šŸ“˜ Most common English proverbs with their translations

Proverbs are short and popular sayings that reflect the wisdom of a culture. In English as in other languages, they are used to give advice, express truths, or simply enrich communication. This page features a list of the most used English proverbs, along with their translations, to help you understand and use them in your conversations.

Proverb in English Translation
a bad penny always comes back you always end up paying for your actions.
a bad workman blames his tools incompetent people blame external factors.
a cat may look at a king everyone has the right to some dignity or respect.
a chicken and egg problem a paradox where it's hard to tell cause from effect.
a gift is a gift a gift should not be taken back.
a job is never so well done as when you do it yourself if you want something done right, do it yourself.
a good turn never goes amiss a good deed is never wasted.
a good deed never goes amiss a good deed is never wasted.
a healthy mind in a healthy body mental well-being goes with physical health.
a leopard never changes its spots people don't change their true nature.
once a thief always a thief people don't change their true nature.
a man is judged by the work he does you can tell a person by the quality of their work.
a man is known by his works you can tell a person by the quality of their work.
a sin confessed is a sin half pardoned admitting guilt is halfway to forgiveness.
a small effort can go a long way small efforts can have big results.
all good things come to an end nothing lasts forever.
an abundance of goods does no harm you can never have too much of a good thing.
an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth justice requires equal retribution.
an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure it's better to prevent than to fix later.
anything goes any method is acceptable.
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush better something certain than something better but uncertain.
absence makes the heart grow fonder distance strengthens feelings.
a burnt child dreads the fire past pain causes future caution.
actions speak louder than words what you do matters more than what you say.
a fool and his money are soon parted fools easily lose their money.
a friend in need is a friend indeed true friends show up in hard times.
a little learning is a dangerous thing superficial knowledge can lead to mistakes.
a rolling stone gathers no moss someone always moving doesn't accumulate responsibility or ties.
all roads lead to Rome there are many ways to reach the same goal.
all's well that ends well if the outcome is good, the troubles are forgotten.
all that glitters is not gold appearances can be deceiving.
a man is known by the company he keeps you can judge someone by their friends.
an Englishman's home is his castle a person's home is their sanctuary.
a new broom sweeps clean new people bring fresh energy.
a penny saved is a penny gained saving money is as good as earning it.
a picture is worth a thousand words images convey more than words.
apologizing is a way of admitting one's guilt to apologize is to confess.
appearances deceive things aren't always what they seem.
as you make your bed so you must lie on it you must accept the consequences of your actions.
a watched pot or kettle never boils the more you wait for something, the longer it seems to take.
a woman's place is in the home a traditional belief that women belong in domestic roles.
a woman's work is never done housework is endless.
beauty is in the eye of the beholder beauty is subjective.
beauty is only skin-deep beauty is superficial.
better late than never it's better to do something late than not at all.
better safe than sorry it's wise to be cautious.
birds of a feather flock together people with similar interests stick together.
blood is thicker than water family relationships are stronger than others.
brevity is the soul of wit being brief is the essence of cleverness.
don't count your chickens before they are hatched donā€™t assume something will happen before it does.
don't put the cart before the horse do things in the correct order.
desperate diseases require desperate remedies extreme problems need extreme solutions.
charity begins at home start by helping those closest to you.
charity will be rewarded in heaven doing good brings spiritual reward.
comparisons are odious comparing people or things is usually unfair.
clothes don't make the man appearances can be misleading.
curiosity killed the cat being too curious can lead to trouble.
dead men tell no tales the dead cannot reveal secrets.
death is the great leveller death makes everyone equal.
desperate times call for desperate measures extreme situations need bold action.
discretion is the better part of valour sometimes caution is the best form of bravery.
do as you would be done by treat others the way you want to be treated.
don't count your chickens before they're hatched donā€™t plan based on assumptions.
don't cross your bridges before you come to them deal with problems when they happen.
empty vessels make most noise those with the least knowledge talk the most.
enough is as good as a feast having enough is just as good as having plenty.
every cloud has a silver lining thereā€™s something good in every bad situation.
