goes out like a lamb March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers Marriages are made in heaven Marry in haste, repent at leisure Might is right Mighty oaks from little acorns grow Misery loves company Moderation in all things Monday's child is fair of face, Tuesday's child is full of grace, Wednesday's child is full of woe, Thursday's child has far to go, Friday's child is loving and giving, Saturday's child works hard for its living, And a child that's born on the Sabbath day Is fair and wise and good and gay. Money doesn't grow on trees Money is the root of all evil

Money isn't everything Money makes the world go round Money talks More haste, less speed Music has charms to soothe the savage breast Nature abhors a vacuum Necessity is the mother of invention Needs must when the devil drives Ne'er cast a clout till May be out Never give a sucker an even break Never go to bed on an argument Never judge a book by its cover Never let the sun go down on your anger Never look a gift horse in the mouth Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today Never speak ill of the dead Never tell tales out of school Nine tailors make a man No man can serve two masters No man is an island No names, no pack-drill No news is good news No one can make you feel inferior without your consent No pain, no gain No rest for the wicked Nothing is certain but death and taxes Nothing succeeds like success Nothing venture, nothing gain Oil and water don't mix Old soldiers never die, they just fade away Once a thief, always a thief Once bitten, twice shy One good turn deserves another One half of the world does not know how the other half lives

One hand washes the other One man's meat is another man's poison One might as well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb One law for the rich and another for the poor One swallow does not make a summer One volunteer is worth ten pressed men One year's seeding makes seven years weeding Only fools and horses work Opportunity never knocks twice at any man's door Out of sight, out of mind Parsley seed goes nine times to the Devil Patience is a virtue Pearls of wisdom Penny wise and pound foolish People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Physician, heal thyself Possession is nine points of the law Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely Practice makes perfect Practice what you preach Prevention is better than cure Pride goes before a fall Procrastination is the thief of time Put your best foot forward Rain before seven, fine before eleven Red sky at night shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning Revenge is a dish best served cold Revenge is sweet Rob Peter to pay Paul Rome wasn't built in a day See a pin and pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck; see a pin and let it lie, bad luck you'll have all day See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil Seeing is believing Seek and ye shall find

Set a thief to catch a thief Share and share alike Shrouds have no pockets Silence is golden Slow but sure Softly, softly, catchee monkey Spare the rod and spoil the child Speak as you find Speak softly and carry a big stick Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me Still waters run deep Strike while the iron is hot Stupid is as stupid does Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves Talk is cheap Talk of the Devil, and he is bound to appear Tell the truth and shame the Devil That which does not kill us makes us stronger The age of miracles is past The apple never falls far from the tree The best defence is a good offence The best-laid schemes of mice and men gang aft agley The best things in life are free The bigger they are, the harder they fall The bottom line is the bottom line The boy is father to the man The bread always falls buttered side down The child is the father of the man The cobbler always wears the worst shoes The course of true love never did run smooth The customer is always right The darkest hour is just before the dawn The devil finds work for idle hands to do

The devil looks after his own The early bird catches the worm The end justifies the means The exception which proves the rule The female of the species is more deadly than the male The fruit does not fall far from the tree The good die young The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world The husband is always the last to know The labourer is worthy of his hire The law is an ass The leopard does not change his spots The longest journey starts with a single step The more the merrier The more things change, the more they stay the same The only good Indian is a dead Indian The opera ain't over till the fat lady sings The pen is mightier than sword The price of liberty is eternal vigilance The proof of the pudding is in the eating The road to hell is paved with good intentions The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot The squeaking wheel gets the grease The truth will out The way to a man's heart is through his stomach There are more ways of killing a cat than choking it with cream There are none so blind as those, that will not see There are two sides to every question There but for the grace of God, go I There's a time and a place for everything There's an exception to every rule There's always more fish in the sea There's honour among thieves

