Learn 50+ proverbs in English with meanings and examples sentences. This lesson contains 50 proverbs which we used in our daily life and daily routine. We must need to know the meaning of proverbs which we used with other peoples. This lesson will help you to enhance your spoken English knowledge. Proverbs are old sayings that enclose a nugget of wisdom packed in some words. Speakers mostly utter proverbs while advising, imparting knowledge, teaching or reinforcing morals, relieving interpersonal tensions, making an argument, consoling and inspiring others, and creating crisp in their funny discussion.
50 Common Proverbs in English
Proverb |
Casting pearls before swine |
Meaning |
To advise someone who doesn’t pay any heeds |
Sentence |
Don’t waste your time in advising him, it’s just like casting pearls before swine. |
Proverb |
Something is better than nothing |
Meaning |
It’s better to have something, instead of nothing |
Sentence |
Please agree on the old bike, and don’t demand a new one; something is better than nothing. |
Proverb |
Prevention is better than cure |
Meaning |
Precautions are more powerful than treatment |
Sentence |
People run behind doctors, without even realizing that prevention is better than cure. |
Proverb |
To make a mountain of a molehill |
Meaning |
Exaggerating something |
Sentence |
People always make a mountain of a molehill without caring about others’ emotions. |
Proverb |
As long as there’s life there’s hope |
Meaning |
There is always a way out as long as we are alive |
Sentence |
Don’t worry about your injury, as long as there’s life there’s hope. |
Proverb |
Might is right |
Meaning |
Powerful person rules the world |
Sentence |
Unfortunately, the “might is right” rule is observed by all the higher authorities |
Proverb |
As you sow, so shall you reap |
Meaning |
The results of the future are the consequences of our present efforts |
Sentence |
Work hard unless you have to repent; as you sow, so shall you reap. |
Proverb |
Familiarity breeds contempt |
Meaning |
Visiting someone very often will decrease your value |
Sentence |
I don’t visit my sister very often because I know familiarity breeds contempt. |
Proverb |
Love is blind |
Meaning |
Whenever someone loves someone, he doesn’t care about anything |
Sentence |
He is jobless but she still loves him as the love is blind. |
Proverb |
Necessity is the mother of invention |
Meaning |
When you need something, you are forced to find a solution to it |
Sentence |
I realized the proverb “necessity is the mother of invention”, when I found a solution to mend my broken shoes on the road. |
Proverb |
Diamond cuts diamond |
Meaning |
Match can beat |
Sentence |
New Zealand and Pakistan’s match today is diamond cut diamond. |
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50 Common Proverbs in English with Meanings
Proverb |
Casting pearls before swine |
Meaning |
To advise someone who doesn’t pay any heeds |
Sentence |
Don’t waste your time in advising him, it’s just like casting pearls before swine. |
Proverb |
Something is better than nothing |
Meaning |
It’s better to have something, instead of having nothing |
Sentence |
Please agree on the old bike, and don’t demand a new one; something is better than nothing. |
Proverb |
Prevention is better than cure |
Meaning |
Precautions are more powerful than treatment |
Sentence |
People run behind doctors, without even realizing that prevention is better than cure. |
Proverb |
To make a mountain of a molehill |
Meaning |
Exaggerating something |
Sentence |
People always make a mountain of a molehill without caring about others’ emotions. |
Proverb |
As long as there’s life there’s hope |
Meaning |
There is always a way out as long as we are alive |
Sentence |
Don’t worry about your injury, as long as there’s life there’s hope. |
Proverb |
Might is right |
Meaning |
Powerful person rules the world |
Sentence |
Unfortunately, the “might is right” rule is observed by all the higher authorities |
Proverb |
As you sow, so shall you reap |
Meaning |
The results of the future are the consequences of our present efforts |
Sentence |
Work hard unless you have to repent; as you sow, so shall you reap. |
Proverb |
Familiarity breeds contempt |
Meaning |
Visiting someone very often will decrease your value |
Sentence |
I don’t visit my sister very often because I know familiarity breeds contempt. |
Proverb |
Love is blind |
Meaning |
Whenever someone loves someone, he doesn’t care about anything |
Sentence |
He is jobless but she still loves him as the love is blind. |
Proverb |
Necessity is the mother of invention |
Meaning |
When you need something, you are forced to find a solution to it |
Sentence |
I realized the proverb “necessity is the mother of invention”, when I found a solution to mend my broken shoes on the road. |
Proverb |
Diamond cuts diamond |
Meaning |
Match can beat |
Sentence |
New Zealand and Pakistan’s match today is diamond cut diamond. |
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Common Proverbs in English
Proverb |
To use available opportunity |
Meaning |
Take advantage of someone’s weakness |
Sentence |
