English proverbs with meaning and example sentences (60 common ones)
A proverb is a short, well-known saying that gives advice or a general truth, like “Practice makes perfect”. Here are 60 common English proverbs with their meanings and an example sentence for each, grouped by situation, plus how to use them naturally in conversation and when not to.
By The YoFluent teamUpdated 12 min read
On this page
- What is a proverb? (and how it differs from an idiom)
- How to use proverbs in conversation
- Work and effort (12 proverbs)
- Time and planning (10 proverbs)
- People and friends (10 proverbs)
- Caution and judgement (9 proverbs)
- Learning, words and advice (10 proverbs)
- Money and luck (9 proverbs)
- How to learn proverbs so you can use them
- FAQ
- Sources
What is a proverb? (and how it differs from an idiom)
A proverb is a complete sentence that people repeat to give advice or to say something that is generally true. An idiom is a fixed phrase whose meaning is not literal, but it is not always a full sentence, and it doesn’t always give advice.
| Proverb | Idiom | |
|---|---|---|
| Form | A complete sentence | A phrase or part of a sentence |
| Purpose | Gives advice or a general truth | Says something in a colourful way |
| Example | “Look before you leap.” | “Break the ice.” (start a conversation) |
| You can change it? | No: the words are fixed | Sometimes the tense changes (“broke the ice”) |
How to use proverbs in conversation
- Say your point first, then the proverb: “You should apply now. The early bird catches the worm.” A proverb on its own can sound like a lecture.
- Use it to comfort or advise a friend, in an informal tone: “Don’t worry about it. It’s done. No use crying over spilt milk.”
- Use only one in a conversation. More than that sounds old-fashioned or unnatural.
- Don’t use them to criticise someone you don’t know well. “You get what you pay for” can sound rude.
- In exams and interviews, use a proverb only if it fits naturally. A forced proverb sounds memorised, and it doesn’t earn extra marks on its own.
- Check the register: most proverbs are informal or neutral. In formal writing, they are used rarely.
Two short examples
A: I’m so nervous about my first presentation.
B: I understand. But you’ve prepared well. Practice makes perfect, and you’ve practised a lot.
A: I failed the test again. I think I should stop.
B: Please don’t. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. What can we change for the next one?
Work and effort (12 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Practice makes perfect. | The more you do something, the better you become. | I practise speaking every day. Practice makes perfect. |
| No pain, no gain. | You must work hard and accept difficulty to get results. | Training is tiring, but no pain, no gain. |
| Rome wasn’t built in a day. | Big things take time. | Don’t worry if your English is not fluent yet. Rome wasn’t built in a day. |
| A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. | Every big goal starts with one small action. | I was afraid of starting my business, but a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. |
| Where there’s a will, there’s a way. | If you really want something, you will find a way. | She found a night job to pay for college. Where there’s a will, there’s a way. |
| Slow and steady wins the race. | Steady progress is better than quick, careless work. | He studies one hour every day. Slow and steady wins the race. |
| Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. | Don’t risk everything on one thing. | Apply to several companies. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. |
| Actions speak louder than words. | What people do is more important than what they say. | He promised to help, but he never came. Actions speak louder than words. |
| Many hands make light work. | A job is easier when many people help. | Let’s clean the house together. Many hands make light work. |
| If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. | Don’t give up after a failure. | I failed my driving test, but I booked another. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. |
| Better late than never. | It is better to do something late than not at all. | She said sorry a year later. Better late than never. |
| Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. | Don’t be sure of a result before it happens. | You haven’t got the job yet. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. |
Time and planning (10 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A stitch in time saves nine. | Fixing a small problem early prevents a big one later. | I fixed the small leak today. A stitch in time saves nine. |
| The early bird catches the worm. | People who start early have an advantage. | The shop opens at nine, but I arrived at eight. The early bird catches the worm. |
| Time is money. | Time is valuable, so don’t waste it. | Let’s start the meeting now. Time is money. |
| Better safe than sorry. | It is wiser to be careful than to take a risk. | Take an umbrella. Better safe than sorry. |
| Look before you leap. | Think carefully before you act. | Read the contract first. Look before you leap. |
| Strike while the iron is hot. | Act when the moment is right. | The manager likes your idea now, so ask for the budget. Strike while the iron is hot. |
| Make hay while the sun shines. | Use a good opportunity while it lasts. | The weather is nice, so let’s finish the painting. Make hay while the sun shines. |
| Prevention is better than cure. | It is easier to stop a problem than to fix it. | Wash your hands often. Prevention is better than cure. |
| Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. | Do things now, not later. | Answer that email now. Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. |
| Good things come to those who wait. | Patience is rewarded. | The results will arrive soon. Good things come to those who wait. |
People and friends (10 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A friend in need is a friend indeed. | A real friend helps you when you have problems. | He drove two hours to help me. A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| Birds of a feather flock together. | People with similar interests stay together. | All his friends love football. Birds of a feather flock together. |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth. | Too many people working on one thing makes it worse. | Three managers gave three different orders. Too many cooks spoil the broth. |
| You can’t please everyone. | Someone will always disagree, so don’t try to satisfy everyone. | Do what you think is right. You can’t please everyone. |
| One man’s meat is another man’s poison. | What one person likes, another may dislike. | I love spicy food, but my brother hates it. One man’s meat is another man’s poison. |
| Blood is thicker than water. | Family relationships are stronger than other relationships. | She helped her cousin, even after the argument. Blood is thicker than water. |
| Two heads are better than one. | Two people can solve a problem better than one. | Let’s work on this together. Two heads are better than one. |
