Illustrated AZ of English Traditional Proverbs
A collection of popular English proverbs with the meaning explained using humor and illustrations.
These phrases are used in everyday speech as part of the normal conversation. Often only a small part of the expression is said because the speaker expects the listener to know the rest of it.
It is interesting learning the expressions and phrases that are used. Some of them make immediate sense while others are more difficult to understand.
Many of them contradict each other so there is one for every occasion and another to argue back with. "Too many cooks" and "Many hands make light work" are examples of proverbs that have completely opposite meanings.
This AZ list of popular expressions should put some fun into learning and remembering them.
These phrases are used in everyday speech as part of the normal conversation. Often only a small part of the expression is said because the speaker expects the listener to know the rest of it.
It is interesting learning the expressions and phrases that are used. Some of them make immediate sense while others are more difficult to understand.
Many of them contradict each other so there is one for every occasion and another to argue back with. "Too many cooks" and "Many hands make light work" are examples of proverbs that have completely opposite meanings.
This AZ list of popular expressions should put some fun into learning and remembering them.
An Apple A Day Keeps the Doctor Away
The expression tells us an apple contains important minerals and vitamins. By eating one of these daily you maintain a healthy body and therefore will not need the doctor so often.
The idea of "keeping the doctor away" means he will not need to visit you. The chance of getting a doctor to visit anyone nowadays is unlikely or very expensive.
There are a thousand different health fads and diets which claim to keep the doctor away but none of them has landed a key expression like the apple. "A bottle of Aloe Vera keeps the doctor away" does not have the same ring to it.
Although medical science has moved on since the phrase was coined, we have antibiotics now, an apple a day is no bad thing. They are good for you and might keep that doctor away.
The idea of "keeping the doctor away" means he will not need to visit you. The chance of getting a doctor to visit anyone nowadays is unlikely or very expensive.
There are a thousand different health fads and diets which claim to keep the doctor away but none of them has landed a key expression like the apple. "A bottle of Aloe Vera keeps the doctor away" does not have the same ring to it.
Although medical science has moved on since the phrase was coined, we have antibiotics now, an apple a day is no bad thing. They are good for you and might keep that doctor away.
Another Day Another Dollar
The worker's lament, each day of work bringing another dollar in income.
A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush
This means something in your possession is worth more than a possibility.
It is for those who believe it ain't happened until it happens.
It is better to possess one thing than to be dreaming of two. You can think about those free birds in the bush but until you have one in your hand you have nothing.
It is for those who believe it ain't happened until it happens.
It is better to possess one thing than to be dreaming of two. You can think about those free birds in the bush but until you have one in your hand you have nothing.
A Cat May Look At A King
This is an interesting expression. It means no matter how important you are a cat can look at you.
Common people have rights too. Unfortunately whoever wrote that proverb didn't own a cat. They use it to mean low status but cats are way higher up the scale.
A cat would look at a king and think "If you can feed me I might let you stroke me for a while". A better proverb might have been "A King can look at a cat when granted permission".
Common people have rights too. Unfortunately whoever wrote that proverb didn't own a cat. They use it to mean low status but cats are way higher up the scale.
A cat would look at a king and think "If you can feed me I might let you stroke me for a while". A better proverb might have been "A King can look at a cat when granted permission".
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
A stone laying on the ground for years will eventually become covered in moss and lichen.
Whereas a fast-moving go-getting stone will stay moss free.
The idea is that a person who is constantly on the move will progress in life.
The saying tells us to keep going rather than reaching a certain point, slowing down and ending up covered in moss.
Whereas a fast-moving go-getting stone will stay moss free.
The idea is that a person who is constantly on the move will progress in life.
The saying tells us to keep going rather than reaching a certain point, slowing down and ending up covered in moss.
A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
The idea being that a quick early repair will prevent a much bigger job later on. The image of a single stitch saving nine stitches is easy to understand. A small tear in fabric can and should be quickly repaired otherwise it will continue to get larger.
