How to say the proverb in English. English proverbs and sayings

Proverbs and sayings are short but meaningful statements that reflect some worldly wisdom or advice. A proverb is a complete sentence, and a saying is a brightly colored phrase. They are much more common in everyday speech than they might seem. This is because sometimes we use them almost unconsciously. Many of them are very laconic and literally roll off the tongue in certain situations.

Why is it important to know English proverbs and sayings?

1. It's just interesting. They reflect the worldview of the people, their culture, and this aspect is very important for a language learner.
2. When communicating in English in real life, we often support our words with some examples and arguments, and proverbs are something that is very difficult to argue with, because they are pearls of worldly wisdom.
3. If you use a particular proverb appropriately in an English exam, you will definitely improve your score.

Look at how an example of an answer with a proverb to a simple question sounds:

Examiner : Tell me about you home town?

Candidate 1 : My home town is N. It is small but beautiful and I like it very much.

Candidate 2 : My home town is N. It is small but beautiful and, you know, people say there’s no place like home. I believe it's really so...

Examiner: Tell me about your hometown.

Candidate 1: My hometown– N. It’s small, but beautiful, and I really like it.

Candidate 2: My hometown is N. It is small, but beautiful, and you know, they say that visiting is good, but home is better. I think this is really true...

We bring to your attention 10 proverbs and sayings that are very popular both in English and Russian:

Proverb/saying	Russian equivalent	Example
To each his own.	To each his own.	His brother is a worthy and he’s just good-for-nothing! Well, to each his own. His brother is a respected man, but he is just a slacker! Well, to each his own.
Every cloud has a silver lining.	Every cloud has a silver lining.	She met her husband-to-be during the war – every cloud has a silver lining. She met her future husband during the war - every cloud has a silver lining.
As you sow you shall mow.	What goes around comes around.	It’s not surprising you couldn’t pass the exam – you didn't prepare at all! As you sow you shall mow. No wonder you couldn't pass the exam: you didn't prepare at all. What goes around comes around.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.	He who doesn't take risks doesn't drink champagne.	Take a risk and remember that nothing ventured nothing gained. Take risks and remember: those who don’t take risks don’t drink champagne.
Love is blind.	Love is blind.	James is using her and she believes his every word. Love is blind! James is using her and she believes every word he says. Love is blind!
Time is money.	Time is money.	We have no minute to be lost. Time is money. We can't waste a minute. Time is money.
Haste makes waste.	If you hurry, you will make people laugh.	Do the task slowly and carefully – haste makes waste. Complete the task slowly and carefully. If you hurry, you will make people laugh.
Ignorance is bliss.	Ignorance is bliss.	She never asks her patron extra questions – she thinks ignorance is bliss. She never asks her patron unnecessary questions, she thinks that ignorance is bliss.
Better late than never.	Better late than never.	I’m calling to congratulate you on your new appointment. I’m sorry that I’m doing it just now but better late than never. I'm calling you to congratulate you on your new appointment. Sorry I'm only doing this now, but better late than never.
Easy come, easy go.	Easy to get, easy to live.	He won a fortune in a lottery and then lost it all in a casino – easy come, easy go. He won a fortune in the lottery and then lost it all in a casino. Easy to get, easy to live.

This video presents some of the above proverbs with additional explanation and examples:

And finally, we suggest you take a short test to consolidate the material.

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Test

Proverbs and sayings in English for every day

​ A bargain is a bargian.

- A bargain is a bargain. A cracked bell can never sound well.

- A broken bell never rings. (Old age is not a joy). - A good example is the best sermon. Good example

- the best sermon. A friend in court is better than a penny in purse.

- An influential friend is worth more than money. (Don’t have a hundred rubles, but have a hundred friends). A friend in need is a friend indeed.

- A true friend is known in trouble. - A little help is worth a deal of pity. Small help

better than big regrets. A man is known by the company he keeps.

- Tell me who your friend is, and I will tell you who you are.

A stitch in time saves nine.- One stitch done on time is worth nine. (A spoon is on its way to dinner).

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. - Feelings grow stronger in separation. rarely bite. (He who threatens a lot does little harm.)

Better an open enemy than a false friend.- Better a good enemy than a false friend.

Better a new friend than an old foe.- Better new friend than the old enemy.

Eggs can't teach a hen. - Eggs don't teach a chicken.

Fling dirt enough and some will stick.- Throw enough dirt and some of it will stick. (Slander is like coal: if it doesn’t burn, it gets dirty).

Get anything given - run being beaten.- They give - take, they hit - run.

No man is a hero to his valet.- No one is a hero in the eyes of his servant.

Once bitten, twice shy.

- Once bitten, he is doubly timid. (The frightened crow is afraid of the bush).

Pride goes before a fall.- Pride comes before a fall. (The devil was proud, but fell from heaven).

The devil is not so black as he is painted.

- The devil is not as scary as he is painted. (The lion is not as scary as he is portrayed). The first wealth is health.

- Health is the main wealth.

(There is) now smoke without fire.

- There is no smoke without fire.

You can't serve two masters. - You cannot serve two masters.

Proverbs and sayings in English.

A dog in the manger. - The dog is in the manger. Dog in the manger.

