English Proverbs and their meanings, eng provrbs, English Idioms

[admin]

English Proverbs and their meanings, eng provrbs, English Idioms

Between the devil and the deep sea
To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.
Where there's a will there's a way
When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.
A burnt child dreads fire
A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.
First come, first served
The first in line will be attended to first.
A friend in need is a friend indeed
A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
Discretion is the better part of valor
 
If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.
A hungry man is an angry man
A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.
Empty vessels make the most noise
Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.
A man is as old as he feels
A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.
Great talkers are little doers
Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.
An idle brain is the devil's workshop
One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.
An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit
It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.
Faint heart never won fair lady
To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.
A penny saved is a penny gained
By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
A rolling stone gathers no moss
 
A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.
As you sow, so you shall reap
One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.
Barking dogs seldom bite
Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.
Better late than never
To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all.
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
 
Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.
Birds of a feather flock together
People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.
Call a spade a spade
 
If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.
Charity begins at home
A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others.
Dead men tell no lies
 
( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)
A great talker is a great liar
A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.
Every cloud has a silver lining
 
If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.
All that glitters is not gold
Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.
Eat to live, but do not live to eat
Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket
One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.
Every dog has its day
Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.
Every one can find fault, few can do better
It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly.
Any time means no time
When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.
Fair exchange is no robbery
 
A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated.
Fire is a good servant but a bad master
Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.

[admin]

Actions speak louder than words
 
Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of.
Fortune knocks once at every man's door
Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life.
Give the devil his due
 
Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings.
God helps those who help themselves
God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort.
It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
A bad or evil occurrence.
Great minds think alike
Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.
Habit is second nature
An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature.
He laughs best who laughs last
A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end.
Never do things by halves
 
One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately.
Great haste makes great waste
If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later.
It's never too late to mend
It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.
It's no use crying over spilt milk
 
It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified.
Still waters run deep
One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person.
Jack of all trades and master of none
Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them.
Let bygones by bygones
One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others.
Let not the pot call the kettle black
 
A person who has a fault should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another person as you may have the same weakness.
Let sleeping dogs lie
One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble.
No news is good news
When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right.
Look before you leap
Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences.
Necessity is the mother of invention
When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it.
Honesty is the best policy
Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.
One man's meat is another man's poison
No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes.
Once bitten twice shy
If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time.
Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter
( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother )
Practice makes perfect
It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it
Prevention is better than cure
It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen.
          
Rome was not built in a day
Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul
( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give another.
Spare the rod and spoil the child
A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly.
Speech is silver, silence is golden
Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take.
It takes two to make a quarrel
Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself.
Strike while the iron is hot
Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible.
There's no smoke without fire
Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them.
Time and tide wait for no one
Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent.
To err is human, to forgive divine
 
It is only normal for man to make mistakes and do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his wrong is indeed  great and gracious act.
What's done can't be undone
 
In life there are some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back.
Two heads are better than one
It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment.
When in Rome do as the Romans do
When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs.
When the cat is away the mice will play
When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law
Absence makes the heart grow fonder       One usually desires another more when he or she is far away.

[admin]

   
A bad workman always blames his tools
A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself.
A new broom sweeps clean
A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work.
Don't judge a book by its cover
Do not be deceived by appearances.
Blood is thicker than water
Family ties are stronger than any other.
Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
Do not make plans based on something that has not happened.
Don't make a mountain out of a molehill
Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small
Experience is the best teacher
The best way to learn a job is to do it.
The last straw that broke the camel's back
The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin.
Look at the bright side
Be optimistic
Make hay while the sun shines
Seize opportunities
Out of sight, out of mind
You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with.
A leopard cannot change its spots
A person's nature cannot change.
There are two sides to every question
     There are always two ways of looking at something
          
Too many cooks spoil the broth
     Too many people doing the same thing at the same time will not be successful
          
We never miss the water till the well runs dry
     You only realize the importance of something when it is gone
          
To put the cart before the horse
     To do something in an incorrect order
          
Bite off more than one can chew
     To try to do something one is unable to do or incapable of doing.
          
Half a loaf is better than none
     It's better to have or receive less than one desires than to have or receive nothing at all.
          
Have an old head on young shoulders
     Youngsters who possess qualities of wisdom one would only expect to find in experienced older people.
          
Have eyes in the back of one's head
     An ability to know what is happening not within the scope of one's vision.
          
If it's not one thing it's another
     The troubles seem to go on and on without end.
          
The sky is the limit
     There is no upper limit to something
          
A trouble shared is a trouble halved
     Your troubles seem half as great when you discuss them with someone else
          
A watched pot never boils
     If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen it seems to take forever
          
Worship the ground somebody walks on
     Very much in love with somebody
          
Between a rock and a hard place
     To be in a difficult situation from which there seems to be no escape
          
Cleanliness is next to Godliness
     To be clean and tidy is just as important as being spiritually good and religious.
          
Money is the root of all evil
     Crimes and wickedness are associated with money.
          
Two's company, three's a crowd
     It is always fun while there are only two people whereas the third person is an unwelcome intrusion.
          
It takes all sorts to make a world         You should not expect everyone to think and act as you do.
          
Jump from the frying pan into the fire
     To go from a bad position to a worse one.
          
Go from the sublime to the ridiculous
     Move from one situation which is wonderful or perfect to another which is absurd or awful
          
One swallow doesn't make a summer
     One success doesn't guarantee complete success
          
Truth is stranger than fiction
     Real life can be more incredible than anything which can be imagined
          
You can't have your cake and eat it         You must choose between two things as it is impossible to have both at the same time
          
A miss is as good as a mile
     Something that one already has is better than something that one may not be able to get
          
As you make your bed so must you lie on it
     You must accept the consequences of your act
          
Cut your coat according to your cloth
     Live within your income; don't be too ambitious in your plans