English proverbs

The proverb ranks good judgment above material security. Having little money is presented as less damaging than acting without sense.

Someone who owns nothing has little property left to lose. The proverb treats bankruptcy as a reversal that cannot further diminish a person who is already destitute.

A beggar can seek help wherever he goes, so taking one road rather than another need not put him off course.

Someone who depends on another person’s generosity may have to accept what is offered rather than insist on a preferred option.

The proverb warns that a dramatic improvement in someone’s circumstances can be followed by reckless behavior rather than restraint.

The proverb warns that repeatedly spending money on things of little value can erode a person's means. Poverty is pictured as the destination of those choices.

The proverb pictures a beggar seeking help on a day when people are fasting. Those who are not eating may have little food to offer.

A sound start can shape the outcome of an undertaking by giving the work that follows a stronger foundation.

The way something starts may be reflected in how it finishes. A promising or troubled beginning can foreshadow a similar outcome.

A strong beginning has value, but it cannot by itself make an undertaking successful. What is accomplished by the end deserves greater weight than the initial promise.

A task becomes easier to complete when its first steps are handled well. A clear plan or effective initial effort can provide direction and momentum for what follows.

Joint action does not always allow both people to take the lead. If they are to move in the same direction, one may need to accept a following role.

The speaker rejects a claim as so implausible that accepting it would seem as foolish as believing the moon is made of cheese.

The saying connects a confident expectation of good with receiving or experiencing good. It urges a person to approach an uncertain outcome with trust rather than assume the worst.

The proverb warns against giving a lesser loss more attention than a larger, more consequential one.

A young branch is easier to guide before it grows firm. Likewise, a person's habits and behavior may be easier to influence while they are still developing.

The proverb compares a person's development to a tree's growth: influences during the formative years can leave a lasting mark on character and behavior.

The option that serves a need best may prove the most economical, even if it does not have the lowest initial price.

A lie may be called “best” because it is convincing, but that quality can make it especially harmful. The easier a falsehood is to believe, the more readily it can mislead someone.

Give the first opportunity to the person best suited to the task, rather than deciding who goes first by an arbitrary order.

The act of wagering is easy; choosing to risk something does not, by itself, show insight or skill.

The saying playfully turns an objection about a holy day around: the day’s special standing becomes a reason to approve of an action rather than to avoid it.

The proverb urges care before a decision. Finding out something important afterward may leave a person regretting what they did.

The proverb presents obedience to instructions as protection from blame if the result turns out badly.

The proverb favors something already within reach over a more attractive possibility that remains uncertain. The contrast is between what is secured and what is merely hoped for.

A person should take responsibility for a matter that is theirs instead of expecting someone else to carry it through for them.

The proverb describes an uneven outcome: someone does the work that makes a gain possible, but another person ends up with the gain. The bird represents the prize, not necessarily something taken by deceit.

The proverb suggests that people with similar interests, habits, or outlooks tend to associate with one another. It describes a pattern, not a rule that every friendship must follow.

The proverb treats unused ability as something others may demand rather than merely admire. Its singing bird represents someone who can perform a valued task but chooses not to.

Smallness does not remove a creature’s need for nourishment. The proverb treats the birds’ need as a reminder that basic needs remain real even when they seem modest.

An intimidating display has little value if the person making it cannot act. The proverb warns against presenting a threat as though it were a real source of power.

The image is of someone tasting plants without checking them first. Even if many prove harmless, trying them all makes an encounter with poison inevitable.

A small amount received early can be more useful than waiting through the day and ending up with nothing. The proverb favors a modest, certain benefit over complete deprivation.

The proverb points to the irony of criticizing someone for a disagreeable quality that the critic may share. The raven’s remark invites a closer look at the bird making the accusation.

The color of a plum does not reliably tell you how sweet it will taste. What matters is the quality itself, not an assumption drawn from its appearance.

A fierce gust may strike with great force, yet the proverb suggests that its most intense burst will soon pass.

This comparison describes someone as having very poor eyesight. It is an emphatic way to say that seeing clearly is difficult for them.

The question suggests that someone who refuses to look can be harder to help than someone who cannot see. Figuratively, it describes a person who will not acknowledge what is plain to others.

The remark suggests that the chance to see something can be worth appreciating even when the thing itself seems disappointing or unremarkable.

The comparison questions an explanation because its author appears to lack firsthand experience of the subject. It suggests that the account may be unpersuasive despite its serious presentation.

The proverb describes the futility of trying to obtain something from a person or situation that cannot supply it. More pressure cannot create what is absent.

The blot represents a fault or disgrace that diminishes someone’s good name. The heraldic shield makes that loss of standing visible as a mark of shame.

The proverb presents a blush as a visible sign of moral sensitivity. Feeling embarrassed may suggest modesty or an awareness that something is improper.

A person with little to support an argument may speak with the greatest force, using noise and bravado in place of a convincing case.

The proverb contrasts an impressive claim with a disappointing result. The small roast makes the gap between what was promised and what was provided easy to picture.

Changing the way you work on something does not necessarily change what it can give you. The proverb presents snow as material that yields the same limited result under either treatment.

A reward can occupy someone so completely that they lose the ability to resist the person offering it. The bone stands for an inducement; the kick shows how that advantage can be abused.

The speaker offers a playful excuse for not doing something with their arm, such as reaching for an object. Having a bone in the arm is presented as though it prevented the action.

The proverb presents the meat closest to a bone as especially enjoyable. Its mention of sweetness conveys a pleasing taste rather than necessarily describing a sugary flavor.

The proverb presents death as predetermined: someone fated to die in one way cannot meet their end in another. Escaping drowning is therefore treated as a consequence of fate, not proof of lasting safety.