English Proverbs & Sayings

[O M I D]

Alphabetical List - A
(page 1 : a bad excuse → a hungry wolf)


A bad excuse is better than none.
Always give an excuse, even if it's a poor one.



A bad penny always turns up.
An unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back.


A bad tree does not yield good apples.
A bad parent does not raise good children.


A bad workman blames his tools.
Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.



A barking dog seldom bites.
Someone who constantly makes threats rarely carries them out.



A bird in hand is worth two in
a bush.
It is better to keep what you have rather than to risk losing it by searching for something better.


A black plum is as sweet as a white.
People should not be judged by their appearance.


A broken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound.
Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.


A burden of one's own choice is not felt.
Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.


A burnt child dreads the fire.
A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.


A burnt child dreads the fire.
A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.


A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor.
A person shows their competence or ability when difficulties arise.


A cat has nine lives.
1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury.
2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay.


A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
The strength of a group depends on each individual member.


A change is as good as a rest.
A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.


A constant guest is never welcome.
If you come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you.


A danger foreseen is half avoided.
If you are prepared to face a problem or difficulty, it will be easier to deal with.


A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy.
Times goes by very quickly when you are happy
and very slowly when you are sad.


A drop of ink may make a million think.
A thought expressed in writing (perhaps published in a newspaper) can influence a large number of people.


A dry March, a wet April and a cool May fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
Harvest predictions are made according to the weather.


A fault confessed is half redressed.
Confession is the beginning of forgiveness.


A flower blooms more than once.
If you miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time.


A fool and his money are (soon) easily parted.
A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.


A fool at forty is a fool forever.
If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will.


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


A friend to all is a friend to none.
Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.



A friend's eye is a good mirror.
A real friend will tell you the truth.


A good beginning makes a good end.
If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done.


A good conscience is a soft pillow.
You sleep well when you have nothing to be guilty about.


A good example is the best sermon.
Giving a good example is better than giving advice.


A good name is better than a good face.
A good reputation is better than a good appearance.


A growing youth has a wolf in his belly.
Young boys eat a lot / are often hungry.


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.



A happy heart is better than a full purse.
Happiness is better than wealth.


A heavy purse gives to a light heart.
When you have money you feel more cheerful
and secure.


A hungry belly has no ears.
A hungry person is totally concentrated on their need for food and nothing else interests them.


A hungry wolf is fixed to no place.
A desperate person will go from place to place when they need to satisfy their needs.

[O M I D]

Alphabetical List - B

(bad news travels fast → a burnt child dreads the fire)





Bad news travels fast.
People tend to circulate bad news very quickly (accidents, illness, etc.).


(A) bad tree does not yield good apples.
A bad parent does not raise good children.



(A) bad workman blames his tools.
Blaming tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.


Be just before you are generous.
Make sure all your debts are paid before you start offering help to others.


Beauty is only skin deep.
A person's character is more important than their appearance.


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Different people have different tastes.


Beauty is the wisdom of women.
Wisdom is the beauty of men.
No comment!


Be swift to hear, slow to speak.
Listen carefully before speaking.


Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
It is preferable to have something sure now than the possibility of something better later.


Better be alone than in bad company.
Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with.


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.


Better flatter a fool than fight him.
It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people.


Better to drink the milk than to eat the cow.
Be careful not to destroy the source of your income or welfare.


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.


Better late than never.
It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all.


Better lose the saddle than the horse.
It's better to stop and accept a small loss than continue and risk losing everything.


Better safe than sorry.
It's better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it later.


Better be untaught than ill-taught.
It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly.


Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
Don't trust your enemies.


(A) bird in hand is worth two in a bush.
It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something else.


Birds of a feather flock together.
People of the same sort are usually found together.


Blood is thicker than water.
Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.


Blood will out.
A person's background or education will eventually show.


(A) broken friendship may be soldered but it will never be sound.
Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.


(A) burden of one's own choice is not felt.
Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.


(A) burnt child dreads the fire.
A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.

[O M I D]

Alphabetical List - C





(A) cat has nine lives.

1) Cats can survive many accidents because
they land on their feet without injury.
2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to
stray, 3 years to stay.



(A) chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
The strength of a group depends on each individual member.


(A) change is as good as a rest.
A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.


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


Children and fools tell the truth.
Neither children nor fools know that it is sometimes advantageous to lie.


