100 английских пословиц и поговорок с переводом »
За красотой английского слова и особенностью толерантного английского менталитета невероятно приятно наблюдать на примере английских пословиц и поговорок.
По подсчетам филологов из Оксфорда, жители туманного Альбиона используют в своей речи около сотни кратких и мудрых поговорок. С помощью пословиц, истинные британцы не поленятся дать вам мудрый совет, показать правильный путь решения проблемы и даже уколют вас словом, чтобы доказать свою правоту.
Кстати говоря, многие ученые-лингвисты считают, что невозможно досконально познать все тонкости изучаемой культуры и языка, если вы незнакомы с пословицами данной народности. eng-art.ru предлагает всем любителям английского языка пополнить свой словарный запас и почувствовать себя истинным английским джентльменом или леди.
Оригинал: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Перевод: Маленькое знание — опасная вещь.
Оригинал: Better be the head of a dog then the tail of a lion.
Перевод: Лучше быть головой собаки, чем хвостом льва.
Оригинал: One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
Перевод: Одна ласточка — еще не лето.
Оригинал: A loaded wagon makes no noise.
Перевод: Богатый воз едет тихо.
Оригинал: You can’t make an omelet without breaking a few eggs.
Перевод: Нельзя приготовить омлет не разбив ни одного яйца.
Оригинал: Still waters run deep.
Перевод: Тихие воды текут глубоко.
Оригинал: Easy come, easy go.
Перевод: Легко пришло, легко ушло.
Оригинал: A Jack of all trades is master of none.
Перевод: Мастер на все руки не умеет ничего.
Оригинал: We never know the value of water till the well is dry.
Перевод: Мы никогда не знаем насколько ценна вода, пока не высохнет колодец.
Оригинал: Birds of a feather flock together.
Перевод: Птицы одной породы всегда держатся вместе.
Оригинал: The early bird catches the worm.
Перевод: Ранней пташке свой червячок.
Оригинал: Beggars can’t be choosers.
Перевод: Бедняки не могут выбирать.
Оригинал: Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Перевод: Красота — в глазу смотрящего.
Оригинал: A penny saved is a penny earned.
Перевод: Сэкономленное пенни — заработанное пенни.
Оригинал: Like father, like son.
Перевод: Какой отец, такой и сын.
Оригинал: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Перевод: Птичка в руках стоит двух в кустах.
Оригинал: All good things must come to an end.
Перевод: Все хорошее всегда заканчивается.
Оригинал: A little body often harbours a great soul.
Перевод: Маленькое тело часто таит великую душу.
Оригинал: Don’t make a mountain out of an anthill.
Перевод: Не делай гору из муравейника.
Оригинал: Curiosity killed the cat.
Перевод: Любопытство кота сгубило.
Оригинал: Two wrongs don’t make a right.
Перевод: Два заблуждения не сделают правду.
Оригинал: Put your best foot forward.
Перевод: Ставь лучшую ногу вперед.
Оригинал: It’s better to be safe than sorry.
Перевод: Лучше быть осторожным, чем потом сожалеть.
Оригинал: People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Перевод: Людям, которые живут в стеклянных домах, не следует бросаться камнями.
Оригинал: Where there’s muck there’s brass.
Перевод: Где грязь, там и медные монеты.
Оригинал: A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.
Перевод: Цепь так же крепка, как и ее самое слабое звено.
Оригинал: The squeaky wheel gets the grease.
Перевод: Скрипучее колесо всегда смазывают.
Оригинал: A liar is not believed when he speaks the truth.
Перевод: Лжецу не поверят, даже когда он говорит правду.
Оригинал: The grass is always greener on the other side of the hill.
Перевод: Трава всегда зеленее на другой стороне холма.
Оригинал: You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
Перевод: Ты чешешь мою спину, а я почешу твою.
Оригинал: Don’t bite off more than you can chew.
Перевод: Не откусывай больше, чем ты можешь прожевать.
Оригинал: Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it.