There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip There's more than one way to skin a cat There's no accounting for tastes There's no fool like an old fool There's no place like home There's no smoke without fire There's no such thing as a free lunch There's no such thing as bad publicity There's no time like the present There's none so blind as those who will not see There's none so deaf as those who will not hear There's nowt so queer as folk There's one born every minute There's safety in numbers They that sow the wind, shall reap the whirlwind Third time lucky Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas Time and tide wait for no man Time flies Time is a great healer Time is money Time will tell 'tis better to have loved and lost, than never to have loved at all To err is human; to forgive divine To every thing there is a season To the victor go the spoils To travel hopefully is a better thing than to arrive Tomorrow is another day Tomorrow never comes Too many cooks spoil the broth Truth is stranger than fiction

Truth will out Two blacks don't make a white Two heads are better than one Two is company, but three's a crowd Two wrongs don't make a right Variety is the spice of life Virtue is its own reward Walls have ears Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs Waste not want not What can't be cured must be endured What goes up must come down What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander When in Rome, do as the Romans do When the cat's away the mice will play When the going gets tough, the tough get going When the oak is before the ash, then you will only get a splash; when the ash is before the oak, then you may expect a soak What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over Where there's a will there's a way Where there's muck there's brass While there's life there's hope Whom the Gods love die young Why keep a dog and bark yourself? Women and children first Wonders will never cease Work expands so as to fill the time available Worrying never did anyone any good You are never too old to learn You are what you eat You can have too much of a good thing You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink You can't have your cake and eat it You can't get blood out of a stone

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs You can't make bricks without straw You can't run with the hare and hunt with the hounds You can't teach an old dog new tricks You can't judge a book by its cover You can't win them all You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar You pays your money and you takes your choice Youth is wasted on the young Between the devil and the deep sea To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.

Where there's a will there's a way

When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.

A burnt child dreads fire

A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.

First come, first served

The first in line will be attended to first.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.

Discretion is the better part of valor

If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.

A hungry man is an angry man

A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.

Empty vessels make the most

Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk

noise

the most and make the greatest fuss.

A man is as old as he feels

A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.

Great talkers are little doers

Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.

An idle brain is the devil's workshop

One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.

An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit

It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.

Faint heart never won fair lady

To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.

A penny saved is a penny gained

By being thrifty one will be able to save up.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.

As you sow, so you shall reap

One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.

Barking dogs seldom bite

Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.

Better late than never

To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.

Birds of a feather flock together

People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.

Call a spade a spade

If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.

Charity begins at home

A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others.

Dead men tell no lies

( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)

A great talker is a great liar

A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.

Every cloud has a silver lining

If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.

All that glitters is not gold

Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.

Eat to live, but do not live to eat

Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy

food.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.

Every dog has its day

Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.

Every one can find fault, few can do better

It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly.

Any time means no time

When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.

Fair exchange is no robbery

A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated.

Fire is a good servant but a bad master

Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.

Actions speak louder than words Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of. Fortune knocks once at every man's door Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life. Give the devil his due Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings.

God helps those who help themselves God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good A bad or evil occurrence. Great minds think alike Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations. Habit is second nature An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature. He laughs best who laughs last A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end. Never do things by halves One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately. Great haste makes great waste If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later. It's never too late to mend It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults. It's no use crying over spilt milk It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified. Still waters run deep One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person. Jack of all trades and master of none Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them. Let bygones by bygones One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others. Let not the pot call the kettle black A person who has a fault should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another person as you may have the same weakness. Let sleeping dogs lie One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble. No news is good news When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right. Look before you leap

Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences. Necessity is the mother of invention When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it. Honesty is the best policy Being honest is believed to be the best route to take. One man's meat is another man's poison No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes. Once bitten twice shy If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time. Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter ( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother ) Practice makes perfect It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it Prevention is better than cure It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen. Rome was not built in a day Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily. Robbing Peter to pay Paul ( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give another. Spare the rod and spoil the child A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly. Speech is silver, silence is golden Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take. It takes two to make a quarrel Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself. Strike while the iron is hot Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible. There's no smoke without fire Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them. Time and tide wait for no one Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent. To err is human, to forgive divine

It is only normal for man to make mistakes and do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his wrong is indeed great and gracious act. What's done can't be undone In life there are some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back. Two heads are better than one It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment. When in Rome do as the Romans do When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs. When the cat is away the mice will play When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law Absence makes the heart grow fonder One usually desires another more when he or she is far away.