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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| There is honour among thieves | /ðɛr ɪz ˈɑnər əˈmʌŋ θivz/ | Even criminals have a code of conduct and loyalty to each other. | The gang members refused to testify against each other, proving there is honour among thieves. |
| There is many a good tune played on an old fiddle | /ðɛr ɪz ˈmɛni ə gʊd tun pleɪd ɑn ən oʊld ˈfɪdəl/ | Older people can still perform well or be valuable. | At 70, she won the piano competition—there is many a good tune played on an old fiddle. |
| There is no accounting for tastes | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ əˈkaʊntɪŋ fɔr teɪsts/ | People's preferences are subjective and cannot be explained or judged. | Q: 'Why would anyone like that movie?' A: 'There is no accounting for tastes.' |
| There is no fool like an old fool | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ ful laɪk ən oʊld ful/ | An older person acting foolishly is worse because they should know better. | He invested his retirement savings in a scam—there is no fool like an old fool. |
| There is no I in team | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ aɪ ɪn tim/ | Teamwork requires putting the group's success ahead of individual glory. | The coach told the star player, 'Remember, there is no I in team—pass the ball more.' |
| There is no place like home | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ pleɪs laɪk hoʊm/ | Home is the most comfortable and best place to be. | After a long trip, she sighed, 'There is no place like home.' |
| There is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out. | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ ʃeɪm ɪn nɑt ˈnoʊɪŋ; ðə ʃeɪm laɪz ɪn nɑt ˈfaɪndɪŋ aʊt/ | It's okay to be ignorant, but it's wrong to stay ignorant when you could learn. | The teacher said, 'Don't be afraid to ask questions—there is no shame in not knowing; the shame lies in not finding out.' |
| There is no smoke without fire/Where there is smoke, there is fire | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ smoʊk wɪˈðaʊt faɪər/ | Rumors usually have some basis in truth. | When the scandal broke, people said, 'There is no smoke without fire.' |
| There is no such thing as a free lunch | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ sʌtʃ θɪŋ æz ə fri lʌntʃ/ | Nothing is truly free; everything has a hidden cost. | The offer seemed too good to be true, and indeed there is no such thing as a free lunch—they charged hidden fees. |
| There is no such thing as bad publicity | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ sʌtʃ θɪŋ æz bæd pʌbˈlɪsɪti/ | Any media attention, even negative, can increase fame or sales. | The celebrity's arrest actually boosted album sales—there is no such thing as bad publicity. |
| There is no time like the present | /ðɛr ɪz noʊ taɪm laɪk ðə ˈprɛzənt/ | Now is the best time to do something; don't delay. | Q: 'When should I start learning guitar?' A: 'There is no time like the present—start today!' |
| There is one born every minute | /ðɛr ɪz wʌn bɔrn ˈɛvəri ˈmɪnɪt/ | There are many gullible people ready to be deceived. | The scammer knew there is one born every minute, so he kept selling fake watches. |
| There is safety in numbers (Proverbs 11:14) | /ðɛr ɪz ˈseɪfti ɪn ˈnʌmbərz/ | Being in a group reduces risk. | They decided to walk home together because there is safety in numbers. |
| There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip | /ðɛrz ˈmɛni ə slɪp twɪkst ðə kʌp ənd ðə lɪp/ | Even when success seems certain, something can still go wrong at the last moment. | He was sure he'd get the job, but there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip—they hired someone else. |
| There's more than one way to skin a cat | /ðɛrz mɔːr ðæn wʌn weɪ tuː skɪn ə kæt/ | There are many ways to achieve a goal. | Q: I can't figure out this puzzle. A: There's more than one way to skin a cat; try a different approach. |
| There's no need to wear a hair shirt | /ðɛrz noʊ nid tu wɛr ə hɛr ʃɜrt/ | You don't have to punish yourself or feel guilty unnecessarily. | You made a small mistake, but there's no need to wear a hair shirt—just apologize and move on. |
| There's nowt so queer as folk | /ðɛrz naʊt soʊ kwɪr æz foʊk/ | People are strange and unpredictable. | He collects garden gnomes—well, there's nowt so queer as folk. |
| They that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind | /ðeɪ ðæt soʊ ðə wɪnd ʃæl rip ðə ˈwɜrlwɪnd/ | Small harmful actions can lead to severe consequences. | The company's unethical practices eventually caused its collapse—they that sow the wind shall reap the whirlwind. |
| Third time is a charm | /θɜrd taɪm ɪz ə tʃɑrm/ | The third attempt is likely to succeed after two failures. | He failed the driving test twice, but the third time is a charm—he passed. |
| Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it – George Santayana | /ðoʊz hu du nɑt lɜrn frəm ˈhɪstəri ɑr dumd tu rɪˈpit ɪt/ | Ignoring past mistakes leads to making them again. | The politician ignored the lessons of the past, and those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it. |
| Those who know many languages live as many lives as the languages they know (Czech proverb) | /ðoʊz hu noʊ ˈmɛni ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒɪz lɪv æz ˈmɛni laɪvz æz ðə ˈlæŋɡwɪdʒɪz ðeɪ noʊ/ | Learning a language gives you access to a new culture and perspective. | After learning Japanese, she felt she had a new identity—those who know many languages live as many lives as the languages they know. |
| Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones | /ðoʊz hu lɪv ɪn glæs ˈhaʊzɪz ʃʊd nɑt θroʊ stoʊnz/ | Don't criticize others if you have similar flaws. | He mocked her for being late, but he's always late himself—those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. |
| Those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas (James Sandford, _The Garden of Pleasure_) | /ðoʊz hu slip wɪð dɔɡz wɪl raɪz wɪð fliz/ | Associating with bad people will bring you trouble. | He started hanging out with criminals and soon got arrested—those who sleep with dogs will rise with fleas. |
| Time and tide wait for no man | /taɪm ənd taɪd weɪt fɔr noʊ mæn/ | Time passes without waiting for anyone; don't delay. | He kept postponing his trip, but time and tide wait for no man—he never went. |
| Time flies | /taɪm flaɪz/ | Time passes quickly, especially when you're enjoying yourself. | Q: 'Is it already midnight?' A: 'Yes, time flies when you're having fun.' |
