- A bad workman always blames his tools. (Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill)
- A bad tree does not yield good apples. (A bad parent does not raise good children)
- A barking dog seldom bites. (Someone who constantly makes threats rarely carries them out)
- A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (You should not risk losing something you have by seeking something that is not guaranteed)
- Abroken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound. (Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before)
- Absence makes the heart grow fonder. (When you're away from something, you miss it more.)
- Aburnt 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 constant guest is never welcome. (If you come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you)
- Actionsspeak louder than words. (What a person actually does is more important than what they say they will do)
- All covet, all lose (If you try to obtain everything, you risk losing everything)
- 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)
- Advisers run no risks. (It is easy to give advice, but hard to act.)
- A fool and his money are soon parted. (Someone who acts unwisely with money will lose it)
- 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's eye is a good mirror. (A real friend will tell you the truth)
- A friend to all is a friend to none. (Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special)
- 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 happy heart is better than a full purse. (Happiness is better than wealth)
- An idle brain is the devil's workshop. (When you are busy working, you avoid temptation)
- A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. (Even the longest and most difficult ventures have a starting point)
- A lie begets a lie. (Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one)
- A little learning is a dangerous thing. (People who know only a little do not understand how little they know and are therefore prone to error)
- All good things must come to an end. (Nothing lasts forever)
- All's well that ends well. (There is a solution to everything even if there are doubts)
- All that glitters is not gold. All that glisters is not gold. (Appearances can be deceptive. Don't be fooled by appearances. Something may look valuable, but may not really be valuable)
- All good things come to those who wait. (If you are patient you will be rewarded)
- 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)
- A loveless life is living death. (Without affection, life is difficult)
- 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)
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (Eat healthy and you won't get sick)
- A penny saved is a penny earned. (Money not spent may be spent later, or may earn interest in the meantime)
- April showers bring May flowers. (Something bad or unpleasant today may bring good things in the future)
- 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/By moving often, one avoids being tied down!)
- Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies. (If you ask me that, my answer might not be the truth. It implies that you will likely tell a lie, because you do not want to tell the truth.)
- 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)
- As you sow, so shall you reap. (You have to accept the consequences of your actions)
- Attack is the best form of defence. Offence is the best defence.
- A turning wheel gathers no rust. (A lively person barely ages)
- A watched kettle never boils. A watched pot never boils. (If you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a long time)
- Bad news travels fast. (People tend to circulate bad news very quickly)
- Beauty is only skin deep. (What matters is a person's character, rather than his/her appearance)
- Birds of a feather flock together. (People who are alike often become friends or spend time together)
- Beggars can't be choosers. (When in need of help, one cannot dictate how that help is given)
- Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. (It is better to have a sure thing now than a possibility of more later)
- Better be alone than in bad company. (Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with)
- 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)
- Big things come in small packages. (Things should not be underestimated because of their size)
- Birds of a feather flock together. Birds of the feather flock together. (People of similar character, background, or taste tend to congregate or associate with one another)
- Buy cheap, buy twice (Quality—while initially costing a little more—will last longer and will save money in the long run)
- Charity begins at home. (A person should help his family or close friends before helping others)
- Don't put all your eggs in one basket. (You should not put all of your resources together in one place because you could risk losing everything at one time)
- Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. (You should not think too much about some future event before it really happens)
- Don't judge a book by its cover. (You should not judge something only by its appearance)
- Don't bite off more than you can chew. (Do not try to do more than you are able to do)
- Every cloud has a silver lining. Every dark cloud has a silver lining. (You can find something good even in a bad situation)
- Every silver lining has a cloud. (Every good situation has the potential to turn bad)
- 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)
- Experience is the best teacher. (Lessons learned from experience are the most lasting)
- Fortune favours the brave. (Luck is usually on the side of those who take chances and risks)
- Easy come, easy go (If something good happens easily, it can be taken away or destroyed easily)
- Empty vessels make the most sound. (The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy)
- Enough is enough (One should be satisfied; nothing additional is required/The limit of patience or tolerance has been reached)
- First come, first served. (People will be dealt with in the order they arrive)
- God helps those who help themselves. Heaven helps those who help themselves. (Fortune comes to those who make an effort to accomplish things)
- Good things come in small packages. (The size of something is not always important. Some valuable things are very small, like diamonds and other jewels)
- Good things come to those who wait. (A patient seeker will be satisfied in due time)
- Grasp all, lose all (One who wants everything, may lose it all)
- Haste makes waste (One makes mistakes when being too hasty)
- Half a loaf is better than none (Getting only part of what you want is better than not getting anything/Something is better than nothing)
- Honesty is the best policy. (Honesty is the most honorable and fulfilling way to live one's life)
- Honey catches more flies than vinegar. (It's easier to persuade others with polite requests and a positive attitude than with rude demands and negativity)
- Hope for the best and prepare for the worst. (You should have a positive attitude, but make sure you are ready for any disaster)
- It does not matter the speed you go. The most important thing is to never stop.
