English Proverbs: Every student is given one proverb to memorize.
They should memorize
the proverb word for word, but they can explain the meaning of the proverb in their own
words.
Proverb:
Absence makes the heart grow
fonder.
Meaning:
If you spend time away from
someone you love, you will love
them even more. In other
words, you realize how much
you love something when you
are spend time away from it.
Proverb:
You can lead a horse to water
but you can't make it drink.
Meaning:
You can tell somebody what
the best thing to do is, but you
can't make them do it. In other
words, even if you give
somebody good advice, they
might not follow it.
Proverb:
The apple doesn't fall far from
the tree.
Meaning:
Children grow up to be similar
to their parents. For example, if
the parents are bad then the
child will be bad as well.
Proverb:
Don't put all your eggs in one
basket.
Meaning:
You should not depend on just
one thing for success. Instead,
you should diversify your risks.
For example, don't invest all your
money in one thing because you
might lose everything if it fails.
Proverb:
What doesn't kill you makes you
stronger.
Meaning:
People become tougher and
wiser by facing hardships. For
example, if someone cheats you
out of money, the experience will
make you wiser so that you
Proverb:
Don't count your chickens before
they hatch.
Meaning:
Don't rely on something that
hasn't happened yet. For
example, you shouldn't spend
money that you haven't earned
yet.
Proverb:
There is more than one way to
skin a cat.
Meaning:
There is more than one way to
solve a problem. In other
words, if one solution doesn't
work, try to find another way to
solve the problem.
Proverb:
Necessity is the mother of
invention.
Meaning:
If you really need to do
something you will find a way.
In other words, people can be
very creative when they have to
be.
Proverb:
That's the pot calling the kettle
black.
Meaning:
You shouldn't criticize other
people's faults if you have
those same faults. For
example, if you are lazy you
shouldn't complain when other
people are lazy.
Proverb:
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Meaning:
There is a positive side to every
bad situation. In other words,
bad things also produce some
good.
Proverb:
You shouldn't judge a book by
its cover.
Meaning:
Outward appearances can be
deceiving. In other words, you
should look at something
closely before deciding if it is
good or bad.
Proverb:
When it rains, it pours.
Meaning:
When bad* things happen, they
happen all at once. In other
words, if you have some bad
luck, more bad luck will follow
shortly.
(*It is also sometimes used for
good things as well.)
Proverb:
Look before you leap.
Meaning:
You should carefully plan things
before you do anything. In other
words, don't be hasty because If
you act rashly, you might get
hurt.
Proverb:
A leopard cannot change its
spots.
Meaning:
People cannot change their
personality or nature. For
example, if someone is bad
then they will always be bad (so
don't believe people who say
they've changed).
Proverb:
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Meaning:
If too many people are
managing something, it will fail.
In other words, it's better to
have one person directing a
project than many people.