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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Health is wealth | hɛlθ ɪz wɛlθ | Good health is more valuable than money. | After his illness, he realized that health is wealth. |
| Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned; Heav'n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn'd, Nor Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn'd – William Congreve, _The Mourning Bride_, Act III scene viii | hɛl hæθ noʊ ˈfjʊri laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔrnd; ˈhɛvən hæz noʊ reɪdʒ, laɪk lʌv tu ˈheɪtrɪd tɜrnd, nɔr hɛl ə ˈfjʊri, laɪk ə ˈwʊmən skɔrnd | A woman who has been rejected can be extremely angry and vengeful. | When he left her, she destroyed his reputation; hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. |
| Hindsight is always twenty-twenty | ˈhaɪndˌsaɪt ɪz ˈɔlˌweɪz ˈtwɛnti-ˈtwɛnti | It is easy to understand something clearly after it has happened. | Looking back, I should have invested; hindsight is always twenty-twenty. |
| History repeats itself | ˈhɪstəri rɪˈpits ɪtˈsɛlf | Events tend to happen again in similar ways. | The country is making the same mistakes; history repeats itself. |
| Home is where the heart is | hoʊm ɪz wɛr ðə hɑrt ɪz | Your home is the place you feel most love and belonging. | Even though he travels, he always returns; home is where the heart is. |
| Honesty is the best policy | /ˈɑnɪsti ɪz ðə bɛst ˈpɑləsi/ | Being truthful is always the best approach. | He admitted his mistake and was forgiven. Honesty is the best policy. |
| Hope for the best, and prepare for the worst | hoʊp fɔr ðə bɛst, ænd prɪˈpɛr fɔr ðə wɜrst | Be optimistic but also ready for difficulties. | I hope the weather is good, but I'll bring an umbrella; hope for the best, and prepare for the worst. |
| Hope springs eternal | hoʊp sprɪŋz ɪˈtɜrnəl | People always remain hopeful, even in difficult times. | Despite the losses, fans still believe; hope springs eternal. |
| Horses for courses | ˈhɔrsɪz fɔr ˈkɔrsɪz | Different people are suited to different things. | He's good at sales, but not management; horses for courses. |
| How long is a piece of string? | haʊ lɔŋ ɪz ə pis ʌv strɪŋ | A question that has no definite answer. | Q: How long will it take? A: How long is a piece of string? |
| Hunger never knows the taste, sleep never knows the comfort | ˈhʌŋgər ˈnɛvər noʊz ðə teɪst, slip ˈnɛvər noʊz ðə ˈkʌmfərt | When you are truly hungry or tired, you don't care about quality. | After the long hike, he ate anything; hunger never knows the taste. |
| I'm going to have to give you the pink slip | aɪm ˈɡoʊɪŋ tə hæv tə ɡɪv ju ðə pɪŋk slɪp | You are fired. | Due to budget cuts, I'm going to have to give you the pink slip. |
| Idle hands are the devil's workshop | ˈaɪdəl hændz ɑr ðə ˈdɛvəlz ˈwɜrkˌʃɑp | When people have nothing to do, they may get into trouble. | He started causing mischief when he was bored; idle hands are the devil's workshop. |
| If a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well | ɪf ə dʒɑb ɪz wɜrθ ˈduɪŋ, ɪt ɪz wɜrθ ˈduɪŋ wɛl | Any task worth undertaking should be done with care. | He spent extra time perfecting the report; if a job is worth doing, it is worth doing well. |
| If all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. | ɪf ɔl ju hæv ɪz ə ˈhæmər, ˈɛvri ˈprɑbləm lʊks laɪk ə neɪl | If you only have one skill, you tend to apply it to every situation. | He's a programmer, so he wants to code everything; if all you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail. |
| If anything can go wrong, it will (Also referred to as Murphy's law) | ɪf ˈɛniˌθɪŋ kæn goʊ rɔŋ, ɪt wɪl | Things will go wrong if there is any possibility. | The computer crashed right before the deadline; if anything can go wrong, it will. |
| If at first you do not succeed, try, try again | ɪf æt fɜrst ju du nɑt səkˈsid, traɪ, traɪ əˈgɛn | Persevere and keep trying until you succeed. | She failed the test twice but passed the third time; if at first you do not succeed, try, try again. |
| If God had meant us to fly, he would have given us wings | ɪf gɑd hæd mɛnt ʌs tu flaɪ, hi wʊd hæv ˈgɪvən ʌs wɪŋz | Some things are not meant for humans to do. | He refused to fly, saying if God had meant us to fly, he would have given us wings. |
| If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there would be no work for tinkers | ɪf ɪfs ænd ændz wɜr pɑts ænd pænz, ðɛr wʊd bi noʊ wɜrk fɔr ˈtɪŋkərz | Wishing or speculating about what might have been is useless. | He kept saying 'if only I had studied'; if ifs and ands were pots and pans, there would be no work for tinkers. |
| If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas | ɪf ɪfs ənd bʌts wɜr ˈkændiz ənd nʌts, wid ɔl hæv ə ˈmɛri ˈkrɪsməs | Wishing or making excuses does not change reality. | Q: I could have passed if I had studied more. A: If ifs and buts were candies and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas. |
| If it ain't broke, don't fix it | /ɪf ɪt eɪnt broʊk, doʊnt fɪks ɪt/ | Don't change something that is working well. | The old software works fine. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. |
| If it were a snake, it would have bit you | ɪf ɪt wɜr ə sneɪk, ɪt wʊd hæv bɪt ju | Something obvious that you failed to notice. | Your keys are right on the table. If it were a snake, it would have bit you. |
| If it were not for hope the heart would break | ɪf ɪt wɜr nɑt fɔr hoʊp ðə hɑrt wʊd breɪk | Hope is essential to endure hardship. | Even in the darkest times, remember: if it were not for hope the heart would break. |
| If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain | ɪf ðə ˈmaʊntən wɪl nɑt kʌm tə moʊˈhæmɪd, ðɛn moʊˈhæmɪd mʌst goʊ tə ðə ˈmaʊntən | If something won't happen on its own, you must take action. | The store won't deliver, so I'll pick it up myself. If the mountain will not come to Mohammed, then Mohammed must go to the mountain. |
| If the shoe fits, wear it | /ɪf ðə ʃu fɪts, wɛr ɪt/ | If a criticism applies to you, accept it. | When they said someone was lazy, he felt guilty. If the shoe fits, wear it. |