Of course the expression is not solely meant for clothing repairs but for any task where early action is desirable.
So get on with it and do those small jobs now!
Of course the expression is not solely meant for clothing repairs but for any task where early action is desirable.
So get on with it and do those small jobs now!
All's Well That Ends Well
If the end result is satisfactory there is no need worrying about how you got there. It turned out well - so all is well.
A Watched Pot Never Boils
This saying applies to any task that involves waiting for something to happen. If you just watch - time seems to stand still.
The reason a boiling pot was chosen for the saying is because it is a common event most people have experience of. That makes the expression easy to understand.
Instead of waiting and doing nothing we should busy ourselves with another task. The time will pass quicker.
While we are busy doing other things the pot will finally boil over and set fire to the house.
The reason a boiling pot was chosen for the saying is because it is a common event most people have experience of. That makes the expression easy to understand.
Instead of waiting and doing nothing we should busy ourselves with another task. The time will pass quicker.
While we are busy doing other things the pot will finally boil over and set fire to the house.
Beware of Greeks Bearing Gifts
Don't trust your enemies. It might relate to the Trojan horse incident from Greek history.
How many enemies bring you a gift anyway?
It is a handy expression if the neighbour you don't like leaves a large wooden horse outside your house. That may not happen very often.
The saying means to be cautious when accepting gifts in case there is a hidden purpose behind them. The exact opposite is "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" which means NOT to check any gifts too carefully.
How many enemies bring you a gift anyway?
It is a handy expression if the neighbour you don't like leaves a large wooden horse outside your house. That may not happen very often.
The saying means to be cautious when accepting gifts in case there is a hidden purpose behind them. The exact opposite is "Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth" which means NOT to check any gifts too carefully.
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day
A Latin phrase which offers no clues to its meaning when read. It means "Seize the day" which in turn means to make the most of today. A more literal translation is "Pluck the day" which is like picking or plucking a fruit when it is ripe.
Other similar sayings include "Make hay while the sun shines" which is a more obvious expression helped by the fact it is not written in Latin.
Would Nike have been so successful if the marketing men had chosen "Carpe Diem" instead of "Just Do It"?
Other similar sayings include "Make hay while the sun shines" which is a more obvious expression helped by the fact it is not written in Latin.
Would Nike have been so successful if the marketing men had chosen "Carpe Diem" instead of "Just Do It"?
Don't Count Your Chickens Until They Hatch
Don't believe something will happen until it does - is the message behind this saying.
It is all very well making plans or dreaming of the future but until we get there few things are certain.
And you thought it was just about chickens! These old sayings have what we call the "ring of truth" about them.
There is nothing wrong with estimating how many chickens there will be though.
It is all very well making plans or dreaming of the future but until we get there few things are certain.
And you thought it was just about chickens! These old sayings have what we call the "ring of truth" about them.
There is nothing wrong with estimating how many chickens there will be though.
Don't Cut Off Your Nose To Spite Your Face
Cutting off your nose is a rather extreme reaction to something.
Van Gogh may have cut off his ear but that was for a far better reason than to spite his face.
The expression means not to over-react to an issue and in the process hurt yourself. Don't lose your self-control and end up making a bad situation worse.
Put sharp objects away and count to ten or twenty. Decide on a course of action that involves the least possible harm to your nose or any other part of you.
As much as we might want to get even or score points over an issue - it is better to take time and look at the bigger picture.
The key question should be will you and your nose come out of it OK.
Van Gogh may have cut off his ear but that was for a far better reason than to spite his face.
The expression means not to over-react to an issue and in the process hurt yourself. Don't lose your self-control and end up making a bad situation worse.
Put sharp objects away and count to ten or twenty. Decide on a course of action that involves the least possible harm to your nose or any other part of you.
As much as we might want to get even or score points over an issue - it is better to take time and look at the bigger picture.
The key question should be will you and your nose come out of it OK.
Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
What if you only have one basket? They don't say what you can do.
The point is that you should always be cautious. Don't bet everything on one throw of the dice or put your life savings into a single dodgy investment scheme.
