In many languages and cultures, some peculiar phrases and sayings convey a broader idea than what is actually said.
This is a really interesting practice that often makes people sound like they are speaking in code. In a way, they are! Idioms and proverbs are like age-old ways of poetically conveying an idea that everyone seems to pick up from listening to older people speaking.
What's the Difference Between Idioms and Proverbs?
Both idioms and proverbs are expressions used to convey a deeper meaning. But, there is a very distinct difference between the two.
Idioms express an idea that seemingly has nothing to do with the words that are said. A great example of this is “It’s raining cats and dogs.”
But when you know what it means - that the raindrops may as well be the size of cats and dogs because of how big and numerous they are - you have a great new way of expressing an idea!
Proverbs are different in that you can discern some meaning from the words given, but the deeper meaning takes some contemplation to find.
A good example of a proverb is “A leopard never changes its spots.”
Of course, a leopard cannot get new fur or rearrange the pattern on its coat! That is obvious. Taken literally, it sounds like someone saying one of the most random facts you could imagine. But when you understand the deeper meaning, which is essentially that people or things don’t change, you have a more artistic way of expressing that idea.
Proverbs emerge from a general population, rather than being a quote from one specific person. They are often tied to the end lesson of a folk story, or fable, and give the receiver something to think about.
To sum it up:
- An idiom doesn’t make sense at face value.
- A proverb sort of makes sense at face value.
Now that you have all these interesting phrases at your disposal, you can speak and understand a much bigger part of the English language! Expressions are a huge part of English and they are used in everyday speech all the time, so it’s really important to learn the basics.
Want to learn more about English expressions? Simply search for classes in Spoken English Classes near me and choose your English teacher in your location!
25+ Common English Proverbs With Meaning
Time Waits For No One
No matter who you are or what you’re doing, you need to be aware of the time. Usually used to mean “We are late, we need to go!”
Use proverbs when you want to express that a lesson has been, or could be learned in the situation you’re talking about. For example, if you are warning your friend not to give their ex another chance but you don’t want to be too direct, you would say “Well, remember, a leopard never changes its spots.”
- The Grass is Always Greener (On the Other Side)
What we don’t have always looks better than what we do have.
- Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover
Appearances don’t always tell you everything you need to know about the quality of a person or thing.
- Better Late than Never / Better Late than Dead
It’s better for you to be late than to not show up at all, or it’s better to have completed a project than not at all. “Better late than dead” is most often used to tell someone to slow down when driving, or explain that you are late because you were driving safely.
- Actions Speak Louder Than Words
What you do tells people more about you than anything you say ever could.
- My Hands Are Tied
Even if you wanted to do something, you can’t because another force is preventing you. Usually, it means you can’t make an exception for someone because your boss or regulation will cause you punishment if you do.
- Out of Sight, Out of Mind
Forgetting about things you aren’t paying attention to, either on purpose or on accident.
- Easy Come, Easy Go
Typically about money, meaning that when you get easy money, you will find it leaves you just as easily.
- First Things First
The most important things need to be addressed, typically at the beginning of a meeting or project.
- When In Rome (Do As the Romans Do)
When in a new situation, follow what the other people are doing. Usually meaning to embrace a fun, new situation or culture.
- Rome Wasn’t Built in a Day
It takes a lot of time for big projects to come to fruition, so have patience and don’t be hard on yourself.
- Tip of the Iceberg
There is more to the situation than we can see right now.
- Bite Off More Than You Can Chew
To take on too many projects or commitments, or attempt something too difficult.
- Put Your Best Foot Forward
To start something with the most optimistic determination possible, or to make a good first impression.
- Honesty is the Best Policy
It is better (or necessary) to tell the truth.
- The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
Someone’s child looks or behaves a lot like their parent(s). Can be said positively or negatively.
- All That Glitters (Is Not Gold)
Not everything that appears to be valuable actually is (items, events, places, situations, people, etc).
- Beggars Can’t Be Choosers
If you are desperate enough to beg (for a chance, opportunity, item, or, less often, food) then you can’t dictate the conditions that go along with what’s given to you.
- Don’t Count Your Chickens (Before They Hatch)
Not every egg (opportunity) will turn out the way you want (chicken). Some may fall through (be dud eggs), so don’t make additional plans until you know more.
