proverb meanings

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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

A
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 that what they say they will do.
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.
Advisers run no risks. It's easier to give advice than to act.
All cats are grey in the dark. People are undistinguished until they have made a name.
All good things come to those who wait. Patience brings rewards.
All that glitters is not gold. Appearances can be deceptive.
All days are short to Industry and long to Idleness. Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do.
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 though there are doubts.
All that glitters is not gold. What look good on the outside may not be so in reality.
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 things become 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 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 work you avoid temptation.
An onion a day keeps everyone away.* *A humoristic version of "an apple a day..."
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.
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.

A bad tree does not yield good apples.
A bad workman blames his tools. Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.
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 better.
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 cat has nine lives. 1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury.
2) Three 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 dry March, a wet April and a cool May
fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
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 of it at another time.
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 good example is the best sermon. Giving an example is better than giving advice.
A good beginning makes a good end.

If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be done well.
A good conscience is a soft pillow. You sleep well when you have nothing to feel guilty about.
A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
A leopard cannot change its spots. It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
A loaded wagon makes no noise. Really wealthy don't talk about money.
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 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. A newly-appointed person makes changes energetically.
A rising tide lifts all boats. Describes 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 stitch in time saves nine. It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to 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 tree is known by its fruit. A man is judged by his actions.
A watched pot never boils If you wait anxiously for something, it seems to take a long time.
A young idler, an old beggar. If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're old.
After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.
As you sow, so shall you reap You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

B Bad news travels fast.

People tend to circulate bad news (accidents, illness etc.) very quickly.
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.


Be swift to hear, slow to speak.

Listen carefully before speaking.
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 then 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 the devil you know than the devil you
don't know

It's better to deal with somebody 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, rather 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 untaught than ill-taught It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.
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.

C Charity begins at home. A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.
Children and fools tell the truth.
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.
Clothes don't make the man. Appearances can be deceiving.
Constant occupation prevents temptation. When you work you avoid temptation.


D
Dead men tell no tales A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.
Diamond cuts diamond. 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.


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 from 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 your own knife and fork. Don't do something yourself which causes your own downfall.
Don't judge a book by its cover. Don't judge by appearances.


E
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy and wise.
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.
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 unpleasant 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 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.

F 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.
False friends are worse than open enemies.
Familiarity breeds contempt Knowing somebody very well may lead to a lack of respect for them.
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.
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 act in situations that more intelligent people would avoid
Friendship is love with understanding.

G 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.


Good and quickly seldom meet. A well-done job takes time.
Good management is better than good income.
Great minds think alike.


Great oaks grow from little acorns. Large successful operations can begin in a small way.
Grief divided is made lighter

H Half a loaf is better than none. You should be grateful for something, even if it's not as much as you wanted.
Hard words break no bones.
Haste makes waste. If something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be redone.
Hatred is a blind as love. A person who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates.
He has enough who is content.
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 knows 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 your triumph, too soon!
Health is better than wealth.


Home is where the heart is. You call home the place where the people you love are.
Honesty is the best policy.
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.


I
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.
If you are patient in one moment of anger,
you will avoid 100 days of sorrow.
If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either
one. If you try to do two things at the same time, you won't 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.
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's 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. Misfortunes usually come in large numbers.
It is always darkest before the dawn The most difficult time is just before a 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.

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

K Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.


Knowledge is power.
Kill one to warn a hundred. Warn many by punishing a few.
Kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Destroy something that would be a source of wealth or success.
Kindness begets kindness. If you are kind to people, they will be kind to you.