English Proverbs

English proverbs are well-known phrases or sentences that express wise thoughts. English proverbs either give advice or say something that is normally thought to be true.

For example:

Advice= "Don't put all of your eggs in one basket." (Don't risk everything on one project.)

Truth= "A man's home is his castle."(People feel most comfortable and in control in their own homes.)

English proverbs are often written in a figurative way, similar to metaphors and idioms.

Proverb Meanings

"The best advice is found on the pillow." If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep. People also often say: "I'll sleep on it."

"Live and let live." This proverb suggests that we should not interfere in other people's business.

"The best things in life are free.” We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health.

"A stitch in time saves nine." Repair something as soon as it is damaged. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches! (Why nine and not eight or ten? Because "nine" rhymes with "time".)

"Don't cross your bridges before you come to them." Don't worry about problems before they arrive.

"You can't tell a book by its cover." We need to read a book to know if it's good or bad. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books.

"You can't take it with you when you die." When we die we leave everything on earth. This proverb reminds us that some material things are not really so valuable as we think.

"Better untaught than ill taught." It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly.

"Soon learnt, soon forgotten." Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.

"Even a worm will turn." Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even a worm (a small thin animal with soft body and no bones or legs) will defend itself.

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him

"Where there's a will there's a way." If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it.

"Bad news travels fast." "Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly.

"No news is good news." If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly.

"Birds of a feather flock together." This means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type stay together.