Master proverbs (short, traditional sayings expressing common wisdom) and sayings (popular expressions). Learn their meanings, origins, and how to use them appropriately in writing and conversation.
✅ Recommended for: Class 9-11 (Foundation) | Class 12 (Advanced Usage)
1. What Are Proverbs & Sayings?
Proverbs: Short, traditional sayings that express common wisdom or truth.
Sayings: Popular expressions, often metaphorical, that convey advice or observations.
Difference: Proverbs are more universal and traditional; sayings can be more modern and specific.
| Type | Example | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proverb | A stitch in time saves nine | One stitch now prevents nine later | Taking care of problems early prevents bigger ones | When advising prompt action |
| Proverb | Actions speak louder than words | Actions make more noise than words | What you do matters more than what you say | When someone makes empty promises |
| Saying | Bite the bullet | Bite on a bullet (old medical practice) | Face a painful situation bravely | When someone must endure something difficult |
| Proverb | Don't count your chickens before they hatch | Don't count baby chickens before eggs hatch | Don't plan on something before it happens | When someone assumes success too early |
| Saying | Break the ice | Break frozen water | Start a conversation in awkward situation | At beginning of meetings or social events |
2. Essential Proverbs List
| Proverb | Meaning | Usage Context | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | What you have is better than what you might get | When someone risks losing what they have | Keep your current job; a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| A friend in need is a friend indeed | A true friend helps when you need help | When identifying real friends | He helped me when I was sick – a friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| A leopard cannot change its spots | People cannot change their basic nature | When someone repeats bad behavior | He promised to be honest, but a leopard cannot change its spots. |
| A penny saved is a penny earned | Saving money is as good as earning it | When encouraging saving | Don't waste money; a penny saved is a penny earned. |
| A picture is worth a thousand words | Images convey meaning better than words | When showing instead of telling | This photo explains everything – a picture is worth a thousand words. |
| A rolling stone gathers no moss | Someone who moves often doesn't accumulate responsibilities | When discussing stability vs movement | He changes jobs every year; a rolling stone gathers no moss. |
| A stitch in time saves nine | Fixing problems early prevents bigger ones | When advising prompt action | Fix that leak now; a stitch in time saves nine. |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder | Being apart makes you appreciate someone more | When separated from loved ones | We miss each other more – absence makes the heart grow fonder. |
| Actions speak louder than words | What you do matters more than what you say | When someone makes empty promises | Don't just promise; actions speak louder than words. |
| All that glitters is not gold | Not everything that looks valuable is valuable | When something seems too good to be true | The deal seems perfect, but all that glitters is not gold. |
| All's fair in love and war | Anything is acceptable in these situations | When justifying extreme actions | I had to lie to get the date; all's fair in love and war. |
| All's well that ends well | A good outcome makes up for previous problems | When things turn out okay despite difficulties | We had problems, but all's well that ends well. |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away | Eating healthy prevents illness | When promoting healthy habits | Eat fruits daily; an apple a day keeps the doctor away. |
| As you sow, so shall you reap | Your actions determine your results | When discussing consequences | Study hard now; as you sow, so shall you reap. |
| Barking dogs seldom bite | People who threaten often don't act | When someone makes threats but no action | Don't worry about his threats; barking dogs seldom bite. |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder | Different people find different things beautiful | When tastes differ | Some like modern art; beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| Beggars can't be choosers | People in need must accept what's offered | When someone in need is being picky | Take this job offer; beggars can't be choosers. |
| Better late than never | It's better to arrive late than not come at all | When someone arrives late | You're late, but better late than never. |
| Better safe than sorry | It's better to be cautious than regret later | When taking precautions | Wear a helmet; better safe than sorry. |
| Birds of a feather flock together | Similar people spend time together | When noticing similar people together | All the artists hang out together; birds of a feather flock together. |
