PROVERB - Absence makes the heart grow fonder PROVERB - Beggars can’t be choosers

MEANING - Being away from someone or something MEANING - If you’re in a bad situation and someone
for a period of time makes you appreciate that offers to help you, you have to take whatever they
person or thing more when you see them or it again give you and shouldn’t ask for more
EXAMPLE -“I used to hate going to my aunt’s house, EXAMPLE -“I was unemployed, and they offered me
but now I kind of miss it. Absence makes the heart a job cleaning prison toilets. I didn’t like the job, but I
grow fonder.” accepted it. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
PROVERB - Actions speak louder than words. PROVERB - Better late than never
MEANING - What you do is more important than MEANING - It’s better to finish something late than
what you say to never do it at all
EXAMPLE -“Don’t just tell me you’re going to EXAMPLE -“Hello, Mr. Jameson. Here is my final
change. Do it! Actions speak louder than words.” essay. Better late than never, right?”
PROVERB - A journey of a thousand miles begins PROVERB - Birds of a feather flock together
with a single step MEANING - People who are similar spend time
MEANING - You must begin something if you hope to together
finish it; something that takes a long time to finish EXAMPLE -“I think we all started hanging out
begins with one step because we all liked anime. Birds of a feather flock
EXAMPLE -“If you want to lose weight, you need to together.”
stop eating junk, and you need to start exercising.
Today. Not tomorrow. A journey of a thousand miles
begins with a single step.”
PROVERB - All good things must come to an end PROVERB - Cleanliness is next to godliness
MEANING - Everything ends; good times don’t last MEANING - It’s good to be clean. God is clean, and
forever you should be too.
EXAMPLE -“I wish this vacation would go on forever. EXAMPLE -“Go take a shower before your date. You
It’s too bad that all good things must come to an know what they say; cleanliness is next to
end.” godliness.”
PROVERB - A picture is worth a thousand words PROVERB - Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
MEANING - An image can tell a story better than MEANING - Don’t make someone angry or hurt
words someone who is helping you or paying for you
EXAMPLE -“I wasn’t sure that he loved her, but then I EXAMPLE -“You had a fight with your boss? Are you
saw them hugging at the airport. A picture is worth a stupid? Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
thousand words.”
PROVERB - A watched pot never boils PROVERB - Don’t count your chickens before they
MEANING - If something takes time to do, it doesn’t hatch.
help to constantly check on it. You just have to give it MEANING - Don’t expect a positive result before you
time. actually see it
EXAMPLE -“I know you think he’s going to be a great EXAMPLE - A: “This idea is going to make me
guitar player one day, but stop criticizing him so millions of dollars!”
much. He just started taking lessons two weeks ago! B: “Whoa. Let’s slow down. Don’t count your
A watched pot never boils.” chickens before they hatch.”
PROVERB - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder PROVERB - Don’t judge a book by its cover
MEANING - What is “beautiful” is different for each MEANING - Don’t judge someone or something by
person appearance alone
EXAMPLE -“I think their house is ugly, but they seem EXAMPLE -“Racism is still a problem today, and it
to like it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” will continue to be that way until we learn not to
judge a book by its cover.”
PROVERB - Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket PROVERB - Don’t put off until tomorrow what you
MEANING - Don’t put all of your hopes and resources can do today
into one goal or dream MEANING - If you can do something today, do it.
EXAMPLE -“I know you really want to be an actor, Don’t wait until tomorrow; don’t procrastinate.
but don’t you think you’re being financially EXAMPLE -“You have 6 hours of free time now. You
irresponsible? Don’t put all of your eggs in one should start on that final psychology assignment.
basket.” Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
PROVERB - Don’t put too many irons in the fire PROVERB - Easy come, easy go
MEANING - Don’t try to do too many things at the MEANING - When you make money quickly, it’s very
same time; focus on one thing at a time easy to lose it quickly as well
EXAMPLE -“No wonder you’re exhausted. You’re EXAMPLE -“I won $200 at the casino, and then I
trying to work 4 jobs at the same time. You have too spent it on a very expensive meal for me and some
many irons in the fire right now.” friends. Easy come, easy go.”

