English Proverbs & Sayings (A-K)

Lesson 50 (Fifty)

Reference: Learn-english-today.com

ENGLISH PROVERBS & SAYINGS (proverbs and sayings commonly used in everyday conversation)

What is a proverb? A proverb is a short well-known expression that states a general truth or gives advice. What is a saying? A saying is a well-known expression, or a remark often made, also known as a proverb.

Alphabetical list of proverbs - A - K with an explanation where necessary

Proverb Explanation / Meaning

Absence makes the heart grow When you are away from someone you love, A fonder. you love them even more. Some unfortunate events must be accepted Accidents will happen. as inevitable. Actions speak louder than What a person actually does is more

words. important that what they say they will do. Advice is cheap. It doesn't cost anything to offer advice. Advice is least heeded when When a problem is serious, people often do

most needed. not follow the advice given. Advisers run no risks. It's easier to give advice than to act. People are undistinguished until they have All cats are grey in the dark. made a name. All good things come to those Patience brings rewards. who wait. All that glitters is not gold. Appearances can be deceptive. All days are short to Industry Time goes by slowly when you have nothing

and long to Idleness. to do. Things that are done in love or war can often All is fair in love and war be excused. There is a solution to everything even though All's well that ends well there are doubts. What look good on the outside may not be so All that glitters is not gold. in reality. All things grow with time - As time goes by, grief subsides little by little. except grief. All things are difficult before With practice things become easier. they are easy. Everybody needs a certain amount of All work and no play makes relaxation. It is not good to work all Jack a dull boy. the time. Eating an apple every day can help to keep An apple a day keeps the doctoryou healthy. away.* Other interpretation : A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems. An empty purse frightens away When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends. friends tend to disappear. An Englishman's home is a place where he An Englishman's home is his feels safe, enjoys privacy castle. and can do as he wishes. An idle brain is the devil's When you work you avoid temptation. workshop. An onion a day keeps everyone *A humoristic version of "an apple a day..." away.* It is easier to prevent something from An ounce of prevention is worth happening than to repair the damage or a pound of cure. cure the disease later. Anger is the one thing made When you are angry, it is best not to speak or better by delay. act immediately. If the date of an event remains vague, it will Any time means no time. never happen. April showers bring May Something bad or unpleasant today may bring flowers. good things in the future.

A bad tree does not yield good A bad parent does not raise good children. apples. A bad workman blames his Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an tools. excuse for lack of skill. A bird in hand is worth two in a It's better to keep what you have than to risk bush. losing it by searching for something better. A broken friendship may be Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but soldered but will will never be as strong as before. never be sound. A burden of one's own choice is Something difficult seems easier when it is not felt. done voluntarily. A bad experience will make people stay away A burnt child dreads the fire. from certain things. 1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury. A cat has nine lives. 2) Three lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay. A chain is no stronger than its The strength of a group depends on each weakest link. individual member. A change in routine is often as refreshing as a A change is as good as a rest. break or a holiday. A dry March, a wet April and a Harvest predictions according to the weather. cool May fill barn and cellar and bring much hay. A fault confessed is half Confession is the beginning of forgiveness. redressed. A flower blooms more than If you miss an occasion, you can avail of it at once. another time. A fool and his money are soon A foolish person usually spends money

(easily) parted. carelessly. If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, A fool at forty is a fool forever. they never will. A friend in need is a friend Someone who helps you when you are in indeed. trouble is a real friend. A friend to all is a friend to Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none. none of them feel special. A friend's eye is a good mirror. A real friend will tell you the truth. A good example is the best Giving an example is better than giving sermon. advice. A good beginning makes a good If a task is carefully planned, there's a better end. chance that it will be done well. A good conscience is a soft You sleep well when you have nothing to feel pillow. guilty about. A guilty conscience needs no accuser. A leopard cannot change its It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant spots. person to become good or pleasant. A loaded wagon makes no Really wealthy don't talk about money. noise. A loveless life is a living death. A man can die but once. A man is as old as he feels himself to be. A person's character is judged by the type of A man is known by the people with whom they spend company he keeps. their time. A monkey in silk is a monkey no No matter how someone dresses, it's the less. same person underneath. A newly-appointed person makes changes A new broom sweeps clean. energetically. A problem shared is a problem It will be easier to deal with a problem if you halved. discuss it with someone. A rising tide lifts all boats. Describes something that will be helpful to all. If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor A rolling stone gathers no moss. possessions. Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down! A dishonest or immoral person can have a A rotten apple spoils the barrel. bad influence on a group. A smooth sea never made a Overcoming adversity leads to competence. skilled mariner. It's better to deal with a problem at an early A stitch in time saves nine. stage, to prevent it from getting worse. Correcting a small mistake may help you to A stumble may prevent a fall. avoid making a bigger one. A swallow does not make the One good event does not mean that

