A Collection of Proverbs,
Adages and Idioms
Compiled By Linda Alchin
Smashwords Edition.
Copyright 2011 Linda Alchin
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
Disclaimer
Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty: The publisher has used its best efforts in preparing this book, and the information provided herein is provided “as is.” Linda Alchin makes no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the contents of this book and specifically disclaims any implied warranties of fitness for any particular purpose and shall in no event be liable for any loss of profit or any other commercial damage, including but not limited to, special, incidental, consequential, or other damages
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Table of Contents
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Famous Proverbs
Proverbs are short, but memorable sayings, based on an important fact of experience that is considered true by many people. Famous old proverbs have gained some credibility through their long use. Some famous proverbs may have become a cliché or truism through over use. Click on one of the links below to access our dictionary of famous proverbs:
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Proverbs - A
"A poor workman blames his tools"
"A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush."
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder."
"A cat may look at a king."
"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link”
"Actions speak louder than words."
"Advice when most needed is least heeded."
"A fool and his money are soon parted."
"A friend in need is a friend indeed."
"After a storm comes a calm."
"After dinner sit a while, after supper walk a mile."
"A good beginning makes a good ending."
"A good man in an evil society seems the greatest villain of all."
"A good surgeon has an eagle's eye, a lion's heart, and a lady's hand."
"A guilty conscience needs no accuser."
"A jack of all trades is master of none."
"A little Learning is a dangerous thing"
"A merry heart makes a long life."
"A miss is as good as a mile."
"A penny saved is a penny earned."
"A person is known by the company he keeps."
"A picture is worth a thousand words."
"A rolling stone gathers no moss."
"A sound mind in a sound body."
"A stitch in time saves nine."
"All frills and no knickers."
"All good things come to an end."
"All roads lead to Rome."
"All's fair in love and war."
"All's well that ends well."
"All that glisters is not gold."
"All good things come to he who waits."
"All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy."
"An apple a day keeps the doctor away."
"An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."
"April showers bring May flowers."
"Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies."
"As you sow, so shall you reap."
"A watched kettle never boils."
"A woman's work is never done."
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Proverbs - B
"Barking dogs seldom bite."
"Be careful what you wish for, you might just get it."
"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
"Beauty is only skin deep."
"Beggars can't be choosers."
"Better to be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt."
"Better late than never."
"Better safe than sorry."
"Better the devil you know than the devil you don't."
"Birds of a feather flock together."
"Bitter pills may have blessed effects."
"Blood is thicker than water."
"Blood will out."
"Boys will be boys."
"Brain is better than brawn."
"Bread is the staff of life."
"Breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, dine like a pauper."
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Proverbs - C
"Cast not your pearls before swine."
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
"Cider on beer, never fear; beer upon cider, makes a bad rider."
"Close only counts in horseshoes and hand-grenades."
"Clothes maketh the man."
"Common sense ain't common."
"Cowards die many times, but a brave man only dies once."
"Cross the stream where it is the shallowest."
"Curiosity killed the cat. Satisfaction brought it back"
"Cut your coat according to your cloth."
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Proverbs - D
"Desperate diseases must have desperate remedies.”
"Desperate times call for desperate measures.”
"Different sores must have different salves.”
"Different strokes for different folks.”
"Diseases come on horseback, but steal away on foot.”
"Do as you would be done by.”
"Do unto others as you would have done to you.”
"Doctors make the worst patients.”
"Don't burn your bridges before they're crossed.”
"Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.”
"Don't cross a bridge until you come to it.”
"Don't cry over spilt milk.”
"Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.”
"Don't have too many irons in the fire.”
"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth.”
"Don't make a mountain out of a molehill.”
"Don't mend what isn't broken.”
"Don't put all your eggs in one basket.”
"Don't put the cart before the horse.”
"Don't shut the barn door after the horse is gone.”
"Don't shut the gate after the horse has bolted.”
"Don't spit into the wind.”
"Don't throw out the baby with the bathwater.”
"Don't trudge mud into the house of love.”
"Doubt is the beginning, not the end, of wisdom.”