Перевод: Не переходи мост, пока не дойдешь.
Оригинал: The cat is out of the bag. Truth will out.
Перевод: Кот выпрыгнул из мешка. Истина выйдет.
Оригинал: Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.
Перевод: Надейся на лучшее, но готовься к худшему.
Оригинал: Opportunity knocks only once.
Перевод: Возможность стучится единожды.
Оригинал: No man is an island.
Перевод: Человек — не остров.
Оригинал: There’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Перевод: Нет такого понятия как бесплатный обед.
Оригинал: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Перевод: Разлука взращивает любовь в сердце.
Оригинал: A great dowry is a bed full of brambles.
Перевод: Большое приданое — постель полная колючек.
Оригинал: You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.
Перевод: Старых собак новым трюкам не научишь.
Оригинал: Who keeps company with the wolf, will learn to howl.
Перевод: Кто водится с волками, научится и выть.
Оригинал: One drop of poison infects the whole tun of wine.
Перевод: Одна капля яда отравит целую бочку вина.
Оригинал: A leopard cannot change its spots.
Перевод: Леопард не может сменить свои пятна.
Оригинал: A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Перевод: Нечистой совести обвинитель не нужен.
Оригинал: То throw a stone in one’s own garden.
Перевод: Кидать камни в собственный сад.
Оригинал: He that mischief hatches mischief catches.
Перевод: Кто вынашивает зло, зло и получает.
Оригинал: As the fool thinks, so the bell clinks.
Перевод: Как дурак думает, так колокол и звонит.
Оригинал: When in Rome, do as the Romans.
Перевод: Будешь в Риме — то и веди себя как римлянин.
Оригинал: When the going gets tough, the tough get going.
Перевод: Когда становится трудно, становись сильнее.
Оригинал: Fortune favors the bold.
Перевод: Удача любит смелых.
Оригинал: Better late than never.
Перевод: Лучше позже, чем никогда.
Оригинал: A picture is worth a thousand words.
Перевод: Одна картина стоит тысячи слов.
Оригинал: Discretion is the greater part of valour.
Перевод: Благоразумие — большая часть отваги.
Оригинал: Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.
Перевод: Держи своих друзей близко, а врагов еще ближе.
Оригинал: Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Перевод: Никогда не заглядывай в рот дареному коню.
Оригинал: God helps those who help themselves.
Перевод: Бог помогает тем, кто помогает себе.
Оригинал: You can’t always get what you want.
Перевод: Ты не можешь всегда получать того чего хочешь.
Оригинал: A watched pot never boils.
Перевод: Кто над чайником стоит, у того он не кипит.
Оригинал: Cleanliness is next to godliness.
Перевод: Чистота следует за набожностью.
Оригинал: A cat may look at a king.
Перевод: Кошка может смотреть на короля.
Оригинал: Practice makes perfect.
Перевод: Практика приводит к совершенству.
Оригинал: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Перевод: Слишком много поваров испортят бульон.
Оригинал: Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.
Перевод: Не кусай руку, которая кормит тебя.
Оригинал: If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em.
Перевод: Не можешь победить — присоединяйся.
Оригинал: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Перевод: Мусор для одного — сокровище для другого.
Оригинал: There’s no time like the present.
Перевод: Второго сегодня не будет.
Оригинал: Necessity is the mother of invention.
Перевод: Нужда — мать изобретательства.
Оригинал: You can’t judge a book by its cover.
Перевод: Не суди о книге по обложке.
Оригинал: You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
Перевод: Можно отвести лошадь на водопой, но невозможно заставить ее пить.
Оригинал: Good things come to those who wait.
Перевод: Хорошее приходит к тому, кто ждет.
Оригинал: Two heads are better than one.
Перевод: Две головы лучше, чем одна.
Оригинал: Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.
Перевод: Не считай цыплят, пока они не вылупились.
Оригинал: An army marches on its stomach.
Перевод: Армия марширует когда сыта.
Оригинал: If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.