- If It Ain’t Broke (Don’t Fix It)
Sometimes it’s better to leave well enough alone, that is, to not meddle with something that works sort of okay.
- Have Your Cake and Eat It, Too
Typically meaning you can’t have two opposing things at once. You can’t possess a cake and also eat the cake. When someone says you can, it means you are getting the best possible outcome and getting everything you want.
- Where There’s Smoke (There’s Fire)
Finding indications that something is wrong means there is a bigger underlying issue. Usually used to mean that when many people say something negative about someone, there is probably a good reason for it.
- The Squeaky Wheel Gets the Grease
Those who speak up, complain, make a fuss, or ask questions will be the ones who receive attention.
- Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket
Similar to “Don’t count your chickens,” in this case you don’t want to put all of your investments (time, money, etc) so that they all rely on the same thing. You should have backup plans.
- That Ship Has Sailed
It’s too late and the opportunity is no longer available.
- It Takes One to Know One
Similar to “Pot calling the kettle black.” This is usually used as a comeback in an argument where someone has accused someone else of something. For example, if person A called person B a cheapskate, but person A bathes in the rain to save money on water, person B would say “Takes one to know one!”
- You Can Lead a Horse to Water (But You Can’t Make Him Drink)
You can give someone everything they need to succeed, but you can’t actually do it for them.
- A Watched Pot Never Boils
A time-consuming process seems to take longer if you focus on it too much.
Join private English speaking classes in Nagpur to learn more English idioms! And, master the art of English speaking with Superprof, the platform for home tutors.
- Don’t Cry Over Spilled Milk
Once something irreversible has happened, there is no reason to dwell on it. Clean it up and move on.
- Talking to a Brick Wall
Communicating with someone who either refuses to understand you or is unable to.
- Strike While the Iron is Hot
Take advantage of a good opportunity.
- Every Dog Has His Day
Everyone will have some good luck at some point.
- Once Bitten, Twice Shy
Exposure to one bad thing makes you even less keen on it than before. In this case, “twice” means “double,” or “extra.”
- No News is Good News
Receiving no update means that the situation is good. Most often used in a medical situation; if you don’t get a call, it means everything is okay.
The best way to find Spoken English classes in Coimbatore, join Superprof and find a teacher in 3 clicks and speak English like a native speaker, "better late than never!"
- Special Proverb: Blood is Thicker Than Water
Today, the phrase “Blood is thicker than water” typically means that family is more important than anyone else. However, the original phrase is “The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb,” which means your chosen family is more important than your blood relatives. If you’re unsure which definition someone means, make sure you clarify!
36 Common Idioms in English
Idioms are more informal and used in casual situations. They are a good way to chat with a stranger and let them know that you are cool to be casual! They can also break the tension in a serious situation and let the other person know that you don't want to be too intense. Use these english idioms to get new people to warm up to you.
- Beat Around the Bush / Dance Around (something)
Avoid talking directly about a specific thing. Usually used like “Let’s not beat around the bush,” indicating that the person wants to talk frankly.
- A Perfect Storm
When all of the variables align to create a supremely bad situation.
- Penny for Your Thoughts
Used to ask someone what they are thinking about, especially if they are daydreaming.
- Hit the Books
To work or study.
- Hit the Sack / Hit the Hay
To go to bed.
- Lose Your Touch
To not be as good at something as you once were. As in, losing your magic touch.
- Sit Tight
Be patient. Usually used to ask someone to wait a few minutes while the other person attends to an urgent matter.
- Pitch In
To contribute something to a group project or activity, or to give some money, especially for a meal or a gift.
- Go Cold Turkey
To quit something suddenly without tapering off.
- Cut to the Chase
To skip the middle of a story and tell the ending. Usually used to skip the “how” and “why” of why you are asking for someone’s help.
- Ring a Bell
Gives a faint memory.
- On the Ball
When someone has a lot of tasks and they are performing all of them very well.
- Up in the Air
When something, usually a plan, isn’t completely decided yet.
- Born with a Silver Spoon (In Their Mouth)
Used to describe someone who was born wealthy and has never experienced financial hardship.