"Do or die.”
"Do the thing you fear, the death of fear is certain.”
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Proverbs - E
"Early bird gets the worm.”
"Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”
"Eat to live, don't live to eat.”
"Eat when you're hungry, and drink when you're dry.”
"East or West, home is best.”
"Empty barrels make the most sound.”
"Empty vessels make the most noise.”
"Even a worm will turn.”
"Even a broken clock is right twice a day.”
"Every cloud has a silver lining.”
"Every day is a new beginning.”
"Every disease will have its course.”
"Every dog has its day.”
"Every man has a price.”
"Every rule has its exception.”
"Everything comes to those who wait.”
"Every path has its puddle."
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Proverbs - F
"Faith will move mountains.”
"Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.”
"Familiarity breeds contempt.”
"Fine feathers make fine birds.”
"Fine words butter no parsnips.”
"First come, first served.”
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.”
"Forewarned is forearmed.”
"Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time.”
"Fretting cares make grey hairs.”
"Friend to all is a friend to none.”
"Friend in need is a friend indeed.”
"Faith will move mountains.”
"Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.”
"Familiarity breeds contempt.”
"Fine feathers make fine birds.”
"Fine words butter no parsnips.”
"First come, first served.”
"First deserve then desire.”
"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.”
"Fools gawp at masterpieces- wise men set out to outdo masterpieces.”
"Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.”
"Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.”
"Forewarned is forearmed.”
"Fresh pork and new wine kill a man before his time.”
"Fretting cares make grey hairs.”
"Friend to all is a friend to none.”
"Friend in need is a friend indeed.”
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Proverbs - G
"Give and take is fair play.”
"Give a dog a bad name.”
"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime."
"Give the Devil his due.”
"God blesses a drunk.”
"God cures and the physician takes the fee.”
"Good eating deserves good drinking.”
"Good fences make good neighbours.”
"Good men are scarce.”
"Good wine needs no bush.”
"Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ.”
"Great oaks from little acorns grow.”
"Green leaves and brown leaves fall from the same tree."
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Proverbs - H
"Hair of the dog that bit you.”
"Half a loaf is better than none.”
"Handsome is as handsome does.”
"Happy wife, happy life.”
"Hard words break no bones.”
"Haste makes waste.”
"Hawks will not pick out hawks' eyes.”
"Health is better than wealth.”
"Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.”
"Help a lame dog over a stile.”
"He that lives too fast, goes to his grave too soon.”
"He who hesitates is lost.”
"He who laughs last laughs longest.”
"He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword.”
"He who pays the piper calls the tune.”
"His bark is worse than his bite.”
"History repeats itself.”
"Home is where the heart is.”
"Home is where you hang your hat.”
"Honesty is the best policy.”
"Honey catches more flies than vinegar.”
"Hope for the best, expect the worst.”
"Hunger makes good kitchen."
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Proverbs - I
"If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.”
"If a thing is worth doing, it's worth doing well.”
"If ignorance is bliss, why aren't more people happy?”
"If the cap fits, wear it.”
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.”
"If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly.”
"If you can't beat them, join them.”
"If you can't be good, be careful.”
"If you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen.”
"If you keep your mouth shut, you won't put your foot in it.”
"If you want a thing done well, do it yourself.”
"If you're in a hole, stop digging.”
"Ignorance is bliss.”
"In for a penny, in for a pound.”
"It never rains, but it pours.”
"It's an ill wind that blows no good.”
"It's better to give than to receive.”
"It's better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.”
"It's easy to be wise after the event.”
"It's never too late to mend.”
"It's not over till it's over.”
"It's no use crying over spilt milk.”
"It's often a person's mouth that broke their nose.”
"It's the early bird that gets the worm.”
"It's the squeaky gate that gets the grease.”
"It takes all sorts to make a world.”
"It takes two to make a quarrel.”
"It takes two to tango.”
"It takes two to lie, one to lie and one to listen."
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Proverbs - J
"Jack of all trades, master of none.”
"Jam tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today.”
"Judge not, lest ye be judged."