A drowning man will clutch at a straw Meaning: in desperate situation

people use any chance, even if it is hopeless, to get themselves out of it

A good beginning makes a good end Meaning: If a task is carefully

planned, there's a better chance that it will be done well

A good mind possesses a kingdom Meaning: Material assets are

fleeting, but intellectual assets will basically stay with you for the rest of
your life

A good name is the best of all treasures Meaning: Your good reputation
is worth more than money

A friend's eye is a good mirror Meaning: A real friend will tell you the
truth

A fool and his money are soon parted Meaning: Stupid people spend
their money carelessly and soon become poor

A fool at forty is a fool forever Meaning: If a person hasn't matured by

the age of 40, they never will

The apple never falls far from the tree Meaning: Children are in many
regards like their parents

Advisers run no risks Meaning: It is easy to give advice, but hard to act
All's fair in love and war Meaning: Nothing is out of bounds when it
comes to love and war

All are not friends that speak us fair Meaning: Someone says nice things
about you doesn't mean that they are your friend or that they even like
you

All hat and no cattle Meaning: All talk and appearance and little or no
substance

All roads lead to Rome – Meaning: There are many different routes to
the same goal

All things come to those who wait Meaning: A patient seeker will be
satisfied in due time

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy Meaning: Be sure to take
breaks from work and do something entertaining

An army marches on its stomach Meaning: An army needs a regular

supply of food in order to keep on fighting

March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers Meaning:
Sometimes unpleasant things are required to bring good things

As you make your bed, so you must lie in it Meaning: You have to
suffer the consequences of what you do
A hedge between keeps friends green Meaning: Your friendship will
flourish if you and your friend respect each other's privacy

Actions speak louder than words Meaning: What one does is more
important than what one says

A friend in need is a friend indeed Meaning: A friend is never known

till a man has need

A leopard cannot change its spots Meaning: It is not possible for a bad
or unpleasant person to become good

All cats love fish but hate to get their paws wet Meaning: a person who
is keen to obtain something of value, but who is not bold enough to
make the necessary effort or to take the risk

All good things must come to an end Meaning: All experiences, even
pleasant ones, eventually end

All's well that ends well Meaning: An event that has a good ending is
good even if some things went wrong along the way

All that glitters is not gold Meaning: Not everything that looks precious
or true turns out to be so

An apple a day keeps the doctor away Meaning: Apples are so

nutritious that if you eat an apple every day, you will not ever need to go
to a doctor
A loaded wagon makes no noise Meaning: People with real wealth don't
talk about it

A man is known by the company he keeps Meaning: A person's

character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their
time

A new broom sweeps clean Meaning: A newly-appointed person makes

changes energetically

A rotten apple injures its companions /A rotten apple spoils the

barrel Meaning: A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad
influence on a group

A stitch in time saves nine Meaning: It's better to deal with a problem at
an early stage, to prevent it from getting worse

A stumble may prevent a fall Meaning: Correcting a small mistake may

help you to avoid making a bigger one

A tree is known by its fruit Meaning: A man is judged by his actions

A young idler, an old beggar Meaning: If you don't work, you won't
have any money when you're old

As fit as a fiddle Meaning: Very fit and well

Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies Meaning: There are subjects I'd
rather not discuss

Aught for naught, and a penny change Meaning: You can't get
something for nothing - you might as well expect to get paid to take it

Bad news travels fast Meaning: Information about trouble or misfortune

disseminates quickly

A bad penny always turns up Meaning: An unpopular person will

always return to the place he came from

Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow Meaning: It is better to have a

sure thing now than a possibility of more later

Better be the head of a dog then the tail of a lion Meaning: It's better to
be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a bigger one

Better is the enemy of good Meaning: The aim for perfection or mastery
might be in the way of progress

Better late than never Meaning: Doing something late is better than not
doing it

Better lose the saddle than the horse Meaning: It's better to stop and
accept a small loss, rather than continue and risk losing everything
Better safe than sorry Meaning: You should be cautious—if you are not,
you may regret it

Beware of Greeks bearing gifts Meaning: Don't trust your enemies

Birds of a feather flock together Meaning: People with important

similarities seek out one another's company, often to the exclusion of
others

Bitter pills may have blessed effects Meaning: The remedy might be
bitter, but the cure might be wonderful

Blood is thicker than water Meaning: Family ties are always more
important than the ties you make among friends

Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder Meaning: Different people have

different ideas about what is beautiful

A bad workman blames his tools Meaning: someone blames the objects
they are using for their own mistakes

Barking dogs seldom bite Meaning: A person who often threatens rarely
carries out his threats

Beggars can't be choosers Meaning: If you are in a bad situation or do

not have much to offer you must be content with whatever help you can
get
Better to be alone than in bad company Meaning: Be careful in the
choice of the people you associate with

Better the devil you know than the devil you don't Meaning: It is often
better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and
know, even if they are not ideal, than someone new

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush Meaning: It is better to keep
what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better

A blow with a word strikes deeper than a blow with a sword Meaning:
The pen is mightier than the sword

Bloom where you are planted Meaning: It is often better to escalate

your commitment rather than starting over with something new

Born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth Meaning: Born in a rich

family

Boys will be boys Meaning: Boys are traditionally expected to

misbehave, while girls are not

A broken watch is right two times a day Meaning: A person who is

wrong will eventually be right about something

A burnt child dreads the fire Meaning: You will avoid an activity which
has given you a bad experience for the rest of your life
By hook or by crook Meaning: A thing to be achieved will be done in a
straightforward way, but if it cannot, then it will be achieved by any
means necessary

The calm comes before the storm Meaning: Turbulent times wait just
around the corner when it is calm

A cat has nine lives Meaning: Cats can survive many accidents

A cat may look at a king Meaning: Everyone has the right to be curious
about important people

A chain is only as strong as its weakest link Meaning: A group is not

stronger than its weakest member

Clothes don't make the man Meaning: Appearances can be deceiving

Constant occupation prevents temptation Meaning: When you work you

avoid temptation

Damned if you do, damned if you don't Meaning: Refers to a situation

where both possibilities will lead to harm or blame

Dead men tell no tales Meaning: A dead person cannot cause

difficulties by revealing something
Desperate times call for desperate measures Meaning: In adverse
circumstances actions that might have been rejected under other
circumstances may become the best choice

Different strokes for different folks Meaning: Different things suit

different people

Diligence is the mother of good fortune - Meaning: Hard work brings

rewards

Distance makes the heart grow fonder Meaning: When you are
separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger

Don't bark if you can't bite Meaning: Don't do things you haven't got the
competence for

Don't bite off more than you can chew Meaning: To try to do more than
you are able to do

Don't bite the hand that feeds you Meaning: To treat someone badly
who has helped you in some way

Don't burn the candle at both ends Meaning: Don't work early in the
morning and late into the evening as well

Don't count your chickens before they're hatched Meaning: You should
not count on something before it happens
Don't cross a bridge before you come to it Meaning: Focus on a
problem the moment you are facing it, and not earlier

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face Meaning: Do not take action
to spite others that will harm you more than them

Don't fall before you're pushed Meaning: Don't give up in the face of
adversity

Don't have too many irons in the fire Meaning: To be doing too many
things at once

Don't judge a book by its cover Meaning: Don't judge by appearances

Don't look a gift horse in the mouth Meaning: Never criticize gifts

Don't make a mountain out of a molehill Meaning: Don't make a big

deal out of a little thing

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you Meaning: One
should treat others as one would like others to treat oneself

Don't put all your eggs in one basket Meaning: Meaning: Do not rest all
your hopes on one eventuality; plan for several cases

Don't put the cart before the horse Meaning: Do not do things in the
wrong order
Don't spit into the wind Meaning: Don't take actions which you know
will harm yourself or be futile

Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater Meaning: Don't reject an
idea entirely because parts of it are bad

Easier said than done Meaning: What is suggested sounds easy but it is
more difficult to actually do it

Eyes are bigger than your belly Meaning: Think you can eat more than
you can

The early bird catches the worm Meaning: Those who starts working
early in the morning will get much done

An Englishman's home is his castle Meaning: There is no place like

home

Every cloud has a silver lining Meaning: There is nothing bad that does
not bring about something good

Every man has his price Meaning: Everyone's loyalty can be bought for
a price

Every rose has its thorn Meaning: No one is perfect

The exception proves the rule Meaning: Something that does not follow
a rule shows that the rule exists

Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise -
Meaning: Going to bed early and waking up early is good for success

Easy come, easy go Meaning: When you get money quickly, it's easy to
spend it or lose it quickly as well

The ends justify the means Meaning: You can use bad or immoral
methods as long as you accomplish something good by using them

