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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Live and let live | /lɪv ænd lɛt lɪv/ | Be tolerant of others' differences. | They have different lifestyles, but they live and let live. |
| Live each day as if it were your last and one day you will surely be right | /lɪv iːtʃ deɪ æz ɪf ɪt wɜːr jɔːr læst ænd wʌn deɪ juː wɪl ˈʃʊrli biː raɪt/ | Seize the day because eventually you will die. | He traveled the world because he believed in living each day as if it were your last. |
| Live for today, for tomorrow never comes | /lɪv fɔːr təˈdeɪ, fɔːr təˈmɑːroʊ ˈnɛvər kʌmz/ | Focus on the present because the future is uncertain. | Stop postponing your dreams—live for today, for tomorrow never comes. |
| Live to fight another day (This saying comes from an English proverbial rhyme, "He who fights and runs away, may live to fight another day") | /lɪv tə faɪt əˈnʌðər deɪ/ | Retreat now to preserve strength for future battles. | The army withdrew to live to fight another day. |
| Look before you leap | /lʊk bɪˈfɔr ju lip/ | Consider the consequences before acting. | He invested without research and lost money. Look before you leap. |
| Loose lips sink ships | /luːs lɪps sɪŋk ʃɪps/ | Careless talk can cause disaster. | Don't share confidential information—loose lips sink ships. |
| Love is blind – _The Two Gentlemen of Verona_, Act II, Scene 1 | /lʌv ɪz blaɪnd/ | Love makes people overlook flaws. | She ignores all his bad habits—love is blind. |
| Love makes the world go around | /lʌv meɪks ðə wɜːrld ɡoʊ əˈraʊnd/ | Love is the driving force of life. | Despite all the problems, love makes the world go around. |
| Love of money is the root of all evil | /lʌv əv ˈmʌni ɪz ðə ruːt əv ɔːl ˈiːvəl/ | Greed for money leads to wrongdoing. | He committed fraud because of greed—love of money is the root of all evil. |
| Love will find a way | /lʌv wɪl faɪnd ə weɪ/ | Love overcomes obstacles. | They were separated by distance, but love will find a way. |
| Make hay while the sun shines | /meɪk heɪ waɪl ðə sʌn ʃaɪnz/ | Take advantage of favorable conditions. | The economy is good, so make hay while the sun shines and invest. |
| Make love not war | /meɪk lʌv nɑt wɔːr/ | Promote peace and love instead of conflict. | The protesters chanted 'make love not war.' |
| Man does not live by bread alone | /mæn dʌz nɑt lɪv baɪ brɛd əˈloʊn/ | People need spiritual or emotional nourishment, not just material goods. | He works for passion, not just money—man does not live by bread alone. |
| Man proposes, heaven disposes | /mæn prəˈpoʊzɪz, ˈhɛvən dɪˈspoʊzɪz/ | People make plans, but fate determines outcomes. | We planned a picnic, but it rained—man proposes, heaven disposes. |
| Man thinks, God laughs | /mæn θɪŋks, ɡɑd læfs/ | Human plans are often futile; a higher power has the last laugh. | He thought he had everything figured out, but then he lost his job—man thinks, God laughs. |
| Manners maketh man | /ˈmænərz ˈmeɪkɪθ mæn/ | Good manners define a person's character. | He always says please and thank you—manners maketh man. |
| Many a little makes a mickle | /ˈmɛni ə ˈlɪtəl meɪks ə ˈmɪkəl/ | Small amounts accumulate into a large amount. | Saving a dollar a day adds up—many a little makes a mickle. |
| Many a mickle makes a muckle | /ˈmɛni ə ˈmɪkəl meɪks ə ˈmʌkəl/ | Same as 'many a little makes a mickle' (often used humorously). | He saved coins for years and finally had enough for a car—many a mickle makes a muckle. |
| Many a true word is spoken in jest | /ˈmɛni ə truː wɜːrd ɪz ˈspoʊkən ɪn dʒɛst/ | Jokes often contain hidden truths. | He joked about being fired, but many a true word is spoken in jest. |
| Many hands make light work | /ˈmɛni hændz meɪk laɪt wɜrk/ | A task is easier with many people helping. | Everyone helped clean up. Many hands make light work. |
| March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb | /mɑːrtʃ kʌmz ɪn laɪk ə ˈlaɪən ænd ɡoʊz aʊt laɪk ə læm/ | March weather often starts harsh and ends mild. | It snowed on March 1st but was sunny on the 31st—March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. |
| Marriages are made in heaven | /ˈmærɪdʒɪz ɑːr meɪd ɪn ˈhɛvən/ | Soulmates are destined by fate. | They met by chance and fell in love—marriages are made in heaven. |
| Marry in haste, repent at leisure | /ˈmæri ɪn heɪst, rɪˈpɛnt æt ˈliːʒər/ | Rushing into marriage leads to long-term regret. | They got married after a month and divorced within a year—marry in haste, repent at leisure. |
| Memory is the treasure of the mind | /ˈmɛməri ɪz ðə ˈtrɛʒər əv ðə maɪnd/ | Memory is a valuable mental asset. | She can recall every detail of her childhood; truly, memory is the treasure of the mind. |
| Men are blind in their own cause – Heywood Broun (1888–1939), American journalist | /mɛn ɑr blaɪnd ɪn ðɛr oʊn kɔz/ | People are often unable to see faults in their own arguments or actions. | He insists he's right, but he's blind in his own cause. |
