Between the devil and the deep sea
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To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma.
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Where there's a will there's a way
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When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it.
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A burnt child dreads fire
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A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime.
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First come, first served
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The first in line will be attended to first.
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A friend in need is a friend indeed
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A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
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Discretion is the better part of valor
|
If you say discretion is the
better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant
situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do.
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A hungry man is an angry man
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A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.
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Empty vessels make the most noise
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Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss.
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A man is as old as he feels
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A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.
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Great talkers are little doers
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Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work.
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An idle brain is the devil's workshop
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One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts.
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An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit
|
It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.
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Faint heart never won fair lady
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To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants.
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A penny saved is a penny gained
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By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
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A rolling stone gathers no moss
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A person who never settles
in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one
who is always changing his mind will never get anything done.
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As you sow, so you shall reap
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One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions.
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Friday, June 27, 2014
Between the devil and the deep sea
Honesty is the best policy
Honesty is the best policy
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Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.
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One man's meat is another man's poison
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No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes.
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Once bitten twice shy
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If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time.
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Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter
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( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother )
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Practice makes perfect
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It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it
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Prevention is better than cure
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It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen.
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Rome was not built in a day
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Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily.
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Robbing Peter to pay Paul
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( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give another.
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Spare the rod and spoil the child
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A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly.
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Speech is silver, silence is golden
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Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take.
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It takes two to make a quarrel
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Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself.
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Strike while the iron is hot
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Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible.
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There's no smoke without fire
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Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them.
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Time and tide wait for no one
|
Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent.
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To err is human, to forgive divine
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It is only normal for man to
make mistakes and do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his
wrong is indeed great and gracious act.
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What's done can't be undone
|
In life there are some
things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious
words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back.
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Two heads are better than one
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It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment.
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When in Rome do as the Romans do
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When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs.
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When the cat is away the mice will play
|
When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law
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Absence makes the heart grow fonder | One usually desires another more when he or she is far away. |
Actions speak louder than words
Actions speak louder than words
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Children usually learn more
from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a
person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he
says; actions give evidence or proof of.
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Fortune knocks once at every man's door
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Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life.
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Give the devil his due
|
Be just and fair-minded ,
even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or
unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings.
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God helps those who help themselves
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God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort.
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It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good
|
A bad or evil occurrence.
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Great minds think alike
|
Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations.
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Habit is second nature
|
An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature.
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He laughs best who laughs last
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A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end.
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Never do things by halves
|
One should not do an
incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done;
they must be done away with immediately.
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Great haste makes great waste
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If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later.
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It's never too late to mend
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It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.
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It's no use crying over spilt milk
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It is pointless to feel
remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done
that can never be corrected or rectified.
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Still waters run deep
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One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person.
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Jack of all trades and master of none
|
Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them.
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Let bygones by bygones
|
One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others.
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Let not the pot call the kettle black
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A person who has a fault
should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another
person as you may have the same weakness.
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Let sleeping dogs lie
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One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble.
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No news is good news
|
When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right.
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Look before you leap
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Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences.
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Necessity is the mother of invention
|
When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it.
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Barking dogs seldom bite
Barking dogs seldom bite
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Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.
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Better late than never
|
To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all.
| |
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
|
Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get.
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Birds of a feather flock together
|
People of the same sort of character or belief always go together.
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Call a spade a spade
|
If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.
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Charity begins at home
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A person's first obligation
should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin
thinking of talking about helping others.
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Dead men tell no lies
|
( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)
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A great talker is a great liar
|
A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.
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Every cloud has a silver lining
|
If you say that every cloud
has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has
a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking
about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant
situation.
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All that glitters is not gold
|
Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive.
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Eat to live, but do not live to eat
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Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.
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Don't put all your eggs in one basket
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One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.
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Every dog has its day
|
Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.
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Every one can find fault, few can do better
|
It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly.
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Any time means no time
|
When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place.
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Fair exchange is no robbery
|
A contract is fair as long
as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly;
after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was
unfairly treated.
