proverbs

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

A BURNT CHILD DREADS FIRE
A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.

A FRIEND IN NEED IS A FRIEND INDEED

DISCRETION IS THE BETTER PART OF VALOUR
If you say discretion is the better part of valour, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.

A HUNGRY MAN IS AN ANGRY MAN

EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE MOST NOISE

A MAN IS AS OLD AS HE FEELS

GREAT TALKERS ARE LITTLE DOERS

AN IDLE BRAIN IS THE DEVILS'S WORKSHOP

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

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

BARKING DOGS SELDOM BITE
Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.

BETTER LATE THAN NEVER

A BIRD IN HAND IS WORTH TWO IN THE BUSH

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

A GREAT TALKER IS A GREAT LIAR

EVERY CLOUD HAS A SILVER LINING
If you say that every cloud has a silver linig, 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

EAT TO LIVE, BUT DO NOT LIVE TO EAT

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

EVERY ONE CAN FIND FAULT, FEW CAN DO BETTER

ANY TIME MEANS NO TIME

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.

ACTIONS SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS

FORTUNE KNOCKS ONCE AT EVERY MAN'S DOOR

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

IT'S AN ILL WIND THAT BLOWS NOBODY ANY GOOD
A bad or evil occurrence.

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE

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

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'S NO USE CRYING OVER SPILT MILK

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

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

HONESTY IS THE BEST POLICY

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 behaviour when he or she acts like the father or mother )

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

ROME WAS NOT BUILT IN A DAY

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

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT

THERE'S NO SMOKE WITHOUT FIRE

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


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 judgement.

WHEN IN ROME DO AS THE ROMANS DO

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.