English Proverbs & Sayings
A bad
excuse is better than none.
|
Always
give an excuse, even if it's a poor one.
|
A bad
penny always turns up.
|
An
unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back.
|
A bad
tree does not yield good apples.
|
A bad
parent does not raise good children.
|
A bad
workman blames his tools.
|
Blaming
the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.
|
A
barking dog seldom bites.
|
Someone
who constantly makes threats rarely carries them out.
|
A bird
in hand is worth two in
a bush. |
It is
better to keep what you have rather than to risk losing it by searching for
something better.
|
A black
plum is as sweet as a white.
|
People
should not be judged by their appearance.
|
A book
holds a house of gold.
|
There is a
wealth of knowledge in books.
|
A
broken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound.
|
Friendships
can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.
|
A
burden of one's own choice is not felt.
|
Something
difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.
|
A burnt
child dreads the fire.
|
A bad
experience will make people stay away from certain things.
|
A burnt
child dreads the fire.
|
A bad
experience will make people stay away from certain things.
|
A calm
sea does not make a skilled sailor.
|
A person
shows their competence or ability when difficulties arise.
|
A cat
has nine lives.
|
1) Cats
can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury.
2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay. |
A chain
is no stronger than its weakest link.
|
The
strength of a group depends on each individual member.
|
A
change is as good as a rest.
|
A change
in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.
|
A constant
guest is never welcome.
|
If you
come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you.
|
A
danger foreseen is half avoided.
|
If you are
prepared to face a problem or difficulty, it will be easier to deal with.
|
A day
of sorrow is longer than a month of joy.
|
Times goes
by very quickly when you are happy
and very slowly when you are sad. |
A drop
of ink may make a million think.
|
A thought
expressed in writing (perhaps published in a newspaper) can influence a large
number of people.
|
A dry March,
a wet April and a cool May fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
|
Harvest
predictions are made according to the weather.
|
A fault
confessed is half redressed.
|
Confession
is the beginning of forgiveness.
|
A
flower blooms more than once.
|
If you
miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time.
|
A fly
will not get into a closed mouth.
A closed mouth catches no flies. |
If you
learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble.
|
A fool
and his money are (soon) easily parted.
|
A foolish
person usually spends money carelessly.
|
A fool
at forty is a fool forever.
|
If a
person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will.
|
A
friend in need is a friend indeed.
|
Someone
who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.
|
A
friend to all is a friend to none.
|
Someone
who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.
|
A
friend's eye is a good mirror.
|
A real
friend will tell you the truth.
|
A good
beginning makes a good end.
|
If a task
is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done.
|
A good
conscience is a soft pillow.
|
You sleep
well when you have nothing to be guilty about.
|
A good
example is the best sermon.
|
Giving a
good example is better than giving advice.
|
A good
name is better than a good face.
|
A good reputation
is better than a good appearance.
|
A
growing youth has a wolf in his belly.
|
Young boys
eat a lot / are often hungry.
|
A
guilty conscience needs no accuser.
|
If you
know that you have done something wrong, you don't need anyone to tell you
that you're guilty.
|
A
handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.
|
Patience
is more precious than intelligence.
|
A happy
heart is better than a full purse.
|
Happiness
is better than wealth.
|
A heavy
purse gives to a light heart.
|
When you
have money you feel more cheerful
and secure. |
A hedge
between keeps friendship green.
|
It is
important to respect the privacy of others.
|
A
hungry belly has no ears.
|
A hungry
person is totally concentrated on their need for food and nothing else
interests them.
|
A hungry
wolf is fixed to no place.
|
A
desperate person will go from place to place when they need to satisfy their
needs.
|
A
lender nor borrower be.
|
Do not
lend or borrow money.
|
A
leopard cannot change its spots.
|
It is
impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
|
A lie
begets a lie.
|
Telling
one lie will lead you to tell another one.
|
A
little fire is quickly trodden out.
|
If you
deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue.
|
A
little of what you fancy does you good.
|
It's ok to
give into a little temptation occasionally.
|
A
loaded wagon makes no noise.
|
Really
wealthy people do not talk about money.
|
A
loveless life is living death.
|
Without
affection, life is difficult.
|
A man
can die but once.
|
If death
comes now, you will not have to experience it later.
|
A man
is as old as he feels himself to be.
|
Your age
doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.
|
A man
is judged by his deeds, not by his words.
|
A person
is judged on what he/she actually does, not on what
they say they will do.
|
A man
is known by the company he keeps.
|
A person's
character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time.
|
A
monkey in silk is a monkey no less.
|
No matter
how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath.
|
A new
broom sweeps clean (but the old brush knows all the corners...)
|
A
newly-appointed person often makes changes quickly .
|
A nod
is as good as a wink (to a blind horse/man).
|
A hint or
a subtle signal is enough to convey meaning to someone who is ready to
understand.
|
A
picture paints a thousand words.
|
A picture
is better than a long description.
|
A
problem shared is a problem halved.