Перевод: Если хочешь что-то сделать хорошо, делай это сам.
Оригинал: A fool at forty is a fool forever.
Перевод: Дурак в сорок — дурак навсегда.
Оригинал: A young idler, an old beggar.
Перевод: В молодости лентяй — в старости бедняк.
Оригинал: It’s an ill wind that blows no good.
Перевод: Плох тот ветер, что не приносит добра.
Оригинал: A broken watch is right two times a day.
Перевод: Даже сломанные часы показывают правильное время два раза в день.
Оригинал: Don’t bark if you can’t bite.
Перевод: Не лай, если не можешь укусить.
Оригинал: Trouble shared is trouble halved.
Перевод: Поделился проблемой – наполовину решил ее.
Оригинал: Walls have ears.
Перевод: И у стен есть уши.
Оригинал: Variety is the spice of life.
Перевод: Перемены придают остроту жизни.
Оригинал: Prevention is better than cure.
Перевод: Профилактика лучше, чем лечение.
Оригинал: Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
Перевод: Лучше яйцо сегодня, чем курица завтра.
Оригинал: Penny wise, pound foolish.
Перевод: Умен на пенни, а глуп на фунт.
Оригинал: Never say never.
Перевод: Никогда не говори никогда.
Оригинал: Money is the root of all evil.
Перевод: Деньги – корень всего зла.
Оригинал: Every rose has its thorn.
Перевод: У каждой розы есть шипы.
Оригинал: A miss by an inch is a miss by a mile.
Перевод: Промахнуться на дюйм — промахнуться милей.
Оригинал: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Перевод: Не складывай все яйца в одну корзину.
Оригинал: Fretting cares make grey hairs.
Перевод: Излишняя забота делает седину.
Английские пословицы и поговорки с объяснением их употребления на английском языке
| Proverb | Explanation / Meaning | |
| A | Absence makes the heart grow fonder. | When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more. |
| Accidents will happen. | Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable. | |
| Actions speak louder than words. | What a person actually does is more important that what they say they will do. | |
| Advice is cheap. | It doesn’t cost anything to offer advice. | |
| Advice is least heeded when most needed. | When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice given. | |
| Advisers run no risks. | It’s easier to give advice than to act. | |
| All cats are grey in the dark. | People are undistinguished until they have made a name. | |
| All good things come to those who wait. | Patience brings rewards. | |
| All that glitters is not gold. | Appearances can be deceptive. | |
| All days are short to Industry and long to Idleness. | Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do. | |
| All is fair in love and war | Things that are done in love or war can often be excused. | |
| All’s well that ends well | There is a solution to everything even though there are doubts. | |
| All that glitters is not gold. | What look good on the outside may not be so in reality. | |
| All things grow with time — except grief. | As time goes by, grief subsides little by little. | |
| All things are difficult before they are easy. | With practice things become easier. | |
| All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. | Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation. It is not good to work all the time. | |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away.* | Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy. Other interpretation : A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems. | |
| An empty purse frightens away friends. | When one’s financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear. | |
| An Englishman’s home is his castle. | An Englishman’s home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy and can do as he wishes. | |
| An idle brain is the devil’s workshop. | When you work you avoid temptation. | |
| An onion a day keeps everyone away.* | *A humoristic version of «an apple a day…» | |
| An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. | It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later. | |
| Anger is the one thing made better by delay. | When you are angry, it is best not to speak or act immediately. | |
| Any time means no time. | If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen. | |
| April showers bring May flowers. | Something bad or unpleasant today may bring good things in the future. | |
| A bad tree does not yield good apples. | A bad parent does not raise good children. | |
| A bad workman blames his tools. | Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill. | |
| A bird in hand is worth two in a bush. | It’s better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something better. | |
| A broken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound. | Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before. | |
| A burden of one’s own choice is not felt. | Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily. | |
| A burnt child dreads the fire. | A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things. | |
| A cat has nine lives. | 1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury. 2) Three lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay. | |
| A chain is no stronger than its weakest link. | The strength of a group depends on each individual member. | |