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Fire is a good servant but a bad master
|
Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.
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A bad workman always blames his tools
A bad workman always blames his tools
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A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself.
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A new broom sweeps clean
|
A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work.
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Don't judge a book by its cover
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Do not be deceived by appearances.
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Blood is thicker than water
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Family ties are stronger than any other.
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Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
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Do not make plans based on something that has not happened.
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Don't make a mountain out of a molehill
|
Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small
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Experience is the best teacher
|
The best way to learn a job is to do it.
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The last straw that broke the camel's back
|
The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin.
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Look at the bright side
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Be optimistic
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Make hay while the sun shines
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Seize opportunities
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Out of sight, out of mind
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You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with.
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A leopard cannot change its spots
|
A person's nature cannot change.
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There are two sides to every question
| There are always two ways of looking at something | |
Too many cooks spoil the broth
| Too many people doing the same thing at the same time will not be successful | |
We never miss the water till the well runs dry
| You only realize the importance of something when it is gone | |
To put the cart before the horse
| To do something in an incorrect order | |
Bite off more than one can chew
| To try to do something one is unable to do or incapable of doing. | |
Half a loaf is better than none
| It's better to have or receive less than one desires than to have or receive nothing at all. | |
Have an old head on young shoulders
| Youngsters who possess qualities of wisdom one would only expect to find in experienced older people. |
All's fish that comes the net
All's fish that comes the net
|
When something comes our way we should consider how it might be useful or benefit us.
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away
|
It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you in the peak of health.
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Be on the safe side
|
To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
|
What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to others.
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Beggars can't be choosers
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Someone in need should be grateful for what is given to him -- even if it's not what he wants or expects
| |
The blind leading the blind
|
A person helping or advising someone knows as little about the subject as the person who is being advised.
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The buck stops here
|
It means final decision or total responsibility for an action
| |
Burn the candle at both ends
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Those who are always busy and seem to get little rest
| |
Buy a pig in a poke
|
Buy something without
examining it for faults or checking to see if they are really getting
what they believe they have purchased
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Catch as catch can
|
To do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or reach a goal.
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Children should be seen and not heard
|
To stop a child from asking questions, talking, or making unnecessary noise.
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Christmas comes but once each year
|
An excuse to indulge in food and drink and spend money during the Christmas season.
| |
Cry over spilled milk
| It's pointless to get upset or feel regret about a loss or mistake that can't be undone | |
Curiosity killed the cat
| To warn people not to show too much interest in affairs that don't concern them. | |
Cut off your nose to spite your face
| When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing foolish things that prove harmful to themselves. | |
The devil finds work for idle hands
| Unless one keeps busy doing useful or constructive things he could be tempted into mischief or evil. | |
The devil has the best tunes
| To do something unworthy because it gives you pleasure | |
Dog eat dog
| In competitive situations where each person has his own interests at heart, it is usually the strong and the determined who succeed. |
An exception to the rule
An exception to the rule
| Something does not conform to or agree with a rule | |
Fling/throw mud at someone
| To say evil or bad things about someone and in doing so, to damage his or her reputation. | |
A fool and his money are soon parted
| A person who spends his money foolishly will soon be penniless | |
Forgive and forget
| Excusing or pardoning someone for doing something | |
Give someone enough rope and he will hang himself
| If we allow someone to continue in his bad ways he'll eventually bring about his own downfall or ruin. | |
Grin and bear it
| To put up with discomfort or a bad situation without complaining. | |
He who pays the piper calls the tune
