No

Explanation / Meaning

Proverbs & Idioms

1.

Absence/Distance makes the heart grow fonder

When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more.

2.

Actions speak louder than word

What a person actually does is more important that what they say they will do.

3.

After the feast comes the reckoning

People must always pay the price of their excesses.

4.

All good things come to those who wait

Patience brings rewards.

5.

All good things must come to an end

It's time to leave the party, honey. All good things must come to an end.

6.

All roads lead to Rome

There can be many ways of doing things.

7.

All that glitters is not gold

Appearances can be deceptive.

8.

All's well that ends well

All ones pains and struggles during a difficult task are soon forgotten when the task is complete.

9.

All things are difficult before they are easy

With practice things become easier.

10.

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.

11.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away

Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy./ A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems.

12.

An idle brain/mind is the devil's workshop

One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts

13.

Any time means no time

If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen.

14.

A bad workman blames his tools

Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.

15.

A bird in hand is worth two in the bush

It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something better.

16.

A burnt child dreads the fire

A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.

17.

A drowning man will clutch at a straw

A person who is in great difficulties will try anything to come out of it.

18.

A flower blooms more than once

If you miss an occasion, you can avail of it at another time.

19.

A fool and his money are soon (easily) parted

A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.

20.

A friend in need is a friend indeed

Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.

21.

A friend's eye is a good mirror

A real friend will tell you the truth.

22.

A friend who shares is a friend who cares

A true friend unselfishly shares what she has.

23.

A leopard does not change its spots

It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.

24.

A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

A person who knows little about something but believes that he knows a lot can get him into trouble.

25.

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.

26.

A new broom sweeps clean

A newly-appointed person usually makes changes energetically.

27.

A problem shared is a problem halved

It will be easier to deal with a problem if you discuss it with someone.

28.

A rolling stone gathers no moss

If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down!

29.

A rotten apple spoils the barrel

A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.

30.

A stitch in time saves nine

It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to prevent it from getting worse.

31.

A watched pot never boils

If you wait anxiously for something, it seems to take a long time.

32.

A word spoken is past recalling

Once you have said something, it is too late to regret having said it.

33.

As you make your bed so you must lie on it

You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

34.

As you sow, so shall you reap

You have to accept the consequences of your actions.

35.

Barking dogs seldom bite

People who threaten others usually dont hurt them.

36.

Bad news travel fast

Reports of problems and misfortune spread quickly.

37.

Beauty is only skin-deep

A person's character is more important than their appearance.

38.

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder

Different people have different tastes.

39.

Beggars cant be choosers

When a person has nothing, he or she must accept whatever help is offered.

40.

Better be alone than in bad company

Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with.

41.

Better late than never

It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all.

42.

Better safe than sorry

It's better to be careful than to be careless and regret it later.

43.

Between the devil and the deep blue sea

Caught between two difficult situations.

44.

Birds of a feather flock together

People of the same sort are usually found together.

45.

Blood is thicker than water

Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.

46.

Born with a silver spoon in his mouth

Born into a rich family.

47.

Brevity is the soul of wit

Intelligent speech and writing should use few words.

48.

Burning the cradle at both ends

Working for many hours without getting sufficient rest.

49.

Cats hide their claws

Certain people who look attractive on the outside may have their own dark secrets inside.

50.

Charity begins at home

A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.

51.

Clothes don't make the man

Appearances can be deceiving.

52.

Conscience makes cowards of us all

A person with a guilty conscience is scared of everything.

53.

Curiosity killed the cat

It is dangerous to be curious.

54.

Cut your coat according to your cloth

To plan ones aims and activities in line with ones resources and circumstances.

55.

Dead men tell no tales

A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.

56.

Diligence is the mother of good fortune

Hard work brings rewards.

57.

Discretion is the better part of valour

It is better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it.

58.

Dont bite the hand that feeds you

One should not hurt the person (or company) that pays you or take good care of you.

59.

Dont bite off more than you can chew

Dont assume more responsibility than you can handle

60.

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched

You must not be too confident that something will be successful.

61.

Dont cross the bridge till you come to it

Dont worry needlessly about something before it happens.

62.

Dont cut your nose off to spite your face

Dont engage in an act of anger or revenge that will hurt you more than it hurts anyone else.

63.

Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork

Don't do something yourself which causes your own downfall.

