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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other times other manners. | Customs and behaviors change over time; what was acceptable before may not be now. | Q: Why don't people dress up for flights anymore? A: Other times other manners. | |
| Out of sight, out of mind | /aʊt ʌv saɪt, aʊt ʌv maɪnd/ | When something is not visible, it is easily forgotten. | He stopped calling after she moved away. Out of sight, out of mind. |
| Out of the frying pan and into the fire | Escaping one bad situation only to end up in a worse one. | She left her stressful job for a more demanding one—out of the frying pan and into the fire. | |
| Out of the mouths of babes (and sucklings) | Young children sometimes say surprisingly wise or truthful things. | Q: Why did you listen to a five-year-old? A: Out of the mouths of babes—she was right. | |
| Parsley seed goes nine times to the Devil | Parsley seeds take a long time to germinate, as if they visit the devil repeatedly. | I planted parsley weeks ago and nothing—parsley seed goes nine times to the devil, I guess. | |
| Patience is a virtue | /ˈpeɪʃəns ɪz ə ˈvɜːrtʃuː/ | Being patient is a good quality to have. | Q: Why are you so calm waiting in line? A: Patience is a virtue, and getting angry won't make it faster. |
| Pearls of wisdom | Valuable pieces of advice or insightful comments. | Grandpa shared some pearls of wisdom about saving money. | |
| Penny wise and pound foolish | Being careful with small amounts of money but wasteful with large amounts. | He drives across town to save a dollar on gas but buys expensive coffee daily—penny wise and pound foolish. | |
| People who live in glass houses should not throw stones | Don't criticize others if you have similar flaws yourself. | Q: He called me messy. A: Look at his desk—people who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. | |
| Physician, heal thyself | Before criticizing others, fix your own problems first. | The coach who smokes tells players not to smoke—physician, heal thyself. | |
| Play stupid games, win stupid prizes | Engaging in foolish or risky behavior leads to negative consequences. | He pranked the boss and got fired—play stupid games, win stupid prizes. | |
| Possession is nine-tenths of the law | Being in physical possession of something gives a strong legal advantage. | Q: Can they take my car? A: You have the keys—possession is nine-tenths of the law. | |
| Power corrupts; absolute power corrupts absolutely | Having power makes people corrupt, and unlimited power makes them completely corrupt. | The dictator started with good intentions but became ruthless—power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. | |
| Practice makes perfect | /ˈpræktɪs meɪks ˈpɜrfɪkt/ | Regular practice leads to improvement and mastery. | She struggled with piano at first, but practice makes perfect. |
| Practice what you preach | Act according to the advice you give others. | Q: My dad tells me to be honest but he lies. A: He should practice what he preaches. | |
| Preaching to the choir | Trying to convince people who already agree with you. | Q: Why is he explaining recycling to environmentalists? A: He's preaching to the choir. | |
| Prevention is better than cure | /prɪˈvenʃən ɪz ˈbɛtər ðæn kjʊr/ | It's better to stop a problem from happening than to fix it after it happens. | Q: Why do you always wear sunscreen? A: Prevention is better than cure, so I avoid sunburn. |
| Pride comes/goes before a fall | Being too proud or arrogant often leads to failure or humiliation. | He bragged about passing the exam without studying, then failed—pride comes before a fall. | |
| Procrastination is the thief of time | Delaying tasks wastes time and causes stress. | I kept putting off the project until the deadline—procrastination is the thief of time. | |
| Put your best foot forward | Make a good first impression by showing your best qualities. | For the interview, dress professionally and put your best foot forward. | |
| Put your money where your mouth is | Back up your words with action or financial commitment. | Q: You say you support the charity. A: Then put your money where your mouth is and donate. | |
| Putting the cart before the horse | Doing things in the wrong order; prioritizing the less important before the essential. | Q: He bought a car before getting a license. A: That's putting the cart before the horse. | |
| Rain does not fall on one roof alone. | Troubles and misfortunes happen to everyone, not just one person. | Q: Why is everyone stressed? A: Rain does not fall on one roof alone; we all have problems. | |
| Reason is the slave of passion | Emotions often override logical thinking. | He knew he shouldn't gamble, but his excitement took over—reason is the slave of passion. | |
| Red sky at night, shepherd's delight; red sky in the morning, shepherd's warning | A red sunset indicates good weather next day; a red sunrise warns of bad weather. | Q: Should I bring an umbrella? A: Red sky this morning—shepherd's warning, so yes. |
