Proverbs / Sayings / Quotations in English
What is a Proverb?
1.
A great talker is a great liar.
Meaning: A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.
2. All that glitters is
not gold.
Meaning: Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to
be attractive.
3. Any time means no
time.
Meaning: When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it
will never take place.
4. Actions speak louder
than words.
Meaning: A person's character
is judged by the thing he does and not by what he says; actions give evidence
or proof of.
5. Absence makes the
heart grow fonder.
Meaning: One usually desires another more when he or she is
far away.
6. As you make your bed
so must you lie on it.
Meaning: You must accept the consequences of your actions.
7. An apple a day keeps
the doctor away.
Meaning: It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you
in the peak of health.
8. Be on the safe side.
Meaning: To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake.
9. Better to be alone
than in bad company.
Meaning: It is better to be by yourself than to be with people
who are bad influences.
10. Better to die with
honor than live with shame.
Meaning: It is more honorable to do the right thing even if
you will be punished or have to die for it than to live as a coward or a liar.
11. Boys will be boys.
Meaning: Often applied to men who act childishly.
12. Brain is better
than brawn.
Meaning: Intelligence is more valuable than physical strength.
13. Bread always falls
buttered-side down.
Meaning: Of two possibilities, it often seems that the more negative
one will occur.
14. Business before
pleasure.
Meaning: It is better to finish your work before you have a good time.
15. Comparisons are
odious.
Meaning: It is bad to compare people to one another.
16. Courtesy costs nothing.
Meaning: Politeness should be a way of life for everyone.
17. Cowards die many
deaths.
Meaning: A coward is afraid of everything, and therefore, faces every
problem or challenge with great fear.
18. Danger and delight
grow on the same stalk.
Meaning: Some pleasures will lead you to danger.
19. Don't judge a book
by its cover.
Meaning: Do not be deceived by appearances.
20. Don't make a
mountain out of a molehill.
Meaning: Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small.
21. Do not cross a
bridge till you come to it.
Meaning: Do not worry about something before it has happened.
22. Do not have too
many irons in the fire.
Meaning: If we attempt to do too much at once, we shall not do anything
properly.
23. Do not ride the
high horse.
Meaning: Do not be arrogant.
24. A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
Meaning: A desperate person will do anything to save himself.
25. Diligence is the
mother of good fortune.
Meaning: Working hard will bring you riches and success.
26. Every man has his
faults.
Meaning: No one is perfect.
27. Every man must
carry his own cross.
Meaning: Everyone has to carry his burden or responsibilities in life.
28. Every picture tells
a story.
Meaning: Every situation has an explanation.
29. Experience is the
mother of wisdom.
Meaning: You become wiser as you gain more experience in life.
30. Failure teaches
success.
Meaning: People can learn from their failures and mistakes.
31. Faith will move
mountains.
Meaning: Miracles will happen when you believe that they will.
32. Fear of death is
worse than death itself.
Meaning: Fear is often a crippling emotion because it is so powerful.
33. First things first.
Meaning: Do the more urgent and important things first.
34. Fretting cares make
grey hairs.
Meaning: Worrying is a negative activity that can age you prematurely.
35. First come, first served.
Meaning: The first in line will be attended to first.
36. A friend in need is
a friend indeed.
Meaning: A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
37. Give credit where
credit is due.
Meaning: Appreciate someone for the good work he has done.
38. Give him an inch
and he'll want a yard.
Meaning: Some people always take advantage of the favor that is shown to them.
39. Goodness is better
than beauty.
Meaning: Inner beauty is more valuable than outer beauty.
40. Great minds think alike.
Meaning: Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.
41. Honesty is the best
policy.
Meaning: Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.
42. Half a loaf is
better than none.
Meaning: It's better to have or receive less than one desire than to
have or receive nothing at all.
43. Have eyes in the
back of one's head.
Meaning: An ability to know what is happening not within the scope of
one's vision.
44. If it's not one
thing it's another.
Meaning: The troubles seem to go on and on without end.
45. It's never too late
to mend.
Meaning: It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.
46. It takes all sorts
to make a world.
Meaning: You should not expect everyone to think and act as you do.
47. It never rains but it pours.
Meaning: Events, especially misfortunes, always come together and not
one at a time.
48. If you want a thing
done right, do it yourself.
Meaning: Do not rely on others to complete your work for you.
49. It's better to give than to receive.
Meaning: Giving is more a blessing than receiving.
50. Jam tomorrow and
jam yesterday, but never jam today.
Meaning: What you early hoped for does not seem to be happening.