- Down to Clown
Willing and able to join you in conversation or in an activity.
- Foot in Mouth
The result of saying something embarrassing or inappropriate, realizing it right after, and wishing you could take it back.
- Two Left Feet
Unable to dance well; uncoordinated.
- Rule of Thumb
A general way of doing something, usually based on experience rather than an actual rule.
- Piece of Cake
Easy.
- Food for Thought
Something that needs to be pondered.
- Buy a Lemon
Typically in regards to vehicles, meaning a machine that looked okay but ended up breaking very soon after purchase.
- Under the Sun
Meaning “on earth.” For example, “He makes the best dabeli under the sun.”
- Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining
Even the bad situations have some good in them.
- Make Waves
Similar to “Rocking the boat.” Making a fuss that disrupts normalcy. Typically used to mean trying to make big changes in a hierarchical structure, like a corporation or tight-knit family.
- Making a Mountain Out of a Molehill
Taking a small problem and making it much bigger than it is; overreacting.
- A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush
What you have for sure is more valuable than something better that you probably can’t obtain.
- Salt of the Earth
An honest, stand-up person.
- Clear as Mud
Not clear at all. The opposite of “crystal clear.”
- Hold Out an Olive Branch
To offer peace, a treaty, or to put differences aside.
- Pot Calling the Kettle Black
Similar to “It takes one to know one.” When someone is being a hypocrite to someone else.
- Fit as a Fiddle
In very good health.
- Rub Someone the Wrong Way
To irritate someone, usually for no discernable reason.
- Bigger Fish to Fry
There are more important or immediate things to worry about.
- By the Skin of Your Teeth
To just barely achieve something.
- Special Idiom: Nip It in the Bud
“Nip it in the bud” means to take care of an issue before it becomes a bigger problem. Many people incorrectly say “Nip it in the butt,” and while that also makes some sense, it simply isn’t the real phrase.
Figure of Speech
Many young people don’t even understand the origins of some phrases because things have changed so much since the time the phrase was created. But, typically the idea is still understood. In some cases, the idiom or proverb is even modernized to stay relevant to the present day!
Using figures of speech like idioms and proverbs adds pizazz and interest to your conversations. Often, using one of these phrases will convey what you want to say in a much smoother way than just explaining the whole idea. It saves time and tickles you and your conversation partners’ poetic sides all in one!
To make matters more confusing, there are other figures of speech in the English language that are very similar to idioms and proverbs!
An adage is the same as a proverb, except that while proverbs teach a lesson and give something to think about, an adage is generally accepted as truth and there isn’t much to interpret differently.
Adages are generally older than proverbs; you can’t trace back when they first started being said and they act like Elder Wisdom.
A few examples are “Love is blind,” “Better safe than sorry,” and “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.” These are accepted as truth and you don’t need to think much to understand the concept.
Looking for the best Spoken English classes near me in Pune, and learning from private English tutors on Superprof.
Some other related English figures of speech include:
An aphorism is also the same thing as a proverb except it’s possible to trace the origin to an attributed author. An example is “All’s well that ends well,” which was written by William Shakespeare and means as long as the end result is good, it doesn’t matter how you got there.
A truism is like an aphorism or proverb except it offers little value and new information, if any. It’s like a filler phrase when you aren’t sure what else to say. “No time like the present” can be considered a truism because it means almost nothing and can be used in any situation. It basically means “Let’s go,” rather than something more philosophical.
A maxim is like a proverb or an aphorism, meaning it has been said for ages. It may have a specific author, or it might not (making it a proverb or an aphorism). But, a maxim generally talks about moral or spiritual truth in a direct way, for example, “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” It’s a well-known phrase that incites some deeper thought but at the same time is very straightforward.
Nobody will fault you (except maybe linguistic enthusiasts!) for not remembering the differences between all these different ideas in an average conversation. Regardless, using any figures of speech creates a more interesting dialogue and can be used as fun banter, a battle of wits, poetic musings, clever conversation, and more.
Learn all about figures of speech in English speaking online classes with the help of a Superprof tutor near you.
At the very least, make sure you can recognize when someone is using a figure of speech so you don’t take them literally!
Enjoyed this article? Leave a rating!
Loading...