| A change is as good as a rest. | A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday. | |
| A dry March, a wet April and a cool May fill barn and cellar and bring much hay. | Harvest predictions according to the weather. | |
| A fault confessed is half redressed. | Confession is the beginning of forgiveness. | |
| A flower blooms more than once. | If you miss an occasion, you can avail of it at another time. | |
| A fool and his money are soon (easily) parted. | A foolish person usually spends money carelessly. | |
| A fool at forty is a fool forever. | If a person hasn’t matured by the age of 40, they never will. | |
| A friend in need is a friend indeed. | Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend. | |
| A friend to all is a friend to none. | Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special. | |
| A friend’s eye is a good mirror. | A real friend will tell you the truth. | |
| A good example is the best sermon. | Giving an example is better than giving advice. | |
| A good beginning makes a good end. | If a task is carefully planned, there’s a better chance that it will be done well. | |
| A good conscience is a soft pillow. | You sleep well when you have nothing to feel guilty about. | |
| A guilty conscience needs no accuser. | ||
| A leopard cannot change its spots. | It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant. | |
| A loaded wagon makes no noise. | Really wealthy don’t talk about money. | |
| A loveless life is a living death. | ||
| A man can die but once. | ||
| A man is as old as he feels himself to be. | ||
| A man is known by the company he keeps. | A person’s character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time. | |
| A monkey in silk is a monkey no less. | No matter how someone dresses, it’s the same person underneath. | |
| A new broom sweeps clean. | A newly-appointed person makes changes energetically. | |
| A problem shared is a problem halved. | It will be easier to deal with a problem if you discuss it with someone. | |
| A rising tide lifts all boats. | Describes something that will be helpful to all. | |
| A rolling stone gathers no moss. | If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor possessions. Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down! | |
| A rotten apple spoils the barrel. | A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group. | |
| A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner. | Overcoming adversity leads to competence. | |
| A stitch in time saves nine. | It’s better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to prevent it from getting worse. | |
| A stumble may prevent a fall. | Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one. | |
| A swallow does not make the summer. | One good event does not mean that everything is alright. | |
| A tree is known by its fruit. | A man is judged by his actions. | |
| A watched pot never boils | If you wait anxiously for something, it seems to take a long time. | |
| A young idler, an old beggar. | If you don’t work, you won’t have any money when you’re old. | |
| After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile. | Today ‘dinner’ is usually called ‘lunch’, and ‘supper’ more often called ‘dinner’. | |
| As you sow, so shall you reap | You have to accept the consequences of your actions. | |
| Ask me no questions, I’ll tell you no lies. | There are subjects I’d rather not discuss. | |
| B | Bad news travels fast. | People tend to circulate bad news (accidents, illness etc.) very quickly. |
| Beauty is only skin deep. | A person’s character is more important than their appearance. | |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. | Different people have different tastes. | |
| Beauty is the wisdom of women. Wisdom is the beauty of men. | ||
| Be swift to hear, slow to speak. | Listen carefully before speaking. | |
| Better be alone than in bad company. | Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with. | |
| Better be the head of a dog then the tail of a lion. | It’s better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a bigger one. | |
| Better flatter a fool than fight him. | It’s better to avoid disputes with stupid people. | |
| Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t know | It’s better to deal with somebody difficult but familiar, than change and risk dealing with somebody worse. | |
| Better late than never. | It’s better to do something, even if it’s late, than not do it at all. | |
| Better lose the saddle than the horse. | It’s better to stop and accept a small loss, rather than continue and risk losing everything. | |
| Better safe than sorry | It’s better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it later. | |
| Better to drink the milk than to eat the cow. | Be careful not to destroy the source of your income or welfare. | |
| Better untaught than ill-taught | It’s better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly. | |
| Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. | Don’t trust your enemies. | |
| Birds of a feather flock together. | People of the same sort are usually found together. | |
| Blood is thicker than water | Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people. | |