(Also : A worry shared is a worry halved.) |
It is
easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone.
|
A
rising tide lifts all boats.
|
Refers to
something that will be helpful to all.
|
A
rolling stone gathers no moss
|
If a
person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor
possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down! |
A
rotten apple spoils the barrel.
|
A
dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.
|
A
smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.
|
Overcoming
adversity leads to competence.
|
A soft
answer turneth away wrath.
|
If your
reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger.
|
A
stitch in time saves nine.
|
If you
deal with a problem at an early stage you will save time and prevent it from
getting worse.
|
A
stumble may prevent a fall.
|
Correcting
a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one.
|
A
swallow does not make the summer.
|
One good
event does not mean that everything is alright.
|
A tidy
house holds a bored woman
|
If a house
is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her
time.
|
A
watched pot never boils.
|
If you
wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a long time.
|
A wise
head keeps a still tongue
|
An
intelligent person knows when to stay silent.
|
A
wonder lasts but nine days
|
The
effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine days; after that, life
goes on as before.
|
A young
idler, an old beggar.
|
If you
don't work, you won't have any money when you're old.
|
Absence
makes the heart grow fonder
|
When you
are away from someone you love, you love them even more.
|
Accidents
will happen
|
Some
unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable.
|
Actions
speak louder than words
|
What a
person actually does is more important than what they say they will do.
|
Adversity
makes strange bedfellows.
|
People of
all origins who share the same misfortune are drawn together.
|
Advice
is cheap
|
It doesn't
cost anything to offer advice.
|
Advice
is least heeded when most needed.
|
When a
problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice given.
|
Advisors
run no risks.
|
It's
easier to give advice than to act.
|
After
dinner rest a while, after supper walk a while.
|
Dinner is
called 'lunch' nowadays, and supper has become 'dinner'.
|
Age
before beauty
|
Older
people should be given precedence over the younger (who are thought to be
more beautiful).
|
Agree,
for the law is costly.
|
A
compromise is better than an expensive lawsuit.
|
All
cats are grey in the dark.
|
People are
undistinguished until they have made a name for themselves.
|
All
covet, all lose
|
If you try
to obtain everything, you risk losing everything.
|
All
days are short to industry and long to idleness.
|
Time goes
by slowly when you have nothing to do.
|
All
good things come to those who wait.
|
If you are
patient you will be rewarded.
|
All
that glitters is not gold.
|
Appearances
can be deceptive.
|
All in
good time.
|
Be
patient. Things will happen when the time is right.
|
All is
fair in love and war.
|
Things
that are done in love or war can often be excused.
|
All's
well that ends well.
|
There is a
solution to everything even if there are doubts.
|
All roads
lead to Rome
|
There are
many different ways to reach an objective.
|
All
things grow with time - except grief.
|
As time
goes by, grief subsides little by little.
|
All
things are difficult before they are easy.
|
With
practice everything becomes easier.
|
All
work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
|
Everybody
needs a certain amount of relaxation. It is not good to work all the time.
|
An ant
may well destroy a whole dam.
|
A small
problem can sometimes cause a lot of harm.
|
An
apple a day keeps the doctor away.
|
Eating an
apple every day can help to keep you healthy.
Other interpretation: A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems. |
An
empty purse frightens away friends.
|
When one's
financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear.
|
An Englishman's
home is his castle
|
An
Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy and can do
as he wishes.
|
An idle
brain is the devil's workshop
|
When you
are busy working, you avoid temptation.
|
An old
fox is not easily snared.
|
A person
of experience is difficult to fool or manipulate.
|
An
onion a day keeps everyone away.
|
A
humoristic version of "an apple a day..."
|
An
ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit.
|
It is
better to be cautious and discreet than to try to be funny.
|
An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
|
It is
easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure
the disease later.
|
Anger
is the one thing made better by delay.
|
When you
are angry, it is best not to speak or act immediately.
|
Another
day, another dollar.
|
A job may
be hard or tedious but at least there is some financial reward.
|
Any
time means no time.
|
If the
date of an event remains vague, it will never happen.
|
April
showers bring May flowers.
|
Something
bad or unpleasant today may bring good things in the future.
|
As you
sow, so shall you reap.
|
You have
to accept the consequences of your actions.
|
Ask me
no questions, I'll tell you no lies.
|
There are
subjects one would rather not discuss.
|
A
lender nor borrower be.
|
Do not
lend or borrow money.
|
A
leopard cannot change its spots.
|
It is
impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
|
A lie
begets a lie.
|
Telling
one lie will lead you to tell another one.
|
A
little fire is quickly trodden out.
|
If you
deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue.
|
A
little of what you fancy does you good.
|
It's ok to
give into a little temptation occasionally.
|
A
loaded wagon makes no noise.
