SantaMonicaCollegeReadingLabHomepage
AmericanEnglishProverbs
Chooseaproverbfromthelistbelowandwriteitsmeaningalongwithadescriptionofareallifeexperience
thatdemonstratesthemeaningoftheproverb.
Fordefinitions,pleaseclickonthepictureoftheIdiomList.
Oncethere,clickonthewordthatbeginsyourproverb.
A
1.Absencemakestheheartgrowfonder.
2.Actionsspeaklouderthanwords.
3.Afterthefeastcomesthereckoning.
4.Allthatglittersisnotgold.
5.Anappleadaykeepsthedoctoraway.
6.Theappledoesn'tfallfarfromthetree.
B
1.Badnewstravelsfast.
2.Barkingdogsseldombite.
3.Beautyisintheeyesofthebeholder.
4.Beggarscan'tbechoosers.
5.Thebestthingsinlifearefree.
6.Betteralivecowardthanadeadhero.
7.Betterlatethannever.
8.Bettersafethansorry.
9.Thebiggertheyare,thehardertheyfall.
10.Abirdinthehandisworthtwointhebush.
11.Birdsofafeatherflocktogether.
12.Bloodisthickerthanwater.
C
1.Charitybeginsathome.
2.Clothesdonotmaketheman.
3.Curiositykilledthecat.
D
1.DoasIsay,notasIdo.
2.Don'tbiteoffmorethanyoucanchew.
3.Don'tbitethehandthatfeedsyou.
4.Don'tcountyourchickensbeforethey'rehatched.
5.Don'tcryoverspilledmilk.
6.Don'tjudgeabookbyitscover.
7.Don'tjudgeamanuntilyou'vewalkedinhisboots.
8.Don'tlookagifthorseinthemouth.
9.Don'tputallyoureggsinonebasket.
10.Don'tputofffortomorrowwhatyoucandotoday.
11.Don'tputthecartbeforethehorse.
F
1.Familiaritybreedscontempt.
2.Thefirststepisalwaysthehardest.
3.Afoolandhismoneyaresoonparted.
4.Forewarnedisforearmed.
5.Afriendinneedisafriendindeed.
6.Afriendwhosharesisafriendwhocares.
G
1.Goodthingscomeinsmallpackages.
2.Thegrassisalwaysgreenerontheothersideofthefence.
H
1.Hastemakeswaste.
2.Hewhohesitatesislost.
3.Hewholaughslast,laughsbest.
4.Hindsightisbetterthanforesight.
I
1.Ifatfirstyoudon'tsucceed,try,tryagain.
2.Ifyoucan'tbeatthem,jointhem.
3.Ifyoucan'tstandtheheat,getoutofthekitchen.
4.Imitationisthesincerestformofflattery.
5.Inunitythereisstrength.
6.Itneverrainsbutitpours.
7.Ittakestwototango.
L
1.Leavewellenoughalone.
2.Aleopardcannotchangeitsspots.
3.Lightningneverstrikestwiceinthesameplace.
4.Lookbeforeyouleap.
5.Loveisblind.
6.Lovemakestheworldgoround.
M
1.Makehaywhilethesunshines.
2.Mandoesnotlivebybreadalone.
3.Amanisknownbythecompanyhekeeps.
4.Mightmakesright.
5.Miserylovescompany.
6.Amissisasgoodasamile.
7.Moneydoesnotgrowontrees.
N
1.Necessityisthemotherofinvention.
2.Nonewsisgoodnews.
3.Nopain,nogain.
4.Nothinghurtslikethetruth.
5.Nothingventured,nothinggained.
O
1.Oldhabitsdiehard.
2.Onegoodturndeservesanother.
3.Oneman'sgravyisanotherman'spoison.
4.Oneswallowdoesnotasummermake.
P
1.Thepenismightierthanthesword.
2.Possessionisninetenthsofthelaw.
3.Practicemakesperfect.
4.Theproofofthepuddingisintheeating.
R
1.Theroadtohellispavedwithgoodintentions.
2.Romewasn'tbuiltinaday.
S
1.Thespiritiswilling,butthefleshisweak.
2.Thesqueakingwheelgetstheoil.
3.Strikewhiletheironishot.
T
1.Thereisnohonoramongthieves.
2.There'smorethanonewaytoskinacat.
3.There'snofoollikeanoldfool.
4.There'snoplacelikehome.
5.Toomanychiefs,notenoughIndians.
6.Toomanycooksspoilthebroth.
7.Twoheadsarebetterthanone.
8.Two'scompany,butthree'sacrowd.
V
1.Varietyisthespiceoflife.
W
1.Thewaytoaman'sheartisthroughhisstomach.
2.WheninRome,doastheRomansdo.
3.Whenthecat'saway,themiceplay.
4.Wherethere'ssmoke,there'sfire.
Y
1.Youcanleadahorsetowater,butyoucan'tmakehimdrink.
2.Youcan'thaveyourcakeandeatittoo.
3.Youcan'tteachanolddognewtricks.
4.Youhavetotakethegoodwiththebad.
5.Youreapwhatyousow.
6.You'renevertoooldtolearn.