| Blood will out. | A person’s background or education will eventually show. | |
| C | Charity begins at home. | A person’s first duty is to help and care for his own family. |
| Children and fools tell the truth. | ||
| Cleanliness is next to godliness. | A clean body is just as important as a pure soul. | |
| Clear moon, frost soon. | If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form. | |
| Clothes don’t make the man. | Appearances can be deceiving. | |
| Constant occupation prevents temptation. | When you work you avoid temptation. | |
| D | Dead men tell no tales | A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal. |
| Diamond cuts diamond. | Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning. | |
| Diligence is the mother of good fortune. | Hard work brings rewards. | |
| Discretion is the better part of valour | It is useless to take unnecessary risks. | |
| Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body. | ||
| Distance makes the heart grow fonder. | When you are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger. | |
| Dogs of the same street bark alike. | People from the same background have the same behaviour. | |
| Don’t bark if you can’t bite. | Don’t complain if you can’t enforce your point of view. | |
| Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. | You must not be too confident that something will be successful. | |
| Don’t dig your grave with your own knife and fork. | Don’t do something yourself which causes your own downfall. | |
| Don’t judge a book by its cover. | Don’t judge by appearances. | |
| E | Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise. | |
| Easier said than done. | What is suggested sounds easy but it is more difficult to actually do it. | |
| Elbow grease is the best polish. | Hard work gives the best results. | |
| Empty vessels make the most noise. | The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy. | |
| Every ass likes to hear himself bray. | People like to listen to themselves talking. | |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | There is a positive or hopeful side to every unpleasant situation. | |
| Every man for himself. | You must think of your own interests before the interests of others. | |
| Every man has his price. | Everyone’s loyalty can be bought for a price. | |
| Every man is the architect of his own fortune. | Life is what you make it. | |
| Every path has its puddle. | Progress is rarely without difficulty. | |
| Every rose has its thorn. | Every good thing has an unpleasant side. | |
| Every why has a wherefore. | There is an explanation for everything. | |
| Everything in the garden is rosy. | Everything is satisfactory. | |
| Experience is the father of wisdom. | Experience and knowledge result in better judgement. | |
| F | Facts speak louder than words. | People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what they say. |
| Failure teaches success. | ||
| False friends are worse than open enemies. | ||
| Familiarity breeds contempt | Knowing somebody very well may lead to a lack of respect for them. | |
| Fine words butter no parsnips. | No amount of talking can replace action. | |
| First come, first served. | The first person in the line will be attended to first. | |
| Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. | One should learn from one’s mistakes. | |
| Fools rush in where angels fear to tread | Inexperienced people act in situations that more intelligent people would avoid | |
| Friendship is love with understanding. | ||
| G | Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade. | Nothing is achieved without effort. |
| Give someone an inch and they will take a mile (or yard). | Give someone a little and they will want more — some people are never satisfied. | |
| Give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves. | Give someone enough time and freedom and they will get into trouble. | |
| God helps those who help themselves. | ||
| Good accounting makes good friends. | You will keep your friends if you avoid disputes over money. | |
| Good and quickly seldom meet. | A well-done job takes time. | |
| Good management is better than good income. | ||
| Great minds think alike. | Said when you express the same opinion as another person at the same time. | |
| Great oaks grow from little acorns. | Large successful operations can begin in a small way. | |
| Grief divided is made lighter | If you share your grief it is easier to bear. | |
| H | Half a loaf is better than none. | You should be grateful for something, even if it’s not as much as you wanted. |
| Hard words break no bones. | ||
| Haste makes waste. | If something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be redone. | |
| Hatred is a blind as love. | A person who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates. | |
| He can who believes he can. | If you believe you can do something, you will be able to do it. | |
| He has enough who is content. | A happy person needs nothing more. | |
| He who hesitates is lost. | If you delay your decision too long, you may miss a good opportunity. | |
| He who is everywhere is nowhere. | It’s not good to do too many things at the same time. | |
| He who knows nothing, doubts nothing. | Knowledge leads us to make choices. | |