|
Really
wealthy people do not talk about money.
|
A
loveless life is living death.
|
Without
affection, life is difficult.
|
A man
can die but once.
|
If death
comes now, you will not have to experience it later.
|
A man
is as old as he feels himself to be.
|
Your age
doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.
|
A man
is judged by his deeds, not by his words.
|
A person
is judged on what he/she actually does, not on what
they say they will do.
|
A man
is known by the company he keeps.
|
A person's
character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time.
|
A
monkey in silk is a monkey no less.
|
No matter
how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath.
|
A new
broom sweeps clean (but the old brush knows all the corners...)
|
A
newly-appointed person often makes changes quickly .
|
A nod
is as good as a wink (to a blind horse/man).
|
A hint or
a subtle signal is enough to convey meaning to someone who is ready to
understand.
|
A
picture paints a thousand words.
|
A picture
is better than a long description.
|
A
problem shared is a problem halved.
(Also : A worry shared is a worry halved.) |
It is
easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone.
|
A
rising tide lifts all boats.
|
Refers to
something that will be helpful to all.
|
A
rolling stone gathers no moss
|
If a
person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor
possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down! |
A
rotten apple spoils the barrel.
|
A
dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.
|
A
smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.
|
Overcoming
adversity leads to competence.
|
A soft
answer turneth away wrath.
|
If your
reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger.
|
A
stitch in time saves nine.
|
If you
deal with a problem at an early stage you will save time and prevent it from
getting worse.
|
A
stumble may prevent a fall.
|
Correcting
a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one.
|
A
swallow does not make the summer.
|
One good
event does not mean that everything is alright.
|
A tidy
house holds a bored woman
|
If a house
is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her
time.
|
A
watched pot never boils.
|
If you
wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a long time.
|
A wise
head keeps a still tongue
|
An
intelligent person knows when to stay silent.
|
A
wonder lasts but nine days
|
The
effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine days; after that, life
goes on as before.
|
A young
idler, an old beggar.
|
If you
don't work, you won't have any money when you're old.
|
Absence
makes the heart grow fonder
|
When you
are away from someone you love, you love them even more.
|
Bad
news travels fast.
|
People
tend to circulate bad news very quickly (accidents, illness, etc.).
|
(A) bad
tree does not yield good apples.
|
A bad
parent does not raise good children.
|
(A) bad
workman blames his tools.
|
Blaming
tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.
|
Be just
before you are generous.
|
Make sure
all your debts are paid before you start offering help to others.
|
Beauty
is only skin deep.
|
A person's
character is more important than their appearance.
|
Beauty
is in the eye of the beholder.
|
Different
people have different tastes.
|
Beauty
is the wisdom of women.
Wisdom is the beauty of men. |
No
comment!
|
Be
swift to hear, slow to speak.
|
Listen
carefully before speaking.
|
(The)
best helping hand is at the end of your sleeve.
|
The best
way to get something done is to do it yourself.
|
Better
an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
|
It is
preferable to have something sure now than the possibility of something
better later.
|
Better
be alone than in bad company.
|
Be careful
in the choice of the people you associate with.
|
Better
be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.
|
It's
better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a bigger one.
|
Better
flatter a fool than fight him.
|
It's
better to avoid disputes with stupid people.
|
Better
to drink the milk than to eat the cow.
|
Be careful
not to destroy the source of your income or welfare.
|
Better
the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
|
It's
better to deal with someone difficult but familiar than change and risk
dealing with somebody worse.
|
Better
late than never.
|
It's
better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all.
|
Better
lose the saddle than the horse.
|
It's
better to stop and accept a small loss than continue and risk losing
everything.
|
Better
safe than sorry.
|
It's
better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it later.
|
Better
be untaught than ill-taught.
|
It's
better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.
|
Beware
of Greeks bearing gifts.
|
Don't
trust your enemies.
|
(A)
bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
|
It's
better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for
something else.
|
Birds
of a feather flock together.
|
People of
the same sort are usually found together.
|
Blood
is thicker than water.
|
Family
relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.
|
Blood
will out.
|
A person's
background or education will eventually show.
|
(A)
broken friendship may be soldered but it will never be sound.
|
Friendships
can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.
|
(A)
burden of one's own choice is not felt.
|
Something
difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.
|
(A)
burnt child dreads the fire.
|
A bad
experience will make people stay away from certain things.
|
(A) cat
has nine lives.
|
1) Cats
can survive many accidents because
they land on their feet without injury. 2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay. |
(A)
chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
|
The
strength of a group depends on each individual member.
|
(A)
change is as good as a rest.
|
A change
in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.
|
Charity
begins at home.
|
A person's
first duty is to help and care for his own family.
|
Children
and fools tell the truth.
|
Neither
children nor fools know that it is sometimes advantageous to lie.
|
Cleanliness
is next to godliness.
