3 proverbs in English with translation. English proverbs and sayings with translation
English proverbs act as a vivid reflection of popular thought, moral values and attitudes. Simple truths characteristic of universal human morality are entrenched in the folk literary heritage, both in English and in other languages. English and Russian proverbs and sayings have much in common; they reflect the life experience of the people. Many English proverbs convey through other images the same meaning (convey the same idea) as Russian ones, although their literal translation does not coincide. An example would be the following proverbs.
English version: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Literal translation: There are no free lunches.
Interpretation (meaning): Free things have a hidden price.
Russian variant: Free cheese only comes in a mousetrap.
The process of searching and selecting analogue proverbs is considered fascinating by teachers, students and enthusiasts of learning English. There is not always an equivalent to English proverbs in the Russian language. Such expressions are of keen interest to those interested in language, since they reflect the socio-cultural characteristics of peoples.
By expressing thoughts figuratively in rhymed form, proverbs decorate and diversify the language, making it richer and more colorful.
Perhaps because English is widely spoken and in demand, for more effective learning English grammar is used much more intensively than when studying other languages, using proverbs in English language. Working with students on the text of proverbs helps improve pronunciation, consolidate grammatical skills, enrich vocabulary, develop translation skills and learn to express their thoughts in a foreign language.
Using proverbs as an example:
- practice the most difficult elements of pronunciation - interdental sounds [θ, ð] and nasal sounds [ŋ], which do not exist in the Russian language;
— improve speaking, writing, reading and listening;
- learn grammatical structures.
It is noted that when using proverbs in English, learning is much easier plural nouns, forms are remembered irregular verbs, degrees of comparison of adjectives, modal verbs.
English proverbs in the educational process, in addition to their teaching function, broaden horizons, develop cognitive abilities, influence the formation of moral principles, cultivate a tolerant attitude towards another culture, develop interest and strengthen motivation for learning English.
English proverbs with translations are presented in large numbers in the section of our portal dedicated to the English language. You can easily pick up English proverbs to solve regular problems at all stages of learning.
Hi all! Proverbs are the oldest genre folklore creativity. Every people has them, even the most ancient ones - the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians. They contain the wisdom of ancestors, practical philosophy, rules of life and morality, and historical memory. Russian proverbs and their English equivalents reflect the experience of the Slavic and English peoples, respectively, in various areas of life. Proverbs
Due to their emotionality and imagery, proverbs are very often used in various types of conversations and texts in English. At the same time, when translating English proverbs found in authentic texts into Russian, difficulties often arise, since their meaning is not always clear to us, and bilingual dictionaries do not often provide their interpretation. How to overcome translation difficulties?
For example, the proverb “ and fool and his money are soon parted » is not understandable to Russian speakers. Even after learning her translation " a fool and his money are often divided “its meaning and cases of use remain a mystery to us. And it means something like this: a foolish person who spends money thoughtlessly or too quickly. Then everything falls into place. But it is better to find equivalents in both languages, the meaning of which you will not have any doubts about.
Equivalents of Russian proverbs in English
Since our native language is Russian, it is easier for us to apply the statement that we have known since childhood. However, as we have found out, literal translation sometimes distorts not only the form, but also the meaning of what is said. Therefore, if you want to figuratively express your thoughts in English, I recommend that you use the equivalents of Russian proverbs in English, which you can find in this article.
I compared a large number of Russian and English proverbs in terms of meaning and lexical composition. Thus, I have identified two groups:
Equivalent in use, lexical composition and meaning- these are proverbs that, when translated accurately, do not lose their meaning; they are used in both languages in the same case:
Easier said than done
Be easier said than doneOne head it's good, but two better
Two heads are better than oneBetter late than never
Better late than neverHe who laughs last laughs best
Not who laughs last laughs longestThe spirit is strong but the flesh is weak
The spirit is willing but the flesh is weakStrike while the iron is hot
Strike while the iron is hot
However, most English folk sayings are radically different in lexical composition.
