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1 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
50 Common Proverbs in English
This is a list of popular English proverbs. Proverbs are also known as sayings. Proverbs give some form of life advice.
Every language and culture has them, and many proverbs exist in more than one language. It is important not to miss
any of the words in most proverbs because the meaning can be lost if even one word is changed or left out. This list of
English proverbs includes denitions and examples, and is meant to improve English vocabulary and English cultural
knowledge.
1
PROVERB
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
MEANING
Being away from someone or something for a period of time makes you appre-
ciate that person or thing more when you see them or it again
EXAMPLE
“I used to hate going to my aunt’s house, but now I kind of miss it. Absence
makes the heart grow fonder.”
2
PROVERB
Actions speak louder than words.
MEANING
What you do is more important than what you say
EXAMPLE
“Don’t just tell me you’re going to change. Do it! Actions speak louder than
words.”
3
PROVERB
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step
MEANING
You must begin something if you hope to nish it; something that takes a long
time to nish begins with one step
EXAMPLE
“If you want to lose weight, you need to stop eating junk, and you need to start
exercising. Today. Not tomorrow. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a
single step.”
4
PROVERB
All good things must come to an end
MEANING
Everything ends; good times don’t last forever
EXAMPLE
“I wish this vacation would go on forever. It’s too bad that all good things must
come to an end.”
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2 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
5
PROVERB
A picture is worth a thousand words
MEANING
An image can tell a story better than words
EXAMPLE
“I wasn’t sure that he loved her, but then I saw them hugging at the airport. A
picture is worth a thousand words.”
6
PROVERB
A watched pot never boils
MEANING
If something takes time to do, it doesn’t help to constantly check on it. You just
have to give it time.
EXAMPLE
“I know you think he’s going to be a great guitar player one day, but stop criti-
cizing him so much. He just started taking lessons two weeks ago! A watched
pot never boils.”
7
PROVERB
Beggars can’t be choosers
MEANING
If you’re in a bad situation and someone offers to help you, you have to take
whatever they give you and shouldn’t ask for more
EXAMPLE
“I was unemployed, and they offered me a job cleaning prison toilets. I didn’t
like the job, but I accepted it. Beggars can’t be choosers.”
8
PROVERB
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
MEANING
What is “beautiful” is different for each person
EXAMPLE
“I think their house is ugly, but they seem to like it. Beauty is in the eye of the
beholder.”
9
PROVERB
Better late than never
MEANING
It’s better to nish something late than to never do it at all
EXAMPLE
“Hello, Mr. Jameson. Here is my nal essay. Better late than never, right?”
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3 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
10
PROVERB
Birds of a feather ock together
MEANING
People who are similar spend time together
EXAMPLE
“I think we all started hanging out because we all liked anime. Birds of a feather
ock together.”
11
PROVERB
Cleanliness is next to godliness
MEANING
It’s good to be clean. God is clean, and you should be too.
EXAMPLE
“Go take a shower before your date. You know what they say; cleanliness is
next to godliness.”
12
PROVERB
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
MEANING
Don’t make someone angry or hurt someone who is helping you or paying for
you
EXAMPLE
“You had a ght with your boss? Are you stupid? Don’t bite the hand that feeds
you.”
13
PROVERB
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
MEANING
Don’t expect a positive result before you actually see it
EXAMPLE
A: “This idea is going to make me millions of dollars!”
B: “Whoa. Let’s slow down. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.”
14
PROVERB
Don’t judge a book by its cover
MEANING
Don’t judge someone or something by appearance alone
EXAMPLE
“Racism is still a problem today, and it will continue to be that way until we
learn not to judge a book by its cover.”
15
PROVERB
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket
MEANING
Don’t put all of your hopes and resources into one goal or dream
EXAMPLE
“I know you really want to be an actor, but don’t you think you’re being nan-
cially irresponsible? Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket.”
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4 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
16
PROVERB
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
MEANING
If you can do something today, do it. Don’t wait until tomorrow; don’t procras-
tinate.
EXAMPLE
“You have 6 hours of free time now. You should start on that nal psychology
assignment. Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today.”
17
PROVERB
Don’t put too many irons in the re
MEANING
Don’t try to do too many things at the same time; focus on one thing at a time
EXAMPLE
“No wonder you’re exhausted. You’re trying to work 4 jobs at the same time!