|
A clean
body is just as important as a pure soul.
|
Clear
moon, frost soon.
|
If the
atmosphere is clear, frost may form.
|
(A)
closed mouth catches no flies.
|
If you
learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble.
|
Clothes
don't make the man.
|
Appearances
can be deceiving.
|
Constant
occupation prevents temptation.
|
When you
are busy working, you avoid temptation.
|
Dead
men tell no lies.
|
A dead
person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be
preferable to conceal.
|
Death
is the great leveller.
|
All people
are equal when they die.
|
Diamonds
cut diamonds.
|
Refers to
two people equally matched in wit or cunning.
|
Diligence
is the mother of good fortune.
|
Hard work
brings rewards.
|
Discretion
is the better part of valour.
|
It is
useless to take unnecessary risks.
|
Diseases
of the soul are more dangerous
than those of the body. |
Thought to
refer to mental and emotional disorder or spiritual torment as opposed to
bodily pain.
|
Distance
makes the heart grow fonder.
|
When you
are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger.
|
Dogs of
the same street bark alike.
|
People of
the same background have the same behaviour.
|
Don't
bark if you can't bite.
|
Don't
complain if you can't enforce your point of view.
|
Don't
count your chickens before they're hatched.
|
You must
not be too confident that something will be successful.
|
Don't
dig your grave with our own knife and fork.
|
Don't do
something yourself that causes your own downfall.
|
Don't
judge a book by its cover.
|
Don't
judge by appearances.
|
(A) dry
March, a wet April and a cool May
may fill barn and cellar and bring much hay. |
Harvest
predictions according to the weather.
|
Early
to bed, and early to rise, makes
a man healthy, wealthy and wise. |
It is much
better for you to go to bed early and to get up early in the morning;
|
Easier
said than done.
|
What is
suggested sounds easy, but it is more difficult to actually do it.
|
Elbow
grease is the best polish.
|
Hard work
gives the best results.
|
Empty
vessels make the most noise.
|
The least
intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.
|
(An)
empty purse frightens away friends.
|
When one's
financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear.
|
(An)
Englishman's home is his castle.
|
An
Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy and can do
as he wishes.
|
Every
ass likes to hear himself bray.
|
People
like to listen to themselves talking.
|
Every
cloud has a silver lining.
|
There is a
positive or hopeful side to every situation.
|
Every
man for himself.
|
You must
think of your own interests before the interests of others.
|
Every
man has his price.
|
Everyone's
loyalty can be bought for a price.
|
Every
man is the architect of his own fortune.
|
Life is
what you make it.
|
Every
path has its puddle.
|
Progress
is rarely without difficulty.
|
Every
rose has its thorn.
|
Every good
thing has an unpleasant side.
|
Every
why has a wherefore.
|
There is
an explanation for everything.
|
Everything
in the garden is rosy.
|
Everything
is satisfactory.
|
Experience
is the father of wisdom.
|
Experience
and knowledge result in better judgement.
|
Facts
speak louder than words
|
People
show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what they say.
|
Failure
teaches success.
|
People can
learn from their failures and be successful later on.
|
Fair
exchange is no robbery
|
Swapping
two items of equal value is an honest deal.
|
False
friends are worse than open enemies.
|
It's
better to know who your real enemies are rather than trust someone who
pretends to be a friend but is capable of stabbing you in the back.
|
Familiarity
breeds contempt
|
Knowing
someone very well can lead to a lack of respect for them.
|
(A)
fault confessed is half redressed.
|
Confession
is the beginning of forgiveness.
|
Fine
words butter no parsnips
|
No amount
of talking can replace action.
|
First
come, first served.
|
The first
person in the line will be attended to first.
|
(A)
flower blooms more than once.
|
If you
miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time.
|
(A) fly
will not get into a closed mouth.
|
If you
learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble.
|
(A)
fool and his money are (soon) easily parted.
|
A foolish
person usually spends money carelessly.
|
(A)
fool at forty is a fool forever.
|
If a
person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will.
|
Fool me
once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
|
One should
learn from one's mistakes.
|
Fools
rush in where angels fear to tread.
|
Inexperienced
people become involved in situations that more intelligent people would
avoid.
|
(A)
friend in need is a friend indeed.
|
Someone
who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.
|
(A)
friend to all is a friend to none.
|
Someone
who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.
|
(A)
friend's eye is a good mirror.
|
A real
friend will tell you the truth.
|
Friendship
is like money, easier made than kept.
|
Effort is
necessary to keep a friendship alive.
|
Friendship
is love with understanding.
|
A friend
is more tolerant than a lover/partner/spouse?
|
Gardens
are not made by sitting in the shade.
|
Nothing is
achieved without effort.
|
Give
someone an inch and they will take a mile (or yard)
|
Give
someone a little and they will want more - some people are never satisfied.
|
Give
someone enough rope and they will hang themselves.