| The person who pays for something has the right to do as he wants. | |
Hide your light under a bushel
| Concealing your talents, skills or abilities | |
Hitch one's wagon to a star
| To Move forward in a way to improve your chances of achieving success. | |
Home is where the heart is
| No matter where you are, 'home' is where you feel most comfortable and content. | |
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
| If we could get all the things we wanted just by making a wish, everyone would have all he ever wanted. | |
If you can't lick them, join them | If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his ideas, plans or way of doing things, the best thing is to change your ideas, plans, etc. | |
In for a penny, in for a pound
| If we decide to do something, we should commit ourselves to it boldly and completely. | |
A job worth doing is a job worth doing well
| When you do something you should do it as well as you can. | |
Keep the wolf from the door
| To avoid hunger and poverty | |
Laugh and the world laughs with you
| When someone is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like being with him. | |
Least said, soonest forgotten | The less we say about it the sooner the incident will be forgotten. | |
A chicken and egg question
| A mysterious question which can't be answered | |
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink
| We can help, show or encourage someone to do something but we can't make him do what he is unwilling or unable to do |
Teach an old dog new tricks
Teach an old dog new tricks
| It is impossible to change someone's ways or habits, especially if he is old and resists change | |
That's where the shoe pinches
| That's the source or cause of a problem or an annoyance | |
There are none so blind as those that will not see
| People ,who never admit they might be wrong, refuse to listen to the opinions or ideas of anyone | |
There are none so deaf as those who will not hear
| People sometimes hear only what they want to hear | |
There's more than one way to skin a cat
| There is more than one way of getting a job done | |
The thin end of the wedge
| That something can appear to be small and of no particular importance - yet it can turn out to be the beginning of a major problem. | |
A thing of beauty is a joy forever
| It means that though something beautiful may not last, the happy memory of it will live forever. | |
Time heals old wounds
| The passing of time helps us to forget things that have caused us pain or made us unhappy. | |
The truth will out
| Truth about something will eventually be discovered or made known | |
Turn up like a bad penny
| Something or someone disliked just won't go away | |
Two wrongs do not make a right | If a person does something to harm or offend us, that's wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's wrong too. | |
Uneasy is the head that wears the crown
| Notable or important people are often concerned about losing their positions. | |
Waste not, want not
| If we're careful and waste nothing we'll never go without things we need. | |
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach
| Most men love to eat so feed your husband well and he will always love you. | |
Wear out one's welcome
| One is no longer welcome, usually because he has become a nuisance | |
When poverty comes in the door, love flies out the window | As soon as a happily married couple begin having financial problems and the bills pile up their love will disappear. | |
Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl
| If we associate with bad companions we, too, will become bad | |
You pays your money and you takes your chances
| A humorous way of saying that we sometimes must trust in luck when buying something. | |
Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them
| If you are rich and successful, you will attract many friends, but if you should suffer hardship or have misfortune ( adversity ), your friends will quickly depart. |
Life is just a bowl of cherries
Life is just a bowl of cherries
|
Life is full of happiness and pleasure
| |
Like a bull in a china shop
|
A clumsy or tactless person
| |
Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted
|
Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening.
| |
The longest day must have an end
|
All difficult jobs or situations also have an end.
| |
Losers weepers, finders keepers
|
If someone loses something, he weeps -- but if someone finds it, he keeps it.
| |
Love me, love my dog
|
If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all.
| |
Many hands make light work
|
Many people sharing a job or tasks make easier work of it.
| |
The mountain labors and brings forth a mouse
|
To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless.
| |
Opportunity only knocks once
|
Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never happen again.
| |
An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure
|
It is even better to be cautious and prevent a misfortune or an accident from happening.
| |
Possession is nine points of the law
|
In disputes over property
ownership, the person in possession of something is sometimes said to
have nine-tenths a chance of winning it in a legal argument
| |
Promises are like pie crust
|
Most promises cannot be kept
| |
Put a quart into a pint pot
| Doing something that's impossible | |
The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike
| No matter how good or bad a person, he must still face the everyday problems that confront us all. | |
The sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children
| People will be punished for the wrongs committed by their parents, forefathers, or those who have preceded them. | |
Someone's bark is worse than his bite
| People sometimes bark but in time we learn they're not always as frightening as they seem. | |
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak
| To do something unworthy just because it gives you the pleasure | |
A stitch in time saves nine
| By taking immediate action we can prevent a fault, damage or trouble from getting worse | |
A straw will show which way the wind blows
| A small incident can reveal an important event |
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