PROVERB - Fortune favors the bold PROVERB - God helps those who help themselves
MEANING - People who are brave and who take risks MEANING - Don’t just wait for good things to happen
are more successful than people who are do things to you. Work hard to make them happen
safely all the time EXAMPLE -“If you want a better life, you can’t just sit
EXAMPLE -“It’s a risk, but the reward could be great. on your butt thinking about it. You have to work to
I say you go for it. Fortune favors the bold.” make it happen. God helps those who help
themselves.”

PROVERB - Good things come to those who wait PROVERB - Honesty is the best policy
MEANING - If you are patient, good things can MEANING - It’s always better to tell the truth than it
happen is to lie
EXAMPLE -“I know you’re hungry, but stop being so EXAMPLE -“If you want people to trust you, you need
impatient. We just ordered our food. Good things to be honest with them. Honesty is the best policy.”
come to those who wait.”
PROVERB - Hope for the best, prepare for the worst PROVERB - If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
MEANING - In any situation, be optimistic about the MEANING - If something is already working well,
result, but always be ready for the worst outcome don’t try to change it or improve it
EXAMPLE -“We’re going on vacation next week. It’s EXAMPLE -“Why are you trying to upgrade your PC
supposed to rain a lot, so we’re bringing our again? It was working fine before. If it ain’t broke,
umbrellas and a bunch of board games. Hope for the don’t fix it.”
best, prepare for the worst.”
PROVERB - If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em PROVERB - If you play with fire, you’ll get burned
MEANING - If you can’t change someone’s behavior MEANING - If you get involved in something
or opinion, sometimes it’s better or easier to do what dangerous or beyond your abilities, you will probably
they want to do experience negative consequences
EXAMPLE -“I told Mark that we needed to study, but EXAMPLE -“Don’t make him angry. If you play with
he kept playing video games. Eventually I gave up fire, you’ll get burned.”
and just played video games too. If you can’t beat
’em, join ’em.”

PROVERB - If you want something done right, you PROVERB - Keep your friends close, and your
have to do it yourself enemies closer
MEANING - Don’t depend on someone else to do a MEANING - If someone is your enemy, treat them like
good job; do it yourself a friend so you can be ready if they ever try to betray
EXAMPLE -“I asked my roommate to wash the you
dishes, but they ended up super filthy! I guess it’s EXAMPLE -“We don’t trust each other, but we have
true what they say: if you want something done right, to be nice to each other because we work for the
you have to do it yourself.” same company. I’m worried about him stealing my
promotion, so I’m going to keep being nice to him.
Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer,
and all that.”
PROVERB - Knowledge is power PROVERB - Laughter is the best medicine.
MEANING - The more you know, the more powerful MEANING - When you’re in a difficult situation,
you can be in different areas of your life laughing can make it easier to get through that
EXAMPLE -“When we were kids, our parents taught situation
us how to swim. That knowledge helped me to save EXAMPLE -“I’m sorry to hear about your dog. Want
my cousin’s life when he was 5 years old. Knowledge to watch a funny movie? Sometimes, laughter is the
is power.” best medicine.”

PROVERB - Like father, like son PROVERB - No man is an island

MEANING - Said when a son is similar to his father; MEANING - No one is truly capable of living alone.
also, “Like mother, like daughter” We need human connection to be healthy
EXAMPLE -“Ryan started playing hockey at a very EXAMPLE -“You can’t just abandon your friends and
young age. He’s just like his dad. Like father, like family. No man is an island.”
son.”
PROVERB - People who live in glass houses should PROVERB - Practice makes perfect
not throw stones MEANING - The more you do something, the better
MEANING - Don’t criticize someone if you’re not you will become at it
perfect either; don’t be a hyprocrite EXAMPLE -“Don’t give up on learning the violin.
EXAMPLE -“Why are you always bothering her about Practice makes perfect.”
being addicted to her phone? You’ve been smoking
for 20 years and haven’t been able to give it up.
People who live in glass houses should not throw
stones.”
PROVERB - The squeaky wheel gets the grease PROVERB - The enemy of my enemy is my friend
MEANING - The person who complains in a situation MEANING - If someone whom I don’t like doesn’t like
is more likely to get something. someone else whom I don’t like, we can act like
EXAMPLE - A: “I just don’t understand why she’s friends and unite against the other person (common
received so many promotions, and I’m still at the in war)
bottom of the company!” EXAMPLE -“I don’t like you, you don’t like me. But I
B: “She complains a lot. The squeaky wheel gets the think we can agree that we both HATE Daniel. Let’s
grease.” work together and get him fired! The enemy of my
enemy is my friend, right?”