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good even bad situations benefit someone.
every dog has his day everyone gets a chance at success or revenge.
every little helps small contributions are valuable.
everything comes to he who waits patience is rewarded.
every trade has its value all jobs are respectable.
faint heart never won fair lady you need courage to succeed in love.
familiarity breeds contempt too much closeness can lead to disrespect.
forewarned is forearmed being prepared helps you handle danger.
fortune favours the innocent the innocent often enjoy good fortune.
fortune favours the brave bold actions are often rewarded.
give a dog a bad name and hang him itā€™s easy to condemn someone once they have a bad reputation.
God helps those who help themselves you must make an effort to receive help.
grasp all, lose all greed often leads to losing everything.
great minds think alike smart people often have the same ideas.
great sorrow is often silent deep grief is often unspoken.
habit is second nature habits become part of who we are.
hell hath no fury like a woman scorned a rejected woman can be extremely angry or vengeful.
he who hesitates is lost indecision can lead to failure.
he who laughs last laughs longest final success is what matters most.
he who leaves his place loses it if you leave, someone else may take your spot.
he who sleeps forgets his hunger sleep can help you ignore hunger.
he who sows the wind reaps the whirlwind bad actions lead to worse consequences.
he who takes it slow and steady goes a long way steady effort leads to long-term success.
home is where the heart is your true home is wherever you feel most comfortable.
honour to whom honour is due credit should be given where it's deserved.
I hesitate at nothing I stop at nothing.
if the cap fits, wear it if the criticism applies to you, accept it.
if the shoe fits, wear it if the criticism applies to you, accept it.
if youth but knew, if old age but could youth lacks wisdom, age lacks strength.
if you wish to have peace, prepare for war being ready for conflict ensures peace.
ill-gotten gains seldom prosper wealth obtained dishonestly brings no lasting benefit.
ill gotten ill spent what is gained dishonestly is often wasted.
it's best to sleep on it decisions are better made after reflection.
it's better to be envied than pitied it's preferable to inspire jealousy than sympathy.
it's the thought that counts the intention behind a gift matters more than its value.
it takes all sorts to make a world the world needs all kinds of people.
in the kingdom of the blind the one-eyed man is king a person with limited ability can dominate those with none.
it's an ill wind that blows nobody any good even misfortune benefits someone.
it's no use crying over spilt milk there's no point in regretting what's already done.
it's the early bird that catches the worm those who act promptly have the advantage.
it's the last straw that broke the camel's back one small burden can cause total collapse after many others.
it takes all sorts to make a world diversity is essential to society.
it takes two to make a quarrel conflict requires participation from both sides.
just the once won't hurt doing something once won't cause harm.
laughter is unique to man only humans have the ability to laugh.
least said soonest mended keeping quiet helps resolve issues faster.
let the world say what it will ignore criticism and continue on your path.
let sleeping dogs lie don't stir up trouble unnecessarily.
like father like son sons often resemble their fathers.
like master like man subordinates resemble their leaders.
Live and let live be tolerant of others' choices.
Look before you leap think before taking action.
lost time never found again wasted time cannot be recovered.
Love will find a way true love overcomes all obstacles.
lucky at cards, unlucky in love success in gambling may mean failure in romance.
man cannot live by bread alone humans need more than just physical sustenance.
man proposes, God disposes plans are subject to divine will.
marry in haste, repent at leisure hasty decisions in marriage lead to long-term regret.
might is right power determines justice.
money can't buy happiness wealth doesn't guarantee contentment.
money has no smell money is not tainted by its source.
money makes money wealth generates more wealth.
money is the root of all evil money is the source of most wrongdoing.
money talks money influences decisions and outcomes.
murder will out truth will eventually be revealed.
nature belongs to everyone natural resources are for all to enjoy.
needs must when the devil drives necessity compels action.
never put off till tomorrow what you can do today donā€™t delay what can be done immediately.
never say die never give up hope.
no man is a prophet in his own country one is rarely valued in their own community.
nothing is impossible to a willing heart determination can overcome any obstacle.
nothing succeeds like success success breeds further success.
nothing ventured nothing gained taking risks is necessary to achieve rewards.
no one can be expected to do the impossible no one is obligated to achieve the unattainable.
old habits die hard bad habits are difficult to break.
one bad apple can spoil the whole barrel one person's negative influence can affect the entire group.
one rotten apple can spoil the whole barrel one corrupt individual can ruin the whole.
one good turn deserves another a kind act should be repaid with another.
one man's meat is another man's poison what benefits one person may harm another.
