ENGLISH PROVERBS AND IDIOMS
1. Birds of a feather flock together.
People who have similar tastes or are like each other tend to spend time together. (Dios los cría y
ellos se juntan)
2. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
It's better to have a small actual, real advantage than the future chance of a greater one. It’s better
to be satisfied with what you really have than wanting something which is not sure. (Más vale
pájaro en mano que ciento volando)
3. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Do not expect all plans to be successful, wait until you get the final results, until you are
sure. (with a job) (no cantar Victoria antes de tiempo, no vender la piel del oso antes de cazarlo)
4. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
We usually think that other people’s circumstances are better than ours, but it’s not often
like this. Refers to the way we tend to look at other people’s lives and other things that we
don't have in general through rose colored glasses. Example: You're married, you look at
your single friends and you envy their freedom. So you get a divorce and...... you then envy
your married friends because they are not alone.
5. It's no use crying over spilled milk
Don’t worry about what has already happened and you can’t solve, you can’t change anything
(your team lost)
6. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
You use this proverb to say that if too many people do the same thing (job, project,, etc.), it will not
be done well, or too many people giving their opinion about something is not good. It’s better to
have fewer people
7. Never look a gift horse in the mouth
You shouldn’t complain or try to find faults on something you are given, a present or whatever,
just because it’s not perfect, don’t be ungrateful (a caballo regalado no le mires el diente)
8. Good walls make good neighbours
It means that people can get along better if there are certain barriers between them, it’s better to
keep some distance among people who live or work near each other, it’s better to keep certain
privacy( cada uno en su casa y Dios en la de todos)
9. Don't put all your eggs in one basket
Don’t put all your hopes on the same thing, all your resources in one single possibility (all your
money on a single investment, for example)
10. honey catches more flies than vinegar
You are more successful if you are nice or friendly with people than if you get angry or furious in
order to get something. Flies get stuck to honey
11. Don't cross the bridge before you come to it
Don’t worry about problems before they really appear, don’t foresee problems which may not
eventually happen
12. if you lie down with dogs, you will wake up with fleas
If you associate with troubling or irresponsible people, you will end up in a difficult situation ( el
que con niños se acuesta)
13. out of sight, out of mind
If you are not aware of a bad situation, you cannot suffer about it (ojos que no ven, corazón que no
siente)
14. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones
It means that you shouldn’t point out other people’s problems or faults when you have the same
problems yourself. If you are vulnerable, you shouldn’t attack others; if you have a weakness
(glass house) you can’t afford accusing other people of that same weakness.
15. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill
Don’t imagine that your problems are bigger than they really are, don’t exaggerate things to make
them look more serious than they are ( hacer una montaña de un grano de arena)
16. A stich in time saves nine
You use this proverb to say that it is better to spend a little time to deal with problems or act right
now than wait. If you wait until late, things will get worse, and it will take much longer to solve
the situation
17. The early bird catches the worm
People who prepare things well and make an effort are more likely to succeed (A quien madruga
Dios le ayuda).
18. Don't bite off more than you can chew
Don’t take on more responsibilities than you can manage or control (quien mucho abarca, poco
aprieta)
19. A cat in gloves catches no mice
Sometimes you cannot get what you want by being careful and polite, you must be more assertive,
firmer and make clear what you want , even if it means someone might get hurt ( gato con guantes
no caza ratones). Opposite to “honey catches more flies than vinegar
20. To take the bull by the horns
To face things in a difficult situation , openly to do something difficult in a determined and
confident way. (coger el toro por los cuernos)
21. kill two birds with one stone
Solving two problems with one action (matar dos pájaros de un tiro)