|
Give
someone enough time and freedom and they will get into trouble.
|
God
helps those who help themselves.
|
Success
comes to those who make a real effort to achieve it.
|
Good
accounting makes good friends.
|
You will
keep your friends if you avoid disputes over money.
|
Good
and quickly seldom meet.
|
A
well-done job takes time.
|
(A)
good beginning makes a good end.
|
If a task
is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done.
|
(A)
good conscience is a soft pillow.
|
You sleep
well when you have nothing to feel guilty about.
|
(A)
good mind possesses a kingdom.
|
Intellectual
assets are more valuable than material ones.
|
Good
management is better than good income.
|
Income can
be lost if it is used carelessly.
|
Grasp
all, lose all.
|
Trying to
obtain everything will often result in gaining nothing.
|
Great
minds think alike.
|
Intelligent
people very often have the same idea at the same time.
|
Great
oaks grow from small acorns.
|
Large
successful operations can begin in a small way.
|
Grief
divided is made lighter.
|
If you
share your grief, it will be easier to bear.
|
(A)
guilty conscience needs no accuser.
|
If you
know that you have done something wrong, you don't need anyone to tell you
that you're guilty.
|
Half a
loaf is better than none
|
You should
be grateful for something, even if it is not as much as you wanted.
|
Handsome
is what handsome does.
|
Behaviour
is more important than appearance.
|
Hard
words breaks no bones.
|
Criticism
or verbal attacks may be unpleasant but will not kill anyone.
|
Haste
makes waste
|
If
something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be
redone.
|
Hatred
is as blind as love.
|
A person
who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates.
|
He can
who believes he can.
|
If you
believe you can do something, you will be able to do it.
|
He has
enough who is content.
|
A happy person
needs nothing more.
|
He who
hesitates is lost.
|
If you
delay your decision too long, you may miss a good opportunity.
|
He who
is everywhere is nowhere.
|
It's not
good to do too many things at the same time.
|
He who
know nothing doubts nothing.
|
Knowledge
leads us to make choices.
|
He who
pays the piper calls the tune.
|
The person
who provides the money for something should control how it is spent.
|
He who
plays with fire gets burnt.
|
If you
behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems.
|
He who wills
the end wills the means.
|
If you are
determined to do something you will find a way.
|
He
laughs best who laughs last.
|
Don't
express your joy, or triumph, too soon.
|
Health
is better than wealth.
|
It's
better to be in good health than to be rich.
|
(The best)
helping hand is at the end of your sleeve.
|
The best
way to get something done is to do it yourself.
|
Home is
where the heart is.
|
You call
home the place where the people you love are.
|
Honesty
is the best policy.
|
It's
always better to be honest.
|
Honey
catches more flies than vinegar.
|
You can
obtain more cooperation from others
by being nice. |
However
long the night, the dawn will break.
|
Bad things
don't last forever.
|
Hunger
is a good sauce.
|
All food
tastes good when you are hungry.
|
(An)
idle brain is the devil's workshop.
|
When you
are busy working you avoid temptation.
|
In
times of prosperity friends are plentiful.
|
You have
many friends when you have no difficulties.
|
If a
camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will follow.
|
If you let
something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult.
|
If in
February there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain.
|
Plants and
grains will grow badly if there is no rain in early spring.
|
If you
are patient in one moment of anger, you will avoid 100 days of sorrow.
|
Avoid
regrets by taking the time to think before speaking or acting angrily.
|
If you
chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.
|
If you try
to do two things at the same time, you will not succeed in doing either of
them.
|
If two
ride a horse, one must ride behind.
|
When two
people do something together, one will be the leader and the other will be
the subordinate.
|
If you
want a friend, be a friend.
|
Friendship
must be reciprocal.
|
If
wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.
|
Wishing
alone is of no use; you must act as well.
|
Ignorance
is bliss.
|
Possible
interpretation: what you do not know causes no worry or sadness.
|
In for
a penny, in for a pound.
|
If you
start something, it is better to spend the time or money necessary to
complete it.
|
In the
land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.
|
A man of
even limited ability has an advantage over a person who is less able.
|
It
never rains but it pours.
|
Misfortune
usually comes in large numbers.
|
It is
always darkest before the dawn.
|
The most
difficult time is just before the problem is solved.
|
It's no
use crying over spilt milk.
|
Don't
express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.
|
It
takes all sorts to make a world.
|
People
vary in character and abilities, and this is a good thing.
|
Justice
delayed is justice denied.
|
If the law
is applied too late, there is no justice.
|
Kill
one to warn a hundred.
|
Warn many
people by punishing a few.
|
Kill
not the goose that lays the golden egg.
|
Do not
destroy the source of your good fortune.
|
Kindle
not a fire you cannot put out.
|
Do not
start something that you cannot control; you may fail or cause damage.
|
Kindness
begets kindness.