PROVERB - The grass is always greener on the other PROVERB - The pen is mightier than the sword
side MEANING - If you’re trying to convince someone of
MEANING - People always want what they don’t have something, words and ideas are stronger than using
EXAMPLE - A: “I’m jealous of all the free time my physical force (common in politics)
single friends have.” EXAMPLE -“We must avoid this war and use
B: “Yeah, but your friends are probably jealous of you diplomacy to solve our problems. The pen is mightier
too in some ways. The grass is always greener on than the sword.”
the other side.”
PROVERB - There is no place like home PROVERB - There is no such thing as a free lunch.
MEANING - Your home is the most comfortable MEANING - Nothing is free. Even the things that are
place in the world free have a hidden cost
EXAMPLE -“What a tiring vacation! I’m glad to be EXAMPLE -“His bank gave him $50 for free, but he
back in my own bed again. There’s no place like had to commit to opening a credit card account.
home.” There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
PROVERB - There is no time like the present PROVERB - The early bird gets the worm
MEANING - Don’t wait to do something. Do it now. MEANING - People who wake up early or who get to
EXAMPLE -“Why don’t you stop talking about places early have a better chance of success
needing to call your mom? Just CALL her! There is EXAMPLE -“I got to the ticket office before anyone
no time like the present.” else. I got front row seats to the show! The early bird
gets the worm.”
PROVERB - Time is money PROVERB - Two heads are better than one
MEANING - Don’t waste your time or other people’s MEANING - It’s easier to do something as a team
time; also, if you can use your time to make money in than by yourself
some way, you should do that. EXAMPLE -“I’m stuck on this project. Can you help
EXAMPLE -“Hurry up! Time is money!” me out? Two heads are better than one.”

PROVERB - Two wrongs don’t make a right PROVERB - When in Rome, do as the Romans do
MEANING - Trying to get revenge on someone who MEANING - When you are in a new place or situation,
has hurt you will only make things worse try to act like the majority of people in that place or
EXAMPLE -“I know she made you angry, but did you situation.
have to steal her phone? Two wrongs don’t make a EXAMPLE - A: “You’ve been eating a lot of bread and
right.” cheese on this Paris vacation.”
B: “Hey, when in Rome.”
PROVERB - When the going gets tough, the tough PROVERB - Where there’s smoke, there’s fire
get going MEANING - If something seems wrong, it probably is;
MEANING - When a situation becomes difficult, also, there is usually some truth to a rumor
strong people don’t give up; they work harder EXAMPLE -“Matilda came to school with a black eye
EXAMPLE -“My great grandfather survived the Great today. She cried when I asked her about it after class
Depression. You know the phrase, ‘when the going and didn’t want to say anything about her parents. I
gets tough, the tough get going?’ That was my great don’t want to speculate too much, but where there’s
grandfather.” smoke, there’s usually fire.”