64.

Don't judge a book by its cover

Don't judge by appearances.

65.

Dont judge a man until youve walked in his boots

Dont criticize a person until youve tried to do the things he does.

66.

Dont look a gift horse in the mouth

Dont complain about something that is given to you.

67.

Dont make a mountain out of a molehill

One should not exaggerate or make a big issue out of something that is not very important.

68.

Dont put all your eggs in one basket

Dont risk everything by relying on one plan (by putting all one's money in one business).

69.

Dont put the cart before the horse

Do things in the right order; begin at the proper place.

70.

Dont tell tales out of school

Dont reveal information that is supposed to be kept secret.

71.

Dont wash your dirty linen in public

Dont talk about your private family problems in public.

72.

Easier said than done

What is suggested sounds easy but it is more difficult to actually do it.

73.

Empty vessels make the most sound/noise

The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.

74.

Every cloud has a silver lining

There is a positive or hopeful side to every unpleasant situation.

75.

Every dog has its day

Every person will have a period of happiness and satisfaction in his or her lifetime.

76.

Experience is the father/mother of wisdom

Experience and knowledge result in better judgement.

77.

Facts speak louder than words

People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what they say.

78.

Fire is a good servant but a bad master

Something that is useful should be used with care. Too much of it can cause harm.

79.

Forbidden fruit is the sweetest

Man tends to do what is forbidden and try what is taboo.

80.

Forewarned is forearmed

Being warned about something before it happens allows a person to prepare for it.

81.

Give someone an inch and they will take a mile (or yard)

Give someone a little and they will want more - some people are never satisfied.

82.

Give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves

Give someone enough time and freedom and they will get into trouble.

83.

God helps those who help themselves

God will not come to the aid of those who refuse to try; we must exert ourselves if we want to succeed

84.

Good fences make good neighbours

People will remain better friends if they give enough space to each other.

85.

Great minds think alike

Said when you express the same opinion as another person at the same time.

86.

Great oaks from little acorns grow

Great people and things often have humble origins.

87.

Half a loaf is better than none

You should be grateful for something, even if it's not as much as you wanted.

88.

Hard words break no bones

Verbal abuse does not physically hurt you, and therefore you should not be very upset by it.

89.

He that would eat the kernel must crack the hut

You cant get anything without working for it.

90.

He who pays the piper calls the tune

The person who provides the money for something should control how it is spent

91.

He who plays with fire gets burnt

If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems.

92.

He who laughs last, laughs best

Don't express your joy, or your triumph, too soon!

93.

Health is better than wealth

It's better to be in good health than to be rich.

94.

History repeats itself

What has happened once is likely to happen again.

95.

Honesty is the best policy

It's always better to be honest.

96.

However long the night, the dawn will break

Bad things don't last forever.

97.

If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well

If you decide to do something, do it as well as you possibly can.

98.

If two ride a horse, one must ride behind

When two people do something together, one will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate.

99.

If you cant beat them, join them

If you cant defeat your opponents, join forces with them.

100.

If you cant stand the heat, get out of the kitchen

If you cant tolerate the pressures of a particular situation, remove yourself from that situation.

101.

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

A man of even limited ability has an advantage over a person who is less able.

102.

It never rains but it pours

Misfortunes usually come in large numbers.

103.

It is always darkest before the dawn

The most difficult time is just before a problem is solved.

104.

It is never too late to mend

If they set their mind to it, anyone can change their ways for the better, regardless of time.

105.

It's no use crying over spilt milk

Don't be regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.

106.

It takes two to tango

When two people work as a team, they are both responsible for the teams successes and failures.

107.

Jack of all trades, master of none

The person who changes his job too often never becomes an expert in anything.

108.

Justice delayed is justice denied

If the law is applied too late, there is no justice.

109.

Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age

What you learn when you are young will be invaluable when you grow old.

110.

Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs

Destroy something that would be a source of wealth or success.

111.

Kill two birds with one stone

Accomplish two objectives with one action.

112.

Kindness begets kindness

If you are kind to people, they will be kind to you.

113.

Laughter is the best medicine

A positive attitude is the best way to keep a person healthy

114.

Learn to walk before you run

Don't rush into doing something until you know how to do it.

115.

Let bygones be bygones

Let's forgive and forget past quarrels.