Eggs are a simple image to make the point. If you put them all in one basket and drop the basket - you lose everything.
In many countries we can only marry one person. There isn't a proverb for that.
The point is that you should always be cautious. Don't bet everything on one throw of the dice or put your life savings into a single dodgy investment scheme.
Eggs are a simple image to make the point. If you put them all in one basket and drop the basket - you lose everything.
In many countries we can only marry one person. There isn't a proverb for that.
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
This proverb means people who get up in the mornings and get on with their life instead of lazing around are more likely to catch that worm, or be successful.
It makes sense that if there is only one worm in the garden you need to be the first one there. That is a simple idea which anyone can understand.
It can apply to anything where you need to make an early start on the day - not just for eating worms.
It makes sense that if there is only one worm in the garden you need to be the first one there. That is a simple idea which anyone can understand.
It can apply to anything where you need to make an early start on the day - not just for eating worms.
Everything Comes to Those Who Wait
This is also referred to as "He Who Waits" rather than "Those Who Wait".
Instead of getting on with things you can wait patiently and hope that something will eventually turn up.
We should slow down, take our time and adopt a more peaceful and less grasping attitude to life.
Instead of getting on with things you can wait patiently and hope that something will eventually turn up.
We should slow down, take our time and adopt a more peaceful and less grasping attitude to life.
Fine Words Butter No Parsnips
This is a proverb which is hard to understand at first - a poetic combination of words.
It is a response to those who get carried away with the importance of their own voice. Can apply to politicians and others who use flowery speech to make their intentions seem better than they really are.
The point is that words alone do not achieve anything. No matter how fine the talking, the person who quotes this expression would prefer to see action.
The parsnip is an English root vegetable which has a taste greatly improved by adding butter.
It is a response to those who get carried away with the importance of their own voice. Can apply to politicians and others who use flowery speech to make their intentions seem better than they really are.
The point is that words alone do not achieve anything. No matter how fine the talking, the person who quotes this expression would prefer to see action.
The parsnip is an English root vegetable which has a taste greatly improved by adding butter.
Get Your Ducks In A Row
Get organized, sort yourself out. Everything lined up and ready to go.
It does not apply only to ducks or other farmyard creatures.
It's about life. Sort yourself out and deal with it.
It does not apply only to ducks or other farmyard creatures.
It's about life. Sort yourself out and deal with it.
Glass Half-full
The expressions glass half-full and glass half-empty apply to positive and negative people. A glass containg equal amounts of liquid and air can be set before a person.
The optimist will see a glass half-full. The pessimist will see a half-empty one.
The simple idea is to show how people will see a situation and choose their path accordingly.
The optimist will see a glass half-full. The pessimist will see a half-empty one.
The simple idea is to show how people will see a situation and choose their path accordingly.
Herding Cats
An impossible task although our cat-herding shepherd below makes it look easy.
Horse To Water
The full expression is "You Can Lead A Horse To Water But You Can't Make Him Drink".
Horse to water will do for our purposes. It is about the problems with assuming an action will lead to the desired result. Nothing is guaranteed, prepare for the unexpected.
Horse to water will do for our purposes. It is about the problems with assuming an action will lead to the desired result. Nothing is guaranteed, prepare for the unexpected.
In The Land of the Blind The One-Eyed Man is King
This is a fun way of saying it doesn't take much to rise to the top.
The king only needs to have one eye more than the other people.
It manages to insult the common people and the leader at the same time.
"In the Land of the Blind" is a good way of expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling classes - whether they be political or closer to home in the office, workplace or school.
The king only needs to have one eye more than the other people.
It manages to insult the common people and the leader at the same time.
"In the Land of the Blind" is a good way of expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling classes - whether they be political or closer to home in the office, workplace or school.
Live And Let Live
A truly excellent saying. The meaning is to live your own life as you wish and let others live theirs as they wish.
A peaceful reasonable way to behave in society and on this planet.
A peaceful reasonable way to behave in society and on this planet.