Every dog has its day Meaning: Everyone gets their chance eventually

Experience is the father of wisdom Meaning: Experience and

knowledge result in better judgement

Failure is the stepping stone for success Meaning: Failing will make
you more determined to succeed the next time you try

Fine words butter no parsnips Meaning: No amount of talking can

replace action

First come, first served Meaning: Is a service policy whereby the

requests of customers or clients are attended to in the order that they
arrived
First things first Meaning: The most important and most urgent worries
should be taken care of first

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me Meaning:

One should learn from one's mistakes

Forewarned is forearmed Meaning: Those who know that something is

coming are better prepared to face itthan those who do not know

Forgive, but don't forget Meaning: Let things go and pass, but don't
forget what they were

Fortune favours the bold Meaning: People who bravely go after what
they want are more successful than people who try to live safely

Fretting cares make grey hairs Meaning: Worrying can age you
prematurely

The grass is always greener on the other side Meaning: You will always
want what you don't have

Grasp all, lose all Meaning: Trying to get everything will often result in
not gaining anything

God helps those who help themselves Meaning: Don't just wait for good
things to happen to you, work hard to achieve your goals
Good things come to those who wait Meaning: Be patient and
eventually something good will happen to you

Good and quickly seldom meet Meaning: A well-done job takes time

Green leaves and brown leaves fall from the same tree Meaning: If you
are good at one aspect of a skill, you should be skilled at the other
aspects

Half a loaf is better than none Meaning: You should be grateful for
something, even if it's not as much as you wanted

Hard words break no bones Meaning: It is often good to tell someone a

harsh truth

Haste makes waste Meaning: You do not save any time by working too
fast

Hawks will not pick out Hawk's eyes Meaning: One belonging to a
group having common interests is not likely to act against or find fault
with another

The head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harm Meaning: If
you take care of the important matters, everything else will fall into
place

He laughs best who laughs last Meaning: He who wins in the end wins
He who dares wins is a Latin aphorism, is a motto made popular by the
British Special Air Service

Health is wealth Meaning: The loss of health is loss of all happiness

He who plays with fire gets burnt Meaning: If you behave in a risky
way, you are likely to have problems

He who hesitates is lost Meaning: The person who waits too long loses
the opportunity

He who wills the end wills the means Meaning: If you are determined to
do something you will find a way

Handsome is what handsome does Meaning: Behaviour is more

important than looks

Honesty is the best policy Meaning: It's always better to be honest

Honey catches more flies than vinegar Meaning: You can obtain more
cooperation from others by being nice

Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst Meaning: Bad things might
happen, so be prepared

However long the night, the dawn will break - Meaning: Bad things
don't last forever
If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will follow Meaning: If you
let something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult

If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one Meaning: If you
try to do two things at the same time, you won't succeed in doing either
of them

If you want a thing done right, do it yourself Meaning: You cannot rely
on other people to do things properly for you

Ignorance is bliss Meaning: Not knowing something is often more

comfortable than knowing it

In for a penny, in for a pound Meaning: Commitment will often escalate

In one ear and out the other Meaning: Heard but not remembered

In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king Meaning: If

surrounded by people less capable, someone who would not normally be
considered special can shine

In times of prosperity friends are plentiful Meaning: You have many

friends when you have no difficulties

It never rains but it pours Meaning: Misfortunes usually come in large

numbers
It takes both rain and sunshine to make rainbows Meaning: It takes
good and bad to make good things in the future, or make them stand out

It's a long lane that has no turning Meaning: Bad times won't last for
long

It's always darkest before the dawn Meaning: There is hope, even in the
worst of circumstances

It's an ill wind that blows no good Meaning: There is nothing bad that
does not bring about something good

It's easy to be wise after the event Meaning: It is easy to understand

what you could have done to prevent something bad from happening
after it has happened

It's never too late to mend Meaning: It is never too late to apologize for
something you have done wrong

It's no use crying over spilt milk Meaning: It is not useful feeling sorry
about something that has already happened

Justice delayed is justice denied - Meaning: If the law is applied too late,
there is no justice
Kill the goose that lays the golden egg Meaning: Destroy something
that would be a source of wealth

Kindness begets kindness Meaning: If you are kind to people, they will
be kind to you

Knowledge is power - is a Latin aphorism

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer Meaning: If you have
an enemy, pretend to be friends with them instead of openly fighting
with them

Least said sooner mended Meaning: A bad event can more easily be
forgotten if you do not talk about it

