English proverbs

English language as other languages has its own proverbs which people are used to say in particular situation.

Actually I find the following proverbs in a site an I do like its way in presenting the proverbs.
The site presents the proverbs and then provides the explanation or the meaning of that proverbs.


English Proverbs''



Between the devil and the deep sea




To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.




Where there's a will there's a way



When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.



A burnt child dreads fire



A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.



First come, first served



The first in line will be attended to first.



A friend in need is a friend indeed




A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.




Discretion is the better part of valor



If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.


A hungry man is an angry man



A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.



Empty vessels make the most noise



Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.





Great talkers are little doers



Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.



An idle brain is the devil's workshop



One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.




An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit



It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.




A rolling stone gathers no moss



A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.



As you sow, so you shall reap



One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.



Barking dogs seldom bite



Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.




Better late than never



To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all.



A bird in hand is worth two in the bush




Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.



Birds of a feather flock together


People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.



Call a spade a spade




If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.



Charity begins at home



A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin
thinking of talking about helping others.




Dead men tell no lies




( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)



A great talker is a great liar



A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.


Every cloud has a silver lining



If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation.



All that glitters is not gold



Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.


Eat to live, but do not live to eat



Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.



Don't put all your eggs in one basket



One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.





Any time means no time



When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.




Fire is a good servant but a bad master



Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.



T.B.C ..
In sha'a Alaha

Actions speak louder than words



Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of.


Fortune knocks once at every man's door

Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life.


Give the devil his due



Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings.


God helps those who help themselves

God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort.


.


Great minds think alike

Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.


Habit is second nature

An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature.


He laughs best who laughs last

A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end.


Never do things by halves



One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately.


Great haste makes great waste

If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later.


It's never too late to mend

It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.


It's no use crying over spilt milk



It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified.


Still waters run deep

One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person.


Jack of all trades and master of none

Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them.


Let bygones by bygones

One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others.


Let not the pot call the kettle black



A person who has a fault should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another person as you may have the same weakness.


Let sleeping dogs lie

One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble.


No news is good news

When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right.


Look before you leap

Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences.


Necessity is the mother of invention

When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it.


Honesty is the best policy

Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.

.

Once bitten twice shy

If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time.


Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter

( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother )


Practice makes perfect

It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it


Prevention is better than cure

It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen.


Rome was not built in a day

Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily.



Spare the rod and spoil the child

A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly.


Speech is silver, silence is golden

Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take.


It takes two to make a quarrel

Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself.


Strike while the iron is hot

Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible.


There's no smoke without fire

Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them.


Time and tide wait for no one

Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent.
.

What's done can't be undone



In life there are some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back.


Two heads are better than one

It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment.


When in Rome do as the Romans do

When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs.


When the cat is away the mice will play

When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law


Absence makes the heart grow fonder


One usually desires another more when he or she is far away.

A bad workman always blames his tools

A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself.


A new broom sweeps clean

A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work.


Don't judge a book by its cover

Do not be deceived by appearances.


Blood is thicker than water

Family ties are stronger than any other.


Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.

Do not make plans based on something that has not happened.


Don't make a mountain out of a molehill

Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small


Experience is the best teacher

The best way to learn a job is to do it.


The last straw that broke the camel's back

The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin.


Look at the bright side

Be optimistic


Make hay while the sun shines

Seize opportunities


Out of sight, out of mind

You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with.


A leopard cannot change its spots

A person's nature cannot change.


There are two sides to every question
There are always two ways of looking at something

Too many cooks spoil the broth
Too many people doing the same thing at the same time will not be successful

We never miss the water till the well runs dry
You only realize the importance of something when it is gone

To put the cart before the horse

hey hwagess naged

thanks hun for the nice participation in this forum

i hope you will keep the good work up

best wishes

thanks