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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Never judge a book by its cover | /ˈnɛvər dʒʌdʒ ə bʊk baɪ ɪts ˈkʌvər/ | Don't judge based on appearance. | He looked scruffy but was a genius; never judge a book by its cover. |
| Never let the sun go down on your anger | /ˈnɛvər lɛt ðə sʌn goʊ daʊn ɑn jɔr ˈæŋgər/ | Resolve anger before the day ends. | They argued but made up before bed; never let the sun go down on your anger. |
| Never let the truth get in the way of a good story | /ˈnɛvər lɛt ðə truθ gɛt ɪn ðə weɪ əv ə gʊd ˈstɔri/ | A good story is more important than accuracy. | He exaggerated his adventure; never let the truth get in the way of a good story. |
| Never look a gift horse in the mouth | /ˈnɛvər lʊk ə ɡɪft hɔrs ɪn ðə maʊθ/ | Don't criticize a gift; accept it graciously. | She gave me an old book, but I thanked her. Never look a gift horse in the mouth. |
| Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today | /ˈnɛvər pʊt ɔf ənˈtɪl təˈmɑroʊ wʌt ju kæn du təˈdeɪ/ | Don't procrastinate. | Finish your homework now; never put off until tomorrow what you can do today. |
| Never reveal a man's wage, and woman's age | /ˈnɛvər rɪˈvil ə mænz weɪdʒ, ænd ˈwʊmənz eɪdʒ/ | Don't ask about salary or age. | He asked her age; she replied, 'Never reveal a man's wage, and woman's age.' |
| Never say die | /ˈnɛvər seɪ daɪ/ | Never give up hope. | Despite the setbacks, never say die. |
| Never say never | /ˈnɛvər seɪ ˈnɛvər/ | Don't rule out possibilities. | I thought I'd never travel, but now I'm abroad; never say never. |
| Never speak ill of the dead | /ˈnɛvər spik ɪl əv ðə dɛd/ | Show respect for the deceased. | Even though he was mean, never speak ill of the dead. |
| Never tell tales out of school | /ˈnɛvər tɛl teɪlz aʊt əv skul/ | Don't gossip or reveal secrets. | She told everyone his secret; never tell tales out of school. |
| Never too old to learn | /ˈnɛvər tu oʊld tu lɜrn/ | Learning is lifelong. | My grandmother started painting at 80; never too old to learn. |
| Nine tailors make a man, | /naɪn ˈteɪlərz meɪk ə mæn/ | A well-dressed man is made by many tailors. | He looked sharp in his suit; nine tailors make a man. |
| No friends but the mountains | /noʊ frɛndz bʌt ðə ˈmaʊntənz/ | Nature is a reliable companion. | He felt isolated; no friends but the mountains. |
| No guts, no glory | /noʊ gʌts, noʊ ˈglɔri/ | Risk is needed for reward. | He took the chance and succeeded; no guts, no glory. |
| No man can serve two masters | /noʊ mæn kæn sɜrv tu ˈmæstərz/ | You cannot serve two opposing interests. | He tried to work two jobs but failed; no man can serve two masters. |
| No man is an island | /noʊ mæn ɪz ən ˈaɪlənd/ | Everyone needs help from others; no one is self-sufficient. | He tried to do everything alone, but failed. No man is an island. |
| No names, no pack-drill | /noʊ neɪmz, noʊ pæk drɪl/ | If no one is named, no punishment follows. | The culprit wasn't identified; no names, no pack-drill. |
| No news is good news | /noʊ nuz ɪz gʊd nuz/ | Lack of news means nothing bad happened. | I haven't heard from him; no news is good news. |
| No one can make you feel inferior without your consent | /noʊ wʌn kæn meɪk ju fil ɪnˈfɪriər wɪˈðaʊt jɔr kənˈsɛnt/ | Your self-worth is under your control. | She ignored the insults; no one can make you feel inferior without your consent. |
| No pain, no gain | /noʊ peɪn, noʊ geɪn/ | Effort is required for achievement. | He trained hard; no pain, no gain. |
| No rest for the wicked | /noʊ rɛst fɔr ðə ˈwɪkɪd/ | Bad people are always busy or troubled. | He's always working; no rest for the wicked. |
| Not all those who wander are lost – "All that is gold does not glitter" J.R.R. Tolkien | /nɑt ɔl ðoʊz hu ˈwɑndər ɑr lɔst/ | Wandering doesn't mean being lost; appearances can be deceiving. | He travels aimlessly, but not all those who wander are lost. |
| Nothing is certain but death and taxes | /ˈnʌθɪŋ ɪz ˈsɜrtən bʌt dɛθ ænd ˈtæksɪz/ | Death and taxes are inevitable. | You can't avoid them; nothing is certain but death and taxes. |
| Nothing succeeds like success | /ˈnʌθɪŋ səkˈsidz laɪk səkˈsɛs/ | Success attracts more success. | After his first win, opportunities poured in; nothing succeeds like success. |
| Nothing ventured, nothing gained | /ˈnʌθɪŋ ˈvɛntʃərd, ˈnʌθɪŋ ɡeɪnd/ | You have to take risks to achieve something. | I was afraid to start a business, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. |
