English Proverbs! Following is a list of 30 famous proverbs in English with their useful meanings you need to learn to master your English fluency.
Table of Contents
List of Proverbs
Proverb is a simple, concrete, traditional saying that expresses a truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language.
List of proverbs and their meanings:
- Two wrongs don’t make a right
Meaning: When someone did something bad to you, trying to do something bad to them will only make things worse.
- Better late than never
Meaning: It’s better if you do something later, than not do it at all.
- A friend in need is a friend indeed
Meaning: If someone helps you when you have problems, or you are in trouble, that person is a true friend.
- Actions speak louder than words
Meaning: What you do matters – not what you say.
- Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
Meaning: Everyone has their own ideas of what is beautiful.
- Better safe than sorry
Meaning: You should always be careful, even if you think it’s not necessary.
- Practice makes perfect
Meaning: If you want to be perfect at something, you need to practice every day.
- Easy come, easy go
Meaning: When something, especially money, is easily got and then soon spent or lost.
famous proverbs | infographic
- When in Rome, do as the Romans do
Meaning: When you are in another country, it’s better to behave like the citizens of this country.
- A picture speaks a thousand words / A picture is worth a thousand words
Meaning: No matter what language you speak, a picture can tell you more in a few seconds than in the time spent reading a thousand words describing the same thing.
- Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk
Meaning: Don’t brag about being able to do something, unless you actually know how to do it.
- Great minds think alike
Meaning: Smart people usually have the same ideas. This proverb is used when someone has the same idea as you.
- Haste makes waste
Meaning: When you try to work too quickly, you usually make mistakes.
- If you snooze, you lose
Meaning: You have to act fast to get what you want.
- Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
Meaning: If you associate with bad or dishonest people, bad things will happen to you.
- Look before you leap
Meaning: Make decisions carefully. Think about it first.
- Measure twice, cut one
Meaning: It’s hard to change a decision, once you’ve made it.
- Misery loves company
Meaning: People who are unhappy want to make others unhappy too.
- First things first
Meaning: Be patient. Do the things in their correct order.
- Honesty is the best policy
Meaning: It’s better to always tell the truth.
- It never rains, but it pours
Meaning: Bad luck never comes alone. Bad things usually happen all together at once.
- Love is blind
Meaning: If you love someone, you don’t notice his or her faults. You think they’re perfect.
English proverbs | infographic
- Mind your own business
Meaning: Do not interfere with other people’s lives and affairs.
- Money is the root of all evil
Meaning: Money is the cause of all problems.
- No pain, no gain
Meaning: If you don’t work hard, you’ll never achieve your goal.
- Seeing is believing
Meaning: People don’t often believe something, unless they see it.
- Time is money
Meaning: The longer it takes to do something, the more costly it will be
- What’s done is done
Meaning: You cannot change what has already happened.
- Too many cooks spoil the broth
Meaning: If there are many people doing the same job, the result will come out to be bad.
- Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Meaning: Don’t assume your plans will come to fruition.
Famous Proverbs | Infographic
English Proverbs | Infographic 1
English Proverbs | Infographic 2
Learn more about English idioms.
Unnati
Sunday 22nd of January 2023
Cool
Prakhar Singh
Saturday 17th of September 2022
It is really very good
Mohan
Saturday 17th of September 2022
It is really good.
Eleni
Monday 25th of July 2022
Your work on Idioms and proverbs is fabulous!
Expedito Lucas da Silva
Wednesday 8th of June 2022
I love the way you guys explain the mean of each idiom. Thank you.