Let sleeping dogs lie Meaning: Leave something alone if it might cause
trouble

Let the cobbler stick to his last Meaning: Don't talk about things you
don't know anything about

Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas Meaning: You will become like
your company

Lightning never strikes twice in the same place Meaning: The same
misfortune won't happen to a person twice
Life is what you make of it Meaning: Nothing's going to change unless
you do something about it

Like cures like Meaning: A person can better help another if they have
something in common

Little by little and bit by bit Meaning: Do things slowly and carefully

Live and let live Meaning: Let others do whatever they want as long as
it does not hurt anyone

The longest mile is the last mile home Meaning: It is always the end of
something that feels the most difficult

Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after
themselves Meaning: Save every penny you can and it will build up into
a significant amount of money

Look before you leap Meaning: Think before you act

Loose lips sink ships Meaning: Disclosing important information could

result in large losses

Love is blind Meaning: If you love someone, you cannot see any faults
in that person
Man proposes but God disposes Meaning: Things often don't turn out as
you have planned

Manners make the man Meaning: A person's manners show their

origins

Many hands make light work Meaning: Sharing work makes work
easier

Many a mickle makes a muckle Meaning: Many small parts will

eventually creat something impressive

Marry in haste, and repent at leisure Meaning: If you marry someone

you do not know well,you will regret it for a long time

Measure twice, cut once Meaning: Think before you act

Misery loves company Meaning: Unhappy people like other people to

be unhappy too

Misfortunes never come singly Meaning: Bad things tend to happen in

groups

A miss by an inch is a miss by a mile Meaning: A miss is a miss

regardless the distance

Missing the wood for the trees Meaning: While tending to every detail
you might miss out the big picture
Money cannot buy happiness Meaning: Wealthy people have their own
set of concerns

Money is the root of all evil - Meaning: Money is the main cause of
wrongdoing and problems

Monkey see, monkey do - Meaning: People will do like others without

thinking

More haste, less speed Meaning: Hurry, but work slowly to make sure
what you attend to gets done properly

Need teaches a plan Meaning: Necessity will make you find a solution

Never cast a clout till May be out Meaning: Don't discard your winter
clothing until May is over

Never put off till (until) tomorrow what you can do today Meaning:
You should not delay doing something if you can do it immediately

Never say never Meaning: Nothing is impossible, anything can happen

Never trouble trouble till trouble troubles you Meaning: Stay out of
trouble, but be prepared in case you become troubled
A new broom sweeps clean Meaning: Newcomers are the most
ambitious

No man is an island Meaning: Everyone needs help from other people

No man can serve two masters Meaning: It's impossible to follow

instructions from two different sources

No pain, no gain Meaning: If you want to improve, you must work so

hard that it hurts

No news is good news Meaning: someone feel less worried when they
have not received information about something, because if something
bad had happened, they would have been told about it

No time like the present Meaning: Don't spend time regretting past
actions or worrying about the future

Nothing succeeds like success Meaning: If you have succeeded in the

past, you will continue to be successful in the future

Nothing ventured, nothing gained Meaning: You cannot expect to

achieve anything if you don't take risks

An old dog will learn no tricks Meaning: It is impossible to change

people's habits or traits
One good turn deserves another Meaning: Treat someone good who has
been treating you good

One man's meat is another man's poison - Meaning: People don't always
like the same things

One rotten apple will spoil the whole barrel Meaning: One bad person
can influence many others to behave in a bad way

One today is worth two tomorrow Meaning: What you have today is
better than what is hoped for

One swallow doesn't make a summer - Meaning: A single satisfactory

event does not mean that all the others will be as good

Once bitten, twice shy Meaning: When something has hurt you once,
you tend to avoid that thing

Opportunity knocks only once Meaning: You will only have one chance
to do something important

Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings Meaning: Children often

speak wisely

Out of sight... Out of mind Meaning: You will not see a thing which is
out of your sight
Penny wise, pound foolish Meaning: A person who is careful about
spending small amounts of money, but not careful about spending large
amounts of money

A penny saved is a penny earned Meaning: Money that you save is

more valuable than money that you spend right away

People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones at

another Meaning: You should not criticize other people for having the
same faults that you yourself have

Practice before you preach Meaning: Before asking others to do

something, make sure you are following it yourself

Practice makes perfect Meaning: You have to practice a skill a lot to

become good at it

Prevention is better than cure - Meaning: It is best to be proactive

Pride comes before a fall Meaning: Don't be too self-confident;

something may happen to make you look foolish

The proof of the pudding is in the eating Meaning: You will not really
learn about something unless you test it

