POVERBS
A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or tells you
something about life.
An old Arab proverb says, 'The enemy of my enemy is my friend.'
Proverbs vs. idioms
Proverbs and idioms are similar and easily confused with one another. Both are forms of
expression that are natural to groups of people and are short and pithy.
Idioms express an idea or thought and are phrases that contain a group of words that
typically wouldn’t make sense together (e.g., it’s raining cats and dogs, pulling someone’s
leg, by the skin of your teeth). They are also frequently used in poetry.
Proverbs have a literal meaning and tend to express a truth or dispense advice such as
actions speak louder than words; all’s well that end’s well; a leopard never changes its spots.
Example of poverbs
1 The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.
Meaning: Children tend to resemble their parents in appearance and behavior.
2 All that glitters is not gold.
Meaning: Something that appears valuable or true may not be.
3 A picture is worth a thousand words.
Meaning: Artwork or images can convey meanings that go beyond verbal description.
4 Beggars can’t be choosers.
Meaning: People who depend on the generosity of others must be content with what is
offered to them.
5 A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Meaning: What you already have in hand is better than what you might get.
6 An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Meaning: If you eat healthily, you will be healthy.
7 Better safe than sorry.
Meaning: It is better to be precautious than to have regrets later on.
8 Blood is thicker than water.
Meaning: Relationships between family members are the strongest of all.
9 When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Meaning: When you visit a new place, leave all judgments behind and embrace the local
ways of life.
10 Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Meaning: Don’t make plans based on events that haven’t happened.
11 Every cloud has a silver lining.
Meaning: No matter what difficult situation you’re in, there is always a positive side to be
seen.
12 A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.
Meaning: It is necessary to take the first step to achieve a long-term goal.
13 Necessity is the mother of invention.
Meaning: When you really need something, you find a way to make it happen.
14 Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Meaning: Someone’s wrongful conduct is not justification for acting in the same way.
15 The pen is mightier than the sword.
Meaning: Written words can yield more power than brute force or action.
16 Birds of a feather flock together.
Meaning: People tend to stick together with other like-minded people.
17 Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Meaning: Important work takes time.
18 Time waits for no one.
Meaning: Don’t procrastinate or delay taking action, as we have no control over the passage
of time.
19 Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Meaning: Too many people working on the same project can lead to an inferior result.
20 When there’s smoke, there’s fire.
Meaning: If there are rumors or signs that something is true, it usually is.
21 If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Meaning: If something works well already, don’t bother trying to change it.
22 You can’t have your cake and eat it too.
Meaning: It’s impossible to satisfy two opposite desires.
