A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
(All parts of an organization are important, even the smallest and weakest parts.)
A fool and his money are soon parted.
(Foolish people lose their money easily.)
A friend in need is a friend indeed
(Friends prove their friendship when they help each other.)
A good man is hard to find.
(It's hard to find a man who is good. This proverb is often used by women.)
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
(A country or some previously unified group will experience failure if it can't solve its differences.)
A house is not a home.
(A house is just a building, but a home is a place where there is love and caring for the people in it.)
A leopard cannot change its spots.
(A person cannot change his ways.)
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
(Some people make decisions without having enough information, or they believe they have complete knowledge about a thing when in fact they do not.)
A man's home is his castle.
(A man or woman is the ruler inside his or her home. Any person can be a king or a queen at home.)
A penny saved is a penny earned.
(Saving money can be just as good or useful as making money.)
A person is known by the company he keeps.
(Whom you choose to be friends with says a lot about who you are. If your friends are bad people, you might be considered to be a bad person also--even if you aren't.)
A picture is worth a thousand words.
(A picture can provide a lot more information or truth about something than a written description.)
A rising tide lifts all boats.
(When there is success, other people are also positively affected by that success.)
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
(If you are always active and doing something, you will remain strong and vital. If you become inactive, you will lose your skills and abilities.)
A stitch in time saves nine.
(You can save a lot of time in the future by making relatively small changes.)
A woman's place is in the home.
(A woman should not work outside the home.)
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
(When you are away from someone you love, your love for that person increases.)
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
(Having too much power will always lead to corruption and the misuse of one's position.)
Actions speak louder than words.
(It's what you do that matters--not what you say.)
All good things come to he who waits.
(If a person can be patient, eventually good things will happen as a result of that patience.)
All good things must come to an end.
(Eventually, a good situation will end or change. Nothing can last forever.)
All that glistens is not gold.
(Money and wealth are not the most valuable things in life. There are other things just as valuable such as one's family or good health.)
All things must pass.
(Life is full of changes; no matter how bad something is, it will likely change in the future.)
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
(A person can't work all the time. If a person always works, he or she will become uninteresting.)
All's fair in love and war.
(A person is permitted to do whatever is necessary to win the love and affection of someone else.)
All is well that ends well.
(Everything is okay if it comes to a good conclusion.)
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
(If you eat healthy food or have a healthy lifestyle, it won't be necessary to use the services of a doctor.)
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
(It's a good idea to prevent a problem from occurring because solving a problem can be expensive or difficult.)
April showers bring May flowers.
(The rain that we get in April is responsible for the beautiful flowers in May.)
Ask a silly question and you'll get a silly answer.
(It stands to reason that a bad question or a question that is not properly formed will yield an answer that is equal to the question.)
Bad news travels fast.
(Whenever something bad happens, people find out about it quickly because everyone talks about it.)
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
(The concept of beauty varies among people. People have different ideas about what is beautiful and what isn't.)
Beggars can't be choosers.
(If you are given something out of need, don't complain or ask for something else if you don't like what you get.)
Behind every great man there is a great woman.
(A successful man owes a great deal of his success to his wife or his girlfriend, or possibly his mother.)
Better late than never.
(It's better to do something late than not to do something.)
Better safe than sorry.
(It's better to be careful than to take risks or chances. Someone who is careful takes longer to do something or spends more money, but that might be a smarter course of action.)
Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
(It's better to do business with a bad person you know than a bad person you don't know.)
Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
(It's better to have been in a love relationship than never to have had the experience--even if the loss of a love relationship leads to heartache.)
Big fish eat little fish.
(People who are powerful can do whatever they want to do to people who are powerless or don't have any money.)
Birds of a feather flock together.
(People with similar interests find each other.)
Blood is thicker than water.
(Family relationships are more important than non-family relationships. There's usually a strong bond among people in a family.)
Boys will be boys.
(Sometimes boys' bad or odd behavior can only be explained by the fact that they are boys. They're rough; they fight; and they get into trouble.)
Brevity is the soul of wit.
(It's best to say something meaningful with as few words as possible.)
Business before pleasure.
(Take care of business first and then you can have a good time later.)
Charity begins at home.
(Before you give money to someone in need, consider the needs of your own family first.)
Cheaters never prosper.
(Cheating or cutting corners is not a good long-term strategy for success.)
Children should be seen and not heard.
