Proverbs
Еvеry culture hаs а cоllеctiоn оf wisе sаyings thаt оffеr аdvicе аbоut hоw to livе
yоur lifе.
Thеsе sаyings аrе cаllеd "prоvеrbs". Pоvеrbs hаvе bееn cоnsidеrеd thе flоwеrs оf
pоpulаr wit аnd thе trеаsurеs оf pоpulаr wisdоm.
A Proverb is a simple and short saying, widely known, often metaphorical, which
expresses a basic truth or practical precept, based on the practical experience of
humankind, and the idiosyncrasies of a people and their culture in time and history.
А Sаying is a shоrt wеll-knоwn еxprеssiоn — а rеmаrk оf wisdоm аnd truth оr а
gеnеrаl аdvicе.
А grеаt wаy tо imprоvе yоur undеrstаnding оf thе Еnglish culturе, pеоplе аnd
histоry is tо study Еnglish prоvеrbs аnd sаyings. By mеmоrizing thеm, yоu will
nоt оnly lеаrn sоmе cоmmоn Еnglish sаyings; yоu will аlsо hеlp yоur brаin tо
bеcоmе bеttеr аt fоrming gооd Еnglish sеntеncеs.
Proverb Meaning Translation
A drowning man In desperate situation people use any Утопающий хватается
will clutch at a chance, even if it is hopeless, to get за соломинку
straw themselves out of it
A bird in the It is better to keep what you have Лучше синица в
hand is worth two than to risk losing it by trying to get руках, чем журавль на
in the bush something better небе
Don't cross a Focus on a problem the moment you Не переходи мост,
bridge before you are facing it, and not earlier пока до него не
come to it добрался
Too many cooks
spoil the broth.
This proverb talks about the trouble У семи нянек дитя без
of too many people trying to do the глазу
same thing at once.
When in Rome,
Act the way that the people around С волками жить, по-
do as the Romans
you are acting. волчьи выть
do.
Honesty is the If you are honest and tell the truth, Честность- лучшая
best policy. people will believe you and respect политика
you.
Where there’s a If you have the will to meet the Если есть желание, то
will, there’s a problems that are in front of you, найдется и
way. there is a way to overcome them. возможность.
The early bird
catches the worm You should wake up and start work Кто рано встает, того
early if you want to succeed. удача ждет
A watched pot
never boils. If something takes time to finish, Кто над чайником
don't watch it too closely because it стоит, у того он не
will seem like it's taking forever. кипит
An apple a day
keeps the doctor If you eat well and your diet includes Яблоко на ужин, и
a lot of fruits and vegetables, there доктор не нужен
away.
will be no need to visit the doctor.
Every cloud has a
silver lining. Every bad situation has some good Нет худа без добра
parts to it—you just have to look for
them.
A leopard can’t
change its spots. A person can’t change its innate Горбатого могила
character, especially bad. исправит
It’s no use crying
over spilled milk. This proverb advises you to Слезами горю не
stay calm during such small поможешь
problems. Don’t waste time
worrying about little things that
cannot be changed.
A picture paints
a thousand words It is easier to show or explain Картина рисует
something through a picture than тысячи слов
through words.
Appearances can
be deceptive. Outward appearance may not be Внешность может
what you believe them to be. быть обманчива
Every man is the
architect of his Your own actions and decisions Каждый сам кузнец
destiny. decide what you achieve (or don’t) своего счастья
in life.
Don’t judge a
This proverb teaches you not to Не суди книгу по
book by its cover.
make judgments about other people обложке
because of how they look or dress.
Spare the rod,
If you avoid disciplining your child f Розги пожалеешь,
spoil the child
or behaving badly, they will never gr ребенка испортишь
ow out of that bad behavior and will
become spoiled as a result.
One man's meat
What one person may consider good, Что полезно одному,
is another man's
enjoyable, or beneficial may be disli то вредно другому
poison ked by someone else.
Doubt is the
This is a reference to the inherent Сомнение – это
beginning, not
drive to understand and make sense начало, а не конец
the end, of of everything. Everyone is looking мудрости.
wisdom for certainty , because that is
something that gives us comfort
since the biggest questions don’t
have answers.
Birds of a feather
People of same flavour or interest Рыбка рыбака видит
flock together
gets together in groups издалека
All work and no
play makes Jack It means that without time off from Умей дело делать -
a dull boy work, a person becomes both bored умей и позабавиться.
and boring. Мешай дело с
бездельем, проживешь
век с весельем.
A new broom
sweeps clean A new manager (of a company or or Новая метла чисто
ganization) will be able to bring a метёт.
fresh perspective and energy
necessary to making beneficial
changes and improvements.
A man is known
by the company A person tends to be very similar in Скажи мне, кто твой
he keeps attitude, character, ability, or друг, и я скажу тебе,
personality to the people with whom кто ты. С кем хлеб-
they associate or spend time. соль водишь, на того
и походишь.
Talk of the devil,
and he will An acknowledgment of a person Легок на помине. Про
appear who has arrived just as or after they волка речь, а он
were being discussed. навстречь.
One good turn
deserves another A favor or good deed should be Услуга за услугу.
repaid in kind. Долг платежом
красен.
Better die
standing than live For it would be better to die once Лучше смерть
kneeling and for all than to suffer pain for all славная, чем жизнь
one's life". позорная.