116.

Let sleeping dogs lie

Do not disturb or interfere with a troublesome situation

117.

Let the chips fall where they may

We should not try to control events, because destiny controls them.

118.

Liars should have good memory

If you speak the truth, you are in no danger of contradicting yourself if you are asked the same question again.

119.

Life is not a bed of roses

Life is not always simple and easy.

120.

Light not a candle to the sun

Do not explain something to someone when it is clear enough.

121.

Like father, like son

A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's.

122.

Little strokes fell great oaks

Patience and perseverance will lead to success.

123.

Look before you leap

Consider possible consequences before taking action.

124.

Loose lips sink ships

People who talk too much may give away important secrets that could harm themselves or others.

125.

Love makes the world go round

Love is the principal force behind human life.

126.

Love sees no faults

Real love does not take into account the flaws of a person.

127.

Make hay while the sun shines

Make the most of ones opportunities while you have the chance.

128.

Man proposes, God disposes

Our destiny depends on God's will.

129.

Many hands make light work

Sharing work makes work easier.

130.

Misery loves company

Unhappy people often get satisfaction from having others share their misery.

131.

More haste, less speed

If you try to do things too quickly, it will take you longer in the end.

132.

Money burns a hole in the pocket

When money is spent quickly, its as if it burns a hole in the pocket and drops out.

133.

Money doesn't grow on trees

You shouldn't waste money because it is not plentiful.

134.

Money is the root of all evil

Money is the main cause of wrongdoings and problems.

135.

Necessity is the mother of invention

The need for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it.

136.

Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today

Don't postpone something you can do now.

137.

Never say die

Never give up.

138.

No man can serve two masters

A man with two employers cannot be faithful to both. Nor can a man support two conflicting causes.

139.

No man is an island

No one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others.

140.

No man is indispensable

No man is so useful to others that people cannot do without him.

141.

No news is good news

If the news was bad, we would hear of it. Since we have heard nothing, we can assume that all is well.

142.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained/ No pain, no gain

You cannot expect to achieve anything if you don't take risks.

143.

Old habits die hard

It is very difficult to change an established pattern of behaviour.

144.

Once bitten, twice shy

After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar.

145.

One good turn deserves another

When people do something good, something good will happen to them.

146.

One man's meat is another man's poison

What is good for one man may be bad for the other.

147.

One swallow does not make a summer

A single piece of evidence is not enough to prove anything.

148.

Only the wearer knows where the shoe pinches

No one except the person who is experiencing a trouble or difficulty knows the cause of it.

149.

Opportunity seldom knocks twice

Take any opportunity or chance when it comes, as it may not come again.

150.

Out of sight, out of mind

We tend to forget people or things that we do not see.

151.

Out of the frying pan into the fire

Out of one unfortunate incident into another disaster.

152.

Paddle your own canoe

Be self-reliant do it yourself.

153.

Patience is a plaster for all sores

Patience overcomes many problems.

154.

Penny wise, pound foolish

Being careful in small matters but careless on important matters.

155.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones

One should not criticize others for faults similar to one's own.

156.

Poverty waits at the gates of idleness

If you do not work you will not make money.

157.

Practice makes perfect

Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it.

158.

Prevention is better than cure

It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later.

159.

Pride comes before a fall

Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.

160.

Procrastination is the thief of time

Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.

161.

Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them

A rich person who has descended into poverty will know who his real friends are.

162.

Rome was not built in a day

It takes a long time to do a job properly. You should not expect to do it quickly.

163.

Silence is golden

It is often better to say nothing

164.

Slow and steady wins the race

When a person takes time to learn carefully and continuously, he would be successful in the end.

165.

Spare the rod and spoil the child

If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.

166.

Still waters run deep

People who say very little often have very interesting and complicated personalities.

167.

Stolen fruit is the sweetest

What is forbidden is the most tempting.

168.

Strike while the iron is hot

Act at the possible time.

169.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree

Children resemble their parents.

170.

The best advice is found on the pillow

After a good night's sleep we may find an answer to our problem.

171.

The child is father to the man

Your experiences as a child mould you as an adult.

172.

The devil looks after his own

Success comes to those who deserve it least. Bad people often seem to have good luck.

173.

The devil makes work for idle hands

People who have no work, or are idle, often get into or make trouble.