(Children should behave themselves and be respectful when in the presence of adults.)
Cleanliness is next to Godliness.
(It's good to be clean. Keep yourself and your home clean and that will bring you closer to God.)
Clothes make the man.
(What you wear is an important reflection of who you are. A nice set of clothes will help a person feel good about himself and raise his image among other people.)
Clothes don't make the man.
(This is the opposite of "Clothes make the man." It doesn't matter what you wear. The most important thing is how you think and behave.)
Count your blessings.
(Consider your good fortune. You are lucky to have what you have.)
Cowards die many times before their deaths.
(A coward is a person who is afraid to take care of an important responsibility. A coward gives up his self-respect and the respect of other people, which is almost as bad as death.)
Crime doesn't pay.
(Robbing and stealing from other people will always lead to trouble and make your life worse.)
Dead men tell no tales.
(A dead person can't say anything about what another person has done. Criminals might take this into consideration when deciding whether or not to kill their victims.)
Discretion is the better part of valor.
(If you do something great or heroic, don't talk about it -- keep it to yourself.)
Do as I say, not as I do.
(Do what I say you should or shouldn't do, but don't follow my example for personal behavior.)
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
(Treat others as you would like to be treated. Be nice and polite to other people and there's the chance that the favor will be returned.)
Don't bite the hand that feeds you.
(Don't turn against the person or thing that provides you with a job, money, food, benefits, whatever.)
Don't burn your bridges behind you.
(If you are going to leave a job or a position, leave it on good terms. Don't cause problems before moving on to a new position.)
Don't cast pearls before swine.
(Common people don't appreciate the finer things in life, so don't give them those things that have great value, such as food, art, literature, treasure, etc.)
Don't change horses in midstream.
(It's not a good idea to make a big change in this circumstance.)
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
(Try not to depend on something good happening until it actually happens. If, for example, someone says you have won a million dollars, wait until you actually receive the money before you allow yourself to feel any happiness or comfort.)
Don't cross that bridge until you come to it.
(Don't worry about or deal with a problem until you are actually experiencing it.)
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
(Don't cause trouble for another person if it also causes trouble for you.)
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
(Be thankful--not critical--of any gift you receive.)
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
(Don't pin your hopes and dreams on one thing; it's better to have more than one plan of action.)
Don't put the cart before the horse.
(Don't plan something too far ahead in the future. Your plans might be disrupted by some unforeseen event.)
Don't rock the boat.
(Don't do something new and different because everything is okay just the way it is.)
Don't throw the baby out with the bath water.
(Don't get rid of or throw away too much of something because you might also get rid of that which is good along with that which is bad.)
Don't try to walk before you can crawl.
(Do things slowly and sequentially -- step by step.)
Don't upset the apple cart.
(Don't do anything new and different. This is similar to "Don't rock the boat.")
Don't wash your dirty linen in public.
(Don't talk about your family or personal matters in front of strangers in public.)
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
(It's a good idea to go to bed early and wake up early because it gives you a head start over other people who might compete against you.)
Easy come, easy go.
(Good things that come into your life easily may also leave easily.)
Eat, drink, and be merry.
(Have a good time. Enjoy the simple things in life like food and drink.)
Enough is enough.
(Stop doing whatever it is you are doing. This situation has gone on for too long.)
Every cloud has a silver lining.
(There's a little bit of good behind every bad situation, but you might not realize it.)
Every dog has his day.
(Everybody experiences something good at some point in his or her life.)
Every Jack has his Jill.
(There's a woman for every man, no matter who he might be.)
Every little bit helps.
(Even small amounts of something such as money can make a difference as it is added into in a larger amount with contributions from others.)
Every man for himself.
(Take care of yourself and your own interests in this desperate situation.)
Every man has his price.
(Any person can be bribed with money to do something or allow something to happen, even if one's principles or integrity is compromised.)
Every picture tells a story.
(Looking at a picture can give a greater impression than reading or listening to the words that might describe it.)
Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die.
(Although heaven is described as a wonderful, beautiful place, human beings are resistant to dying in order to experience heaven firsthand.)
Failing to plan is planning to fail.
(It's important to plan before you do something if you don't want to avoid failure.)
Faith will move mountains.
(You can do anything if you have faith in yourself, in your enterprise, or in a higher power such as God.)
Familiarity breeds contempt.