| Treat others as you would like to be treated. | Be kind to others in the way you want them to be kind to you. | Be polite to the waiter. Treat others as you would like to be treated. |
| The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. | Children often resemble their parents. | Both father and son are excellent musicians. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. |
| A man is known by the company he keeps. | You can learn about a person from their friends. | Choose your friends carefully. A man is known by the company he keeps. |
Caution and judgement (9 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Don’t judge a book by its cover. | Don’t judge people or things only by how they look. | The café looks small, but the food is excellent. Don’t judge a book by its cover. |
| All that glitters is not gold. | Something that looks valuable may not be. | The offer sounded great, but there were hidden costs. All that glitters is not gold. |
| Curiosity killed the cat. | Being too curious can get you into trouble. | Don’t open her private letters. Curiosity killed the cat. |
| Every cloud has a silver lining. | Every bad situation has some good in it. | I lost my job, but it led me to a better career. Every cloud has a silver lining. |
| Honesty is the best policy. | Telling the truth is usually the wisest choice. | Tell her the truth about the mistake. Honesty is the best policy. |
| Beggars can’t be choosers. | If you are in need, you must accept what you are given. | The only seat left is at the back, but beggars can’t be choosers. |
| The grass is always greener on the other side. | Other people’s lives look better than ours. | He wants her job, but she wants his. The grass is always greener on the other side. |
| Out of sight, out of mind. | We forget things and people we no longer see. | I didn’t think about the old project once I left. Out of sight, out of mind. |
| You can’t have your cake and eat it too. | You can’t have both things when they conflict. | You can’t save money and spend it. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. |
Learning, words and advice (10 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A picture is worth a thousand words. | An image can express more than words. | The photo of the flood said it all. A picture is worth a thousand words. |
| The pen is mightier than the sword. | Words and ideas are more powerful than violence. | His article changed the law. The pen is mightier than the sword. |
| Knowledge is power. | Knowing things gives you strength and opportunities. | Read the report before the meeting. Knowledge is power. |
| It’s never too late to learn. | You can learn at any age. | My grandmother started English at seventy. It’s never too late to learn. |
| Easier said than done. | Something sounds simple but is hard to do. | ‘Just wake up at five’ is easier said than done. |
| Practice what you preach. | Do what you tell other people to do. | He tells us to be on time, but he is always late. He should practise what he preaches. |
| Don’t cry over spilt milk. | Don’t worry about something that has already happened. | The exam is finished. Don’t cry over spilt milk. |
| Two wrongs don’t make a right. | Doing something bad because someone did bad to you doesn’t help. | Don’t shout back. Two wrongs don’t make a right. |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | Follow the customs of the place you are in. | Remove your shoes here. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| The best things in life are free. | Many valuable things don’t cost money. | A walk with friends costs nothing. The best things in life are free. |
Money and luck (9 proverbs)
| Proverb | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| A penny saved is a penny earned. | Saving money is as good as earning it. | I cook at home to save money. A penny saved is a penny earned. |
| Money doesn’t grow on trees. | Money is limited, so spend carefully. | You can’t have a new phone every year. Money doesn’t grow on trees. |
| You get what you pay for. | Cheap things are often low in quality. | The cheap shoes broke in a week. You get what you pay for. |
| Easy come, easy go. | Money or things that arrive easily are often lost easily. | He won the money and spent it in a month. Easy come, easy go. |
| Fortune favours the brave. | Brave people are more likely to succeed. | She moved abroad alone and found a great job. Fortune favours the brave. |
| Lightning never strikes twice. | The same bad thing is unlikely to happen again in the same place. | You were unlucky once, but lightning never strikes twice. |
| Third time lucky. | The third try often succeeds. | I passed on my third attempt. Third time lucky. |
| A bad workman blames his tools. | People who do poor work often blame something else. | He blamed the computer for his mistakes. A bad workman blames his tools. |
| Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. | Don’t hurt someone who helps you. | Don’t criticise your boss in public. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. |
How to learn proverbs so you can use them
- Learn five at a time, from one group. Don’t try to learn 60 in a day.
- Write your own example from your own life for each one. This is much better than copying ours.
- Say them aloud with the rhythm and stress, so you can say them without thinking.
- Use one this week in a real conversation or with a tutor. A proverb you have used once is a proverb you will remember.
For other ways to sound natural, see daily English sentences, how to keep a conversation going and English conversation topics. An AI tutor can help you try new phrases in a real conversation: see how an AI tutor call works.
Frequently asked questions
What is a proverb in English?
A proverb is a short, traditional saying that gives advice or states a general truth, for example “Practice makes perfect” or “A stitch in time saves nine”. It is a complete sentence, and the words are fixed.
What is the difference between a proverb and an idiom?
A proverb is a complete sentence that gives advice or a general truth. An idiom is a fixed phrase with a non-literal meaning, such as “break the ice”, and it is not always a full sentence.
What are the most common English proverbs?
Some of the most common are: Practice makes perfect, Actions speak louder than words, Don’t judge a book by its cover, The early bird catches the worm, Better late than never, and Two heads are better than one. This page lists 60.
Can I use proverbs in the IELTS speaking test?
You can, but only if one fits naturally. A forced or memorised proverb doesn’t improve your score by itself, and examiners are more interested in clear, natural language. Use at most one, and explain your own idea first.
How do I use a proverb in a sentence?
State your point, then add the proverb to support it: “You should book now. The early bird catches the worm.” You can also use one to comfort someone: “Don’t worry. It’s over. No use crying over spilt milk.”
How can I remember proverbs?
Learn a few at a time, write your own example for each, say them aloud, and use one in real speech each week. Learning the meaning with a situation is easier than learning the words alone.
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