| He who pays the piper calls the tune. | The person who provides the money for something should control how it is spent | |
| He who plays with fire gets burnt. | If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems. | |
| He who wills the end wills the means. | If you are determined to do something you will find a way. | |
| He laughs best who laughs last. | Don’t express your joy, or your triumph, too soon! | |
| Health is better than wealth. | It’s better to be in good health than to be rich. | |
| Home is where the heart is. | You call home the place where the people you love are. | |
| Honesty is the best policy. | It’s always better to be honest. | |
| Honey catches more flies than vinegar. | You can obtain more cooperation from others by being nice. | |
| However long the night, the dawn will break | Bad things don’t last forever. | |
| Hunger is a good sauce. | All food tastes good when you are hungry. | |
| I | In times of prosperity friends are plentiful. | You have many friends when you have no difficulties. |
| If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will follow. | If you let something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult . | |
| If in February there be no rain, ’tis neither good for hay nor grain. | Plants and crops will grow badly if there is no rain in early spring. | |
| If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will avoid 100 days of sorrow. | Avoid regrets by taking time to think before speaking or acting angrily. | |
| If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one. | If you try to do two things at the same time, you won’t succeed in doing either of them. | |
| If two ride a horse, one must ride behind. | When two people do something together, one will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate. | |
| If you want a friend, be a friend. | ||
| If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride. | Wishing alone is of no use; you must act as well. | |
| Ignorance is bliss. | Possible interpretation: What you do not know causes no worry or sadness. | |
| In for a penny, in for a pound. | If you start something, it’s better to spend the time or money necessary to complete it. | |
| In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king. | A man of even limited ability has an advantage over a person who is less able. | |
| It never rains but it pours. | Misfortunes usually come in large numbers. | |
| It is always darkest before the dawn | The most difficult time is just before a problem is solved. | |
| It’s no use crying over spilt milk. | Don’t express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied. | |
| It takes all sorts to make a world. | People vary in character and abilities, and this is a good thing. | |
| J | Justice delayed is justice denied. | If the law is applied too late, there is no justice. |
| K | Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age. | What you learn when you are young will be invaluable when you grow old. |
| Knowledge is power. | Knowledge makes it possible for you to act. | |
| Kill one to warn a hundred. | Warn many by punishing a few. | |
| Kill the goose that lays the golden egg. | Destroy something that would be a source of wealth or success. | |
| Kindness begets kindness. | If you are kind to people, they will be kind to you. | |
| L | Laughter is the best medicine. | |
| Learn to walk before you run. | Don’t rush into doing something until you know how to do it. | |
| Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere. | Education is something you keep forever. | |
| Least said soonest mended. | The more discreet you are, the less damage you cause. | |
| Let bygones be bygones. | Let’s forgive and forget past quarrels. | |
| Let not the sun go down on your wrath. | Do not stay angry for more than one day. | |
| Let the chips fall where they may. | We should not try to control our destiny. | |
| Liars need good memories. | People who do not tell the truth must be careful to remember what they say. | |
| Lightning never strikes in the same place twice | An unusual event is not likely to occur again in exactly the same circumstances. | |
| Like father, like son. | A son’s character can be expected to resemble his father’s. | |
| Little strokes fell great oaks. | If you divide a task into small parts, it becomes easier to do. | |
| Look before you leap. | Consider possible consequences before taking action. | |
| Loose lips sink ships. | Disclosing important information ( to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large losses. | |
| Losers weepers, finders keepers. | If you lose something you weep, if you find something you keep it. | |
| Love is blind. | A person in love does not see the faults of the person he/she loves. | |
| M | Make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear | Manage to produce something good using poor material. |
| Man is the head of the family; woman is the neck that turns the head. | ||
| Man proposes, God disposes. | Our destiny depends on God’s will. | |
| Manners make the man. | Possibly: a person’s manners show their origins. | |
| Many hands make light work. | Sharing work makes work easier. | |