PROVERB - You can lead a horse to water, but you PROVERB - You can’t always get what you want
can’t make him drink it MEANING - Don’t complain if you don’t get what you
MEANING - You can try to help someone by giving want
good advice, but you can’t force them to accept it or EXAMPLE - A: I really wanted to see that movie, but I
follow it didn’t have enough money last week
EXAMPLE -“She tried to help her brother find a job B: It happens. You can’t always get what you want,
by improving his resume, but he didn’t do anything right?
with it. I guess you can lead a horse to water, but you
can’t make him drink it.”
PROVERB - The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree PROVERB - All that glitters is not gold.
MEANING - Children tend to resemble their parents MEANING - Something that appears valuable or true
in appearance and behavior. may not be.
PROVERB - A picture is worth a thousand words. PROVERB - Beggars can’t be choosers.
MEANING - Artwork or images can convey meanings MEANING - People who depend on the generosity of
that go beyond verbal description. others must be content with what is offered to them.
PROVERB - A bird in the hand is worth two in the PROVERB - An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
bush MEANING - If you eat healthily, you will be healthy.
MEANING - What you already have in hand is better
than what you might get.
PROVERB - Better safe than sorry. PROVERB - Blood is thicker than water.
MEANING - It is better to be precautious than to have MEANING - Relationships between family members
regrets later on. are the strongest of all.
PROVERB - When in Rome, do as the Romans do. PROVERB - Don’t count your chickens before they
MEANING - When you visit a new place, leave all hatch.
judgments behind and embrace the local ways of MEANING - Don’t make plans based on events that
life. haven’t happened.
PROVERB - Every cloud has a silver lining. PROVERB - A journey of a thousand miles begins
MEANING - No matter what difficult situation you’re with a single step.
in, there is always a positive side to be seen. MEANING - It is necessary to take the first step to
achieve a long-term goal.
PROVERB - Necessity is the mother of invention. PROVERB - Two wrongs don’t make a right.
MEANING - When you really need something, you MEANING - Someone’s wrongful conduct is not
find a way to make it happen. justification for acting in the same way.
PROVERB - The pen is mightier than the sword. PROVERB - Birds of a feather flock together.
MEANING - Written words can yield more power than MEANING - People tend to stick together with other
brute force or action. like-minded people.

PROVERB - Rome wasn’t built in a day PROVERB - Time waits for no one.
MEANING - Important work takes time. MEANING - Don’t procrastinate or delay taking
action, as we have no control over the passage of
time.

PROVERB - Too many cooks spoil the broth. PROVERB - When there’s smoke, there’s fire.
MEANING - Too many people working on the same MEANING - If there are rumors or signs that
project can lead to an inferior result. something is true, it usually is.

PROVERB - If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. PROVERB - You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
MEANING - If something works well already, don’t MEANING - It’s impossible to satisfy two opposite
bother trying to change it. desires.
PROVERB - Many hands make light work PROVERB - An apple a day keeps the doctor away
MEANING - When many people work together to MEANING - Since apples are rich in vitamin C – which
accomplish a difficult task, it doesn’t seem so is vital to our health – this proverb means that proper
difficult. That is the general meaning of this English nutrition contributes to good health and fewer visits to
proverb. In other words, if people work together, the doctor. In this English proverb, apples are a
the work is easier and is completed more quickly. symbol of healthy foods and proper nutrition.
PROVERB - Strike while the iron is hot PROVERB - The grass is always greener on the
MEANING - This proverb means that you should take other side of the fence
advantage of a favorable situation before it changes. MEANING - Other people’s lives always seem better,
happier, and more successful than yours, even if your
life is going well.
PROVERB - Honesty is the best policy PROVERB - Don’t judge a book by its cover
MEANING - It is best to always be honest and tell the MEANING - Don’t form an opinion or make a
truth. By doing so, you will win the trust and respect of judgment about someone or something based on its
others. outward appearance.

PROVERB - Better late than never PROVERB -

MEANING - It is better to do something late than not MEANING -
do it at all. EXAMPLE -
PROVERB - Rome wasn’t built in a day PROVERB - Actions speak louder than words
MEANING -Time is needed to do great or important MEANING - A person’s true character can be seen by
things. what he does, not by what he says. A person can talk
as much as he wants, but he may not actually do
anything to back up his words.

