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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speak of the devil and he shall/is sure/will appear | When you talk about someone, they often show up unexpectedly. | Q: Where's John? A: Speak of the devil—here he comes. | |
| Speak softly and carry a big stick | Be diplomatic but have strong power or resources as a backup. | The negotiator spoke calmly but hinted at sanctions—speak softly and carry a big stick. | |
| Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me | Physical attacks can hurt, but insults should not affect you emotionally. | Q: He called you names. A: Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me. | |
| Still waters run deep | /stɪl ˈwɔːtərz rʌn diːp/ | Quiet people often have deep thoughts or strong feelings. | Q: Sarah never says much in class. A: Still waters run deep; she might be very thoughtful. |
| Strike while the iron is hot | /straɪk waɪl ði ˈaɪərn ɪz hɒt/ | Take advantage of a good opportunity immediately. | Q: Should I ask for a raise now? A: Yes, strike while the iron is hot—the boss is in a good mood. |
| Stupid is as stupid does | A person is judged by their actions, not their appearance or words. | Q: He looks smart. A: Stupid is as stupid does—he just lost his keys again. | |
| Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan | Many people claim credit for success, but no one wants to take responsibility for failure. | After the project succeeded, everyone took credit—success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. | |
| Sucks to suck | A blunt expression of sympathy or mockery for someone's misfortune due to their own fault. | Q: I failed because I didn't study. A: Sucks to suck. | |
| Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves | /teɪk kɛr əv ðə ˈpɛniz, ænd ðə paʊndz wɪl teɪk kɛr əv ðəmˈsɛlvz/ | If you look after small amounts of money, the larger amounts will accumulate naturally. | Q: Why do you always save your spare change? A: Take care of the pennies, and the pounds will take care of themselves. |
| Talk is cheap | /tɔk ɪz tʃip/ | It's easy to say you'll do something, but actions are more important than words. | He keeps promising to help, but talk is cheap—I'll believe it when I see it. |
| Talk of Angels, and hear the flutter of their wings | /tɔk əv ˈeɪndʒəlz, ænd hɪr ðə ˈflʌtər əv ðɛr wɪŋz/ | When you speak of someone, they often appear soon after. | Q: I was just talking about you! A: Talk of Angels, and hear the flutter of their wings. |
| Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are | /tɛl mi hu jɔr frɛndz ɑr, ænd aɪl tɛl mi hu ju ɑr/ | A person's character can be judged by the company they keep. | Q: Why do you care about his friends? A: Tell me who your friends are, and I'll tell you who you are. |
| Tell the truth and shame the Devil (Shakespeare, _Henry IV_) | /tɛl ðə truθ ænd ʃeɪm ðə ˈdɛvəl/ | Speaking honestly will defeat evil or embarrassment. | When caught in a lie, he decided to tell the truth and shame the Devil. |
| The age of miracles is past | /ði eɪdʒ əv ˈmɪrəkəlz ɪz pæst/ | Extraordinary events no longer happen; we must rely on ordinary means. | Q: Do you think he'll recover? A: The age of miracles is past, so we must accept reality. |
| The apple does not fall/never falls far from the tree | /ði ˈæpəl dʌz nɑt fɔl/ˈnɛvər fɔlz fɑr frəm ðə tri/ | Children often resemble their parents in character or behavior. | She's a talented musician, just like her mother—the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. |
| The best condiments are authentic flavors | /ðə bɛst ˈkɑndəmənts ɑr ɔˈθɛntɪk ˈfleɪvərz/ | Natural, genuine tastes are superior to artificial ones. | Q: Why don't you use sauce? A: The best condiments are authentic flavors. |
| The best defense is a good offense | /ðə bɛst dɪˈfɛns ɪz ə gʊd əˈfɛns/ | Attacking or being proactive is more effective than merely defending. | In negotiations, he argued aggressively—the best defense is a good offense. |
| The best things in life are free | /ðə bɛst θɪŋz ɪn laɪf ɑr fri/ | The most valuable experiences, like love and friendship, don't cost money. | Q: Why do you enjoy hiking so much? A: The best things in life are free. |
| The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry | /ðə bɛst-leɪd plænz əv maɪs ænd mɛn ˈɔfən goʊ əˈraɪ/ | Even careful plans can fail due to unforeseen circumstances. | We prepared everything, but the weather ruined our picnic—the best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry. |
| The bigger they are, the harder they fall | /ðə ˈbɪgər ðeɪ ɑr, ðə ˈhɑrdər ðeɪ fɔl/ | Powerful or successful people suffer more when they fail. | The scandal brought down the CEO—the bigger they are, the harder they fall. |
| The boy is the father of the man | /ðə bɔɪ ɪz ðə ˈfɑðər əv ðə mæn/ | Childhood experiences shape the adult you become. | His early love of reading made him a writer—the boy is the father of the man. |
| The bread never falls but on its buttered side | /ðə brɛd ˈnɛvər fɔlz bʌt ɑn ɪts ˈbʌtərd saɪd/ | Misfortune always seems to strike in the worst possible way. | I dropped my sandwich and it landed butter-side down—the bread never falls but on its buttered side. |
| The cobbler always wears the worst shoes | /ðə ˈkɑblər ˈɔlweɪz wɛrz ðə wɜrst ʃuz/ | Professionals often neglect their own needs while serving others. | My mechanic's car is always broken—the cobbler always wears the worst shoes. |
| The comeback is greater than the setback | /ðə ˈkʌmbæk ɪz ˈgreɪtər ðən ðə ˈsɛtbæk/ | Recovering from failure is more impressive than never failing. | After losing his job, he started a successful business—the comeback is greater than the setback. |
| The course of true love never did run smooth | /ðə kɔrs əv tru lʌv ˈnɛvər dɪd rʌn smuð/ | Romantic relationships always face difficulties. | They argued often, but the course of true love never did run smooth. |
