Proverb Meanings

"The best things in life are free."

We don't have to pay for the things that are really valuable, like love, friendship and good health.

"A stitch in time saves nine."

Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more expensive repair job later. Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll need 9 stitches! (Why nine and not eight or ten? Because "nine" rhymes, approximately, with "time".)

stitch (noun) = a link made with thread in sewing in time = not late

"Still waters run deep."

Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often have a strong, "deep" personality.

still (adjective) = calm, motionless deep (adjective) = going far down

"He teaches ill, who teaches all."

The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to "He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means "badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students discover some things for themselves.

ill (adverb) = badly

"You can't take it with you when you die."

When we die we leave everything on earth. We don't take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some material things are not really so valuable as we think.

"Better untaught than ill taught."

This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly. This idea is echoed in Pope's famous line: "A little learning is a dang'rous thing;".

taught = past participle of verb "teach" (here used in passive voice) ill taught = badly taught

"Don't cross your bridges before you come to them."

Don't worry about problems before they arrive.

"Soon learnt, soon forgotten."

Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.

"Even a worm will turn."

Everybody will revolt if driven too far. Even the lowest of people, or animals, will revolt and hit back at some stage. Even a worm, the simplest of animals, will defend itself.

worm (noun) = small thin animal with soft body and no bones or legs turn (verb) = revolt, fight back

"It was the last straw that broke the camel's back."
There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break. And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the last straw!" when they will not accept any more of something.

straw (noun) = dried stalk of grain (like dry piece of grass) camel (noun) = large long-necked animal used for riding and carrying goods in the desert

"The way to a man's heart is through his stomach."

Many women have won a man's love by cooking delicious meals for him. They fed his stomach and found love in his heart.

way (noun) = path; route

"If the stone fall upon the egg, alas for the egg! If the egg fall upon the stone, alas for the egg!"
Life just isn't fair, and this realistic Arabic proverb recognizes that. The stone will always break the egg. Life's like that!

alas = bad luck; pity; tough; regrettable

"Where there's a will there's a way."

If we have the determination to do something, we can always find the path or method to do it.

will (noun) = strong determination, desire. way (noun) = path, method

"Marry in haste, and repent at leisure."

If we get married quickly, without thinking carefully, we may be sorry later. And we will have plenty of time to be sorry.

in haste = quickly repent (verb) = feel sorry, regret at leisure = slowly, over time

"One tongue is enough for a woman."

Some people think that women talk too much. If they already talk too much, they don't need another tongue. One tongue is sufficient. This proverb is another way of saying that women talk too much.

tongue (noun) = large, movable fleshy part in the mouth that we use for talking and tasting

"If you wish good advice, consult an old man."

Old people have a lot of experience. If you want to have good advice or recommendations, ask an old person, not a young one.

wish (verb) = want, desire advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do consult (verb) = ask; go to for advice or information

"The best advice is found on the pillow."

If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a good night's sleep. People also often say: "I'll sleep on it."

advice (noun) = recommendation as to what to do pillow (noun) = cushion that you rest your head on while you sleep

"All clouds bring not rain."

We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings rain." And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the sky, but it doesn't rain. Sometimes it's the same with problems, or what we think are problems.

"You can't tell a book by its cover."

We need to read a book to know if it's good or bad. We cannot know what it's like just by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything, not only books.

"Bad news travels fast."

"Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.

"No news is good news."

This is like the proverb "Bad news travels fast." If we are waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly.

"Live and let live."

This proverb suggests that we should not interfere in other people's business. We should live our own lives and let others live their lives. The title of the famous James Bond story Live and Let Die was a play on this proverb.

"Birds of a feather flock together."

"Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type.

feather (noun) = part of the soft, light covering of a bird's body flock (verb) = gather in a crowd

"Tell me who you go with and I'll tell you who you are."
Similar to "Birds of a feather...", this proverb suggests that like minds stick together.

1. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. Answer: Our affection increases when we are parted from our loved ones. 2. Actions speak louder than words. Answer: It is what we do that matters and not just what we say. 3. After a storm comes a calm. Answer: Since something better must follow an unpleasant event, be optimistic. 4. All's well that ends well. Answer: A satisfactory conclusion makes up for earlier disappointments. 5. All roads lead to Rome. Answer: People can arrive at the same conclusion by different means. 6. All that glitters is not gold. Answer: Everything that is attractive on the outside may not be really valuable inside. 7. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Answer: It is not good to only toil and have no recreation. 8. As you sow, so shall you reap. Answer: One's actions whether good or bad determine one's rewards or punishments. 9. Bad news travels fast. Answer: Information about unpleasant happenings spreads quickly. 10. A bad workman always blames his tools. Answer: A person with deficiencies finds excuses for his lack of skill. 11. Barking dogs seldom bite. Answer: People who talk a lot or threaten may not be actually harmful. 12. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Answer: What pleases the sight varies from one person to another. 13. Beggars cannot be choosers. Answer: One must accept what is available in difficult circumstances. 14. The best fish swim near the bottom. Answer: The finest things are hard to get.

15. The best of friends must part. Answer: Nothing can go on forever as all things change. 16. Better late than never. Answer: It is preferable to do a job even if it is delayed than not do it at all. 17. Better safe than sorry. Answer: It is preferable to be cautious than be rash and get into trouble. 18. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Answer: It is better to accept the little we have than reject it hoping to get a lot later. 19. Birds of a feather flock together. Answer: People with similar interests and tastes tend to group. 20. Blood is thicker than water. Answer: Family ties are stronger than other relationships. 21. A burnt child dreads the fire. Answer: A mistake can be a great teacher. 22. Call a spade a spade. Answer: Be blunt and say plainly what you mean. 23. Charity begins at home. Answer: Provide help first to one's family members and then to others. 24. The child is father of the man. Answer: The character of a child shows the kind of man he will grow up to be. 25. Coming events cast their shadows before. Answer: There are often early indications of future happenings. 26. Cut your coat according to your cloth. Answer: Live within your means. 27. The darkest hour is that before the dawn. Answer: When things seem at their worst, they may just begin to improve. 28. The die is cast. Answer: Once a decision has been made, it cannot be reversed. 29. Do as you would be done by. Answer: Treat others as you would expect them to treat you. 30. Do not cast your pearls before swine. Answer: Do not give a precious thing to someone who cannot value it. 31. Don't change horses in mid-stream.

Answer: Plans must not be altered at the wrong time. 32. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. Answer: One should not assume success prior to actually achieving it. 33. Don't cross a bridge till you come to it. Answer: One should not worry before something happens for it may never happen. 34. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill. Answer: One should not make a big fuss about a trivial matter. 35. First come, first served. Answer: If one arrives early, one gets a better choice. 36. Slow but sure wins the race. Answer: Steady progress is better in the long run than inconsistent speed.