(The closer you are to a person or a thing, the greater the chance that you will might dislike it because you know its flaws. This can apply to family, friends, coworkers, etc.)
Feed a cold and starve a fever.
(When you have a cold, eat; when you have a fever, don't eat.)
Fight fire with fire.
(Take care of a problem or situation by applying a similar problem or situation. Confront your opponent with an equal amount of force.)
Finders keepers, losers weepers.
(If you lose something and I find it, it's mine.)
First come, first served.
(The person who arrives first or arrives early gets whatever benefits might be available.)
First impressions are the most lasting.
(People remember what a person or thing was like upon the first meeting or experience.)
Fish and guests smell after three days.
(Three days is the limit to have a guest stay with you; after that it begins to get a little uncomfortable.)
Flattery will get you nowhere.
(Offering a person compliments will not lead to something better or improve your situation.)
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
(Foolish, stupid people do things that smarter, wiser people won't do.)
Forewarned is forearmed.
(In order to protect yourself, it's good to have advance warning of something that might happen.)
Forgive and forget.
(If someone does something bad to you, forgive that person and try to forget what happened.)
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.
(It's okay to give food to a person who needs it, but it's better to teach a person how to take care of himself.)
Give, and you shall receive.
(Give to other people and you will receive something in return. Most often, the thing you receive is the good feeling that you have helped another person.)
Give credit where credit is due.
(It's important to recognize people who have helped you; don't take credit for something that you didn't do.)
Give them an inch and they'll take a yard.
(If you allow people privileges or benefits, they'll just want more. This means that it might be better to be strict than to be lenient.)
Go with the flow.
(Do what other people are doing. Allow yourself to relax and try not to worry.)
God helps those who help themselves.
(If you take care of yourself, God will look upon you and your efforts more favorably.)
Good fences make good neighbors.
(Fences prevent problems from occurring between neighbors. Fences provide privacy, security, and peace of mind.)
Good things come to those who wait.
(Be patient and good things will happen for you.)
Great minds think alike.
(People who are intelligent think about things in similar ways.)
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
(Big things can come from something small.)
Grow where you are planted.
(Thrive and become successful in the place where you are now. Don't move in search of success.)
Half a loaf is better than none.
(It's better to have something or part of something than nothing at all. A "loaf" is bread.)
Hard work never did anyone any harm.
(Working hard won't hurt you.)
Haste makes waste.
(If you do something too quickly, you're more likely to make a mistake.)
He who goes a borrowing goes a sorrowing.
(If you borrow money, you'll feel bad about it later.)
He who can, does; he who cannot, teaches.
(A person who can't do something well learns how to teach the activity or subject. This proverb is a knock against teachers and teaching in general.)
He who fights and runs away may live to fight another day.
(It's not a bad idea to run away from a fight because you know you will not lose your life. It's usually better to live than to die.)
He who laughs last laughs best.
(If a person laughs at you, you may have the opportunity in the future to laugh at that person's misfortunes.)
He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.
(If you choose to make a living in the military or if you choose to get into a lot of fights, your chances of getting killed are pretty good.)
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
(Don't make your girlfriend or wife angry. You will regret it.)
Hindsight is always 20-20.
(It's easy to say you knew what was going to happen after something happens. No one knows what will happen in the future)
History repeats itself.
(Human beings are likely to make the same mistakes again and again. Whatever good or bad things have happened in the past are likely to be happening now or in the future.)
Home is where the heart is.
(The best place in the world is where your home, your family, and your friends are. This where you feel at peace.)
Honesty is the best policy.
(It's almost always a good idea to be honest.)
Hope springs eternal.
(Human beings are generally optimistic and hopeful about the future.)
Idle hands are the devil's workshop.
(If you stay busy, you won't get into trouble from temptation: sex, drugs, crime, etc.)
If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well.
(Do good work if a project is important.)
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
(Don't give up; keep trying.)
If God had wanted humans to fly, he'd have given them wings.
(Human beings can't fly naturally, so it goes against God's grand design of the universe when human beings try to do seemingly impossible things, such as fly.)
If it ain't broke, don't fix it.
(If you aren't having trouble with something, don't change it.)
If it's too good to be true, then it probably is.
(Be suspicious of people or situations that offer a large benefit for very little in return. This is similar to, "You can't get something for nothing.")
If life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
(When you are faced with a bad situation, make the best of it and try to get something good from the experience.)
If something can go wrong, it will go wrong.
