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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| It ain't over till the fat lady sings | ɪt eɪnt ˈoʊvər tɪl ðə fæt ˈleɪdi sɪŋz | The outcome is uncertain until the very end. | Don't give up yet; it ain't over till the fat lady sings. |
| It ain't over till/until it's over | ɪt eɪnt ˈoʊvər tɪl ɪts ˈoʊvər | Don't assume the outcome until it's final. | The team was losing but scored in the last minute. It ain't over till it's over. |
| It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble. It's what you know for sure that just ain't so | ɪt eɪnt wʌt ju doʊnt noʊ ðæt ɡɛts ju ˈɪntu ˈtrʌbəl. ɪts wʌt ju noʊ fɔr ʃʊr ðæt dʒʌst eɪnt soʊ | False confidence in wrong knowledge causes problems. | He was sure the bridge was safe, but it collapsed. It ain't what you don't know that gets you into trouble; it's what you know for sure that just ain't so. |
| It goes without saying | ɪt ɡoʊz wɪˈðaʊt ˈseɪɪŋ | Something is obvious and doesn't need stating. | It goes without saying that you should be on time. |
| It is a small world | ɪt ɪz ə smɔl wɜrld | People are connected in surprising ways. | I met my neighbor in Paris. It is a small world. |
| It is all grist to the mill | ɪt ɪz ɔl ɡrɪst tə ðə mɪl | Everything can be used to your advantage. | Even criticism is helpful. It is all grist to the mill. |
| It is an ill wind (that blows no one any good) | ɪt ɪz ən ɪl wɪnd ðæt bloʊz noʊ wʌn ˈɛni ɡʊd | Every bad situation benefits someone. | The storm damaged houses but helped the repair business. It is an ill wind that blows no one any good. |
| It is best to be on the safe side | ɪt ɪz bɛst tə bi ɑn ðə seɪf saɪd | Better to be cautious. | Bring an umbrella; it is best to be on the safe side. |
| It is better to be smarter than you appear than to appear smarter than you are | ɪt ɪz ˈbɛtər tə bi ˈsmɑrtər ðæn ju əˈpɪr ðæn tə əˈpɪr ˈsmɑrtər ðæn ju ɑr | True intelligence is better than a false impression. | He listens more than he speaks. It is better to be smarter than you appear than to appear smarter than you are. |
| It is better to cultivate a Land with two Bulls, rather working under Boss who never gives Wage when asked | ɪt ɪz ˈbɛtər tə ˈkʌltɪveɪt ə lænd wɪð tu bʊlz, ˈræðər ˈwɜrkɪŋ ˈʌndər bɔs hu ˈnɛvər ɡɪvz weɪdʒ wɛn æskt | Self-employment is better than an unreliable employer. | He started his own farm instead of working for a stingy boss. It is better to cultivate a land with two bulls than work under a boss who never pays. |
| It is better to give than to receive | ɪt ɪz ˈbɛtər tə ɡɪv ðæn tə rɪˈsiv | Giving brings more joy than receiving. | She donated to charity. It is better to give than to receive. |
| It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive | ɪt ɪz ˈbɛtər tə ˈtrævəl ˈhoʊpfəli ðæn tə əˈraɪv | The anticipation is often better than the outcome. | The journey was more fun than the destination. It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive. |
| It is easy to be wise after the event | ɪt ɪz ˈizi tə bi waɪz ˈæftər ði ɪˈvɛnt | Hindsight is 20/20. | After the crash, everyone knew it was a bad investment. It is easy to be wise after the event. |
| It is like juggling sand (Ian Murray) | ɪt ɪz laɪk ˈdʒʌɡlɪŋ sænd | A futile or impossible task. | Trying to organize this chaos is like juggling sand. |
| It is never too late | ɪt ɪz ˈnɛvər tu leɪt | You can always start or change. | She went back to school at 60. It is never too late. |
| It is no use crying over spilt milk | ɪt ɪz noʊ jus ˈkraɪɪŋ ˈoʊvər spɪlt mɪlk | Don't dwell on past mistakes. | I broke a vase. Oh well, it is no use crying over spilt milk. |
| It is no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted | ɪt ɪz noʊ jus ˈlɑkɪŋ ðə ˈsteɪbəl dɔr ˈæftər ðə hɔrs hæz ˈboʊltɪd | Taking precautions after damage is pointless. | He installed a security system after the burglary. It is no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted. |
| It is not enough to learn how to ride, you must also learn how to fall | ɪt ɪz nɑt ɪˈnʌf tə lɜrn haʊ tə raɪd, ju mʌst ˈɔlsoʊ lɜrn haʊ tə fɔl | Prepare for failure as well as success. | In martial arts, they teach you how to fall safely. It is not enough to learn how to ride, you must also learn how to fall. |
| It is on | ɪt ɪz ɑn | A challenge or event is accepted or starting. | Q: Ready for the game? A: It is on! |
| It is the early bird that gets the worm | ɪt ɪz ði ˈɜrli bɜrd ðæt ɡɛts ðə wɜrm | Being early gives advantage. | She arrived early and got the best seats. It is the early bird that gets the worm. |
| It is the empty can that makes the most noise | ɪt ɪz ði ˈɛmpti kæn ðæt meɪks ðə moʊst nɔɪz | Those with least substance talk the most. | He boasts constantly but knows little. It is the empty can that makes the most noise. |
| It is the last straw that breaks the camel's back | /ɪt ɪz ðə læst strɔ ðæt breɪks ðə ˈkæməlz bæk/ | A small problem that follows many others causes a final breakdown. | He tolerated the delays, but the missed deadline was the last straw. |
| It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease | ɪt ɪz ðə ˈskwiki wil ðæt ɡɛts ðə ɡris | Complaining gets attention. | If you want a raise, speak up. It is the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. |
| It is what it is | ɪt ɪz wʌt ɪt ɪz | Accept the situation as it is. | We lost the game. It is what it is. |
| It needs a hundred lies to cover a single lie | ɪt nidz ə ˈhʌndrəd laɪz tə ˈkʌvər ə ˈsɪŋɡəl laɪ | Lying leads to more lies. | He told one lie and then had to invent many more. It needs a hundred lies to cover a single lie. |