174.

The die is cast

A decision has been made and it's impossible to change it.

175.

The early bird catches the worm

If you want to do something successfully, you should do it as soon as you can.

176.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence

Other circumstances seem more desirable than ones own but in reality they are often not.

177.

The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world

Mothers who care for their children are bringing up the new generation who will shape society in the future.

178.

The leopard cannot change its spots

A persons character is like the leopards spots that cannot be changed or altered.

179.

The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken

If you depend on just one thing, and it fails you, you will have no alternatives.

180.

The pen is mightier than the sword

Words and communication have greater effect than war and fighting.

181.

The pot calling the kettle black

One should not criticize another person as they might have the same flaws.

182.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating

The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested.

183.

There is no smoke without fire

There could be some truth in the rumour.

184.

The squeaking wheel gets the oil

Those who complain the loudest get the most attention.

185.

The truth is in the wine

People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.

186.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach

Feed a man well and he will love you.

187.

There is a black sheep in every flock

There is always one who doesn't behave or perform like the others.

188.

There is no place like home

Home is the best of all places

189.

There is safety in numbers

Being in a crowd makes you feel more confident.

190.

There are two sides to every question

In any dispute or discussion, we should that people have different points of view.

191.

They who dance must pay the fiddler

You must be ready to accept the consequences of your actions.

192.

Time and tide wait for no man

Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place.

193.

Time is a great healer

Time allows people to forgive and forget past hurts and loss as memories fade, and people become wiser.

194.

Time the deed to the need

Offer help when it is needed, and not when it is convenient to you.

195.

To err is human, to forgive divine

It is human nature to make mistakes, therefore one should forgive.

196.

Too many cooks spoil the broth

If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly.

197.

Too much bed makes a dull head

If you sleep too much, you are not able to think clearly.

198.

Thrift is a good revenue

Every little cent you save eventually adds to a lot of money.

199.

True friends are tested in adversity

It's when you have problems that you realize who your real friends are.

200.

Truth/Fact is stranger than fiction

Events in real life are sometimes stranger than in fiction.

201.

Two wrongs don't make a right

It is wrong to harm someone just because they have harmed you.

202.

Two heads are better than one

Two people working together can solve a problem quicker and better than a person working alone.

203.

Union is strength

If people join together, they are more powerful than if they work by themselves.

204.

United we stand, divided we fall

Unity brings strength to a team.

205.

Unwillingness easily finds an excuse

A person who doesn't want to do something always finds a reason to avoid it.

206.

Variety is the spice of life

Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting.

207.

Virtue is its own reward

You should not expect praise for acting in a correct or moral way.

208.

Walls have ears, shoes have tongues

Be careful what you say and who you speak to.

209.

Waste not, want not

If you never waste anything, you will have it when you need it.

210.

Well begun is half done

A good beginning almost assures success.

211.

What the eye doesnt see, the heart doesnt grieve over

If a person doesnt know about something, it cannot hurt them.

212.

What is learnt in the cradle lasts to the tomb

Everything you learn in life stays with you till you die.

213.

When the cat's away, the mice play

People misbehave when their boss, or the person in authority, is absent.

214.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

You should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way.

215.

When poverty come in the door, love goes out the window

When a couple loses everything, their relationship becomes difficult.

216.

Where there's life there's hope

As long as a person is breathing, there is hope for recovery.

217.

Where there's a will, there's a way

A person with determination will find a way of doing something.

218.

Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolves

Possible interpretation: an easily influenced person can be misled.

219.

Wonders will never cease!

Expresses surprise at an unexpected pleasure or event (ironic).

220.

Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow

Worrying over small details can make them seem worse.

221.

You are what you eat

What you eat has an effect on your well-being.

222.

You are never too old to learn

A person can learn at any age.

223.

You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink

You can offer someone an opportunity to do something but you can't force them.

224.

You cant have the cake and eat it too

You cant enjoy the advantages of two conflicting activities at once.

225.

You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs

You have to sacrifise something in order to gain something else

226.

You cant teach the old dog new tricks

A person who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change.

227.

You have to take the good with the bad

You must accept disappointment along with success.

228.

You need to bait the hook to catch the fish

You need to prepare the necessary materials or items before you can actually get something done.

229.

You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours

You help me and I'll help you.