(Plan for disasters. No matter how much you prepare for the unexpected, something may still happens that surprises you.)
If the mountain won't come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain.
(If you can't get what you want, then you must give in. You must submit yourself to a situation that you can't change.)
If the shoe fits, wear it.
(If a description is accurate, you must accept it as truth.)
If you can't beat them, join them.
(Join the opposition if it is too strong for you to defeat it.)
If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.
(If a situation is too difficult for you, leave it. Don't stay if you can't handle the pressure.)
If you want something done well, you have to do it yourself.
(Sometimes the only person you can trust and rely on is yourself when it comes to getting something done correctly.)
Ignorance is bliss.
(It's good not to know that something is happening. If you don't know about something, you won't worry about it.)
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
(A person who imitates or copies another person is doing so out of love or respect.)
Into every life a little rain must fall.
(Every once once in a while, bad things happen in our lives.)
It goes without saying.
(It's not necessary to say something because it's obvious to everyone what is true.)
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
(The person best qualified to find someone who is dishonest is himself dishonest.)
It takes one to know one.
(A person who seems to know the bad intentions of another person is himself guilty of those same intentions.)
It takes two to tango.
(You need another person to get something accomplished whether that activity is good or bad.)
It's better to give than to receive.
(You feel better about yourself when you give charitably to others.)
It's never too late.
(You can always do something, no matter how late, how old, or how far past a deadline it is.)
It's no use crying over spilled milk.
(Once something has happened, you can't change it, so try not to get too upset.)
It's the early bird that catches the worm.
(If you go to a place early, you will get the benefit by arriving before other people.)
It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease.
(The more you complain and the louder you complain, the more attention you will get.)
Jack of all trades, master of none.
(This is a person who can do almost anything but not to perfection.)
Judge not lest ye be judged.
(If you judge other people or form negative opinions about the behavior of others, be prepared to have your own behavior criticized.)
Justice delayed is justice denied.
(Delaying justice or the punishment of someone who has done something wrong is almost as bad as not providing a just settlement or punishment.)
Keep your chin up.
(Try to remain confident about your situation; don't feel so bad about the way things are going.)
Keep your powder dry.
(Try to keep something of value in reserve in case it is needed; be prepared.)
Knowledge is power.
(The more knowledge or education you have, the better your position will be in life.)
Laugh and the world laughs with you; cry and you cry alone.
(People are more attracted to those who are happy and fun than those who are sad)
Laughter is the best medicine.
(Laughing will help you feel better.)
Learn to walk before you run.
(Don't try to do too much when learning how to do something that is new to you. Take it one step at a time.)
Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.
(Before you criticize others for bad behavior, consider your own behavior first. )
Let bygones be bygones.
(Try not to think too much about something bad that happened in the past. Don't let the past interfere with the present.)
Let sleeping dogs lie.
(Don't try to find out what happened in the past. Revealing the truth about activities in the past could have negative consequences for the present.)
Let the buyer beware. (Caveat emptor)
The buyer is responsible for his own purchases. Be careful when making a purchase.)
Let the punishment fit the crime.
(A person who did something wrong should receive a punishment that is equal to the offense. This expression is used for criminals, but it's also used in jest for common activity.)
Life imitates art.
(A person's behavior is influenced by a movie, novel, painting, song, etc.)
Life is just a bowl of cherries.
(Everything is okay. LIfe is good and there aren't any problems. This is often used with the negative: Life isn't just a bowl of cherries.)
Life is like a box of chocolate, you never know what you're going to get.
(Anything can happen to you. We don't know our fate.)
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
(Something big--romance, inspiration, disaster, sudden wealth, etc.--only happens once to a person.)
Like father, like son.
(The son's behavior is very similar to that of the father.)
Live for today for tomorrow never comes.
(Enjoy your life now because you don't know what will happen tomorrow. Many people simply say something like, "You have to live for today.")
Look before you leap.
(Think before you do something; otherwise, you might make a mistake.)
Look on the sunny side of life.
(Try to be optimistic and think about things that are good rather than things that are bad.)
Loose lips sink ships.
(Talking to other people about something might reveal secrets. This is often applied to military operations. It originated during World War II.)
Love is blind.
(When you are in love, you don't see the world clearly. Nor do you see the other person you are in love with clearly.)
Love makes the world go round.
(Love is what keeps humanity moving forward. It's a very powerful emotion.)