- If you want something done right, do it yourself. (It is better to do something oneself, than rely on others to do it well)
- If you risk nothing, then you risk everything.
- It is no use crying over split milk. (It is no use to worry about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed)
- It's never too late to mend. (You're never too old to change your ways. Learning is always possible)
- Justice delayed is justice denied (If a wrong is not corrected within a reasonable amount of time, it is as though the wrong were not corrected at all)
- Knowledge is power
- Love is blind. (A person who is in love can see no faults or imperfections in the person whom he or she loves)
- Ladies first (A phrase encouraging perceived polite gentlemanliness, allowing the ladies to go before the men)
- Laughter is the best medicine. (It is healthy to laugh)
- Less is more (Simplicity and clarity may lead to good output)
- Long absent, soon forgotten
- Look before you leap. (Don't jump into something too precipitously; be at least a bit foresightful or circumspect)
- Many a mickle makes a muckle (A lot of small amounts, put together, become a large amount)
- Money can't buy happiness. (Money can buy external things, but true happiness comes from inside)
- Money makes money. (If you have money, you can use it to get more money through investment)
- Money talks.
- Necessity is the mother of innovation. Necessity is the mother of invention. (A person who is in great need of something will find a way to get it)
- No news is good news. (A lack of information about a situation suggests that nothing bad has happened)
- No pain, no gain (One must be willing to endure some inconvenience or discomfort in order to achieve worthwhile goals)
- Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
- Out of sight, out of mind. (When something is not nearby, it is forgotten about)
- Opportunity knocks at every man's door. (Everybody gets opportunities)
- Poison tree bears poison fruit. (Unethical actions in the service of good intentions will have immoral or unethical consequences)
- Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. (The corrupting influence of power is total when one's power is total)
- Pressure makes diamonds. (One should turn bad things into good things)
- Prevention is better than cure. (It is better to prevent the creation of a bad thing, than to destroy it)
- Practice makes perfect. (You will become good at something if you keep doing it)
- People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (You should not criticise other people unless you are perfect yourself)
- Slow and steady wins the race (Patience will conquer any problem)
- Seeing is believing (You need to see something to believe it; visible facts cannot be denied)
- Strike while the iron is hot. (It is best to take action quickly and at the right time)
- Spare the rod, spoil the child. (A parent should discipline an unruly child)
- Think twice, act wise.
- The early bird catches the worm. (A person who gets up early, or acts quickly, has the best chance of success)
- The grass is always greener on the other side. (Other circumstances seem more desirable than one’s own but in reality are often not)
- The more the merrier. (It is more fun with more people/A greater amount of something is better)
- The sky is the limit (Nothing is impossible or out of reach)
- Time is money. (Money is wasted when a person's time is not used productively/ time is valuable and should not be wasted)
- To err is human (Everyone makes mistakes)
- Time and tide wait for no man. (Action should be undertaken without delay)
- Time flies. Time flies when you're having fun. (Time seems to pass quickly)
- Time heals all wounds. (Negative feelings eventually erode away)
- Timing is everything.
- The pen is mightier than the sword. (More influence and power can be usurped by writing than by fighting)
- Two heads are better than one. (Two people working together can get better results)
- Too many cooks spoil the broth. (If too many people try to do something, then the job will not be done well)
- Two wrongs do not make a right. (You should not do something bad just because someone did the same to you)
- United we stand, divided we fall (People are more successful as a group than as an individual)
- Waste not, want not (If one is not wasteful then one will not be needy)
- Walls have ears. (There is a risk of being heard, so pay attention to what you say)
- Well begun is half done. (Much depends on the beginning of an endeavour)
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do (Behave as those around do/Respect the beliefs and practices of a local culture)
- Where there's smoke, there's fire. (If there is telltale evidence of some event, the event is probably occurring)
- Where there is a will, there is a way. (You can rise above your problems if you have a goal and work very hard)
- Work smarter, not harder (It's better to be wise than vigorous)
- You are what you eat. (If you eat well, you will be well; but if you eat badly you will feel bad)
- You're never too old to learn. (You can always learn something new, no matter how old you are)
Most Popular Proverbs (Set 1)
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