only the fool knows no fear fear is the beginning of wisdom.
once bitten, twice shy past bad experiences make people cautious.
once the first step is taken there's no going back once started, thereā€™s no turning back.
out of sight out of mind what is not seen is soon forgotten.
people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones don't criticize others if you're vulnerable yourself.
practice makes perfect repetition leads to mastery.
prevention is better than cure it's better to avoid problems than fix them later.
pride comes before a fall arrogance often leads to failure.
pride goes before a fall excessive pride leads to downfall.
promises are made to be kept a promise must be honored.
render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's give people what they are due.
revenge is a dish best eaten cold revenge is more satisfying when delayed.
seeing is believing personal experience is the best proof.
short reckonings make long friends clear debts quickly to maintain friendships.
silence gives consent not objecting implies agreement.
silence means consent remaining silent signals approval.
silence is golden silence is valuable and wise.
some things are better left unsaid not all truths need to be spoken.
sow the wind and reap the whirlwind reckless actions bring severe consequences.
spare the rod and spoil the child lack of discipline leads to poor behavior.
speak of the devil and he's sure to appear mention someone and they will show up.
speech is silver but silence is golden silence is more valuable than words.
still waters run deep quiet people often have deep thoughts.
sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof focus on today's troubles, not tomorrow's.
the devil finds work for idle hands to do idleness leads to mischief.
the cobbler should stick to his last people should stick to what they know.
the course of true love never did run smooth true love always faces obstacles.
the end justifies the means any method is acceptable if the result is good.
the labourer is worthy of his hire workers deserve fair pay.
the leopard cannot change its spots people donā€™t change their true nature.
the more, the merrier more people make things more enjoyable.
the proof of the pudding is in the eating results are the true test of something.
the shorter a joke, the better it is brevity makes jokes better.
there are better days ahead good times will follow bad ones.
there are plenty of fish in the sea there are many other opportunities or people.
there is honour among thieves even criminals have loyalty to each other.
there is no rose without a thorn nothing is perfect; everything has drawbacks.
there's none so blind as those that won't see willful ignorance is the worst kind.
there's no smoke without fire rumors usually have some truth.
there's nothing new under the sun everything has already been done or seen.
there's / there are none so deaf as those who will not hear the most deaf are those who refuse to listen.
there are none so distant that fate cannot bring them together fate can unite even the most distant souls.
there's a right time for everything everything has its appropriate moment.
there's no accounting for taste(s) taste is subjective and can't be explained.
there's no such word as "can't" nothing is impossible if you try.
the rich man is the one who pays his debts he who pays his debts is truly wealthy.
the road to hell is paved with good intentions good intentions can lead to bad outcomes.
time and tide wait for no man time stops for no one.
time is money time has financial value.
time will tell the future will reveal the truth.
to kill two birds with one stone to achieve two goals with a single action.
truth will out the truth will eventually be known.
two can live as cheaply as one sharing expenses makes life more affordable.
two wrongs don't make a right responding to wrongdoing with wrongdoing doesn't fix it.
united we stand, divided we fall unity brings strength; division brings failure.
unity is strength together we are stronger.
verba volant, scripta manent spoken words fade, written words endure.
waste not want not being frugal prevents future need.
what can't be cured must be endured some things must simply be accepted.
what goes around comes around actions have consequences.
what's bred in the bone will (come) out in the flesh inborn traits will always show themselves.
what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander what's fair for one is fair for all.
when pigs might fly something that will never happen.
when in doubt, don't if you're unsure, it's best to wait.
when it rains, it pours problems tend to come all at once.
when the cat's away the mice will play people misbehave when authority is absent.
where there's a will there's a way determination leads to success.
while the cat's away the mice will play lack of supervision leads to rule-breaking.
with time and perseverance one accomplishes one's goals slow and steady effort leads to success.
words are wasted on a starving man hunger makes people deaf to reason.
you can't have your cake and eat it you can't enjoy two incompatible things at once.
you can't judge a book by its cover appearances can be deceiving.
you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs progress requires sacrifice.
you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear you can't create something excellent from poor material.
you don't change a winning team donā€™t alter a successful strategy.
you never can tell nothing is completely predictable.
you never know anything can happen.
you only die once death comes just once to everyone.
you're only young once youth is a fleeting time in life.