Love thy neighbor.
(Care for and respect other people, whether they live next door to you or occupy the same city, country, continent, etc. The word "thy" is an old English word that means "your." So, you could also say, "Love your neighbor." )
Love will find a way.
(Somehow, people who are in love will get what they want. Love is a powerful emotion that can remove obstacles.)
Make hay while the sun shines.
(Be productive when you have the opportunity because your opportunities are limited.)
Make love not war.
(Love is an effective antidote to war and hostility. Love is a better choice over war.)
Man does not live by bread alone.
(People need more than one form of sustenance, whether that's food, intellectual interest, athletics, adventure, etc. Diversity is good.)
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
(The truth is often revealed when we joke and laugh with one another because we are less inhibited at that time.)
Many hands make light work.
(It's easier to get something finished when a lot of people do the work.)
Measure twice; cut once.
(Be very careful before making a big decision that can't be changed. This proverb is often applied to carpentry and other trades that involve cutting material, but it's also used as a metaphor.)
Misery loves company.
(People who are unhappy enjoy being together because they can share their unhappiness.)
Moderation in all things.
(Don't do one thing too much, no matter how good it might make you feel.)
Money doesn't grow on trees.
(Be careful with your money because it's hard to acquire. Learn to understand the value of money.)
Money is the root of all evil.
(When something bad happens, chances are it involves a lust for money. Greed is bad.)
Money isn't everything.
(There are other things in life that are more important than money.)
Money makes the world go round.
(Money inspires people to do what they have to do. The need for money is at the heart of routine activity.)
Money talks.
(Money is powerful. Money inspires action.)
Monkey see, monkey do.
(People do something after they see another person doing it, often without giving proper consideration to the activity.)
Music hath charms to soothe the savage beast.
(Music calms our animal instincts. This proverb is attributed to the British author, William Congreve. The English looks a little strange because it's 300 years old.)
Necessity is the mother of invention.
(People learn how to make new things when there is a need for them.)
Never judge a book by its cover.
(It's not fair to form an opinion about a person or a thing based only on appearances.)
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
(If you are able to do something now, then do it now; don't wait until tomorrow to do it.)
Never say die.
(Don't give up. Don't quit.)
Never say never.
(Don't limit yourself by saying that you will never do something. Be open to all possibilities, even those that might not be favorable.)
Never speak ill of the dead.
(Don't say bad things about a person who has died, especially someone who has died recently.)
No man is an island.
(Everyone needs help from other people; you can't achieve success without the contributions made by others.)
No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.
(Don't be too influenced by the opinions of other people. If you feel hurt by negative criticism, then you are giving your critics too much credit.)
No pain, no gain.
(If you don't work hard, you won't gain the physical or mental strength that naturally comes from that work.)
No rest for the wicked.
(People who are mean or bad are always plotting to do something bad.)
Nothing is certain but death and taxes.
(There are very few things in life that are predictable.)
Nothing succeeds like success.
(Success is self-evident and attractive.)
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
(You have to make an effort in order to achieve success. If you don't take risks, you might not experience benefits that would otherwise result from risk-taking.)
Oil and water don't mix.
(Certain materials or people cannot be combined.)
Once a thief, always a thief.
(It's difficult for a person to his or her ways. A person who has stolen in the past is likely to commit the crime again.)
Once bitten, twice shy.
(After having one bad experience with something, a person is probably going to be very careful the next time a similar experience arises. This proverb is often applied to romantic relationships.)
One good turn deserves another.
(If someone does something nice for you, you should try to return the favor for that person or someone else.)
One man's junk is another man's treasure.
(What one person considers to be worthless, another person might consider to be valuable. Value depends on the person who evaluates the object.)
One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel.
(One bad person or thing will ruin an entire group through contact or proximity.)
Only the good die young.
(Young people who die early are good people.)
Opportunity knocks only once.
(You get one chance in life to take advantage of certain opportunities--wealth, power, love, prestige, fame, etc.)
Out of sight, out of mind.
(If you don't see something, you and others won't think about it.)
Patience is a virtue.
(The ability to wait and be patient is a good quality in a person.)
People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
(Don't criticize people for having problems or qualities which you yourself have. Don't be a hypocrite.)
Politics makes strange bedfellows.
(People in politics form unusual friendships and relationships in order to achieve their goals.)
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
(If you have something in your possession, you have a legitimate claim to it.)
Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely.
(People in power who have a lot of control over others are very likely to become corrupt.)
Practice makes perfect.
(You have to practice something again and again in order to become good at it.)
Procrastination is the thief of time.
(Time is stolen from you if you waste time procrastinating. You never get that time back.)
Put your best foot forward.
(Do your best in all things. Always try hard to be successful.)
Que sera sera (Whatever will be will be).
(You can't change the way things are.)
Revenge is sweet.
(It feels good to take revenge against another person.)
Rob Peter to pay Paul.
(You can move money from one thing to another without a productive result.)
Rome wasn't built in a day.
(It takes time to make big changes.)
Rules were meant to be broken.
(The way to get something done is to break some rules. You know something is a rule when break it.)
Say something nice or say nothing at all.
(If you can't think of anything nice to say to a person or about something, don't say anything.)
Seeing is believing.
(You might not believe something is true until you see it with your own eyes.)
Seek and you shall find.
(If you really try, you will find either the thing you were looking for or something similar.)
Silence is golden.
(Many people put a high value on peace and quiet. It's not easy to find a place where there is perfect silence.)
Slow and steady wins the race.
(Be patient, don't worry about speed, and you will succeed. Listen to your teacher read this Aesop's fable about The Tortoise and the Hare.)
Something is better than nothing.
(It's better to have something than nothing at all.)
Spare the rod and spoil the child.
(If a child is not punished in some way, usually physically, you will have big problems with the child.)
Speak softly and carry a big stick.
(It's a good idea to show that you have the means to enforce rules in order to avoid using force. The originator of this proverb is U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt.)
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.
(No matter what a person says about another, the words can't inflict physical injury.)
Still waters run deep.
(A person who is quiet and doesn't talk very much probably has a lot on his mind. It could be a personal problem or a person is deep in thought.)
Strike while the iron is hot.
(Take advantage of an opportunity. Do something when you have the chance.)
Stupid is as stupid does.
(Stupidity is reflected in a person's behavior.)
Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan.
(Many people would like to take credit for producing something that is successful, but no one wants to claim a failure as his own.)
Success is a journey, not a destination.
(There are many obstacles to avoid and paths to take in order to achieve success. A person must learn to navigate through these things in order to become successful.)
Talk is cheap.
(Anyone can talk; action is worth more than talk.)
Talk of the devil, and he is sure to appear.
(If you are talking about a person, the chances seem to be increased that he or she will suddenly make an appearance. Similar to "Speak of the devil." )
That which does not kill you makes you stronger.
(Challenges and problems that are overcome increase a person's physical and mental powers.)
The apple never falls far from the tree.
(A child's behavior or physical characteristics are similar to that of the parent.)
The best defense is a good offense.
(The best way to protect yourself is to attack or confront someone first.)
The best things in life are free.
(The things that are really important and valuable in life are free: love, family, honesty, friends, the enjoyment of nature, etc.)
The bigger they come, the harder they fall.
(It's difficult to take down someone or something that is very large. This proverb is used for individuals, groups, or even corporations.)
The boy is father to the man.
(A man is shaped by his experiences as a boy.)
The course of true love never did run smooth.
(Love and romantic relationships are full of ups and downs. This proverb is found in WIlliam Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.)
The customer is always right.
(A business person must do everything possible to keep a customer happy--even when the customer is wrong.)
The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
(The worst period during a tragedy occurs towards the end of it.)
The early bird catches the worm.
(If you get to something early, you will benefit by being among the first to arrive.)
The end justifies the means.
(A person should do whatever is necessary to achieve an objective, even if the method is objectionable.)
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.
(Whatever your neighbor has looks nicer than the things that you have.)
They hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
(Women, particularly mothers, are the driving force behind all of humanity and its leaders.)
The longest journey starts with a single step.
(You must take the first step to do something new or start something.)
The more the merrier.
(The more people there are, the more fun everyone will have.)
The more things change, the more they stay the same.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
(People with the ability to express themselves with words, particulary in writing, have more strength than those who exercise military power.)
The proof is in the pudding.
(To believe that something is correct, you must observe or witness it firsthand.)
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
(People who try to do something good can actually make a situation worse.)
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.
(The quality of a woman that is most appealing to a man is her ability to cook.)
There's more than one way to skin a cat.
(There's more than one solution to a problem.)
There are two sides to every question.
(There's more than one way of looking at a problem, a situation, or a conflict.)