| Blood is thicker than water | Family relationships are stronger than others | When family loyalty matters | He helped his brother first; blood is thicker than water. |
| Charity begins at home | Help your family before helping others | When prioritizing help | Take care of your parents first; charity begins at home. |
| Cleanliness is next to godliness | Being clean is very important | When emphasizing cleanliness | Keep your room tidy; cleanliness is next to godliness. |
| Curiosity killed the cat | Being too curious can be dangerous | When warning about excessive curiosity | Don't ask too many questions; curiosity killed the cat. |
| Don't bite the hand that feeds you | Don't harm those who help you | When someone is ungrateful to a helper | Respect your boss; don't bite the hand that feeds you. |
| Don't count your chickens before they hatch | Don't plan on something before it happens | When assuming success too early | You might not win; don't count your chickens before they hatch. |
| Don't cry over spilled milk | Don't worry about past mistakes | When someone regrets something irreversible | The glass broke, but don't cry over spilled milk. |
| Don't judge a book by its cover | Don't judge by appearances | When making superficial judgments | He looks rough but is kind; don't judge a book by its cover. |
| Don't put all your eggs in one basket | Don't risk everything on one thing | When diversifying risk | Apply to multiple colleges; don't put all your eggs in one basket. |
| Don't put the cart before the horse | Don't do things in wrong order | When sequence is important | Plan first, then act; don't put the cart before the horse. |
| Easy come, easy go | Things gotten easily are lost easily | When something is lost after being easily gained | He won money gambling but lost it; easy come, easy go. |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | Good can come from bad situations | When encouraging optimism in difficulty | I lost my job, but every cloud has a silver lining. |
| Fortune favors the bold | Bold people are more successful | When encouraging bravery | Take the risk; fortune favors the bold. |
| Give credit where credit is due | Acknowledge someone's contribution | When someone deserves recognition | She did most work; give credit where credit is due. |
| Good things come to those who wait | Patience is rewarded | When encouraging patience | Be patient; good things come to those who wait. |
| Great minds think alike | Intelligent people have similar ideas | When agreeing with someone | We had the same idea – great minds think alike. |
| Haste makes waste | Rushing causes mistakes | When someone is rushing | Slow down; haste makes waste. |
| Honesty is the best policy | It's best to be honest | When encouraging honesty | Tell the truth; honesty is the best policy. |
| If it ain't broke, don't fix it | Don't change something that works | When unnecessary changes are proposed | The system works fine; if it ain't broke, don't fix it. |
| If the shoe fits, wear it | If the description applies to you, accept it | When someone denies applicable criticism | If you're lazy, admit it – if the shoe fits, wear it. |
| Ignorance is bliss | Not knowing can be happier | When knowledge brings unhappiness | Sometimes ignorance is bliss. |
| It takes two to tango | Both parties are responsible in a situation | When assigning blame to both sides | The fight wasn't just his fault; it takes two to tango. |
| Jack of all trades, master of none | Someone skilled in many areas but expert in none | When someone does many things averagely | He can do everything but nothing perfectly – jack of all trades, master of none. |
| Keep your friends close and your enemies closer | Watch your enemies carefully | When dealing with opponents | I'm watching him carefully; keep your friends close and your enemies closer. |
| Kill two birds with one stone | Achieve two things with one action | When efficiently completing tasks | By shopping online, I kill two birds with one stone. |
| Knowledge is power | Knowing more gives you advantage | When emphasizing learning | Study well; knowledge is power. |
| Laughter is the best medicine | Laughing helps healing | When cheering someone up | Watch a comedy; laughter is the best medicine. |
| Let sleeping dogs lie | Don't disturb a settled situation | When avoiding unnecessary trouble | Don't bring up old arguments; let sleeping dogs lie. |
| Look before you leap | Think before acting | When cautioning against rash decisions | Consider all options; look before you leap. |
| Love is blind | People in love don't see faults | When someone ignores their partner's flaws | She doesn't see his缺点; love is blind. |
| Make hay while the sun shines | Take advantage of opportunities | When encouraging timely action | Start the business now; make hay while the sun shines. |
| Money doesn't grow on trees | Money is not easily obtained | When someone spends carelessly | Don't waste money; money doesn't grow on trees. |