Nowadays everyone tries to use available opportunity |
Proverb |
Traitors are the worst enemy |
Meaning |
Confidential give big loss |
Sentence |
Never tell your secrets even to your best friend because traitors are your worst enemy. |
Proverb |
Rod is the logic of a fool |
Meaning |
The obstinate don’t understand anything unless treated by rod |
Sentence |
No matter how politely you treat him, he will not listen to you because the rod is the logic of fools. |
Proverb |
To err is human |
Meaning |
To make mistake is human nature |
Sentence |
To err is human nature. |
Proverb |
A word to wise is enough |
Meaning |
A wise person can understand just by a clue |
Sentence |
You don’t have to explain everything in detail, a word to wise is enough |
Proverb |
To burn the candle at both ends |
Meaning |
To spend the money extravagantly |
Sentence |
The people who are born with a spoon in their mouth burn the candles at both ends |
Proverb |
A man is known by his company |
Meaning |
Your friend circle is the indication of your personality |
Sentence |
Always choose good friends because a man is known by his company |
Proverb |
Between the devil and the deep sea |
Meaning |
You are in a difficult situation and you have to choose an option from two unpleasant options |
Sentence |
I don’t have money and I can’t work because of my studies so I am between the devil and the sea about what to do. |
Proverb |
Where there is a will there is a way |
Meaning |
If you want something; Allah will make a way for you |
Sentence |
Don’t give up your research work; and don’t lose hope, where there is a will there’s away. |
Proverb |
Truth fears no examination |
Meaning |
A truthful person is not afraid of anything |
Sentence |
Don’t worry he is not telling a lie and truth fears no examination. |
Proverb |
Honesty is the best policy |
Meaning |
Honesty always pays you back |
Sentence |
Always be honest in your daily matter because honesty is the best policy |
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Proverbs in English with Meanings
Proverb |
There is something wrong with the bottom |
Meaning |
To seek for the hidden reason behind something |
Sentence |
Why is she treating me well out of a sudden, there is something wrong in the bottom |
Proverb |
Society molds man |
Meaning |
A person learns or expresses himself according to his environment |
Sentence |
Don’t allow your kids to play with naughty kids because society molds man |
Proverb |
All that glitter is not gold |
Meaning |
Everything that seems attractive is not always good |
Sentence |
I advised him to choose the freelancing projects wisely since all that glitter is not gold. |
Proverb |
Love begets love |
Meaning |
Love pays you back |
Sentence |
Women should treat their husbands politely because love begets love |
Proverb |
Pride hath a fall |
Meaning |
People who show off fails mostly |
Sentence |
Don’t show off your wealth; pride hath a fall |
Proverb |
Greed is curse |
Meaning |
Greed is not good |
Sentence |
Be content on less, greed is a curse. |
Proverb |
A bad workman always quarrels with his tools |
Meaning |
Inexperienced person blames sources |
Sentence |
He doesn’t know driving and blames his car, A bad workman always quarrels with his tools |
Proverb |
Beauty requires no paint |
Meaning |
Beautiful people don’t have to makeup |
Sentence |
No need to do heavy makeup; you always look nice; beauty requires no paint |
Proverb |
Expect no good in return |
Meaning |
Help others but don’t expect it in return and don’t let others know |
Sentence |
Expect no good in return if you help anyone |
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Common Proverbs in English with Meaning
Proverb |
A stitch in time saves nine |
Meaning |
It’s better to solve an issue in the beginning until it get worse |
Sentence |
Study hard unless you have to repent, a stitch in time saves nine |
Proverb |
An uninvited guest is never welcomed |
Meaning |
Intrusion into someone’s privacy |
Sentence |
It’s always necessary to keep yourself at a distance from your friend’s privacy; an uninvited guest is never welcomed |
Proverb |
If Allah wills not, no one can harm |
Meaning |
No one can harm you unless it’s in your luck |
Sentence |
Don’t worry about your enemies’ awful intentions; if Allah wills not no one can harm you |
Proverb |
Rubbing salt on one’s wounds |
Meaning |
Making the difficult situation worse for someone |
Sentence |
Please keep quiet; I am already worried, don’t rub salt on my wounds |
Proverb |
Grapes are sour |
Meaning |
People are used to hating something they can’t get |
Sentence |
Because she can’t pass the CSS; she doesn’t like CSS, grapes are sour |
Proverb |
To go about the same beaten path |
Meaning |
To follow the majority does not matter it’s wrong |
Sentence |
One of the major drawbacks of our society is; we always go about the same beaten path |
Proverb |
Self-praise is not a recommendation |
Meaning |
To admire yourself is not good |
Sentence |
You can test my expertise; I don’t want to show off; as self-praise is not a recommendation |
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Common Proverbs in English with Meanings