summer. everything is alright. A tree is known by its fruit. A man is judged by his actions. If you wait anxiously for something, it seems A watched pot never boils to take a long time. If you don't work, you won't have any money A young idler, an old beggar. when you're old. After dinner rest a while, after Today 'dinner' is usually called 'lunch', and

supper walk a mile. 'supper' more often called 'dinner'. You have to accept the consequences of your As you sow, so shall you reap actions. Ask me no questions, I'll tell There are subjects I'd rather not discuss. you no lies.

People tend to circulate bad news (accidents, B Bad news travels fast. illness etc.) very quickly. A person's character is more important than Beauty is only skin deep. their appearance. Beauty is in the eye of the Different people have different tastes. beholder. Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the beauty of men. Be swift to hear, slow to speak. Listen carefully before speaking. Better be alone than in bad Be careful in the choice of the people you

company. associate with. Better be the head of a dog It's better to be the leader of a small group

then the tail of a lion. than a subordinate in a bigger one. Better flatter a fool than fight It's better to avoid disputes with stupid

him. people. Better the devil you know than It's better to deal with somebody difficult but the devil you familiar, than change and risk dealing don't know with somebody worse. It's better to do something, even if it's late, Better late than never. than not do it at all. It's better to stop and accept a small loss, Better lose the saddle than the rather than continue and risk losing horse. everything. It's better to be too careful than to be Better safe than sorry careless and regret it later. Better to drink the milk than to Be careful not to destroy the source of your

eat the cow. income or welfare. It's better not to be taught at all than to be Better untaught than ill-taught taught badly. Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. Don't trust your enemies. Birds of a feather flock People of the same sort are usually found

together. together. Family relationships are stronger than Blood is thicker than water relationships with other people. A person's background or education will Blood will out. eventually show.

A person's first duty is to help and care for his C Charity begins at home. own family. Children and fools tell the truth. A clean body is just as important as a pure Cleanliness is next to godliness. soul. Clear moon, frost soon. If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form. Clothes don't make the man. Appearances can be deceiving. Constant occupation prevents When you work you avoid temptation. temptation.

A dead person cannot cause difficulties by D Dead men tell no tales revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal. Refers to two people equally matched in wit Diamond cuts diamond. or cunning. Diligence is the mother of good Hard work brings rewards. fortune. Discretion is the better part of It is useless to take unnecessary risks. valour Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body. Distance makes the heart grow When you are separated from the person you

fonder. love, your feelings are even stronger. Dogs of the same street bark People from the same background have the

alike. same behaviour. Don't complain if you can't enforce your point Don't bark if you can't bite. of view. Don't count your chickens You must not be too confident that something

before they're hatched. will be successful. Don't dig your grave with your Don't do something yourself which causes

own knife and fork. your own downfall. Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge by appearances.

Early to bed and early to rise E makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. What is suggested sounds easy but it is more Easier said than done. difficult to actually do it. Elbow grease is the best polish. Hard work gives the best results. Empty vessels make the most The least intelligent people are often the

noise. most talkative or noisy. Every ass likes to hear himself People like to listen to themselves talking. bray. There is a positive or hopeful side to every Every cloud has a silver lining unpleasant situation. You must think of your own interests before Every man for himself. 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 Life is what you make it. own fortune. 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 Everything is satisfactory. rosy. Experience is the father of Experience and knowledge result in better

wisdom. judgement.

