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Proverbs are old sayings that enclose nuggets of wisdom packed in a few words. People often use proverbs when advising others, sharing knowledge, teaching or reinforcing morals, or even just adding humor to their conversations. We’ve compiled some of the most common English proverbs used worldwide, including Pakistan, along with their meanings and how to use them in sentences. Visit our website to make your English sound more natural by incorporating these proverbs into your daily conversations.
Proverbs About Relationships
1. Blood is Thicker than Water
- Meaning: Family relations are the strongest.
- Sentence: Never ignore your family because of your friends; after all, blood is thicker than water.
2. Union is Strength
- Meaning: Working together is more powerful.
- Sentence: It’s better to distribute larger projects among different people because union is strength.
3. A Man is Known by His Company
- Meaning: Your circle of friends is an indication of your personality.
- Sentence: Always choose good friends because a man is known by his company.
4. Familiarity Breeds Contempt
- Meaning: Visiting someone very often can decrease your value.
- Sentence: I don’t visit my sister too often because familiarity breeds contempt.
5. Love is Blind
- Meaning: When someone loves, they often overlook faults.
- Sentence: He is jobless, but she still loves him because love is blind.
6. Love Begets Love
- Meaning: Love is reciprocated.
- Sentence: Women should treat their husbands politely because love begets love.
7. No One is a Hero in His House
- Meaning: People are often undervalued by those closest to them.
- Sentence: No matter how famous you are, no one is a hero in his house.
8. Traitors are the Worst Enemy
- Meaning: Betrayal by someone close can cause significant harm.
- Sentence: Never tell your secrets even to your best friend because traitors are your worst enemy.
Proverbs in English About Success and Effort
1. As You Sow, So Shall You Reap
- Meaning: Future results are the consequences of present actions.
- Sentence: Work hard so you don’t have to regret it; as you sow, so shall you reap.
2. Where There is a Will, There is a Way
- Meaning: If you are determined, you will find a way.
- Sentence: Don’t give up on your research work; where there is a will, there is a way.
3. Prevention is Better than Cure
- Meaning: Taking precautions is better than fixing problems later.
- Sentence: People often forget that prevention is better than cure.
4. Haste Makes Waste
- Meaning: Doing something too quickly can lead to mistakes.
- Sentence: Don’t complete the project in a hurry because haste makes waste.
5. A Stitch in Time Saves Nine
- Meaning: Solving a small problem promptly can prevent it from becoming bigger.
- Sentence: Fix that leak now; a stitch in time saves nine.
6. Necessity is the Mother of Invention
- Meaning: Necessity forces people to find solutions.
- Sentence: I realized necessity is the mother of invention when I found a way to fix my broken shoes.
7. Where There is Life, There is Hope
- Meaning: As long as we are alive, there is always hope for improvement.
- Sentence: Don’t worry about your injury; where there is life, there is hope.
8. Something is Better than Nothing
- Meaning: It’s better to have something, even if it’s not perfect, than to have nothing.
- Sentence: Please agree on the old bike; something is better than nothing.
Proverbs About Wisdom and Advice
1. A Word to the Wise is Enough
- Meaning: A wise person can understand with just a hint.
- Sentence: You don’t have to explain everything in detail; a word to the wise is enough.
2. To Err is Human
- Meaning: Making mistakes is a part of human nature.
- Sentence: To err is human; we all make mistakes sometimes.
3. Casting Pearls Before Swine
- Meaning: Giving advice to someone who doesn’t appreciate it.
- Sentence: Don’t waste your time advising him; it’s like casting pearls before swine.
4. Even the Walls Have Ears
- Meaning: There may be someone listening, even when it seems like no one is around.
- Sentence: Keep quiet; even the walls have ears.
5. A Bad Workman Always Blames His Tools
- Meaning: Inexperienced people tend to blame their equipment for their failures.
- Sentence: He doesn’t know how to drive well, yet blames the car; a bad workman always blames his tools.
Proverbs About Situations and Challenges
1. Between the Devil and the Deep Sea
- Meaning: Being in a difficult situation with two unpleasant choices.
- Sentence: I don’t have money, and I can’t work because of my studies, so I am between the devil and the deep sea.
2. The Grass is Always Greener on the Other Side
- Meaning: People often value what they do not have.
- Sentence: Ahmad thinks that the grass is always greener on the other side. He quit his job to find work in another industry.
3. To Make a Mountain of a Molehill
- Meaning: Exaggerating something.
- Sentence: People often make a mountain of a molehill without considering others’ feelings.
4. Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea
- Meaning: Stuck between two equally difficult or unpleasant options.
- Sentence: Choosing between my studies and a job has put me between the devil and the deep blue sea.
5. Grapes are Sour
- Meaning: People tend to hate something they can’t achieve.
- Sentence: She says she never wanted that job, but it’s just grapes are sour since she couldn’t get it.
Proverbs About Character and Behavior
1. Honesty is the Best Policy
- Meaning: Being honest always brings the best results.
- Sentence: Always be honest in your daily dealings because honesty is the best policy.
2. Pride Hath a Fall
- Meaning: Those who are boastful are likely to fail.
- Sentence: Don’t show off your wealth; pride hath a fall.
3. Greed is a Curse
- Meaning: Greed is harmful.
- Sentence: Be content with less; greed is a curse.
4. Beauty Requires No Paint
- Meaning: Natural beauty does not need embellishment.
- Sentence: No need for heavy makeup; beauty requires no paint.
5. Expect No Good in Return
- Meaning: Help others without expecting anything back.
- Sentence: Expect no good in return if you help anyone.
6. Self-Praise is No Recommendation
- Meaning: Praising oneself is not a good trait.
- Sentence: You can test my expertise, but self-praise is no recommendation.
7. To Burn the Candle at Both Ends
- Meaning: To exhaust oneself by doing too much.
- Sentence: He’s working long hours and partying late; he’s burning the candle at both ends.
8. Might is Right
- Meaning: The powerful person tends to be in control.
- Sentence: Unfortunately, might is right in many unjust situations.
9. Rod is the Logic of a Fool
- Meaning: Stubborn people don’t understand without harsh treatment.
- Sentence: No matter how kindly you speak to him, he only listens when there’s a rod involved; rod is the logic of a fool.
10. More Mouths Will Have More Talks
- Meaning: More people bring more gossip.
- Sentence: Don’t worry about what others say; more mouths will have more talks.
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