proverbs **part 3

Alphabetical list of English proverbs O - S

with an explanation where necessary


Proverb and Explanation / Meaning

O


1) Once bitten, twice shy.
*After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar.

2) One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters.

3) One good turn deserves another.
*You should be helpful to someone who helps you.

4) One of these days is none of these days.
*'One of these days' remains vague.

5) One today is worth two tomorrow.
*What you have today is better than what is promised or hoped for.

6) One man's meat is another man's poison
*People don't always like the same things.

7) One man's trash is another man's treasure.
*What is useless to one person could be valuable to another.

One swallow doesn't make a summer.
*A single satisfactory event does not mean that all the others will be as good.

9) Only real friends will tell you when your face is
dirty.
*Only a real friend will tell you the truth.

10) Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
*Don't miss opportunities that come along.

11) Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
*Children often speak wisely.

12) Out of sight, out of mind.
*We tend to forget people who are absent.
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P


1) Penny wise, pound foolish.
*Refers to a person who is careful about spending small amounts of money, but
not careful about spending large amounts of money.

2) People who live in glass houses should not throw
stones.
*One should not criticize others for faults similar to one's own.

3) Practice makes perfect.
*Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it.

4) Practise what you preach
*Do yourself what you advise others to do.

5) Prevention is better than cure
*It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the
disease later.

6) Pride comes before a fall.
*Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.

7) Procrastination is the thief of time
*Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.

Put all your eggs in one basket
*Risk everything by relying on one plan (by putting all one's money in one business).
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R


1) Revenge is sweet.
*There is satisfaction in returning an injury.

2) Rome was not built in a day.
*It takes a long time to do a job properly. You should not expect to do it quickly.
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S

1) Save me from my friends.
*Friends can be more dangerous than enemies.


2) Saying is one thing, doing is another.
*People don't always do what they announce.


3) Short reckonings make long friends.
*Debts paid quickly encourage friendship.

4) Sickness in the body brings sadness to the mind.

5) Snug as a bug in a rug.
*Feeling very comfortable.

6) Spare the rod and spoil the child
*If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.

7) Sticks and stones will break my bones but names
will never hurt me
*Physical attacks may harm me, but cruel words will not.

Still waters run deep.
*A quiet person can have much knowledge or wisdom.

9) A stitch in time saves nine
*It's better to deal with a problem in its early stages, because if you don't, it will get
worse.

10) Stolen fruit is the sweetest.
*What is forbidden is the most tempting