Equivalent in meaning and application only- these are proverbs with a completely different translation, which is natural for an excellent lexical composition, however general meaning phrases are similar in meaning and the situations in which these expressions are used. This group is of greater interest to us:
What goes around comes around
A bad beginning makes a bad ending
(A bad start leads to a bad end)A thin world is a better place good fight
A bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit
(A bad compromise is better than a good fight)Who gets up early, God gives him
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise
(Get up early and go to bed early - you will be healthy, rich and smart)He who does not plan his own victory is planning someone else's
Failing to plan is planning to fail
(Not planning is planning to fail)Trust in God, but don’t make a mistake yourself
Good fences make good neighbors
(Behind good fence- good neighbors)
Read more Analogues of Russian proverbs in English
Abbreviations of English proverbs
Very often, long proverbs are shortened in oral speech. This figure is called the default technique. For example, we do not fully pronounce the expression when we want to say that we will have to do something to get what we want: “Without difficulty...” or “Under a lying stone...”, and then it’s clear what the interlocutor wants to say, and not need to finish a sentence.
In English, the entire expression is also not pronounced if it is too long. Using the figure of default, proverbs such as:
- And rolling stone...
- Well, here’s a silver lining…
- Well, a bird in the hand, you know…
- when the cat's away…
- Birds of a feather…
By the way, the expression “Silence is golden” is also a shortened form. In its full version in English, this phrase looks like this: “ Speech is silver; silence is golden ».
However, this option is only good if both interlocutors have a good command of the language and know the folklore of the people in whose language they communicate. That is, to understand the abbreviated version, you need to know this expression in full. Therefore, when using an abbreviation, make sure that the interlocutor understands you correctly and does not invent anything to himself.
Proverbs and sayings in English for primary schoolchildren
English provers and sayings
English proverbs and sayings and their Russian analogues, corresponding to them in meaning
English proverbs and sayings:
1. A bad corn promise is better than a good lawsuit.
2. A bargain is a bargain.
3. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
4. A bird may be known by its song.
5. A burden of one's own choice is not felt.
6. A burnt child dreads the fire.
7. A cat in gloves catches no mice.
8. A drop in the bucket.
9. A fault confessed is half redressed.
10. A fly in the ointment.
11. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
12. A great ship asks deep waters.
13. A little body often harbors a great soul.
14. A man can do no more than he can.
15. A man is known by the company he keeps.
16. A new broom sweeps clean.
17. A silent fool is counted wise.
18. A sound mind in a sound body.
19. A thief knows a thief as a wolf knows a wolf.
20. A word spoken is past recalling.
21. After dinner comes the reckoning.
22. All that glitters is not gold.
23. All cats are gray in the dark.
24. All is well that ends well.
25. Among the blind the one-eyed man is king.
26. An evil chance rarely comes alone.
27. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening.
28. An ox is taken by the horns, and a man by the tongue.
29. Appetite comes with eating.
30. As like as two peas.
31. As the call, so the echo.
32. As the fool thinks, so the bell clinks.
33. As well be hung for a sheep as for a lamb.
34. As you sow, so shall you reap.
35. Before you make a friend eat a bushel of salt with him.
36. Better a lean peace than a fat victory.
37. Better be born lucky than rich.
38. Better late than never.
39. Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip.
40. Beware of a silent dog and still water.
41. Business before pleasure.
42. Catch the bear before you sell his skin.
43. Circumstances alter cases.
44. Company in distress makes trouble less.
45. Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
46. Curses like chickens come home to roost.
47. Death when it comes will have no denial.
48. Diligence is the mother of success.
49. Do as you would be done by.
50. Dog does not eat dog.
51. Dogs that put up many harms kill none.
52. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched.
53. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
54. Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.
55. Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals.
