Some expressions stick around for centuries — and for good reason. This collection of around 728 common English proverbs pulls together the sayings you’ve probably heard in movies, conversations, and maybe even from your grandma.
Inside the interactive table, you’ll find each proverb with a clear meaning, a realistic example sentence, easy-to-read IPA pronunciation, and a play button so you can hear it spoken aloud. When you’re ready to take the list offline, just click the PDF download button sitting below the table — it’s completely free.
Proverbs are powerful because they pack a lot of meaning into few words. Knowing them helps you sound more natural and understand cultural references. Work through a few each day, or use the search and sort features to focus on ones that match your mood.
Want to move from knowing proverbs to speaking with confidence? Our free chunk-based English lessons teach you the phrases people actually use in real conversations — not just textbook lines. Start with Lesson 1 — First Greetings, or explore the full intro to lessons if you’re looking for a guided path.
English Proverbs Quiz
Before you dive in, try the quick quiz below to see how many proverbs you already have under your belt. It’s a fun way to warm up.
English Proverbs List with Meanings
| Expression | IPA | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| (A) swarm in May is worth a load of hay; a swarm in June is worth a silver spoon; but a swarm in July is not worth a fly | The timing of a bee swarm indicates its value: early swarms are more valuable for honey production. | Q: Should I capture that swarm? A: It's July—a swarm in July is not worth a fly, so skip it. | |
| (A) Zebra, is it black or could it be white? | /ə ˈzibrə ɪz ɪt blæk ɔr kʊd ɪt bi waɪt/ | A question about perspective or ambiguity; things are not always as they seem. | Q: Is the glass half full or half empty? A: A zebra, is it black or could it be white? It depends on how you see it. |
| (March comes) in like a lion, (and goes) out like a lamb | mɑrtʃ kʌmz ɪn laɪk ə ˈlaɪən, ænd ɡoʊz aʊt laɪk ə læm | March weather starts harsh and ends mild. | It snowed early March but was warm by the end. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. |
| (Only) time will tell | /ˈoʊnli taɪm wɪl tɛl/ | The outcome will be known in the future. | Q: 'Do you think the new policy will work?' A: 'Only time will tell.' |
| (Speech is silver but) Silence is golden | Sometimes it's better to say nothing than to speak. | During the argument, he stayed quiet—silence is golden. | |
| (The) truth will out | /ðə truθ wɪl aʊt/ | The truth will eventually be revealed. | He tried to hide his mistake, but the truth will out. |
| (You cannot) teach an old dog new tricks | /juː ˈkænɒt tiːtʃ æn oʊld dɔːɡ nuː trɪks/ | It is difficult to change someone's habits or teach them something new, especially when they are older. | My father refuses to use a smartphone. You cannot teach an old dog new tricks. |
| A bad excuse is better than none | /ə bæd ɪkˈskjuːs ɪz ˈbɛtər ðæn nʌn/ | Even a poor excuse is better than offering no explanation. | Q: I said I was sick but I wasn't. A: A bad excuse is better than none; at least you said something. |
| A bad penny always turns up | /ə bæd ˈpɛni ˈɔːlweɪz tɜːrnz ʌp/ | Unwanted people or things tend to reappear. | Q: That annoying guy showed up again. A: A bad penny always turns up. |
| A bad workman blames his tools | /ə bæd ˈwɜːrkmən bleɪmz hɪz tuːlz/ | A poor performer blames their equipment instead of their own skill. | Q: My pencil keeps breaking, so my drawing is bad. A: A bad workman blames his tools. |
| A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush | /ə bɜrd ɪn ðə hænd ɪz wɜrθ tu ɪn ðə bʊʃ/ | It's better to hold onto something you have than to risk it for something better that you might not get. | I was offered a stable job, but I'm tempted by a risky startup. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. |
| A cat may look at a king | /ə kæt meɪ lʊk æt ə kɪŋ/ | Even a lowly person has the right to look at someone important. | Q: Why is that child staring at the celebrity? A: A cat may look at a king. |
| A chain is only as strong as its weakest link | /ə tʃeɪn ɪz ˈoʊnli æz strɔŋ æz ɪts ˈwikɪst lɪŋk/ | A group is only as strong as its weakest member. | The team failed because one member was unprepared. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. |
| A dog is a man's best friend | /ə dɔːɡ ɪz ə mænz bɛst frɛnd/ | Dogs are loyal and loving companions to humans. | Q: Why do you love your dog so much? A: A dog is a man's best friend—he's always there for me. |
| A drowning man will clutch at a straw | /ə ˈdraʊnɪŋ mæn wɪl klʌtʃ æt ə strɔː/ | A desperate person will try anything to save themselves. | Q: He invested in a risky scheme. A: A drowning man will clutch at a straw. |
| A fool and his money are soon parted | /ə fuːl ænd hɪz ˈmʌni ɑːr suːn ˈpɑːrtɪd/ | Foolish people spend money carelessly and lose it quickly. | Q: He bought a car he can't afford. A: A fool and his money are soon parted. |
| A friend in need (is a friend indeed) | /ə frɛnd ɪn niːd (ɪz ə frɛnd ɪnˈdiːd)/ | A true friend helps you when you are in trouble. | Q: She helped me move even though she was busy. A: A friend in need is a friend indeed. |
| A friend to everyone is a friend to no one | /ə frɛnd tuː ˈɛvriˌwʌn ɪz ə frɛnd tuː noʊ wʌn/ | If you try to be friends with everyone, you may not have deep friendships. | Q: He's nice to everybody. A: A friend to everyone is a friend to no one. |
| A hungry man thinks of bread | /ə ˈhʌŋɡri mæn θɪŋks ʌv brɛd/ | When you are in need, you focus on basic necessities. | Q: Why is he always talking about food? A: A hungry man thinks of bread. |
| A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step | /ə ˈdʒɜːrni ʌv ə ˈθaʊzənd maɪlz bɪˈɡɪnz wɪð ə ˈsɪŋɡəl stɛp/ | Big tasks start with small actions. | Q: I want to write a book but it's overwhelming. A: A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step—just start writing. |
| A language is a dialect with an army and navy | /ə ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ɪz ə ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt wɪð ən ˈɑrmi ænd ˈneɪvi/ | The distinction between a language and a dialect is political, based on power and military might. | Q: Why is Mandarin considered a language but Cantonese a dialect? A: A language is a dialect with an army and navy. |
| A leopard cannot change its spots | /ə ˈlɛpərd ˈkænɑt tʃeɪndʒ ɪts spɑts/ | People cannot change their fundamental nature. | He promised to stop lying, but he lied again. A leopard cannot change its spots. |
| A little learning is a dangerous thing | /ə ˈlɪtl ˈlɜːrnɪŋ ɪz ə ˈdeɪndʒərəs θɪŋ/ | Knowing a little about something can make you overconfident and cause mistakes. | Q: I read one article, so I know all about it. A: A little learning is a dangerous thing. |
| A man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills | /ə mæn kæn duː wɒt hiː wɪlz bʌt hiː ˈkænɒt wɪl wɒt hiː wɪlz/ | You can choose your actions, but you cannot choose your desires. | Q: I want to want to exercise, but I don't. A: A man can do what he wills but he cannot will what he wills. |
| A man with no pants fears no pickpocket. | /ə mæn wɪð noʊ pænts fɪrz noʊ ˈpɪkˌpɒkɪt/ | If you have nothing to lose, you have nothing to fear. | Q: He's not worried about the stock market crash. A: A man with no pants fears no pickpocket. |
