Between the devil and the deep To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a

sea serious dilemma.

Where there's a will there's a When a person really wants to do something, he will find
way a way of doing it.

A burnt child dreads fire A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's
attitude or thinking for a lifetime.

First come, first served The first in line will be attended to first.

A friend in need is a friend A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend.
indeed

Discretion is the better part of If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean
valor that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is
sometimes the most sensible thing to do.

A hungry man is an angry man A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a
frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage.

Empty vessels make the most Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the
noise most and make the greatest fuss.

A man is as old as he feels A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks

and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old.

Great talkers are little doers Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching
others usually do not do much work.

An idle brain is the devil's One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many
workshop mischievous acts.

An ounce of discretion is worth It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever.

a pound of wit

Faint heart never won fair lady To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue
what he wants.

A penny saved is a penny By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
gained

A rolling stone gathers no moss 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.
As you sow, so you shall reap One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his
earlier actions or inactions.

Barking dogs seldom bite Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out.

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 Something that one already has is better than going after
the bush something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not
be able to get.

Birds of a feather flock together People of the same sort of character or belief always go
together.

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.

Charity begins at home 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.

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.)

A great talker is a great liar A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar.

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.

All that glitters is not gold Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be
attractive.

Eat to live, but do not live to eat Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny
with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food.

Don't put all your eggs in one One should not risk everything he has in a single venture.
basket

Every dog has its day Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction
 during his lifetime.

Every one can find fault, few It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or
can do better methods than to do it properly or correctly.

Any time means no time When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will
never take place.

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.

Fire is a good servant but a bad Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve
master man well only when it is controlled and used wisely.
Actions speak louder than Children usually learn more from the examples set by
words 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.

Fortune knocks once at every Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his
man's door lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in
life.

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.

God helps those who help God only helps those people who work hard and make an
themselves honest effort.

It's an ill wind that blows A bad or evil occurrence.

nobody any good

Great minds think alike Wise people will normally think and behave alike in
certain situations.

Habit is second nature An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or
later become a habit or second nature.

He laughs best who laughs last A person who does his best is the one who will get the
greatest satisfaction in the end.

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.
Great haste makes great waste 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.

It's never too late to mend It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults.

It's no use crying over spilt It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can
milk never be found or a mistake done that can never be
corrected or rectified.

Still waters run deep One who is usually silent and goes about his business
quietly may be a very wise person.

Jack of all trades and master of Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely
none excels in any of them.

Let bygones by bygones One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad
deeds done by others.

Let not the pot call the kettle A person who has a fault should not point out the same
black fault in another; do not criticize another person as you
may have the same weakness.

Let sleeping dogs lie One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are
likely to create trouble.

No news is good news When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all
right.

Look before you leap Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible
consequences.

Necessity is the mother of When a person is in great need of something, he will find
invention a way of getting it.

Honesty is the best policy Being honest is believed to be the best route to take.

One man's meat is another No two persons are alike - every one has his own
man's poison preferences, likes and dislikes.

Once bitten twice shy If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful
and alert the next time.

Like father, like son, like ( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts
mother, like daughter like the father or mother )
Practice makes perfect It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he
will excel in it

Prevention is better than cure It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a
problem after it has arisen.

Rome was not built in a day Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight
or easily.

Robbing Peter to pay Paul ( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an
earlier loan ) taking from one to give another.

Spare the rod and spoil the A child who is not punished and showed the error of his
child ways will become unruly.

Speech is silver, silence is Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may
golden be the best option to take.

It takes two to make a quarrel Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take
responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by
himself.

Strike while the iron is hot Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible.

There's no smoke without fire Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of
truth in them.

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.

To err is human, to forgive It is only normal for man to make mistakes and do wrong,
divine but for one to forgive another for his wrong is indeed
great and gracious act.

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.

Two heads are better than one It is always better to get the view of another than to rely
entirely on one's own judgment.

When in Rome do as the When one is in a new place, country or situation he must
Romans do adapt himself to the new manners and customs.
When the cat is away the mice When law enforcers are not present, certain public
will play members will take the opportunity to break the law

Absence makes the heart grow One usually desires another more when he or she is far
fonder away.
A bad workman always blames A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his
his tools tools rather than himself.

A new broom sweeps clean A person newly appointed is always eager and
enthusiastic in his work.

Don't judge a book by its cover Do not be deceived by appearances.

Blood is thicker than water Family ties are stronger than any other.

Don't count your chickens Do not make plans based on something that has not
before they are hatched. happened.

Don't make a mountain out of a Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or
molehill small

Experience is the best teacher The best way to learn a job is to do it.

The last straw that broke the The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant
camel's back situation, causes failure or ruin.

Look at the bright side Be optimistic

Make hay while the sun shines Seize opportunities

Out of sight, out of mind You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in
contact with.

A leopard cannot change its A person's nature cannot change.

spots

There are two sides to every There are always two ways of looking at something
question

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 You only realize the importance of something when it is
well runs dry gone
To put the cart before the horse To do something in an incorrect order

Bite off more than one can To try to do something one is unable to do or incapable of
chew 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 Youngsters who possess qualities of wisdom one would
shoulders only expect to find in experienced older people.

Have eyes in the back of one's An ability to know what is happening not within the scope
head of one's vision.