People show what they are really like by what F Facts speak louder than words. they do, rather than by what they say. Failure teaches success. False friends are worse than

open enemies. Knowing somebody very well may lead to a Familiarity breeds contempt lack of respect for them. Fine words butter no parsnips. No amount of talking can replace action. The first person in the line will be attended to First come, first served. first. Fool me once, shame on you; One should learn from one's mistakes. fool me twice, shame on me. Fools rush in where angels fear Inexperienced people act in situations that

to tread more intelligent people would avoid Friendship is love with

understanding.

Gardens are not made by sitting G Nothing is achieved without effort. in the shade. Give someone an inch and they Give someone a little and they will want more will take a - some people are never satisfied. mile (or yard). Give someone enough rope and Give someone enough time and freedom and they will hang they will get into trouble. themselves. God helps those who help

themselves. Good accounting makes good You will keep your friends if you avoid

friends. disputes over money. Good and quickly seldom meet. A well-done job takes time. Good management is better

than good income. Said when you express the same opinion as Great minds think alike. another person at the same time. Great oaks grow from little Large successful operations can begin in a

acorns. small way. Grief divided is made lighter If you share your grief it is easier to bear.

You should be grateful for something, even if H Half a loaf is better than none. it's not as much as you wanted. Hard words break no bones. If something is done too quickly, it may be Haste makes waste. done carelessly and need to be redone. A person who feels hatred does not see any Hatred is a blind as love. qualities in the person he/she hates. If you believe you can do something, you will He can who believes he can. be able to do it. He has enough who is content. A happy person needs nothing more. If you delay your decision too long, you may He who hesitates is lost. miss a good opportunity. He who is everywhere is It's not good to do too many things at the

nowhere. same time. He who knows nothing, doubts Knowledge leads us to make choices. nothing. He who pays the piper calls the The person who provides the money for

tune. something should control how it is spent He who plays with fire gets If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to

burnt. have problems. He who wills the end wills the If you are determined to do something you

means. will find a way. Don't express your joy, or your triumph, too He laughs best who laughs last. soon! It's better to be in good health than to be Health is better than wealth. rich. You call home the place where the people Home is where the heart is. you love are. Honesty is the best policy. It's always better to be honest. Honey catches more flies than You can obtain more cooperation from others

vinegar. by being nice. However long the night, the Bad things don't last forever. dawn will break Hunger is a good sauce. All food tastes good when you are hungry.

In times of prosperity friends You have many friends when you have no I are plentiful. difficulties. If a camel gets his nose in a If you let something intrusive enter your life, tent, his body will your life will become difficult . follow. If in February there be no rain, Plants and crops will grow badly if there is no 'tis neither good rain in early spring. for hay nor grain. If you are patient in one moment of anger, Avoid regrets by taking time to think before

you will avoid 100 days of speaking or acting angrily. sorrow. If you chase two rabbits, you If you try to do two things at the same time, will not catch either you won't succeed in doing either of them. one. When two people do something together, one If two ride a horse, one must will be the leader ride behind. and the other will be the subordinate. If you want a friend, be a

friend. If wishes were horses, then Wishing alone is of no use; you must act as

beggars would ride. well. Possible interpretation: What you do not Ignorance is bliss. know causes no worry or sadness. If you start something, it's better to spend In for a penny, in for a pound. the time or money necessary to complete it. In the land of the blind, the A man of even limited ability has an

one-eyed man is king. advantage over a person who is less able. It never rains but it pours. Misfortunes usually come in large numbers. It is always darkest before the The most difficult time is just before a

dawn problem is solved. It's no use crying over spilt Don't express regret for something that has

milk. happened and cannot be remedied. It takes all sorts to make a People vary in character and abilities, and this

world. is a good thing.

Justice delayed is justice If the law is applied too late, there is no J denied. justice.

K Knowledge in youth is wisdom What you learn when you are young will be in age. invaluable when you grow old. Knowledge is power. Knowledge makes it possible for you to act. Kill one to warn a hundred. Warn many by punishing a few. Kill the goose that lays the Destroy something that would be a source of golden egg. wealth or success. If you are kind to people, they will be kind to Kindness begets kindness. you. Next page → : proverbs L-Z