Cleanliness is next to godliness.
A clean body is just as important as a pure soul.


Clear moon, frost soon.
If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form.


Clothes don't make the man.
Appearances can be deceiving.


Constant occupation prevents temptation.
When you are busy working, you avoid temptation.

[O M I D]

Alphabetical List - D

Dead men tell no lies.
A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.



Diamonds cut diamonds.
Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning.


Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
Hard work brings rewards.


Discretion is the better part of valour.
It is useless to take unnecessary risks.


Diseases of the soul are more dangerous
than those of the body.
Thought to refer to mental and emotional disorder or spiritual torment as opposed to bodily pain.


Distance makes the heart grow fonder.
When you are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger.


Dogs of the same street bark alike.
People of the same background have the same behaviour.


Don't bark if you can't bite.
Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view.


Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
You must not be too confident that something will be successful.


Don't dig your grave with our own knife and fork.
Don't do something yourself that causes your own downfall.


Don't judge a book by its cover.
Don't judge by appearances.


(A) dry March, a wet April and a cool May
may fill barn and cellar and bring much hay.
Harvest predictions according to the weather.

[O M I D]

Early to bed, and early to rise, makes
a man healthy, wealthy and wise.

It is much better for you to go to bed early and to get up early in the morning;


Easier said than done.
What is suggested sounds easy, but it is more difficult to actually do it.



Elbow grease is the best polish.
Hard work gives the best results.


Empty vessels make the most noise.
The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.


(An) empty purse frightens away friends.
When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear.


(An) Englishman's home is his castle.
An Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy and can do as he wishes.


Every ass likes to hear himself bray.
People like to listen to themselves talking.


Every cloud has a silver lining.
There is a positive or hopeful side to every situation.


Every man for himself.
You must think of your own interests before the interests of others.


Every man has his price.
Everyone's loyalty can be bought for a price.


Every man is the architect of his own fortune.
Life is what you make it.


Every path has its puddle.
Progress is rarely without difficulty.


Every rose has its thorn.
Every good thing has an unpleasant side.


Every why has a wherefore.
There is an explanation for everything.


Everything in the garden is rosy.
Everything is satisfactory.


Experience is the father of wisdom.
Experience and knowledge result in better judgement.

[O M I D]

Facts speak louder than words

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



Failure teaches success.
People can learn from their failures and be successful later on.



Fair exchange is no robbery
Swapping two items of equal value is an honest deal.


False friends are worse than open enemies.
It's better to know who your real enemies are rather than trust someone who pretends to be a friend but is capable of stabbing you in the back.


Familiarity breeds contempt
Knowing someone very well can lead to a lack of respect for them.


(A) fault confessed is half redressed.
Confession is the beginning of forgiveness.


Fine words butter no parsnips
No amount of talking can replace action.


First come, first served.
The first person in the line will be attended to first.


(A) flower blooms more than once.
If you miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time.


(A) fool and his money are (soon) easily parted.
A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.


(A) fool at forty is a fool forever.
If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will.


Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.
One should learn from one's mistakes.


Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
Inexperienced people become involved in situations that more intelligent people would avoid.


(A) friend in need is a friend indeed.
Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.


(A) friend to all is a friend to none.
Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.



(A) friend's eye is a good mirror.
A real friend will tell you the truth.


Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.
Effort is necessary to keep a friendship alive.


Friendship is love with understanding.
A friend is more tolerant than a lover/partner/spouse?

[O M I D]

Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade.

Nothing is achieved without effort.



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.



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


God helps those who help themselves.
Success comes to those who make a real effort to achieve it.


Good accounting makes good friends.
You will keep your friends if you avoid disputes over money.


Good and quickly seldom meet.
A well-done job takes time.


(A) good beginning makes a good end.
If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done.


(A) good conscience is a soft pillow.
You sleep well when you have nothing to feel guilty about.


(A) good mind possesses a kingdom.
Intellectual assets are more valuable than material ones.


Good management is better than good income.
Income can be lost if it is used carelessly.


Grasp all, lose all.
Trying to obtain everything will often result in gaining nothing.


Great minds think alike.
Intelligent people very often have the same idea at the same time.


Great oaks grow from small acorns.
Large successful operations can begin in a small way.


Grief divided is made lighter.
If you share your grief, it will be easier to bear.


(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.