|
If you are
kind to someone, they will return your kindness.
|
Knowledge
in youth is wisdom in age.
|
What you
learn when you are young will be invaluable when your grow old.
|
Knowledge
is power.
|
It is
easier to make progress or be successful if you are educated or possess a lot
of information.
|
Laughter
is the best medicine.
|
Laughter
makes people feel good.
|
Learn
to walk before you run.
|
Don't rush
into doing something before you know how to do it.
|
Learning
is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.
|
Education
is something that you keep forever.
|
Least
said, soonest mended.
|
The less
you talk about an incident, the more easily it will be forgotten.
|
(A)
leopard cannot change its spots.
|
It is
impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
|
Let
bygones be bygones.
|
Let's
forgive and forget past quarrels.
|
Let the
chips fall where they may.
|
We should
not try to control our destiny.
|
Liars
need good memories.
|
People who
do not tell the truth must be careful to remember what they say.
|
Lightning
never strikes in the same place twice.
|
An unusual
event is not likely to occur again in exactly the same circumstances.
|
Like
father, like son.
|
A son's
character can be expected to resemble his father's.
|
Little
strokes fell good oaks.
|
If you
divide a task into small parts, it become easier to do.
|
(A)
loaded wagon makes no noise.
|
Really
wealthy people do not talk about money.
|
Look
before you leap.
|
Consider
possible consequences before taking action.
|
Loose
lips sink ships.
|
Disclosing
important information (to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large
losses.
|
Losers
weepers, finders keepers.
|
If you
lose something you lament, if you find something you keep it.
|
Love is
blind.
|
A person
in love does not see the faults of the person he/she loves.
|
(A)
loveless life is a living death.
|
Without
affection, life is difficult.
|
Make a
silk purse out of a sow's ear.
|
Manage to
product something good using poor material.
|
Man is
the head of the family and woman is the neck that turns the head.
|
No
comment!
|
Man
proposes, God disposes.
|
Our
destiny depends on God's will.
|
(A) man
can die but once.
|
If death
comes now, you will not have to experience it later.
|
(A) man
is as old as he feels himself to be.
|
Your age
doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.
|
(A) man
is known by the company he keeps.
|
A person's
character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time.
|
Manners
make the man.
|
Possibly:
a person's manners show their origins.
|
Many a
true word is spoken in jest.
|
Even if
something is said as a joke it can still be true.
|
Many
hands make light work.
|
Sharing
work makes the task easier.
|
March
comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.
|
The
weather at the beginning of March is stormy
and at the end is mild. |
March
winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.
|
The storms
and rain in March and April produce flowers in the month of May.
|
Mark,
learn and inwardly digest.
|
Note and
reflect upon something in order to thoroughly assimilate it.
|
Marry
in haste, repent as leisure.
|
If you get
married too quickly, you may spend your whole life regretting it.
|
Memory
is the treasure of the mind.
|
A good
memory is very precious.
|
Men
make houses, women make homes.
|
Women give
a house its comfort and character.
|
Might
as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb.
|
If the
penalty is going to be same, you might as well commit the greater offence.
|
Misery
loves company
|
When
people are sad they often like others to feel sad too.
|
Money
begets money.
|
If you
have money you can make more money.
|
Money
doesn't grow on trees.
|
You should
not waste money because it is not plentiful or obtained easily.
|
A
monkey in silk is a monkey no less.
|
No matter
how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath.
|
Necessity
is the mother of invention.
|
The need
for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it.
|
Need
teaches a plan.
|
Necessity
will make you find a solution.
|
Needs
must when the devil drives.
|
Sometimes
you are compelled to do something that you would rather not do.
|
Never
put off till tomorrow what can
be done today. |
Don't
postpone until later something you can do now.
|
Never
say die.
|
Never give
up.
|
Never
trouble troubles until troubles
trouble you. |
Don't look
for problems in advance; deal with them when they arise.
|
A new
broom sweeps clean.
|
A
newly-appointed person makes changes energetically.
|
Nobody
is perfect.
|
It is
understandable not to be perfect or to make occasional mistakes.
|
No joy
without annoy
|
There is
no happiness without clouds.
|
No
losers, no winners.
|
If there
were no losers, there could be no winners.
|
No man
can serve two masters.
|
It's impossible
to follow instructions from two different sources.
|
No man
is a hero to his valet.
|
Few people
are admired by those who know them intimately and are aware of their
failings.
|
No man
is an island.
|
We are all
interdependent and need other people.
|
No news
is good news.
|
If the
news was bad, we would hear of it. Since we have heard nothing, we can assume
that all is well.
|
No
pain, no gain.
|
Nothing is
achieved without effort.
|
No
rain, no grain.
|
Without
rain the harvest will be poor.
|
No
smoke without fire.
|
There
could be some truth in the rumour ...
|
No
wind, no waves.
|
Similar to
'no smoke without fire'.
|
Nothing
ventured nothing gained.
|
You cannot
expect to achieve anything if you take no risks.
|
Once
bitten, twice shy.
|
After an
unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar.
|
One
father is (worth) more than a hundred schoolmasters.
|
A teacher
cannot replace a father.
