Most Popular Proverbs (Set 2)

1. A bad penny always turns up. (An unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back)
2. A cat has nine lives.
3. A cheerful wife is the spice of life.
4. Age before beauty [Older people should be given precedence over the younger (who are thought to be more beautiful)]
5. A good name is the best of all treasures.
6. A good mind possesses a kingdom. (Intellectual assets are more valuable than material ones)
7. A good name is better than a good face. (A good reputation is better than a good appearance)
8. Agree, for the law is costly. (A compromise is better than an expensive lawsuit)
9. A growing youth has a wolf in his belly. (Young boys eat a lot / are often hungry)
10. 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)
11. A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. (Patience is more precious than intelligence)
12. A heavy purse gives to a light heart. (When you have money you feel more cheerful and secure)
13. A hedge between keeps friendship green. (It is important to respect the privacy of others)
14. A hungry belly has no ears. (A hungry person is totally concentrated on their need for food and nothing else interests them)
15. A hungry wolf is fixed to no place. (A desperate person will go from place to place when they need to satisfy their needs)
16. A lender nor borrower be. (Do not lend or borrow money)
17. A leopard cannot change its spots. (It is impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant)
18. A little fire is quickly trodden out. (If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue)
19. A little of what you fancy does you good. (It's ok to give into a little temptation occasionally)
20. All are not thieves that the dogs bark at.
21. All is fair in love and war. (Things that are done in love or war can often be excused)
22. All cats are grey in the dark. (People are undistinguished until they have made a name for themselves)
23. All days are short to industry and long to idleness. (Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do)
24. All in good time. (Be patient. Things will happen when the time is right)
25. All roads lead to Rome. (There are many different ways to reach an objective)
26. All things grow with time - except grief. (As time goes by, grief subsides little by little)
27. All things are difficult before they are easy. (With practice everything becomes easier)
28. A loaded wagon makes no noise. (Really wealthy people do not talk about money)
29. All are not friends that speak us fair.
30. A man can die but once. (If death comes now, you will not have to experience it later)
31. A monkey in silk is a monkey no less. (No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath)
32. An army marches on its stomach.
33. 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)
34. An ant may well destroy a whole dam. (A small problem can sometimes cause a lot of harm)
35. An empty purse frightens away friends. (When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear)
36. As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
37. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
38. Anger is the one thing made better by delay. (When you are angry, it is best not to speak or act immediately)
39. An old fox is not easily snared. (A person of experience is difficult to fool or manipulate)
40. Another day, another dollar. (A job may be hard or tedious but at least there is some financial reward)
41. An onion a day keeps everyone away. (A humoristic version of "an apple a day...")
42. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit. (It is better to be cautious and discreet than to try to be funny)
43. 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)
44. Any time means no time. (If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen)
45. A picture paints a thousand words. (A picture is better than a long description)
46. Apple does not fall far from the stem. Apple does not fall far from the tree. Apple does not fall far from the trunk. Apple never falls far from the tree.
47. A problem shared is a problem halved. A worry shared is a worry halved. (It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone)
48. A rotten apple spoils the barrel. (A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group)
49. A stumble may prevent a fall. (Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one)
50. A swallow does not make the summer. (One good event does not mean that everything is alright)
51. A tidy house holds a bored woman. (If a house is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her time)
52. A wise head keeps a still tongue. (An intelligent person knows when to stay silent)
53. A wonder lasts but nine days. (The effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine/few days; after that, life goes on as before)
54. A young idler, an old beggar (If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're old)
55. Accidents will happen. (Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable)
56. Adversity makes strange bedfellows. (People of all origins who share the same misfortune are drawn together)
57. Advice is cheap. (It doesn't cost anything to offer advice)
58. Advice is least heeded when most needed. (When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice given)
59. Advisers run no risks. (It's easier to give advice than to act)
60. Be just before you are generous. (Make sure all your debts are paid before you start offering help to others)
61. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. (Different people have different tastes)
62. Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the beauty of men.
63. Be swift to hear, slow to speak. (Listen carefully before speaking)
64. 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.