| Marry in haste, repent at leisure. | If you get married too quickly, you may spend all your life regretting it. | |
| Memory is the treasure of the mind. | ||
| Men make houses, women make homes. | ||
| Might as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb | If the penalty is going to be the same, you might as well commit the greater offence. | |
| Money begets money. | If you have money you can make more money. | |
| Money doesn’t grow on trees. | You shouldn’t waste money because it is not plentiful. | |
| Money is the root of all evil. | Money is the main cause of wrongdoing and problems. | |
| N | Necessity is the mother of invention. | The need for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it. |
| Need teaches a plan. | Necessity will make you find a solution. | |
| Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today | Don’t postpone something you can do now. | |
| Never say die. | Never give up. | |
| Nobody is perfect. | ||
| No man can serve two masters. | It’s impossible to follow instructions from two different sources. | |
| No man is an island. | We all need other people. | |
| No news is good news. | If the news was bad, we would hear of it. Since we have heard nothing, we can assume that all is well. | |
| No smoke without fire. | There could be some truth in the rumour… | |
| No wind, no waves. | Similar to : ‘no smoke without fire’. | |
| Nothing ventured, nothing gained. | You cannot expect to achieve anything if you don’t take risks. | |
| O | Once bitten, twice shy. | After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar. |
| One father is more than a hundred schoolmasters. | ||
| One good turn deserves another. | You should be helpful to someone who helps you. | |
| One of these days is none of these days. | ‘One of these days’ remains vague. | |
| One today is worth two tomorrow. | What you have today is better than what is promised or hoped for. | |
| One man’s meat is another man’s poison | People don’t always like the same things. | |
| 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. | |
| Only real friends will tell you when your face is dirty. | Only a real friend will tell you the truth. | |
| Opportunity seldom knocks twice. | Don’t miss opportunities that come along. | |
| Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings | Children often speak wisely. | |
| Out of sight, out of mind. | We tend to forget people or things that we do not see. | |
| P | Patience is a virtue | It is good to be patient. |
| 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. | |
| People who live in glass houses should not throw stones. | One should not criticize others for faults similar to one’s own. | |
| Poverty waits at the gates of idleness. | If you do not work you will not make money. | |
| Practice makes perfect. | Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it. | |
| Practise what you preach | Do yourself what you advise others to do. | |
| Prevention is better than cure | It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later. | |
| Pride comes before a fall. | Don’t be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish. | |
| Procrastination is the thief of time | Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time. | |
| Punctuality is the soul of business | You should always be on time for your business appointments. | |
| Put all your eggs in one basket | Risk everything by relying on one plan (by putting all one’s money in one business). | |
| R | Revenge is sweet. | There is satisfaction in returning an injury. |
| 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. | |
| S | Save me from my friends. | Friends can be more dangerous than enemies. |
| Saying is one thing, doing is another. | People don’t always do what they announce. | |
| Short reckonings make long friends. | Debts paid quickly encourage friendship. | |
| Sickness in the body brings sadness to the mind. | ||
| Silence gives consent. | If you don’t object to something it can be assumed that you agree with it. | |
| Snug as a bug in a rug. | Feeling very comfortable. | |
| Spare the rod and spoil the child | If you don’t punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character. | |
| 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. | |
| 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. | |
| Stolen fruit is the sweetest. | What is forbidden is the most tempting. | |
| T | Tall oaks grow from little acorns. | Great things may come from small beginnings. |
| The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. | Children resemble their parents. | |
| The best advice is found on the pillow. | After a good night’s sleep we may find an answer to our problem. | |
| The best things in life are free. | You don’t have to pay for what is important : happiness, friendship, good health. | |
| The darkest hour is just before dawn. | There is hope even in the worst of times. | |
| The devil looks after his own. | Success comes to those who deserve it least . | |
| The devil makes work for idle hands | People who have no work, or are idle, often get into or make trouble. | |
| The die is cast. | A decision has been made and it’s impossible to change it. | |