You have too many irons in the re right now.”
18
PROVERB
Easy come, easy go
MEANING
When you make money quickly, it’s very easy to lose it quickly as well
EXAMPLE
“I won $200 at the casino, and then I spent it on a very expensive meal for me
and some friends. Easy come, easy go.”
19
PROVERB
Fortune favors the bold
MEANING
People who are brave and who take risks are more successful than people who
are do things safely all the time
EXAMPLE
“It’s a risk, but the reward could be great. I say you go for it. Fortune favors the
bold.”
20
PROVERB
God helps those who help themselves
MEANING
Don’t just wait for good things to happen to you. Work hard to make them hap-
pen
EXAMPLE
“If you want a better life, you can’t just sit on your butt thinking about it. You
have to work to make it happen. God helps those who help themselves.”
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5 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
21
PROVERB
Good things come to those who wait
MEANING
If you are patient, good things can happen
EXAMPLE
“I know you’re hungry, but stop being so impatient. We just ordered our food.
Good things come to those who wait.”
22
PROVERB
Honesty is the best policy
MEANING
It’s always better to tell the truth than it is to lie
EXAMPLE
“If you want people to trust you, you need to be honest with them. Honesty is
the best policy.”
23
PROVERB
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
MEANING
In any situation, be optimistic about the result, but always be ready for the
worst outcome
EXAMPLE
“We’re going on vacation next week. It’s supposed to rain a lot, so we’re bring-
ing our umbrellas and a bunch of board games. Hope for the best, prepare for
the worst.”
24
PROVERB
If it ain’t broke, don’t x it
MEANING
If something is already working well, don’t try to change it or improve it
EXAMPLE
“Why are you trying to upgrade your PC again? It was working ne before. If it
ain’t broke, don’t x it.”
25
PROVERB
If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em
MEANING
If you can’t change someone’s behavior or opinion, sometimes it’s better or
easier to do what they want to do
EXAMPLE
“I told Mark that we needed to study, but he kept playing video games. Eventu-
ally I gave up and just played video games too. If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”
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6 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
26
PROVERB
If you play with re, you’ll get burned
MEANING
If you get involved in something dangerous or beyond your abilities, you will
probably experience negative consequences
EXAMPLE
“Don’t make him angry. If you play with re, you’ll get burned.”
27
PROVERB
If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself
MEANING
Don’t depend on someone else to do a good job; do it yourself
EXAMPLE
“I asked my roommate to wash the dishes, but they ended up super lthy! I
guess it’s true what they say: if you want something done right, you have to do
it yourself.”
28
PROVERB
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer
MEANING
If someone is your enemy, treat them like a friend so you can be ready if they
ever try to betray you
EXAMPLE
“We don’t trust each other, but we have to be nice to each other because we
work for the same company. I’m worried about him stealing my promotion, so
I’m going to keep being nice to him. Keep your friends close, but your enemies
closer, and all that.”
29
PROVERB
Knowledge is power
MEANING
The more you know, the more powerful you can be in different areas of your
life
EXAMPLE
“When we were kids, our parents taught us how to swim. That knowledge
helped me to save my cousin’s life when he was 5 years old. Knowledge is
power.”
30
PROVERB
Laughter is the best medicine.
MEANING
When you’re in a difcult situation, laughing can make it easier to get through
that situation
EXAMPLE
“I’m sorry to hear about your dog. Want to watch a funny movie? Sometimes,
laughter is the best medicine.”
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7 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
31
PROVERB
Like father, like son
MEANING
Said when a son is similar to his father; also, “Like mother, like daughter”
EXAMPLE
“Ryan started playing hockey at a very young age. He’s just like his dad. Like
father, like son.”
32
PROVERB
No man is an island
MEANING
No one is truly capable of living alone. We need human connection to be
healthy
EXAMPLE
“You can’t just abandon your friends and family. No man is an island.”
33
PROVERB
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones
MEANING
Don’t criticize someone if you’re not perfect either; don’t be a hyprocrite
EXAMPLE
“Why are you always bothering her about being addicted to her phone? You’ve
been smoking for 20 years and haven’t been able to give it up. People who live
in glass houses should not throw stones.”