A child is raised by a father and taught by a teacher. |
One
good turn deserves another.
|
You should
be helpful to someone who helps you.
|
One of
these days is none of these days.
|
Until a
date is set, 'one of these days' remains a vague promise.
|
One
today is worth two tomorrows.
|
What you
have today is better than what is promised or hoped for.
|
One
man's meat is another man's poison.
|
People
don't always like the same things.
|
One
man's trash is another man's treasure.
|
What is
useless to one person could be valuable to another.
|
One
swallow doesn't make a summer.
|
A single
satisfactory event does not mean that all the others will be as good.
|
An
onion a day keeps everyone away.
|
A
humoristic version of "an apple a day..."
|
Only
real friends will tell you when your face is dirty.
|
Only a
real friend will tell you the truth.
|
Opportunity
seldom knocks twice.
|
Don't miss
opportunities that come along.
|
An
ounce of prevention is worth a pound
of cure. |
It is
easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure
the disease later.
|
Out of
the mouth of babes and sucklings.
|
Children
often speak wisely.
|
Out of
sight, out of mind.
|
We tend to
forget people or things that we do not see.
|
Penny
wise, pound foolish.
|
Refers to
a person who is careful about spending small amounts of money, but not
careful about spending large amounts.
|
People
who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
|
One should
not criticize others for faults similar to one's own and risk retaliation.
|
Pity is
akin to love.
|
If you
begin to feel sorry for someone, you may start to love them.
|
Poverty
waits at the gates of idleness.
|
If you do
not work, you will not earn any money.
|
Practice
makes perfect.
|
Doing
something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it.
|
Practice
what you preach.
|
Do
yourself what you advise others to do.
|
Prevention
is better than cure.
|
It is
easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure
the disease later.
|
Pride
comes before a fall.
|
Don't be
too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.
|
A
problem shared is a problem halved.
|
It is
easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone.
|
Procrastination
is the thief of time.
|
Delaying
an ction for too long is a waste of time.
|
Punctuality
is the soul of business.
|
You should
always be on time for your business appointments.
|
Put all
your eggs in one basket.
|
Risk
everything by relying on one plan (e.g. by putting all one's money into one
business).
|
Revenge
is sweet.
|
There is
satisfaction in returning an injury.
|
(A)
rising tide lifts all boats.
|
Refers to
something that will be helpful to all.
|
(A)
rolling stone gathers no moss
|
If a
person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor
possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down! |
Rome
was not built in a day.
|
It takes
time to a job properly. You should not expect to do it quickly.
|
(A)
rotten apple spoils the barrel.
|
A
dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.
|
Save me
from my friends.
|
Friends
can be more dangerous than enemies.
|
Saying
is one thing, doing is another.
|
People
don't always do what they announce.
|
Short
reckonings make long friends.
|
Debts paid
quickly encourage friendship.
|
Sickness
in the body brings sadness to the mind.
|
Physical
suffering can lead to sadness or depression.
|
Silence
gives consent.
|
If you
don't object something, it is assumed that you agree with it.
|
A
smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.
|
Overcoming
adversity leads to competence.
|
Snug as
a bug in a rug.
|
Feeling
very comfortable.
|
Spare
the rod and spoil the child.
|
If you
don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.
|
Speech
is silver, silence is golden.
|
Speaking
is good, but discretion can be better.
|
Sticks
and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.
|
Physical
attacks may harm me, but cruel words will not.
|
Still
waters run deep.
|
A quiet
person with a calm outward appearance can have much knowledge or wisdom.
|
(A)
stitch in time saves nine.
|
It's
better to deal with a problem at an early stage so as to prevent it from
getting worse.
|
Stolen
fruit is sweet / the sweetest
Stolen pleasures are the sweetest. |
What is
forbidden is the most tempting.
|
(A)
stumble may prevent a fall.
|
Correcting
a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one.
|
(A)
swallow does not make the summer.
|
One good
event does not mean that everything is alright.
|
Tall
oaks grow from little acorns.
|
Great
things may come from small beginnings.
|
The
apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
|
Children
resemble their parents.
|
The
best advice is found on the pillow.
|
A good
night's sleep may help us find an answer to our problem.
|
The
best things in life are free.
|
You don't
have to pay for what is important: happiness, friendship, good health.
|
The
darkest hour is just before dawn.
|
The most
difficult moment is just before a problem is solved.
|
The
devil looks after his own.
|
Success
comes to those who deserve it least.
|
The
devil makes work for idle hands.
|
People who
have no work, or are idle, often get into trouble.
|
The die
is cast.
|
A decision
has been made and it is impossible to change it.