A good name is better than riches. - Good fame is better than wealth.

A word is enough to wise. - A word is enough for a smart person. A smart person hears right away.

All sugar and honey. - All made of sugar and honey. Sugar Medovich (about a sugary, insincere person.).

An Englishman’s home (house) is his castle. - An Englishman's home is his fortress; An Englishman is the master at home.

As slippery as an eel. - Slippery like an eel (quirky).

Better late than never. - Better late than never.

Charity begins at home. - Mercy begins at home. Your shirt is closer to your body.

Custom is a second nature. - Habit is second nature.

Fortune favors the brave. - Fortune favors the brave.

Politeness goes far, yet costs nothing. - Politeness is highly valued, but it costs nothing.

Still waters run deep. - Quiet waters have deep currents. Still waters run deep.

To take to something like a duck to water. - Like a fish in water.

To wear one"s heart upon one"s sleeve. - Wear your heart on your sleeve. The soul is wide open.

Two heads are better than one. - One head it's good, but two better.

You can't serve two masters. - You cannot serve two masters.

Proverbs and sayings in English about home.

Keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for it. - Keep the thing for seven years, and you will be able to benefit from it. (After all, any thing can come in handy.)

People who live in glass houses should never throw stones. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (Don't cut the branch you're sitting on).

There is no place like home. - (Native) home is the most the best place. Being a guest is good, but being at home is better.

Proverbs and sayings in English about health.

English Proverbs and Sayings about Health.

A sound mind in a sound body. - In a healthy body healthy mind.

Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. -Whoever goes to bed early and gets up early will gain health, wealth and intelligence.

Fit as a fiddle. - Healthy as a bull.

Health is better than wealth. - Health is the best wealth.

One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two after. - An hour of sleep before midnight is worth two after.

One man's meat is another man's poison. - What is food for one is poison for another.

Health is not valued till sickness comes. - Health is not valued as long as you are healthy.

Prevention is better than cure. - It is better to prevent a disease than to treat it.

Proverbs and sayings in English about travel.

English Proverbs and Sayings about Traveling.

Every country has its customs. - Each country has its own customs. The city is noisy.

So many countries, so many customs. - There are so many countries, so many customs.

To carry coals to Newcastle. - Transport coal to Newcastle. Travel to Tula with your own samovar.

When at Rome, do as Romans do. - When you are in Rome, do as the Romans do. They don’t go to someone else’s monastery with their own rules.

Proverbs and sayings in English about food.

English Proverbs and Sayings about Food.

I am as hungry as a hunter. - I'm hungry as a wolf.

A hungry belly has no ears. - A hungry belly is deaf to learning.

An apple a day the doctor away. - An apple a day - and you don't need a doctor.

Appetite comes with eating. - Appetite comes with eating.

Don’t live to eat, but eat to live. - Don't live to eat, but eat to live.

Eat at pleasure, drink with measure. - Eat plenty, (and) drink in moderation.

Hunger breaks stone walls. - Hunger breaks even stone walls; need will teach you everything.

Hunger is the best sauce. – Hunger is the best seasoning.

One man’s meat is another man’s poison. - What is food for one is poison for another.

Tastes differ. - Tastes could not be discussed.

Too many cooks spoil the broth. - Too many cooks spoil the broth, (Seven nannies have a child without an eye).

You can’t eat your cake and have it too. - You can’t have your cake and eat it at the same time (you can’t do mutually exclusive things).

Who has never tasted bitter, knows not what is sweet. - Anyone who has never tasted bitter does not know what sweet is.

Proverbs in English about work. Work.

A light purse is a heavy curse. - The worst of all troubles is when there is no money.

A rolling stone gathers no moss. - Anyone who can’t sit still won’t do well.

An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. - One morning hour is better than two evening hours. The morning is wiser than the evening.

Business before pleasure. - It's time for fun.

By fits and starts. - Jerks; convulsively; irregularly.

If you want a thing well done, do it yourself. - If you want something done well, do it yourself. Your eye is a diamond.

It is never too late to learn. - It's never too late to learn.

Jack of all trades and master of none. - A person who undertakes everything, but knows how to do nothing.

Live and learn. - Live and learn. Live and learn.

Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. - Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.

No pain, no gain. - You can’t catch a fish from a pond without difficulty.

To be busy as a bee. - Spinning like a squirrel in a wheel.

To know everything is to know nothing. To know everything is to know nothing.

To know something like the palm of one’s hand. - Have at one's fingertips.

To work with the left hand. - Work carelessly. Work with your left hand.

Well begun is half done. - Well started is half done.

Where there's a will, there's a way. - Where there is a desire, there is a way (i.e. a means). Where there is will, there is ability.

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 Proverbs in English are used much more intensively than when studying other languages. Working with students on the text of proverbs helps improve pronunciation, consolidate grammatical skills, and enrich lexicon, develop translation skills and learn to express your 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 the plural of nouns is much easier and forms are remembered irregular verbs, degrees of comparison of adjectives, modal verbs.

English proverbs in educational process In addition to their educational function, they broaden their horizons, develop cognitive abilities, influence the formation of moral principles, cultivate a tolerant attitude towards another culture, develop interest and strengthen the motivation for learning English.

English proverbs with translation into large quantities are given 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.