PROVERB - It’s no use crying over spilled milk PROVERB - Still waters run deep
MEANING - This funny English proverb means you MEANING - This is said about a person who tends to
shouldn’t waste time crying or complaining about be quiet and does not say much. Such a person often
something bad that has happened that cannot be has a “deep,” interesting personality.
changed.
PROVERB - My hands are tied
PROVERB - Curiosity killed the cat MEANING - This saying is not to be taken literally. It
has a different meaning. It means that a person is
MEANING - You could be harmed by being too unable to change things or render help in a given
curious about or too interested in something that situation.
doesn’t concern you

PROVERB - Out of sight, out of mind PROVERB - Easy come, easy go

MEANING - When you don’t see or hear about MEANING - This English proverb means that money is
something, you tend to forget about it. easily earned and just as easily spent or lost (on
gambling, for example)

PROVERB - You can’t make an omelette without PROVERB - The forbidden fruit is always the
breaking a few eggs sweetest
MEANING - It is impossible to do something good or MEANING - Things that are prohibited seem very
accomplish an important task without encountering attractive or desirable
some problems or making some sacrifices.
PROVERB - Learn to walk before you run PROVERB - It’s the tip of the iceberg
MEANING - Learn basic skills before you attempt to MEANING -As everyone knows, only a small part of an
do something more difficult. For example, don’t start iceberg is visible above the water. The rest is
to learn English with difficult subjects such as articles underwater.
or gerunds. Start with easier material, slowly increase
your knowledge, and gradually work toward studying This English proverb is used to describe a situation
more difficult topics. when we are in the process of trying to do something,
and we encounter a difficulty or problem in
connection with it. The saying means that the present
problem is not the most difficult part of the entire
process; many more – and probably more difficult –
problems lie ahead

PROVERB - If you scratch my back, I’ll scratch PROVERB - First things first
yours MEANING - The most important things should be
 done before everything else.
MEANING - If you do something to help me, I will do
something to help you.
PROVERB - Don’t bite off more than you can chew PROVERB - It’s better to be safe than sorry
MEANING - Don’t take on more work or responsibility MEANING - Be careful and exercise caution – even if
than you can handle at one time. it seems unnecessary and it takes longer to complete
something – and you will avoid potential problems
that could arise later.
PROVERB - The early bird catches the worm PROVERB - Don’t make a mountain out of an
MEANING - If you arrive early or do something before anthill (or molehill)
other people do it, you have a greater chance of MEANING - Don’t make a minor problem or difficulty
succeeding into a major one; don’t exaggerate the significance of
a small problem.
PROVERB - Where there’s a will, there’s a way PROVERB - Always put your best foot forward
MEANING - If your desire to accomplish something is MEANING - The meaning of this English proverb is
strong enough, you will find a way to do it. that you should always try your best to make a good
impression on others; show your best traits and
qualities.

PROVERB - The squeaky wheel gets the grease PROVERB - A rolling stone gathers no moss
MEANING - The person who complains the most or is MEANING -The last proverb on our list has two
most vocal about something that he needs is usually meanings: 1) a person who is always moving – never
the one who receives help or attention living in one place very long – cannot be successful or
make a lot of money, and 2) a busy person will not
become stagnant but will remain creative and
productive
PROVERB - When in Rome, do as the Romans do PROVERB - Birds of a feather flock together
MEANING - This proverb means that you should MEANING - This proverb refers to people who have
follow the local customs of whichever place you similar, overlapping interests, and how they often tend
happen to be (even if it seems odd or unsavory). to be friendly or may be found together
PROVERB - A stitch in time saves nine PROVERB - Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
MEANING - This proverb refers to procrastination: it MEANING - This English proverb refers to the fact
means that getting your work done ahead of time or that everyone sees beauty differently, and what is ugly
completing some simple task earlier rather than later, to one person may be beautiful to another
will save you effort down the road
PROVERB - Those in glass houses shouldn’t throw PROVERB - Absence makes the heart grow fonder
stones MEANING - This proverb means that you tend to have
MEANING - This proverb refers to hypocrisy: it means a fonder memory and feeling about someone or
that you should not accuse someone of a charge that something after they have been gone for a period
you yourself are guilty of.