| Necessity is the mother of invention | Need drives innovation | When explaining why something was created | We created a solution; necessity is the mother of invention. |
| No man is an island | Everyone needs others | When emphasizing interdependence | We all need help sometimes; no man is an island. |
| No news is good news | If you haven't heard anything, things are probably okay | When waiting for updates | Haven't heard from hospital, so no news is good news. |
| No pain, no gain | You must work hard for results | When encouraging effort | Keep exercising; no pain, no gain. |
| Once bitten, twice shy | After a bad experience, you're cautious | When someone is careful due to past hurt | I don't trust easily now; once bitten, twice shy. |
| One man's trash is another man's treasure | What's useless to one person is valuable to another | When tastes or values differ | I sold my old books; one man's trash is another man's treasure. |
| Out of sight, out of mind | You forget about things you don't see | When explaining forgetfulness | I forgot about him after he left; out of sight, out of mind. |
| Practice makes perfect | Regular practice leads to improvement | When encouraging practice | Keep trying; practice makes perfect. |
| Rome wasn't built in a day | Great things take time | When encouraging patience with progress | Learning takes time; Rome wasn't built in a day. |
| Slow and steady wins the race | Consistent effort succeeds over speed | When encouraging perseverance | Study regularly; slow and steady wins the race. |
| The early bird catches the worm | Those who act early get advantages | When encouraging early action | Arrive early for tickets; the early bird catches the worm. |
| The grass is always greener on the other side | Other situations seem better than yours | When someone is envious | Your job seems better, but the grass is always greener. |
| The pen is mightier than the sword | Writing is more powerful than violence | When discussing power of ideas | Change through writing; the pen is mightier than the sword. |
| There's no place like home | Home is the best place | When appreciating home | After traveling, I realized there's no place like home. |
| Time heals all wounds | Emotional pain lessens over time | When comforting someone | You'll feel better; time heals all wounds. |
| Time is money | Time is valuable like money | When encouraging efficient use of time | Don't waste time; time is money. |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth | Too many people involved ruin things | When too many people are giving directions | Let one person lead; too many cooks spoil the broth. |
| Two heads are better than one | Collaboration produces better ideas | When encouraging teamwork | Let's work together; two heads are better than one. |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do | Follow local customs when visiting | When adapting to new environment | Eat with chopsticks here; when in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| Where there's smoke, there's fire | Rumors usually have some truth | When investigating rumors | There might be truth to this; where there's smoke, there's fire. |
| You can't have your cake and eat it too | You can't have two incompatible things | When someone wants contradictory things | You can't travel and save money; you can't have your cake and eat it too. |
| You can't judge a book by its cover | Don't judge by appearances | When making superficial judgments | He looks tough but is gentle; you can't judge a book by its cover. |
| You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs | You can't achieve something without sacrifice | When explaining necessary sacrifices | Some jobs will be cut; you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. |
| You reap what you sow | Your actions determine your results | When discussing consequences | If you work hard, you'll succeed; you reap what you sow. |
3. Popular Sayings & Expressions
| Saying | Meaning | Origin/Context | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Break the ice | Start conversation in awkward situation | From breaking ice to allow ships to pass | I told a joke to break the ice. |
| Bite the bullet | Face painful situation bravely | From soldiers biting bullets during surgery | I had to bite the bullet and tell the truth. |
| Cost an arm and a leg | Very expensive | Unknown; possibly from portrait painting costs | This car costs an arm and a leg. |
| Cry over spilled milk | Complain about past loss | From literal spilled milk that can't be recovered | Don't cry over spilled milk; just clean it. |
| Cut corners | Do something poorly to save time/money | From literally cutting corners in construction | Don't cut corners on safety. |
| Get out of hand | Become uncontrollable | From animals escaping control | The party got out of hand. |
| Give the benefit of the doubt | Trust someone's statement | Legal term meaning assume innocence | I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. |
