Proverb - 1

Proverbs - 1

PROVERBS

  A proverb is a saying which imbibes wisdom in it. It is defined as " a short pithy saying in general use. " It is used in everyday speech and writing. Some proverbs with their meanings are listed below. Knowledge of these proverbs will enable the students to learn good English. --

  1.  A good beginning makes a good end.

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

  2.  A good example is the best sermon.

( Giving an example is better than giving advice. )

  3. A good conscience is a soft pillow.

( One sleeps well when one has nothing to feel guilty about. )

  4. A bad workman quarrels with his tools.

( An inefficient  worker blames others for his failure.)

  5. A bird in hand is worth two in bush.

( A thing which is sure and certain is better than an uncertain one.)

  6. A burnt child dreads the fire.

( One who has once got hurt by anything will avoid it afterwards. )

  7. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

( A true friend heps and supports in adversity.)

  8. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

( An unsteady man never achieves success.)

  9. All that glitters is not gold.

( Appearances are often deceptive. )

 10. An outwardly shining and charming. 

( Thing does not have real worth.)

 11. A stitch in time saves nine.

( A defect removed in time, saves us from a great deal of trouble afterwards. )

 12. A little pot is soon hot.

( A narrow-minded person loses his temper very soon. )

 13. A sleeping fox catches no poultry.

( An idle man cannot get anything. )

 14. A drop in the ocean.

( To pay Rs. 200 per month to a clerk these days is just like a drop in the ocean.)

 15. A crowd is not a company.

( People assembled all of a sudden do not make a suitable company. )

 16. A fool and his money are soon parted.

( a foolish is easily deprived of his money. )

 17. A flow of words is no proof of wisdom.

( A talkative man is not neccessarily a wise man. )

 18. A great cry and little wool.

( A great deal of clamour for a petty thihg. )

 19. An idle mind is the devil's workshop.

( An idle man always thinks of mischief.)

 20. A common horse is the worst shod.

( A business started by several parteners does not run for long. )

 21. A man without purpose is a ship without a rudder.

( A man who has no clear aim is likely to fail. )

 22. A rotten sheep infects the whole flock.

( A bad man currepts the whole company. )

 23. All asses wag their ears.

( All foolish persons talk and show as if they are very wise.)

 
 24. A tree is known by its fruit.

( The character of a man is judged by his actions. )

 25. A guilty conscience needs no accuser.

( A guilty man betrays his crime of his own accord .)

 26. As you sow so shall you reap.

( One will have to suffer the consequences of one's acts. )

 27. An empty vessel makes much noise.

( A man who has no real worth, always boasts of his qualities. )

 28. A friend to everybody is a friend to nobody.

( One who tries to be wellwisher of everyone cannot be that of anyone.)

 29. A full purse never lacks friends.

( A rich man is never in want of friends. )

 30. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

( Recreation is as important in life as serious work. )

 31. All's well that ends well.

( All defects vanish if a thing ends successfully. )

 32. All doors are open to courtesy.

( A man of courtesy can get any work done. )

 33. A woman's strength is in her tongue.

( A woman's power lies in her loose talks only. )

 34. A wooden leg is better than no leg.

( It is better to have a little support than to have none. )

 35. A penny saved is a penny gained.

( If one saves a little money it is as good as gaining it. )

 36. A reconciled friend is a double enemy.

  ( A friend lost and won is more dangerous than an enemy. )

 37. A good presence is a letter of recommendation.

( A man of graceful nature needs no letter of recommendation . )

 38. A bald head is soon shaved.

( A simple and innocent man is soon deceived . )

 39. An angry man opens his mouth and shuts his eyes.

 ( An  angryman is governed by passios and loses self-control. )

 40. As are the gods, so are the worshippers.

( The character of public is formed by the leaders. )

 41. All are no saints that go to church.

( A man should be judged by his inward character and not by his outward conduct. )

 42. A leopard cannot change its spots.

(It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.)

 43. A loaded wagon makes no noise.

( Really wealthy people don't talk about money. )

 44. A fool at forty  is a fool forever.

( If a person hasn't matured by the age of forty, he never will.)

 45. A flower blooms more than once.

( If you miss an occassion, you can avail of it at another time.)

