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 mill cannot grind with the water that is past | /ə mɪl ˈkænɒt ɡraɪnd wɪð ðə ˈwɔːtər ðæt ɪz pæst/ | You cannot use past opportunities; focus on the present. | Q: I regret not studying harder. A: A mill cannot grind with the water that is past; study now. |
| A miss is as good as a mile | /ə mɪs ɪz æz ɡʊd æz ə maɪl/ | Failing by a little is the same as failing by a lot. | Q: I almost caught the train. A: A miss is as good as a mile—you still missed it. |
| A new language is a new life (Persian proverb) | /ə nuː ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒ ɪz ə nuː laɪf/ | Learning a new language opens up new experiences and perspectives. | Q: Why are you learning Spanish? A: A new language is a new life. |
| A penny saved is a penny earned | /ə ˈpɛni seɪvd ɪz ə ˈpɛni ɜrnd/ | Saving money is as valuable as earning it. | I cut my coffee expenses. A penny saved is a penny earned. |
| A picture is worth a thousand words | /ə ˈpɪktʃər ɪz wɜrθ ə ˈθaʊzənd wɜrdz/ | A visual image can convey a complex idea more effectively than words. | Instead of describing the sunset, she showed a photo. A picture is worth a thousand words. |
| A rising tide lifts all boats | /ə ˈraɪzɪŋ taɪd lɪfts ɔːl boʊts/ | An overall improvement benefits everyone. | Q: Why support public education? A: A rising tide lifts all boats. |
| A rolling stone gathers no moss | /ə ˈroʊlɪŋ stoʊn ˈɡæðərz noʊ mɔs/ | A person who keeps moving doesn't accumulate responsibilities or attachments. | He changes jobs every year. A rolling stone gathers no moss. |
| A ship in harbour is safe, but that's not what a ship is for | /ə ʃɪp ɪn ˈhɑːrbər ɪz seɪf, bʌt ðæts nɒt wɒt ə ʃɪp ɪz fɔːr/ | Playing it safe prevents you from fulfilling your purpose. | Q: I'm afraid to start my own business. A: A ship in harbour is safe, but that's not what a ship is for. |
| A stitch in time (saves nine) | /ə stɪtʃ ɪn taɪm (seɪvz naɪn)/ | Fixing a small problem now prevents a bigger one later. | Fix that leak now, or it'll flood. A stitch in time saves nine. |
| A stopped clock is right twice a day | /ə stɒpt klɒk ɪz raɪt twaɪs ə deɪ/ | Even a wrong or foolish person can be correct occasionally. | Q: He predicted the weather correctly once. A: A stopped clock is right twice a day. |
| A tiger can't change its stripes | /ə ˈtaɪɡər kænt tʃeɪndʒ ɪts straɪps/ | People cannot change their fundamental nature. | Q: Do you think he'll stop lying? A: A tiger can't change its stripes. |
| A watched man never plays | /ə wɒtʃt mæn ˈnɛvər pleɪz/ | When someone is watched closely, they may not perform naturally. | Q: Why is the player missing shots? A: A watched man never plays. |
| A watched pot/kettle never boils | /ə wɒtʃt pɒt/ˈkɛtl ˈnɛvər bɔɪlz/ | Time feels longer when you wait impatiently. | Q: Is the water boiling yet? A: A watched pot never boils; go do something else. |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder | /ˈæbsəns meɪks ðə hɑrt groʊ ˈfɑndər/ | Being apart from someone makes you appreciate them more. | After a month apart, they realized absence makes the heart grow fonder. |
| Absolute power corrupts absolutely (John Dalberg-Acton, 1887) | /ˈæbsəluːt ˈpaʊər kəˈrʌpts ˈæbsəluːtli/ | Having unlimited power leads to corruption. | Q: Why is the dictator so cruel? A: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. |
| Accidents will happen (in the best-regulated families) | /ˈæksɪdənts wɪl ˈhæpən (ɪn ðə bɛst ˈrɛɡjəˌleɪtɪd ˈfæməliz)/ | Mistakes are inevitable, even in well-managed situations. | Q: How did you break the vase? A: Accidents will happen. |
| Actions speak louder than words | /ˈækʃənz spiːk ˈlaʊdər ðæn wɜrdz/ | What you do is more important than what you say. | Q: He keeps promising to help, but never does. A: Well, actions speak louder than words. |
| Adversity makes strange bedfellows | /ædˈvɜrsɪti meɪks streɪndʒ ˈbɛdˌfɛloʊz/ | Difficult times cause unlikely people to cooperate. | The rivals worked together during the crisis. Adversity makes strange bedfellows. |
| All good things come to him who waits | /ɔːl ɡʊd θɪŋz kʌm tuː hɪm huː weɪts/ | Patience is rewarded with good outcomes. | Q: I've been waiting for a promotion for years. A: All good things come to him who waits. |
| All good things must come to an end | /ɔl gʊd θɪŋz mʌst kʌm tu ən ɛnd/ | Pleasurable experiences cannot last forever. | The vacation was amazing, but all good things must come to an end. |
| All hands on deck/to the pump | /ɔːl hændz ɒn dɛk/tuː ðə pʌmp/ | Everyone must help in an emergency. | Q: The deadline is tomorrow! A: All hands on deck! |
| All is fair in love and war | /ɔːl ɪz fɛr ɪn lʌv ænd wɔːr/ | In love and conflict, any tactic is acceptable. | Q: He lied to win her heart. A: All is fair in love and war. |
| All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds | /ɔːl ɪz fɔːr ðə bɛst ɪn ðə bɛst ʌv ɔːl ˈpɒsəbəl wɜːrldz/ | Everything happens for the best in an ideal world (often ironic). | Q: I lost my job. A: All is for the best in the best of all possible worlds. |
| All is grist that comes to the mill | /ɔːl ɪz ɡrɪst ðæt kʌmz tuː ðə mɪl/ | Everything can be used to your advantage. | Q: Even criticism can be helpful. A: All is grist that comes to the mill. |
| All is well that ends well | /ɔːl ɪz wɛl ðæt ɛndz wɛl/ | If the outcome is good, the problems along the way don't matter. | Q: We had a rough start but finished the project. A: All is well that ends well. |