34
PROVERB
Practice makes perfect
MEANING
The more you do something, the better you will become at it
EXAMPLE
“Don’t give up on learning the violin. Practice makes perfect.”
35
PROVERB
The early bird gets the worm
MEANING
People who wake up early or who get to places early have a better chance of
success
EXAMPLE
“I got to the ticket ofce before anyone else. I got front row seats to the show!
The early bird gets the worm.”
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8 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
36
PROVERB
The enemy of my enemy is my friend
MEANING
If someone whom I don’t like doesn’t like someone else whom I don’t like, we
can act like friends and unite against the other person (common in war)
EXAMPLE
“I don’t like you, you don’t like me. But I think we can agree that we both HATE
Daniel. Let’s work together and get him red! The enemy of my enemy is my
friend, right?”
37
PROVERB
The grass is always greener on the other side
MEANING
People always want what they don’t have
EXAMPLE
A: “I’m jealous of all the free time my single friends have.”
B: “Yeah, but your friends are probably jealous of you too in some ways. The
grass is always greener on the other side.”
38
PROVERB
The pen is mightier than the sword
MEANING
If you’re trying to convince someone of something, words and ideas are stron-
ger than using physical force (common in politics)
EXAMPLE
“We must avoid this war and use diplomacy to solve our problems. The pen is
mightier than the sword.”
39
PROVERB
There is no place like home
MEANING
Your home is the most comfortable place in the world
EXAMPLE
“What a tiring vacation! I’m glad to be back in my own bed again. There’s no
place like home.”
40
PROVERB
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
MEANING
Nothing is free. Even the things that are free have a hidden cost
EXAMPLE
“His bank gave him $50 for free, but he had to commit to opening a credit card
account. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.”
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9 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
41
PROVERB
There is no time like the present
MEANING
Don’t wait to do something. Do it now.
EXAMPLE
“Why don’t you stop talking about needing to call your mom? Just CALL her!
There is no time like the present.”
42
PROVERB
The squeaky wheel gets the grease
MEANING
The person who complains in a situation is more likely to get something.
EXAMPLE
A: “I just don’t understand why she’s received so many promotions, and I’m still
at the bottom of the company!”
B: “She complains a lot. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
43
PROVERB
Time is money
MEANING
Don’t waste your time or other people’s time; also, if you can use your time to
make money in some way, you should do that.
EXAMPLE
“Hurry up! Time is money!”
44
PROVERB
Two heads are better than one
MEANING
It’s easier to do something as a team than by yourself
EXAMPLE
“I’m stuck on this project. Can you help me out? Two heads are better than one.”
45
PROVERB
Two wrongs don’t make a right
MEANING
Trying to get revenge on someone who has hurt you will only make things
worse
EXAMPLE
“I know she made you angry, but did you have to steal her phone? Two wrongs
don’t make a right.”
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10 • 50 Common Proverbs in English
by Alex
© LearnVid Education, 2015
46
PROVERB
When in Rome, do as the Romans do
MEANING
When you are in a new place or situation, try to act like the majority of people
in that place or situation.
EXAMPLE
A: “You’ve been eating a lot of bread and cheese on this Paris vacation.”
B: “Hey, when in Rome.”
47
PROVERB
When the going gets tough, the tough get going
MEANING
When a situation becomes difcult, strong people don’t give up; they work
harder
EXAMPLE
“My great grandfather survived the Great Depression. You know the phrase,
‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going?’ That was my great grandfa-
ther.”
48
PROVERB
Where there’s smoke, there’s re
MEANING
If something seems wrong, it probably is; also, there is usually some truth to a
rumor
EXAMPLE
“Matilda came to school with a black eye today. She cried when I asked her
about it after class and didn’t want to say anything about her parents. I don’t
want to speculate too much, but where there’s smoke, there’s usually re.”
49
PROVERB
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it
MEANING
You can try to help someone by giving good advice, but you can’t force them to
accept it or follow it
EXAMPLE
“She tried to help her brother nd a job by improving his resume, but he didn’t
do anything with it. I guess you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make
him drink it.”
50
PROVERB
You can’t always get what you want
MEANING
Don’t complain if you don’t get what you want
EXAMPLE
A: I really wanted to see that movie, but I didn’t have enough money last week.
B: It happens. You can’t always get what you want, right?