Make Hay While The Sun Shines
When the weather is good the farmer will be out in the fields cutting the grass and baling it to make hay.
We mostly don't have fields and grass to tend to but we do have chores and responsibilities. If the opportunity is there then get those tasks done and make that hay!
Tomorrow it may be raining.
We mostly don't have fields and grass to tend to but we do have chores and responsibilities. If the opportunity is there then get those tasks done and make that hay!
Tomorrow it may be raining.
Not My Cup of Tea
An expression used when something is not to your taste or you don't want it.
A person might ask if you like a particular band or TV program and you could respond "It is not my cup of tea".
In the UK cups of tea can be variable. With or without milk, with or without sugar, one spoon or two - and so on.
If you got the wrong cup of tea it might not be to your liking!
A person might ask if you like a particular band or TV program and you could respond "It is not my cup of tea".
In the UK cups of tea can be variable. With or without milk, with or without sugar, one spoon or two - and so on.
If you got the wrong cup of tea it might not be to your liking!
Once Bitten Twice Shy
When you have a bad experience you will be more cautious the next time.
Think about stroking a dog and getting bitten. The next time it is probably best to leave him alone.
Particularly important for companies supplying goods and services - always look after your customer. Once bitten by high prices, faulty goods or poor service they may not return for your next offer.
Think about stroking a dog and getting bitten. The next time it is probably best to leave him alone.
Particularly important for companies supplying goods and services - always look after your customer. Once bitten by high prices, faulty goods or poor service they may not return for your next offer.
People Who Live in Glass Houses Shouldn't Throw Stones
Don't criticize others when you have your own issues to deal with. Nobody is that perfect they can pick on the failings of others.
The mental image is of someone throwing insults and barbs at others which damage their own property. The glass house is fragile and easily shattered.
The mental image is of someone throwing insults and barbs at others which damage their own property. The glass house is fragile and easily shattered.
Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
Rather than reacting immediately, a more intelligent person will wait for the right time to take their revenge.
It is not done in the heat of the moment but later when tempers have cooled. That makes the eventual punishment more considered and suitable.
It is not done in the heat of the moment but later when tempers have cooled. That makes the eventual punishment more considered and suitable.
Stick in the Mud
"Stick in the Mud" means someone who is set in their ways and not open to new ideas or change.
Still Waters Run Deep
There may be far more to someone than you see on the surface. Hidden depths is another way of putting it.
Whereas with shallow people - what you see is what you get.
Whereas with shallow people - what you see is what you get.
Take the Bull by the Horns
Means to grab hold of the problem - in this case a bull - and deal with it directly.
Don't beat around the bush, procrastinate or avoid the issue.
Don't beat around the bush, procrastinate or avoid the issue.
Throw Out Baby With the Bathwater
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is an easy mistake for a busy father to make.
You need to get the job done quickly and get back to watching the sport. Wash baby, empty bath, back to the cricket. It should take no more than five minutes.
Then the big question - where's the baby?
The saying means to take care over decisions so you don't miss important things, like babies.
You need to get the job done quickly and get back to watching the sport. Wash baby, empty bath, back to the cricket. It should take no more than five minutes.
Then the big question - where's the baby?
The saying means to take care over decisions so you don't miss important things, like babies.
Time Waits For No Man
This is a reminder that no one can stop the sands of time marching on. It can be used as a message to get up and doing something with your life. Get on with stuff now because the clock keeps on ticking.
None of us know how much time we have so it makes sense to make the most of it.
None of us know how much time we have so it makes sense to make the most of it.
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
This expression sums up what happens when too many people are involved in something, especially when there is no one in overall charge.
They get in each other's way, they have different points of view, they will argue and fall out.
Anyone who has worked with a team of people where more than one person wants to be the leader will know how this feels.
The final product or broth will not taste good.
They get in each other's way, they have different points of view, they will argue and fall out.
Anyone who has worked with a team of people where more than one person wants to be the leader will know how this feels.
The final product or broth will not taste good.