56. East or West - home is best.
57. Every bird likes its own nest.
58. Every dark cloud has a silver lining.
59. Every day is not Sunday.
60. Every man to his taste.
61. Everybody's business is nobody's business.
62. Everything is good in its season.
63. Evil communications corrupt good manners.
64. Fine words butter no parsnips.
65. Fish begins to stink at the head.
66. Fool's haste is no speed.
67. Fools never know when they are well.
68. Forbidden fruit is sweet.
69. Give a fool rope enough, and he will hang himself.
70. Good clothes open all doors.
71. Grasp all, lose all.
72. Habit cures habit.
73. He is lifeless that is faultless.
Russian equivalent of English proverbs and sayings
1. A bad peace is better than a good quarrel.
2. An agreement is more valuable than money.
3. Better a bird in the hand than a pie in the sky.
4. The bird is visible in flight.
5. You can’t bear your own burden.
6. If you burn yourself on milk, you will blow on water.
7. You can’t even pull a fish out of the pond without difficulty.
8. A drop in the sea.
9. The sword does not cut off a guilty head.
10. A fly in the ointment.
11. Friends are known in trouble.
12. For a large ship, a long voyage.
13. The spool is small, but expensive.
14. You can’t jump above your head.
15. Tell me who your friend is and I will tell you who you are.
16. The new broom sweeps well.
17. Keep quiet - you’ll pass for smart.
18. A healthy mind in a healthy body.
19. A fisherman sees a fisherman from afar.
20. The word is not a sparrow; if it flies out, you won’t catch it.
21. If you love to ride, you also love to carry sleds.
22. All that glitters is not gold.
23. At night all cats are gray.
24. All's well that ends well.
25. In the absence of fish and cancer, fish.
26. Trouble has come, open the gate.
27. The morning is wiser than the evening.
28. My tongue is my enemy.
29. Appetite comes with eating.
30. Like two peas in a pod.
31. As it comes back, so will it respond.
32. The law is not written for fools.
33. Seven troubles - one answer.
34. What goes around comes around.
35. You recognize a person when you eat a peck of salt with him.
36. A bad peace is better than a good quarrel.
37. Don’t be born beautiful, but be born happy.
38. Better late than never.
39. Don’t say “gop” until you jump over.
40. There are devils in still waters.
41. Time for business, time for fun.
42. Without killing a bear, do not sell the skins.
43. Don’t think ahead.
44. Even death is red in the world.
45. If you don’t know the ford, don’t poke your nose into the water.
46. Don’t dig a hole for someone else, you will fall into it yourself.
47. You can’t buy yourself out of death.
48. Patience and work will grind everything down.
49. What you don’t want for yourself, don’t do to someone else.
50. A raven will not peck out a crow’s eye.
51. If you chase two hares, you won’t catch either.
52. Chickens are counted in the fall.
53. Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.
54. Don’t wake up the trouble while it’s quiet.
55. What is on the sober mind is on the tongue of the drunk.
56. It’s good to be away, but it’s better to be at home.
57. Every sandpiper praises its swamp.
58. Every cloud has a silver lining.
59. Not everything is Maslenitsa for the cat.
60. For taste, for color - there is no comrade.
61. Seven nannies have a child without an eye.
62. Everything has its time.
Sometimes it is easier to learn a foreign language from books and films, but from time to time there are not very clear phrases that, as it turns out, are English proverbs and sayings. Let's get acquainted with the 100 most common proverbs in English and their Russian analogues. 1. Extremes meet - Extremes meet 11. Have a heart! - Have mercy! Have mercy! 21. As snug as a bug in a rug - Settled down like a bug in a carpet 31. When a friend asks, there is no tomorrow - For a dear friend and an earring from his ear 51. All in the same boat - To be in the same position with someone. 71. You can’t eat your cake and have it - You can’t eat one pie twice 91. Wit once bought is worth twice taught - Own experience teaches better than instruction
2. East or West home is best - Away is good, but home is better
3. Better late than never - Better late than never
4. All’s well that ends well - All is well that ends well
5. Out of sight out of mind - Out of sight, out of mind
6. As fit as a fiddle - In good health, in a good mood
7. No sweet without sweat - Without tasting the bitter, you won’t see the sweet
8. A penny saved is a penny gained - If you didn’t spend a penny, it means you earned it
9. By one’s father’s side - On the paternal side, on the paternal side
10. Just a joke - Just a joke
12. A good beginning makes a good ending - A good beginning is half the battle.
13. Too good to be true - Incredible, it can’t be / can’t believe that this is true
14. Who knew, who is who - Who knows - “who is who”
15. New lords new laws - The new broom sweeps in a new way….
16. Honesty is the best policy - Honesty is the best policy
17. A light purse is a heavy curse - The worst of all troubles is when there is no money
18. It’s like putting a saddle on a cow - It goes like a cow’s saddle
19. An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth - An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth
20. I dare swear - I dare to swear
22. Look who’s talking! - Whose cow would moo, and yours would be silent!
23. There is no rose without a thorn - There is no rose without thorns
24. If there is a will, there is a way - To want is to be able
25. There is no place like home - Away is good, but home is better
26. There is no smoke without fire - There is no smoke without fire
27. Lovely weather for ducks! - There is no bad weather!
28. There is a black sleep in every flock - White Crow
29. But... There is always but... - But... There is always some kind, but...
30. There are spots even on the sun - And there are spots in the sun
32. There is no royal road to learning - There are no beaten paths in science
33. There’s many a slip between the cup and the lip - Grandma said this in two / We’ll see about that later
34. While there is life, there is hope - While I’m breathing [living] – I hope
35. There is no flying from fate - You can’t escape fate
36. There is a small choice in rotten apples - For lack of fish and cancer, fish
37. If there were no clouds we should not enjoy the sun - If there were no clouds, then we would not appreciate the sun
38. There is no so faithful friend, as a good book - There is no better friend than a book
39. No butts! - No buts!
40. No new – is a good new - No news is good news 
41. Tastes differ - There are no comrades for the taste and color
42. Where there is a will there is a way - If there was a hunt, the work would work out / Where there is a will, there is a ability
43. One man’s meat is another man’s poison - What is useful to one is harmful to another
44. Pull your finger out / to make more effort - Make more effort
45. Turn over a new leaf - Start a new life, improve, change for the better, break with the past
46. Break a leg / good luck - Good luck! Break a leg
47. Rome wasn’t built in a day - Moscow was not built right away
48. The early bird catches the worm - Who gets up early, good luck awaits him
49. Practice makes perfect - The skill of the master sets, the work of the master is afraid
50. Start from scratch - Start with the basics
52. You can count it on your fingers - One or two and I’ve lost the number / You can count it on your fingers
53. Twist the knife in the wound - Open wounds/sprinkle salt on a wound
54. Put that in your pine and smoke it - Remember this once and for all / write it down on your nose
55. But there is no flying from fate - You can’t escape fate
56. A dog is a manger - The dog is lying in the manger - he doesn’t eat and doesn’t give it to others
57. Well begun is half done - A good beginning half the battle has been pumped out / dashing trouble beginning
58. A lame duck - Loser
59. It’s never too late to learn - Live forever, learn forever
60. True love has no happy end, true love – has no end at all - U true love there is no happy ending, true love has no end at all 
61. No man can serve two masters - You cannot serve two masters at once
62. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today - Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today
63. You can’t judge a man’s character by his looks - You can’t judge a person’s character by his appearance
64. A man can do no more than he can - You can’t jump higher than your head
65. You can’t have it both ways - Try to combine incompatible things, adhere to two mutually exclusive points of view
66. Put one’s money where one’s mouth is - Support words with deeds
67. If you can’t beat them, join them - If you can’t beat them, join them
68. One cannot be in two places at once - They don’t dance at two weddings at once
69. The leopard cannot change his spots - The grave will correct the hunchback
70. You can’t sell the cow and drink the milk - It’s impossible to sell a cow and drink her milk
72. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs - You can’t make scrambled eggs without breaking eggs
73. Man can’t live by bread alone - Man can’t live only on bread
74. One can’t make a silk purse if a sow’s ear - Man does not live by bread alone
75. He that can’t obey command - Good is the general who was a soldier
76. You can’t get blood from a stone - You can’t squeeze pity out of a stone
77. Pigs to you! - But screw you!
78. Nothing is stolen without hands - No smoke without fire
79. Men may meet but mountains never - Man will meet man. and mountain with mountain - never
80. The evil would may be cured but not the evil name - Take care of honor from a young age 
81. What can be done at any time is done at no time - What can always be done is never done
82. Nothing is impossible to a willing heart - If there was a hunt, there would always be an opportunity
83. A bird may be known by its song - A bird is visible in flight
84. Nothing is so certain as the unexpected - What you don’t expect is what you get
85. As well be hung (hung) for a sheep as for a lamb - Two deaths cannot happen, but one cannot be avoided
86. Every man has a fool in his sleeve - Simplicity is enough for every wise man
87. Men leap over where the hedge is lowest - A stream is crossed in a shallow place
88. No man is born wise or learned - A sage and a scientist are not born
89. He knows all the answers - He won’t go into his pocket for a word
90. They that think they know everything, know nothing - People who think they know everything know nothing
92. You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink - You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink
93. Learning is the eye of the mind - Learning is light, ignorance is darkness
94. He know most who speaks least - Talk less, listen more
95. Money makes the mare go - For oats and a nag will gallop
96. Money can’t buy you love - Money can’t buy love
97. The love of money is the root of all evil - Money can’t buy love
98. Money doesn’t grow on trees - Money doesn’t lie on the street
99. One swallow does not make a summer - One swallow does not make spring
100. Make hay while the sun shines - Mow your hair while the dew / Strike the iron while it’s hot