| Go the extra mile | Make extra effort | Biblical reference (Matthew 5:41) | She always goes the extra mile for customers. |
| Hit the nail on the head | Describe exactly what is happening | From carpentry (accurate hammering) | You hit the nail on the head with that analysis. |
| Jump on the bandwagon | Join popular trend | From political campaign wagons with bands | Everyone's buying it; don't just jump on the bandwagon. |
| Kick the bucket | Die | From slaughterhouses or suicide methods | The old man kicked the bucket last week. |
| Let the cat out of the bag | Reveal secret | From market fraud (piglet switched for cat) | Don't let the cat out of the bag about the surprise. |
| Miss the boat | Too late for opportunity | Literally missing a boat departure | You missed the boat for early registration. |
| On the ball | Doing good job/alert | From sports (keeping eye on ball) | Our new manager is really on the ball. |
| Piece of cake | Very easy | From easy-to-eat cake slices | The test was a piece of cake. |
| Pull someone's leg | Joke with someone | From tripping someone as a joke | I'm just pulling your leg; don't worry. |
| Rain cats and dogs | Rain heavily | Unknown; possibly from Norse mythology | It's raining cats and dogs outside. |
| Spill the beans | Reveal secret | From ancient Greek voting with beans | Don't spill the beans about the party. |
| Steal someone's thunder | Take credit for someone's idea | From playwright John Dennis's thunder machine | He stole my thunder by presenting my idea. |
| Take with a grain of salt | Don't believe completely | From ancient antidote to poison | Take his advice with a grain of salt. |
| The ball is in your court | It's your turn to act | From tennis (ball on your side) | I've done my part; the ball is in your court. |
| Through thick and thin | In good and bad times | From traveling through thick and thin forests | We've been together through thick and thin. |
| Under the weather | Sick | From seasickness on ships | I'm feeling under the weather today. |
| Burning the midnight oil | Working late at night | From studying by oil lamps | He's burning the midnight oil for exams. |
| Bite off more than you can chew | Take on too much | From taking too large a bite of food | I bit off more than I could chew with three jobs. |
| Beat around the bush | Avoid saying directly | From hunting (beating bushes to flush birds) | Stop beating around the bush and tell me. |
| Add fuel to the fire | Make bad situation worse | Literally adding fuel to fire | Your comments just add fuel to the fire. |
| A dime a dozen | Very common | From cheap items (10 cents for 12) | These toys are a dime a dozen. |
| Apple of my eye | Someone very dear | Biblical (Psalm 17:8); pupil of eye | My daughter is the apple of my eye. |
| Back to the drawing board | Start over | From engineers returning to drafting tables | The plan failed; back to the drawing board. |
| Barking up the wrong tree | Accusing wrong person | From hunting dogs barking at empty tree | If you think I took it, you're barking up the wrong tree. |
| Break a leg | Good luck | Theater superstition (opposite of good luck) | Break a leg in your performance! |
| Burn your bridges | Destroy relationships/future options | From burning bridges behind army | Don't burn your bridges when leaving job. |
| Caught between a rock and a hard place | In difficult situation with two bad choices | From mining or mythology | I'm caught between a rock and a hard place. |
| Cut to the chase | Get to the point | From early films (cut to exciting chase scenes) | Let's cut to the chase; what do you want? |
| Elephant in the room | Obvious problem no one discusses | From obvious but ignored large animal | His anger is the elephant in the room. |
| Get your act together | Organize yourself/improve | From theater performances | You need to get your act together. |
| Hit the sack | Go to bed | From old beds filled with sack cloth | I'm tired; I'm going to hit the sack. |
| In the heat of the moment | During emotional excitement | From intense situations | I said that in the heat of the moment. |
| It's not rocket science | It's not complicated | From complexity of rocket science | Driving isn't rocket science. |
| Kill time | Pass time while waiting | From making time "die" faster | Let's play cards to kill time. |
| Let your hair down | Relax/be informal | From women taking down formal hairstyles | After work, I like to let my hair down. |
| On thin ice | In risky situation | From literal thin ice that might break | You're on thin ice with that attitude. |
| Once in a blue moon | Very rarely | From rare second full moon in month | He visits once in a blue moon. |
| Play it by ear | Improvise/decide as you go | From musicians playing without sheet music | We don't have plans; we'll play it by ear. |
| Speak of the devil | Person appears when mentioned | From superstition about summoning devil | Speak of the devil, here comes John now. |