There but for the grace of God, go I.
(It's only through the will of God that a person does not experience a wretched, miserable life as some people do. )
There's a time and place for everything.
(Some behavior is appropriate during certain times and in certain places while not appropriate in others.)
There is an exception to every rule.
(There's a reason for breaking rules. Not all rules are intended to be followed to the letter.)
There's always more fish in the sea.
(There are always more women or men to be found when a romantic relationship ends.)
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
(Nothing is free; there's a price to be paid for just about everything.)
There is no such thing as bad publicity.
(Any kind of publicity in a newspaper, on TV, or on the internet is good for a person or a group because it attracts interest.)
There's no time like the present.
(Now is the best time to do something. Don't wait to do something later.)
There is safety in numbers.
(People or animals in large groups feel safer because they are together.)
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
(You must study history in order to avoid the mistakes that were made by people in the past.)
Time is a great healer.
(Any kind of grief or sadness can be relieved through the passage of time.)
To err is human; to forgive, divine.
(Everyone makes mistakes; to be able to forgive a person for making a mistake demonstrates that person's spiritual strength.)
To the victor go the spoils.
(Whoever wins in competition may have whatever he wants to take from the loser or enjoy whatever the prize was.)
Tomorrow is another day.
(Things will be different tomorrow.)
Tomorrow never comes.
(Tomorrow is always a day in the future. If you say you are going to do something tomorrow, you might not ever do it.)
Too many chefs spoil the soup.
(A situation gets confusing or messy when too many people are involved.)
Two heads are better than one.
(It's good to have another person's help when trying to find a solution to a problem.)
Two is company; three's a crowd.
(Two people who want to be alone together do not want to be disturbed by a third person.)
Two wrongs don't make a right.
(To do something harmful to another person as a response for a personal injury or some type of injustice is wrong. It's not a good idea to seek revenge or retaliate.)
Use it or lose it.
(If you don't use something regularly--usually something related to physical strength or mental powers--your abilities or skills will decrease.)
Variety is the spice of life.
(Diversity is a good thing for its own sake.)
Virtue is its own reward.
(Good behavior is in itself a reward. It should not be necessary to provide incentives to motivate good or kind actions.)
Waste not want not.
(If you don't throw things away or waste things that are useful, you will not find yourself in need of those items in the future.)
What goes up, must come down.
(A positive trend can't continue forever.)
What's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
(What's good for one person is good for another.)
What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.
(Whatever you do in a place like Las Vegas, such as gamble or engage in illegal activity, can remain a secret. No one will find out what you did.)
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
(Do the things that people of a particular place do when you visit their country or city. Eat their food, wear their clothes, behave as they do--even if it's strange.)
When the cat's away, the mice will play.
(People under the supervision of an authority, will break the rules or goof around when that authority is gone. For example, when the teacher leaves the classroom, the students will stop doing their work.)
When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
(When something becomes difficult, people who are faced with the challenge will work harder to overcome the obstacle.)
Where there's a will, there's a way.
(If you really want something, you will get it if you work hard enough.)
While there's life, there's hope.
(When a situation seems desperate or ill-fated, there's still hope as long as people are still working towards achieving some goal.)
Wonders will never cease.
(There's always something that seems miraculous.)
You're never too old to learn.
(No matter what age you are, you can still learn something new.)
You are what you eat.
(Whatever you eat will determine your health.)
You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink.
(You can bring a person or an animal to a situation, but you can't force participation or activity.)
You can't have your cake and eat it too.
(You can't have everything you want to have.)
You can't get blood out of a turnip.
(It's impossible to get something from an object that doesn't possess the substance you desire.)
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
(You can't make something beautiful or useful from bad or inferior material.)
You can't make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
(It's hard to avoid making mistakes or breaking things when you build something.)
You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
(People who are old don't learn new things easily--if at all.)
You can't judge a book by its cover.
(It's not possible or fair to make a decision about the inner qualities of a person based only on what he or she looks like.)
You can't win them all.
(You can't always win. Sometimes you lose.)
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.
(It's better to be nice and polite than to be rude and mean. People are more attracted to someone who is respectful and courteous.)
You reap what you sow.
(Outcomes are determined by behavior. If a person's behavior is bad, it will probably result in a negative consequence in the future.)
Youth is wasted on the young.
(Young people don't fully appreciate the advantages of their youth.)