51. A journey of a
thousand miles begins with a single step.
Meaning: To progress at anything, you first need to get started.
52. Jack of all trades
and master of none.
Meaning: Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels
in any of them.
53. Jump from the
frying pan into the fire.
Meaning: To go from a bad position to a worse one.
54. A job worth doing
is a job worth doing well.
Meaning: When you do something you should do it as well as you can.
55. Keep the wolf from
the door.
Meaning: To avoid hunger and poverty.
56. Kindle is not a fire
you cannot put out.
Meaning: Do not start something you cannot control or resolve.
57. Keep no more cats
than will catch mice.
Meaning: Do not acquire more than what you need.
58. Keep your friends
close and your enemies closer.
Meaning: Keep track of what your enemies are up to for your own
protection.
59. Kill two birds with
one stone.
Meaning: Complete two tasks with one action.
60. Kindness begets
kindness.
Meaning: When you are kind to people, they will be kind to you in
return.
61. Look before you
leap.
Meaning: Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible
consequences.
62. Look at the bright
side.
Meaning: Be optimistic.
63. Love me, love my
dog.
Meaning: If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally,
faults and all.
64. A light purse makes
a heavy heart.
Meaning: We cannot be cheerful when we have financial problems.
65. Little by little
and bit by bit.
Meaning: If you persevere at something, you will gradually accomplish
it.
66. Live and learn.
Meaning: Learn as much as you can from life.
67. Live and let live.
Meaning: Get on with your own affairs and let others get on with theirs.
68. Man cannot live by
bread alone.
Meaning: It takes more than food to complete your life.
69. Measure twice, and cut
once.
Meaning: Consider your options carefully in order to make a good
decision.
70. Misery loves
company.
Meaning: Unhappy people seem to like to make others unhappy too.
71. Money cannot buy
happiness.
Meaning: You cannot buy joy, peace, contentment, etc.
72. Make hay while the
sun shines.
Meaning: Seize opportunities.
73. Money is the root
of all evil.
Meaning: Crimes and wickedness are associated with money.
74. Never do things in
halves.
Meaning: Always complete a job as perfectly as you can.
75. Never say die.
Meaning: Never give up.
76. Never trouble till
trouble troubles you.
Meaning: Do not go looking for trouble.
77. No time like the
present.
Meaning: Now is the best time to do something.
78. Nothing ventured,
nothing gained.
Meaning: One must take risks in order to succeed at anything.
79. Old habits die hard.
Meaning: It is difficult to change a long-time habit.
80. One good turn
deserves another.
Meaning: Always be ready to show kindness to people who have been kind
to you.
81. Opportunity seldom
knocks twice.
Meaning: You must be ready to grab an opportunity when it comes your
way.
82. Poverty is no crime.
Meaning: The poor should not be despised.
83. Practice what you
preach.
Meaning: Do what you advise others to do.
84. Promises are like
pie crust.
Meaning: Most promises cannot be kept.
85. Put a quart into a
pint pot.
Meaning: Doing something that's impossible.
86. Revenge is sweet.
Meaning: Some people feel good to be able to get back at someone who
has hurt them.
87. Rome was not built
in a day.
Meaning: Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or
easily.
88. Speak when you are
spoken to.
Meaning: Respond when you are asked a question.
89. Set a thief to
catch a thief.
Meaning: Use the skill and experience of one wrongdoer to catch another.
90. Success is a
journey, not a destination.
Meaning: The most treasured part of an achievement is the experience
and lessons you learn in the process.
91. Smile and the world
smiles with you; cry, and you cry alone.
Meaning: People are usually ready to share in your happiness but not in
your sadness.
92. Slow and steady
wins the race.
Meaning: Do things at your own pace and ability, and you will succeed
in time.
93. Seek and ye shall
find.
Meaning: When you set out to look for the truth with all your heart,
you will find it.
94. Talk is cheap.
Meaning: Talk that is not backed up with action is useless.
95. Tell the truth and
shame the devil.
Meaning: Tell the truth at all times.
96. The child is the father
of the man.
Meaning: According to William
Words Worth children sometimes teach to their parents.
97. United we stand,
divided we fall.
Meaning: Unity brings strength to a team.
98. Unity is strength.
Meaning: Unity brings strength to a team.
99. Virtue is its own reward.
Meaning: You should not expect payment for doing things that you should
do or for acting in a morally correct way.
100. Walls have ears, and shoes have tongues.
Meaning: Be careful what you say and who you speak to.
Further Suggested Reading for McQs based Writen Tests Preparation
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