If it's not one thing it's another The troubles seem to go on and on without end.

The sky is the limit There is no upper limit to something

A trouble shared is a trouble Your troubles seem half as great when you discuss them
halved with someone else

A watched pot never boils If you watch or wait for something to get done or to
happen it seems to take forever

Worship the ground somebody Very much in love with somebody

walks on

Between a rock and a hard To be in a difficult situation from which there seems to be
place no escape

Cleanliness is next to Godliness To be clean and tidy is just as important as being

spiritually good and religious.

Money is the root of all evil Crimes and wickedness are associated with money.

Two's company, three's a It is always fun while there are only two people whereas
crowd the third person is an unwelcome intrusion.

It takes all sorts to make a You should not expect everyone to think and act as you
world do.

Jump from the frying pan into To go from a bad position to a worse one.
the fire

Go from the sublime to the Move from one situation which is wonderful or perfect to
ridiculous another which is absurd or awful

One swallow doesn't make a One success doesn't guarantee complete success
summer

Truth is stranger than fiction Real life can be more incredible than anything which can
be imagined

You can't have your cake and You must choose between two things as it is impossible to
eat it have both at the same time

A miss is as good as a mile Something that one already has is better than something
that one may not be able to get

As you make your bed so must You must accept the consequences of your act
you lie on it

Cut your coat according to Live within your income; don't be too ambitious in your
your cloth plans

All's fish that comes the net When something comes our way we should consider how
it might be useful or benefit us.

An apple a day keeps the It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you in the
doctor away peak of health.

Be on the safe side To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake

Beauty is in the eye of the What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to
beholder others.

Beggars can't be choosers 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.

The buck stops here It means final decision or total responsibility for an action

Burn the candle at both ends 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
Catch as catch can To do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or
reach a goal.

Children should be seen and To stop a child from asking questions, talking, or making
not heard unnecessary noise.

Christmas comes but once each An excuse to indulge in food and drink and spend money
year 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 When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes
face react by doing foolish things that prove harmful to
themselves.

The devil finds work for idle Unless one keeps busy doing useful or constructive things
hands 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 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 A person who spends his money foolishly will soon be
parted penniless

Forgive and forget Excusing or pardoning someone for doing something

Give someone enough rope and If we allow someone to continue in his bad ways he'll
he will hang himself 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 The person who pays for something has the right to do as
tune 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 If we could get all the things we wanted just by making a
would ride wish, everyone would have all he ever wanted.

If you can't lick them, join If you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his
them 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 When you do something you should do it as well as you
worth doing well can.

Keep the wolf from the door To avoid hunger and poverty

Laugh and the world laughs When someone is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like
with you 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 We can help, show or encourage someone to do
but you can't make him drink something but we can't make him do what he is unwilling
or unable to do

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 Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's
horse has bolted too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening.

The longest day must have an All difficult jobs or situations also have an end.
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 To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be
brings forth a mouse pretty useless.

Opportunity only knocks once Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never
happen again.

An ounce of prevention is It is even better to be cautious and prevent a misfortune or

better than a pound of cure an accident from happening.

Possession is nine points of the In disputes over property ownership, the person in
law 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 No matter how good or bad a person, he must still face
the unjust alike the everyday problems that confront us all.

The sins of the fathers will be People will be punished for the wrongs committed by
visited upon the children their parents, forefathers, or those who have preceded
them.

Someone's bark is worse than People sometimes bark but in time we learn they're not
his bite always as frightening as they seem.

The spirit is willing but the To do something unworthy just because it gives you the
flesh is weak 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 A small incident can reveal an important event
the wind blows

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 People ,who never admit they might be wrong, refuse to
those that will not see listen to the opinions or ideas of anyone

There are none so deaf as those People sometimes hear only what they want to hear
who will not hear

There's more than one way to There is more than one way of getting a job done
skin a cat

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 It means that though something beautiful may not last, the
forever 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 If a person does something to harm or offend us, that's
right wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's
wrong too.

Uneasy is the head that wears Notable or important people are often concerned about
the crown 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 Most men love to eat so feed your husband well and he
through his stomach 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 As soon as a happily married couple begin having
door, love flies out the window financial problems and the bills pile up their love will
disappear.

Who keeps company with If we associate with bad companions we, too, will become
wolves, will learn to howl bad

You pays your money and you A humorous way of saying that we sometimes must trust
takes your chances in luck when buying something.

Prosperity makes friends, If you are rich and successful, you will attract many
adversity tries them friends, but if you should suffer hardship or have
misfortune ( adversity ), your friends will quickly depart.
A constant We are apt to grow
guest is to dislike friends
never who visit us too
welcome often

Catch not We should not

at the waste time on
shadow trivial aspects of a
and lose matter and neglect
the the essential matter
substance itself.

If the Those without

blind lead knowledge should
the blind, not try to teach the
both shall ignorant.
fall into
the ditch

Kindle not Do not start

a fire you something you
cannot put cannot control or
out resolve

Do unto Treat others as you

others as would like them to
you would treat you.
others do
unto you

Fools rush Foolish people

in where tend to act too
angels hastily and do
fear to things that wise
tread people would
avoid.

A Contentment of
contented mind is the cause
mind is a of lasting
perpetual happiness.
feast

History What has happened

tends to once is liable to
repeat happen again.