 46. Better today than tomorrow.

( One should not delay what one can do at the moment. )

 47. Birds of same feather flock together.

( Persons of the same nature often come together in one company.)

 48. Barking dogs seldom bite.

( Those who warn and threaten others hardly harm anyone.)

 49. Better late than never.

( It is better to do a thing belatedly than never to do it all. )

 50. Better to wear out than to rust out.

( Doing something is better than doing nothing. )

 51. Better flatter a fool than fight him.

( It's better to avoid dispute with stupid people. )

 52. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.

( It's better to deal with somebody difficult but familiar than change and risk dealing with somebody worse. )

 53. Better to be alone  than in tha bad company.

( Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with. )

 54. 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 group. )

 55. Better lose the saddle than the horse.

( It's better to stop and accept a small loss. rather than continue and risk losing everything. )

 56. Better safe than sorry.

( It's betterto be careful than to be careless and regret it later.)

 57. Better to drink the milk than to eat the cow.

( Be careful not to destroy the source of your income and welfare.)

 58.  Better untaught than ill taught.

( It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly. )

 59. Beauty is but skin deep.

( A person's character is more important than his appearance.)

 60. Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholders.

( Different people have different tastes. )

 61. Bad news travels fast.

( People tend to circulate bad news very quickly. )

 62. Be swift to hear, slow to speak.

( Listen carefully before speaking. )

 63. Beggars should not be chooser.

( Those who seek favours should not impose their choice. )

 64. Blood is thicker than water.

( Kinship is stronger than friendship. )

 65. Beware of greeks bearing gifts.

( Don't trust your enemies. )

 66. Blood will out.

( A person's background or education will eventually show. )

 67. Better face danger once than be always in fear.

( It is better to fight out a danger once than to fear it for long. )

 68. Beware of silent dog and still water.

( Silent people are often very dangerous. )

 69. Brevity is the soul of wit.

( Short and precise answers are the best ones. )

 70. Ball is in your court.

(  It is upto you to decide. )

 71. Before criticizing a person, walk a mile in his shoes.

(One should not criticize a person without understanding his situation.)

 72. Cast not pearls before swine.

  ( It is no good telling good things to those who cannot appreciate it. )

 73. Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.

( The reputation of a great man's wife must be without blames. )

 74. Carry coal to Newcastle.

( To carry something to a place where it is already plentiful.)

 75. Charity begins at home.

( We favour our relationship first and others afterwards. )

 76. Choose a wife rather by your ear than by your eye.

( Select a wife of good conduct and not of good external appearance. )

 77. Clear moon frost soon.

( If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form. )

 78. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

( A clean body is just as important as a pure soul. )

 79. Clothes don't make the man.

( Appearances can be deceiving. )

 80. Constant occupation prevents temptation.

( When you work you avoid temptation.)

 81. Critics are like brushers of other man's clothes.

( Critics cleanse us of our defects and evils. )

 82. Cut your coat according to your cloth.

( One must spend within the limits of one's income.)

 83. Dead men tell no tales.

( A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that would be preferable to conceal. )

 84. Death keeps no calendar.

( One may die at any moment. )

 85. Desperate maladies require desperate means.

( The worst type of evil can be abolished only by evil means. )

 86. Diamond cuts diamond.

( Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning.)

 87. Diligence is mother of good fortune.

( Hardwork brings rewards.)

 88. Discreation is the better part of valour.

( It is useless to take unneccessary risks. )

 89. Distance makes the heart grow fonder.

( When you are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger. )

 90. Dogs of the same street bark alike.

( People from the same background have the same behaviour. )

 91. Don't bark if you can't bite.

  ( Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view. )

 92. Don't count your chicken before they are hatched.

( You must not be too confident that something will be successful. )

 93. Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork.

( Don't do something yourself which causes your own downfall. )

 94. Don't judge a book by its cover.

( Don't  judge by appearances. )

 95. Drowning man catches a straw.

( Those who are in danger try to save themselves with the least possible support they can get.)

 96. Do as you would be done by.

( Behave others in the way you expect others to behave with you. )

 97. Death is a great leveller.

( Death makes no distinction between the high and the low. )

 98. Easy come easy go.

( What is required without effort, is spent without thought.)

 99. Every dog has his day.

( Everybody has some period of success. )

100. Example is better than percept.

( Action is better than teaching . )

**************************************************