Some Useful Idioms, Phrases, Proverbs

Proverb	Explanation
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.	Apples are very nutritious, and they keep you in the pink of health.
First come, first served.	The first in the line will be attended to first.
Practice makes perfect.	Doing something over and over makes one better at it.
Don’t cry over spilt milk.	There is no use in being upset over situations that have already happened and cannot be changed.
A stitch in time saves nine.	A timely effort will prevent more work later.
Time and tide wait for none.	Opportunities do not wait for anyone.
A penny saved is a penny earned.	Saving a penny is just as good as earning a penny.
Action speaks louder than words.	What you do is more important than what you do.
The early bird catches the worm.	You will have an advantage and be successful, if you start early before anyone else.
Eat to live but do not live to eat.	Eating should not be your favourite activity, but something you do to maintain your health.
Look before you leap.	Take precautions before doing something.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.	A friend who helps you when you are in trouble is a true friend.
Prevention is better than cure.	It is best to take precautions before a problem arises.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.	Being clean and tidy is a sign of spiritual purity or goodness.
Where there is a will, there is a way.	If one has a strong determination to do something, one will find a way to do it.
Kill not the goose, that lays golden eggs.	Don’t be foolhardy. Don’t mortgage the future for immediate reward.
Don’t be foolhardy. Don’t mortgage the future for immediate reward. A bird in hand is worth, two in the bush.	God only helps those people, who work hard and make an honest effort. It is better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by trying to get something better.
Experience is the best teacher.	The only way to truly understand something is to experience it for yourself.
Every cloud has a silver lining.	You should never feel hopeless, because difficult times always lead to better days.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.	If you don’t punish your child, when she does wrong, you’ll spoil her.
One rotten apple, spoils the rest.	Just a single bad individual can spoil the whole group.
As you sow, so shall you reap.	If you did good things in the past, you will get good results in the future. If you did bad things in the past, you will get bad results in the future.
Empty vessels make the most noise.	An empty headed person is always more talkative and noisy.
Time heals all wounds.	If a person has been greatly hurt or has been experiencing grief, the pain will eventually pass away.
All that glitters is not gold.	Not everything that is shiny and superficially attractive is valuable.
Cut off your nose to spite your face.	When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing some foolish things that prove harmful to themselves.
Unity is strength.	If you are united, you are strong.
There is no place like home.	Home is the best of all places.
Every dog has its own day.	Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his life time.
Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl.	If you associate with bad people, you are very likely to become bad too.
Silence is golden.	It is often better to say nothing.
Money is the root of all evils.	Greed causes us to do evil.
Half a loaf is better than none.	Something is better than nothing at all.
Much cry, little wool.	A lot of show is presented about something that actually has little importance.
Beard the lion in his own den.	To confront a powerful rival in his won territory.
Come off with flying colors.	To pass an examination with a very high score or to complete a difficult activity very successfully.