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American Proverbs
American Proverbs and Sayings (Idioms)
| Proverb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Actions speak louder than words. | Speaking about something is not enough -- it's better to DO something about it. |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away. | If you eat healthy food, you won't get sick and need to go to the doctor's. |
| The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. | Children are like their parents. (The apple represents a seed, and the tree is the parent). |
| Bad news travels fast. | Gossip and bad news spread quicker than good news. |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. | Beauty is subjective (it depends on your opinion) |
| Beggars can't be choosers. | People who are in need should not be picky (they should accept whatever they can get). |
| Better late than never. | Doing something late is better than not doing it at all. |
| Better safe than sorry. | It's best to take safety precautions. |
| The bigger they are, the harder they fall. | People who are bigger or more powerful lose have so much more to lose if they fail. |
| Birds of a feather flock together. | People who are similar tend to spend time together. |
| Curiosity killed the cat. | Being too curious can be dangerous. |
| Don't bite the hand that feeds you. | Don't treat the people who support you or whom you depend on poorly. |
| Don't cry over spilt milk. | Don't cry or feel sad about situations that have already happened which you cannot change. |
| Don't judge a book by its cover. | Don't form your opinion on something or someone based on how it looks. |
| Easier said than done. | Talking about something is easier than doing it. |
| If it ain't broke, don't fix it. | If something is working well, then don't change it. |
| Don't put all your eggs into one basket. | Don't put all your valuables or efforts into one area; instead, diversify so you will not lose them all if a problem occurs. |
| Don't talk the talk if you can't walk the walk. | Don't talk about things that you cannot actually do. |
| Good things come in small packages. | Small things can sometimes be better than big things. |
| Honesty is the best policy. | At all times, it's best to tell the truth. |
| The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. | What other people have always looks better than what you have. |
| If you can't beat them, join them. | If you cannot beat your opponent/enemy, often you may get more advantage by joining them. |
| If you snooze, you lose. | If you don't react quickly, you will miss your chance (note: to snooze means to sleep). |
| There are plenty of fish in the sea. | There are many other people in the world who could be suitable for you (usually as a girlfriend or boyfriend). |
| Money does not grow on trees. | Money is hard to get. |
| No news is good news. | In some situations, a lack of news means that things are going well. |
| No pain, no gain. | If you don't work hard, you cannot gain what you want. |
| You can't teach an old dog new tricks. | Older people aren't able to change their habits or ways. |
| The squeaky wheel gets the oil. | People who complain the loudest get the most attention (and help). |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | Adopt the customs and habits of the local people. |
| You can't have your cake and eat it too. | You cannot have something (e.g. a cake) and also eat it (because then it will be gone, and you won't have it anymore.) Meaning: You shouldn't try to have two things that are incompatible. |
| Every cloud has a silver lining. | Every bad situation or experience has something that you can learn or gain from it. |
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