|
The
early bird catches the worm.
|
If you
want to do something successfully, you should do it as soon as you can.
|
The end
justifies the means.
|
Wrong or
unfair methods may be used if the result of the action is good.
|
The
first step is the hardest.
|
The most
difficult part of an action is the beginning.
|
The
more haste, the less speed.
|
A person
makes more progress if they take time to do things carefully.
|
The
more you have, the more you want.
|
People
have a constant desire to possess more.
|
The
mouse that has but one hole is
quickly taken. |
If you
depend on just one thing, and it fails, you have no alternatives.
|
The pen
is mightier than the sword.
|
Words and
communication have a greater effect than war and fighting.
|
The
proof of the pudding is in the eating.
|
The real
value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested.
|
The
road to hell is paved with good intentions.
|
It is not
enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it.
|
The
tongue wounds more than a lance.
|
Insults
can be more hurtful than physical injuries.
|
The
truth is in the wine.
|
People
speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.
|
The way
to a man's heart is though his stomach.
|
Feed a man
well and he will love you.
|
The
wish is father to the thought.
|
You think
that something is true because you want it to be so.
|
There
is a black sheep in every flock.
|
There is
always someone who doesn't behave or perform like the others.
|
There's
many a slip between the cup
and the lip. |
We do not
own something until we actually get it.
|
There
is a trick in every trade.
|
There is
an established way of doing things.
|
There
is no fool like an old fool.
|
An older
person is expected to behave more sensibly.
|
There
is safety in numbers.
|
Being in a
crowd makes you feel more confident.
|
Time
and tide wait for no man.
|
Delaying a
decision will not prevent events from taking place.
|
Time
has wings.
|
Time goes
by quickly.
|
Time
heals all wounds.
|
The
passage of time lessens the impact of bad events.
|
Time is
money.
|
Time is
valuable and should not be wasted.
|
To err
is human, to forgive divine.
|
It is
human nature to make mistakes, therefore one should forgive them.
|
Too
many cooks spoil the broth.
|
If too
many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly.
|
Too
much bed makes a dull head.
|
When you
sleep too much, you are not able to think clearly.
|
A tree
is known by its fruit.
|
A person
is judged by their actions.
|
Trust
not a horse's heel nor a dog's
tooth. |
A horse
kicks from behind, a dog attacks with its teeth.
|
Truth
has no answer.
|
You cannot
argue against facts or refute what is true.
|
Truth
is stranger than fiction.
|
Events in
real life are often stranger than in fiction.
|
Two
wrongs don't make a right.
|
It is
wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you.
|
Union
is strength
|
A group
has more force than an individual.
|
Unwillingness
easily finds an excuse.
|
A person
who doesn't want to do something always finds a reason to avoid it.
|
Variety
is the spice of life.
|
Doing a
lot of different things makes life more interesting.
|
Virtue
is its own reward.
|
You should
not expect praise for acting in a correct or moral way.
|
Walls
have ears.
|
Be
careful. People could be listening.
|
Waste
not, want not.
|
If you
never waste anything, you will have is when you need it.
|
A
watched pot never boils.
|
If you
wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a long time.
|
What
the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over.
|
If a
person doesn't know about something, it cannot hurt them.
|
What a
man says drunk, he thinks sober.
|
People
speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.
|
What
soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals.
|
People are
less discreet under the influence of alcohol.
|
When
the cat's away, the mice play.
|
People
sometimes misbehave when the person in authority, is absent.
|
When in
Rome, do as the Romans do.
|
You should
adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting and behave in the
same way.
|
When
poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window.
|
When a
couple loses everything, their relationship becomes difficult.
|
Where
there's life there's hope.
|
As long as
a person is breathing, there is hope for recovery.
|
Where
there's a will there's a way.
|
If you are
determined to do something, you will find a way to do it.
|
Who
makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolves.
|
Possible
interpretation: an easily influenced person can be mislead.
|
Wisdom
is better than strength.
|
It is
preferable to use one's intelligence than one's physical strength.
|
Wonders
will never cease!
|
Expresses
surprise at an unexpected pleasure or event.
|
Worry
often gives a small thing a big shadow.
|
Worrying
over small details can make them seem worse.
|
You are
what you eat.
|
What you
eat has an effect on your well-being.
|
You are
never too old to learn.
|
You can
always learn something new, no matter how old you are.
|
You can
lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink.
|
You can
offer somebody an opportunity to do something but you can't force them to do
it.
|
You
can't teach an old dog new tricks.
|
A person
who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change.
|
You
never know what you can do until you try.
|
Try first
before deciding not to do something.
|
You
scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
|
You help
me and I'll help you.
|
(A)
young idler, an old beggar.
|
If you
don't work, you won't have any money when you're old.
|
Reference:-
http://www.learn-english-today.com/proverbs/proverbs.html
No comments:
Post a Comment