| The last straw | Final problem that causes breakdown | From "straw that broke camel's back" | That was the last straw; I'm quitting. |
| Throw in the towel | Give up/quit | From boxing (towel thrown to concede) | After failing three times, he threw in the towel. |
| Whole nine yards | Everything/complete effort | Unknown; possibly from cement or ammunition | We went the whole nine yards for the wedding. |
| Your guess is as good as mine | I don't know | From equal lack of knowledge | When will it arrive? Your guess is as good as mine. |
4. Proverbs by Theme
| Theme | Proverbs | Common Message | When to Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisdom/Advice | Look before you leap, Haste makes waste, Better safe than sorry | Think carefully before acting | When giving cautious advice |
| Hard Work | No pain no gain, Practice makes perfect, Rome wasn't built in a day | Effort leads to success | When encouraging perseverance |
| Friendship | A friend in need is a friend indeed, Birds of a feather flock together | Value true friends | When discussing relationships |
| Money/Wealth | A penny saved is a penny earned, Money doesn't grow on trees | Be careful with money | When discussing finances |
| Time | Time is money, Make hay while the sun shines, Better late than never | Use time wisely | When discussing time management |
| Appearance vs Reality | Don't judge a book by its cover, All that glitters is not gold | Appearances can deceive | When warning about superficial judgments |
| Patience | Good things come to those who wait, Slow and steady wins the race | Be patient for results | When encouraging patience |
| Teamwork | Two heads are better than one, Many hands make light work | Collaboration helps | When encouraging teamwork |
5. Using Proverbs in Exams
| Exam Task | How to Use Proverbs | Examples | Effect |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essay Writing | As opening/closing statements or to support arguments | "As the proverb says, 'Knowledge is power.' Therefore, education is essential..." | Adds wisdom and authority to arguments |
| Letter Writing | To give advice or emphasize points | "Remember, 'A stitch in time saves nine,' so address problems early." | Makes advice more memorable |
| Story Writing | As moral lessons or character dialogue | "My grandmother always said, 'Honesty is the best policy.'" | Adds depth to characters and themes |
| Comprehension | To explain passages containing proverbs | "The phrase 'bite the bullet' means to face something difficult bravely." | Shows understanding of figurative language |
| Vocabulary | To match proverbs with meanings | "'Actions speak louder than words' matches with 'Deeds matter more than promises.'" | Tests understanding of figurative expressions |
🎯 Proverbs & Sayings Challenge
Match the proverb/saying with its correct meaning.
1. "A stitch in time saves nine" means: (sewing quickly/ fixing problems early/ counting stitches)
Answer: fixing problems early (taking care of issues promptly prevents bigger problems later)
2. "Don't cry over spilled milk" means: (clean up spills/ don't worry about past mistakes/ milk is cheap)
Answer: don't worry about past mistakes (don't regret things that cannot be changed)
3. "Bite the bullet" means: (eat metal/ face difficult situation bravely/ chew carefully)
Answer: face difficult situation bravely (endure something painful or difficult with courage)
4. "Every cloud has a silver lining" means: (weather prediction/ good comes from bad/ clouds are shiny)
Answer: good comes from bad (there's something positive in every difficult situation)
5. "Rome wasn't built in a day" means: (construction takes time/ great things take time/ ancient history)
Answer: great things take time (important achievements require patience and time)
7. Memory Aids & Tips
Understanding Origins:
• Many proverbs come from daily life: farming, sewing, cooking
• "Make hay while the sun shines" comes from farming (hay dries in sun)
• "Don't put all your eggs in one basket" comes from market selling
• "A stitch in time saves nine" comes from sewing/clothing repair
Knowing the origin helps remember the meaning.
Learning by Theme:
• Time-related: Time is money, Make hay while the sun shines
• Caution-related: Look before you leap, Better safe than sorry
• Work-related: No pain no gain, Practice makes perfect
• Friendship-related: A friend in need, Birds of a feather
Grouping by theme makes memorization easier.
Using in Writing:
• Use to begin or end essays for impact
• Use in dialogue to make characters sound wise
• Use in letters to give memorable advice
• Don't overuse - one well-placed proverb is better than many
Choose proverbs that fit the context naturally.
📝 Practice Proverbs & Sayings
Master proverbs and sayings with our comprehensive worksheet covering meanings, origins, and usage!
Go to Proverbs & Sayings WorksheetIncludes answer key • Meaning matching • Context usage • Origin explanations • Writing exercises