65. Better flatter a fool than fight him.    It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people.
66. Better to drink the milk than to eat the cow. Be careful not to destroy the source of your income or welfare.
67. 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)
68. Blood is thicker than water.  (Family ties are stronger than other relationships)
69. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't
70. Blood will out. (A person's background or education will eventually show)
71. Children should be seen and not heard.
72. Clothes don't make the man.
73. Cool heads will prevail
74. Dead men tell no tales
75. Do as I say, not as I do.
76. Don't change a winning team.
77. Don't cross that bridge until you come to it.
78. Don't cry over spilled milk. (It is no use to worry about unfortunate events which have already happened and which cannot be changed)
79. Don't shit where you eat. Don't shit in your own nest.
80. Don't dip your pen in company ink
81. Don't try to teach grandma how to suck eggs
82. First come, first served
83. Every dog has his day.
84. Every rule has an exception.
85. Every shut eye isn't asleep.
86. Every king needs a queen.
87. Every little helps.
88. Every man has a price.
89. Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.
90. Good fences make good neighbours.
91. Good wine needs no bush.
92. Great minds think alike
93. Great oaks from little acorns grow
94. Hard work never hurt anyone.
95. He who would climb a ladder must begin at the bottom.
96. Hope springs eternal. Hope springs eternal in the human breast
97. Hunger is a good sauce. Hunger is the best sauce. Hunger is the best spice
98. Idle hands are the devil's workshop. Idle hands are the Devil's workshop. (When you are busy working, you avoid temptation)
99. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
100. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
101. Know thyself
102. Leaves of three let it be
103. Money doesn't grow on trees
104. Never change a running system
105. No rest for the wicked. No sleep for the wicked
106. One can't hold two watermelons in one hand
107. One man's trash is another man's treasure
108. Only the good die young
109. Opposites attract
110. Rome wasn't built in a day. Rome wasn't burned in a day.
111. Sisters before misters
112. So far so good
113. Speak softly and carry a big stick
114. Speech is silver
115. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Squeaky wheels get oiled
116. Start from where you are
117. Sticks and stones
118. Still water runs deep
119. Stupid is as stupid does
120. Success has many fathers, failure is an orphan
121. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach. (A woman can win a man's love if she prepares his favorite foods.)
122. The best helping hand is at the end of your sleeve. (The best way to get something done is to do it yourself)
123. The best things in life are free. (You don't have to pay for what is important: happiness, friendship, good health)
124. There is no use crying over spilled milk. (Do not be concerned about something bad that you cannot change)
125. The end justifies the means. The ends justify the means
126. The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
127. The good die young.
128. The hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
129. The heart wants what it wants.
130. The shoemaker's children go barefoot
131. There is an exception to every rule
132. There's a sucker born every minute
133. Those who can't do, teach
134. Those who can't use their head must use their back
135. Those who will not when they may, when they will they shall have nay
136. To each his own
137. To the victor go the spoils
138. To thine own self be true
139. Tomorrow is another day
140. Too much bed makes a dull head
141. Two wrongs don't make a right. Two wrongs make a right
142. Two's company, three's a crowd
143. Variety is the spice of life
144. Wanton kittens make sober cats
145. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
146. What goes around comes around
147. What goes up must come down
148. What has been seen cannot be unseen
149. What you see is what you get
150. What's done is done
151. What's good for the goose is good for the gander. What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
152. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade
153. When one door closes, another opens. When one door shuts, another opens
154. When the cat's away the mice will play
155. When the going gets tough, the tough get going
156. Wrap it before you tap it
157. Your defeat now is your victory in the future. (You can learn from your mistakes. You will do better when facing similar situations in the future)
158. You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. (You can win people to your side more easily with gentle persuasion than by hostile actions)
159. You can't judge a book by its cover
160. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs
161. You can't polish a turd
162. You can't teach an old dog new tricks
163. You can't tell a book by its cover
164. You can't unring a bell
165. You don't dip your pen in company ink. You don't dip your pen in the company's ink. You don't dip your pen in the inkwell
166. You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows
167. You make the bed you lie in
168. You never know what you've got till it's gone
169. You only get what you give
170. You pays your money and you takes your choice
171. You scratch my back and i'll scratch yours
172. You snooze you lose
173. You've got to crack a few eggs to make an omelette