50 English Proverbs to Build Your Vocabulary

b1 english b2 english c1 english c2 english Feb 27, 2024

50 English Proverbs to Build Your Vocabulary

What is a proverb and Why Do We Use Them?

An informal definition of a proverb is a short and popular saying that offers wisdom or advice based on common sense, experience, or cultural beliefs. Proverbs are often used to convey moral lessons or truths in a concise and memorable way. They are passed down through generations and are a common feature in many cultures and languages.

They reflect the values and beliefs of a society, preserving cultural heritage and traditions while imparting moral lessons and practical guidance to younger generations. Proverbs play a vital role in human communication, enriching language and facilitating the transmission of knowledge and wisdom across generations and cultures.

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  1. A stitch in time saves nine.

    • Meaning: Addressing a problem early prevents it from becoming worse and requiring more effort to fix later.
  2. Actions speak louder than words.

    • Meaning: What someone does is more significant than what they say they will do.
  3. All good things must come to an end.

    • Meaning: Even enjoyable experiences or favorable situations eventually conclude.
  4. All is fair in love and war.

    • Meaning: In situations of love or conflict, anything is permissible to achieve one's goals.
  5. An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

    • Meaning: Regular healthy habits can help prevent illness.
  6. Beggars can't be choosers.

    • Meaning: Someone in need should not be picky about what they receive.
  7. Better late than never.

    • Meaning: It is better to do something late than not do it at all.
  8. Birds of a feather flock together.

    • Meaning: People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate with each other.
  9. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

    • Meaning: Don't rely on something before it happens; wait until you're sure of it.
  10. Don't cry over spilled milk.

    • Meaning: Don't waste time lamenting something that has already happened and cannot be changed.
  11. Don't judge a book by its cover.

    • Meaning: Do not form an opinion based solely on appearance.
  12. Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

    • Meaning: Do not risk everything on a single venture; diversify to reduce risk.
  13. Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.

    • Meaning: Having a regular sleep schedule and waking up early can lead to health, wealth, and wisdom.
  14. Every cloud has a silver lining.

    • Meaning: Even in difficult situations, there is often a positive aspect.
  15. Fortune favors the bold.

    • Meaning: Those who take risks are more likely to achieve success.
  16. Haste makes waste.

    • Meaning: Acting too quickly can lead to mistakes that take more time to correct.
  17. Honesty is the best policy.

    • Meaning: It is always better to tell the truth.
  18. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

    • Meaning: Persevere and keep trying after initial failures.
  19. Ignorance is bliss.

    • Meaning: Not knowing about something unpleasant can be more comfortable than being aware of it.
  20. It takes two to tango.

    • Meaning: Cooperation or participation of both parties is necessary for a situation to occur or succeed.
  21. Laughter is the best medicine.

    • Meaning: Humor and joy can have positive effects on health and well-being.
  22. Let bygones be bygones.

    • Meaning: Let go of past grievances or conflicts and move on.
  23. Look before you leap.

    • Meaning: Consider the consequences before taking action.
  24. Make hay while the sun shines.

    • Meaning: Take advantage of favorable conditions while they last.
  25. Misery loves company.

    • Meaning: Unhappy people often seek out others who are also unhappy.
  26. Necessity is the mother of invention.

    • Meaning: When the need for something becomes imperative, people find ways to create or obtain it.
  27. No pain, no gain.

    • Meaning: Success or improvement requires hard work and sacrifice.
  28. Out of sight, out of mind.

    • Meaning: If something or someone is not visible, it is easily forgotten.
  29. People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

    • Meaning: Those who are vulnerable should not criticize others.
  30. Practice makes perfect.

    • Meaning: Repeated practice leads to improvement and mastery.
  31. Rome wasn't built in a day.

    • Meaning: Great achievements take time and effort.
  32. Slow and steady wins the race.

    • Meaning: Consistent and methodical progress is more effective than rushed efforts.
  33. The early bird catches the worm.

    • Meaning: Those who act promptly and arrive early have an advantage.
  34. The grass is always greener on the other side.

    • Meaning: People tend to perceive others' circumstances as more favorable than their own.
  35. The pen is mightier than the sword.

    • Meaning: Writing and communication have more influence and power than violence.
  36. There's no smoke without fire.

    • Meaning: There is usually some truth to rumors or suspicions.
  37. Time heals all wounds.

    • Meaning: Emotional pain diminishes with the passage of time.
  38. Two wrongs don't make a right.

    • Meaning: It is not justified to respond to a wrongdoing with another wrongdoing.
  39. Where there's a will, there's a way.

    • Meaning: Determination and perseverance can overcome obstacles.
  40. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.

    • Meaning: You can provide opportunities, but you can't force someone to take advantage of them.
  41. You reap what you sow.

    • Meaning: The consequences of one's actions will catch up with them.
  42. A watched pot never boils.

    • Meaning: Time seems to pass more slowly when waiting for something to happen.
  43. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

    • Meaning: Being apart from someone or something makes you appreciate them more.
  44. Beauty is only skin deep.

    • Meaning: True beauty is not just physical; it comes from within.
  45. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.

    • Meaning: It is safer to deal with a known problem than risk encountering a worse one.
  46. Blood is thicker than water.

    • Meaning: Family relationships are stronger than other types of relationships.
  47. Charity begins at home.

    • Meaning: One's first responsibility is to take care of their own family before helping others.
  48. Cleanliness is next to godliness.

    • Meaning: Being clean and tidy is morally and spiritually desirable.
  49. Dead men tell no tales.

    • Meaning: People cannot reveal secrets if they are dead.
  50. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

    • Meaning: Extreme situations require extreme actions.
 
 

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