Put a beggar on horseback and he'll ride it to death Meaning: If you get
rich suddenly you will spend a lot of money
Revenge is sweet Meaning: There is satisfaction in returning an injury

Rome wasn't built in a day Meaning: It takes time to create something

impressive

Seeing is believing - Meaning: You believe in something when it is

confirmed by concrete evidence

Silence gives consent Meaning: If you don't object to something it can

be assumed that you agree with it

Silence is golden Meaning: sometimes it is better not to say anything

Simple minds think alike Meaning: Simple things amuse simple minds

Some days you get the bear, other days the bear gets you Meaning:
Some days you win, and some days you lose

The squeaky wheel gets the grease Meaning: A person that complains
about a service often gets much

Spare the rod and spoil the child Meaning: If you don't punish a child
when he does wrong, you will spoil his character

Still waters run deep Meaning: Taciturn people have the most
interesting things to say
Stolen fruit is the sweetest Meaning: Forbidden things are the most
desirable

Strike while the iron is hot Meaning: Take the opportunity now; don't
waste it

Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof Meaning: Don't worry about
the future; focus on today's worries

That which does not kill you, makes you stronger Meaning: Unpleasant
experiences will make you wiser

Tall oaks grow from little acorns Meaning: Great things may come from
small beginnings

The die is cast Meaning: A decision has been made and it's impossible
to change it

The dogs bark but the caravan goes on Meaning: Let the world say what
it will

The end justifies the means Meaning: Wrong methods may be used if
the result of the action is good

The road to hell is paved with good intentions Meaning: It's not enough
to intend to do something, you must actually do it
The straw that broke the camel's back Meaning: The last of a number of
little things which led to something major

The truth is in the wine Meaning: People speak more freely under the
influence of alcohol

There is no smoke without fire Meaning: Everything happens for a

reason

There's no time like the present Meaning: If you need to do something,

don't wait until later

There's no such thing as a free lunch Meaning: Things that are offered
for free always have a hidden cost

Time is money Meaning: Time is valuable and should not be wasted

Time will tell Meaning: Sometime you just can't know

Tomorrow is another day - Meaning: You can't do everything today

Too many cooks spoil the broth Meaning: Too many persons involved
in managing an activity can ruin it

Too much of one thing, good for nothing Meaning: You can have too
much of something good
Tread on a worm and it will turn Meaning: Even the weakest person
will try to defend when he feels threatened

Trouble shared is trouble halved Meaning: If you tell someone about a

problem you are having, the problem will not seem so daunting

Two heads are better than one Meaning: Two people working together
have a better chance of solving a problem than one person working
alone

Two is a company; three is a crowd Meaning: A loving couple wants to

be left alone

Two wrongs don't make a right Meaning: A second misdeed or mistake

does not cancel the first

Union is strength Meaning: If people join together, they are more

powerful than if they work by themselves

Use it or lose it Meaning: Not using a skill might lead you into losing it

Variety is the spice of life Meaning: You should try many different
kinds of experiences, because trying it keeps life interesting
Walk softly, carry a big stick Meaning: Be affable but be sure to have
powerful punitive measures

Walk the walk and talk the talk - Meaning: First do your task, and then
talk about it

Walls have ears Meaning: Someone may be listening

A watched pot never boils Meaning: While waiting for something to

happen, it feels like time is moving slower

Well begun is half done Meaning: Beginning a project well makes it

easier to do the rest

What goes around comes around Meaning: Good acts will quite often
reward you

What a man says drunk, he thinks sober Meaning: People speak more
freely under the influence of alcohol

What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals Meaning: People are

less discreet under the influence of alcohol

What you sow is what you reap Meaning: Everything that happens to
you is a result of your own actions

When in Rome, do as the Romans do Meaning: When you are visiting

another country, you should behave like the people in that country
When the cat is away, the mice will play Meaning: When no one in
authority is present, the subordinates can do as they please

When the going gets tough, the tough get going Meaning: Strong people
don't give up when they come across challenges

Where there's muck there's brass Meaning: There is money to be made

in dirty jobs

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink Meaning:
You can give someone an opportunity, but you can't force him to take
advantage of it

You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs Meaning:

When you try to do something great, you'll probably make a few people
annoyed or angry