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English Proverbs

A bird in the hand, a stitch in time, the early bird's worm — the compact folk wisdom of English. Most are centuries old, repeated until nobody remembers who said them first, and still used in arguments to win without arguing.

21 entries

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Common

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English Proverbs

A Bird in the Hand Is Worth Two in the Bush

A certain small gain is worth more than the possibility of a larger one — the founding English proverb of risk aversion.

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English Proverbs

Actions Speak Louder Than Words

What people do reveals more than what they say — the proverb every disappointed friend, voter, and spouse eventually reaches for.

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English Proverbs

All That Glitters Is Not Gold

Not everything that looks attractive is actually valuable — the medieval warning against shiny appearances.

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English Proverbs

Better Late Than Never

Doing something belatedly still beats not doing it at all — the proverb of every overdue apology and late reply.

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English Proverbs

Curiosity Killed the Cat

Asking too many questions can get you into trouble — the proverb adults use to shut down kids and reporters.

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English Proverbs

Don't Count Your Chickens Before They Hatch

Don't plan on a gain you don't yet have — the proverb of every prematurely celebrated promotion.

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English Proverbs

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

Surface appearance is a bad guide to substance — the modern anti-prejudice proverb every middle-school assembly is built on.

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English Proverbs

Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

Spread risk across multiple options — the proverb every financial advisor turns into a diversification slide.

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English Proverbs

Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Bad situations contain a hidden good — the optimist's proverb of choice.

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English Proverbs

Fortune Favors the Bold

Risk-takers get the rewards — the warrior's proverb, borrowed from Latin.

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English Proverbs

No Pain, No Gain

Real progress requires real effort — the gym-poster proverb that began as a Puritan one.

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English Proverbs

Out of Sight, Out of Mind

Whatever you stop seeing, you stop thinking about — the proverb's flat answer to 'absence makes the heart grow fonder.'

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English Proverbs

Practice Makes Perfect

Repetition produces mastery — the proverb every music teacher, sports coach, and language tutor leans on.

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English Proverbs

Rome Wasn't Built in a Day

Big achievements need time — the proverb of every patient mentor and stalling project manager.

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English Proverbs

Strike While the Iron Is Hot

Act while the moment is right — the blacksmith's proverb of opportunism.

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English Proverbs

The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From the Tree

Children inherit their parents' traits — the proverb of every visible family resemblance.

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English Proverbs

The Early Bird Catches the Worm

Whoever shows up first gets the reward — the productivity proverb of every 5 a.m. routine.

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English Proverbs

The Grass Is Always Greener on the Other Side

Others' situations always look better than your own — the proverb every restless person hears at every fence.

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English Proverbs

Time Is Money

Time spent has direct monetary value — the founding proverb of American capitalism.

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English Proverbs

When in Rome, Do as the Romans Do

Adapt to local customs — the diplomatic proverb of every traveler and expat.

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English Proverbs

You Can't Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

You can't enjoy two mutually exclusive benefits — the proverb of trade-offs.