| The early bird catches the worm. | If you want to do something successfully, you should do it as soon as you can. | |
| The end justifies the means. | Wrong or unfair methods may be used if the result of the action is good. | |
| The first step is the hardest. | The most difficult thing is to begin. | |
| The more haste, the less speed. | A person makes more progress if they do things less quickly. | |
| The more you have, the more you want. | People have a constant desire to possess more. | |
| The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken. | If you depend on just one thing, and it fails you, you will have no alternatives. | |
| The pen is mightier than the sword | Words and communication have greater effect than war and fighting. | |
| The proof of the pudding is in the eating. | The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested. | |
| The road to hell is paved with good intentions. | It’s not enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it. | |
| The tongue wounds more than a lance. | Insults can be more hurtful than physical injuries. | |
| The truth is in the wine. | People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol. | |
| The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. | Feed a man well and he will love you. | |
| The wish is father to the thought. | You think that something is true because you want it to be so. | |
| There is a black sheep in every flock. | There is always one who doesn’t behave or perform like the others. | |
| There is a trick in every trade. | There is an established way of doing things. | |
| There is no fool like an old fool. | A older person is expected to behave more sensibly. | |
| There is safety in numbers | Being in a crowd makes you feel more confident. | |
| Time and tide wait for no man. | Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place. | |
| Time has wings. | Time goes by quickly. | |
| Time is money. | Time is valuable and should not be wasted. | |
| To err is human, to forgive divine | It is human nature to make mistakes, therefore one should forgive. | |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth. (Humoristic version : Too many clicks spoil the browse!) | If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly. | |
| Too much bed makes a dull head. | If you sleep too much, you are not able to think clearly. | |
| True friends are tested in adversity. | It’s when you have problems that you realize who your real friends are. | |
| Trust not a horse’s heel nor a dog’s tooth. | Be careful of the reaction of animals. | |
| Truth has no answer. | You cannot argue against facts or refute what is true. | |
| Truth is stranger than fiction. | Events in real life are sometimes stranger than in fiction. | |
| Two wrongs don’t make a right | It is wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you. | |
| U | Union is strength. | A group has more force than an individual. |
| Unwillingness easily finds an excuse. | A person who doesn’t want to do something always finds a reason to avoid it. | |
| V | Variety is the spice of life. | Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting. |
| Virtue is its own reward. | You should not expect praise for acting in a correct or moral way. | |
| W | Walls have ears. | Be careful. People could be listening. |
| Waste not, want not. | If you never waste anything, you will have it when you need it. | |
| What the eye doesn’t see, the heart doesn’t grieve over. | If a person doesn’t know about something, it cannot hurt them. | |
| What a man says drunk, he thinks sober. | People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol. | |
| What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals. | People are less discreet under the influence of alcohol. | |
| When the cat’s away, the mice play. | People misbehave when their boss, or the person in authority, is absent. | |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | You should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting, and behave in the same way. | |
| When poverty come in the door, love goes out the window. | ||
| Where there’s life there’s hope. | ||
| Where there’s a will, there’s a way. | A person with determination will find a way of doing something. | |
| Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolves. | Possible interpretation: an easily influenced person can be mislead. | |
| Wisdom is better than strength. | ||
| Wonders will never cease! | Expresses surprise at an unexpected pleasure or event (ironic). | |
| Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow. | Worrying over small details can make them seem worse. | |
| Y | You are what you eat. | What you eat has an effect on your well-being. |
| You are never too old to learn. | ||
| You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink. | You can offer someone an opportunity to do something but you can’t force them. | |
| You can’t teach an old dog new tricks. | A person who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change. | |
| You never know what you can do until you try. | Try first before deciding not to do something. | |
| You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours. | You help me and I’ll help you. | |
Источник: http://www.learn-english-today.com
