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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown | /ʌnˈizi laɪz ðə hɛd ðæt wɛrz ə kraʊn/ | Leaders have heavy responsibilities and worries. | The president admitted, 'Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.' |
| United we bargain; divided we beg | /juˈnaɪtɪd wi ˈbɑrɡɪn; dɪˈvaɪdɪd wi bɛɡ/ | Collective action gives power; disunity leads to weakness. | The workers formed a union because united we bargain; divided we beg. |
| United we stand, divided we fall | /juˈnaɪtɪd wi stænd, dɪˈvaɪdɪd wi fɔl/ | Together we are strong; apart we are vulnerable. | The union's motto: 'United we stand, divided we fall.' |
| Unity is strength | /ˈjunɪti ɪz strɛŋkθ/ | Being together makes you stronger. | The team won because unity is strength. |
| Until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter (African Proverb) | /ənˈtɪl ðə ˈlaɪənz hæv ðɛr hɪˈstɔriənz, teɪlz əv ðə hʌnt ʃæl ˈɔlweɪz ˈɡlɔrɪfaɪ ðə ˈhʌntər/ | History is written by the victors; the losers' perspective is ignored. | The colonial records only tell one side—until the lions have their historians, tales of the hunt shall always glorify the hunter. |
| Up a creek without a paddle | /ʌp ə krik wɪˈðaʊt ə ˈpædəl/ | In a difficult situation with no way out. | He lost his wallet and phone—he was up a creek without a paddle. |
| Use it or lose it | /juz ɪt ɔr luz ɪt/ | If you don't practice a skill, you'll lose it. | He stopped playing piano for years and forgot how—use it or lose it. |
| Variety is the spice of life. William Cowper, English poet | /vəˈraɪəti ɪz ðə spaɪs əv laɪf/ | New experiences make life interesting. | She tried different cuisines every week—variety is the spice of life. |
| Virtue is its own reward | /ˈvɜrtʃu ɪz ɪts oʊn rɪˈwɔrd/ | Doing good is satisfying in itself, without external reward. | He helped the old lady without expecting thanks—virtue is its own reward. |
| Walls have ears | /wɔlz hæv ɪrz/ | Be careful what you say; someone might be listening secretly. | They whispered in the corner, but walls have ears—the boss heard everything. |
| Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs | /ˈwɔːlnʌts ænd pɛrz juː plænt fɔːr jɔːr ɛrz/ | Plant trees that take a long time to grow so that your children or grandchildren will benefit. | My grandfather planted these walnut trees decades ago. Walnuts and pears you plant for your heirs. |
| Waste not, want not | /weɪst nɒt, wɒnt nɒt/ | If you don't waste things, you won't be in need. | Q: Why do you save leftovers? A: Waste not, want not—they'll be useful later. |
| Well begun is half done | /wɛl bɪˈɡʌn ɪz hæf dʌn/ | Starting a task well makes it easier to finish. | Q: I've planned my project thoroughly. A: Well begun is half done; you're on the right track. |
| Well done is better than well said | /wɛl dʌn ɪz ˈbɛtər ðæn wɛl sɛd/ | Actions speak louder than words; it's better to accomplish something than to just talk about it. | Instead of promising to help, he just showed up and did the work. Well done is better than well said. |
| What cannot be cured must be endured | /wʌt ˈkænɒt biː kjʊrd mʌst biː ɪnˈdjʊrd/ | If a problem cannot be fixed, you have to accept it and bear it patiently. | The traffic is terrible, but there's no alternative route. What cannot be cured must be endured. |
| What does not kill me makes me stronger | /wʌt dʌz nɒt kɪl miː meɪks miː ˈstrɒŋər/ | Difficult experiences build character and resilience. | After losing his job, he started his own business. What does not kill me makes me stronger. |
| What goes around, comes around | /wʌt ɡoʊz əˈraʊnd, kʌmz əˈraʊnd/ | The consequences of your actions will eventually come back to you, whether good or bad. | He cheated on his taxes and now he's being audited. What goes around, comes around. |
| What goes up must come down | /wʌt ɡoʊz ʌp mʌst kʌm daʊn/ | Everything that rises will eventually fall, often used for stock markets or success. | The stock market has been booming, but remember, what goes up must come down. |
| What is learnt in the cradle lasts to the tombs | /wʌt ɪz lɜːrnt ɪn ðə ˈkreɪdəl læsts tuː ðə tuːmz/ | Lessons learned early in life stay with you forever. | My grandmother taught me to be kind. What is learnt in the cradle lasts to the tombs. |
| What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander | /wʌt ɪz sɔːs fɔːr ðə ɡuːs ɪz sɔːs fɔːr ðə ˈɡændər/ | What is acceptable for one person should be acceptable for another; equal treatment. | If he can take a day off, then I should be able to too. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. |
| What is the worst that can happen? | /wʌt ɪz ðə wɜːrst ðæt kæn ˈhæpən/ | A rhetorical question to encourage taking a risk by considering the worst possible outcome. | I'm nervous about asking for a raise. But what is the worst that can happen? They say no. |
| What the eye does not see (the heart does not grieve over) | /wʌt ði aɪ dʌz nɒt siː ðə hɑːrt dʌz nɒt ɡriːv ˈoʊvər/ | If you are unaware of a problem, you won't be upset by it. | He didn't know his son was skipping school. What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over. |
| What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over | /wʌt ði aɪ dʌz nɒt siː, ðə hɑːrt dʌz nɒt ɡriːv ˈoʊvər/ | If you are unaware of a problem, you won't be upset by it. | He didn't know his son was skipping school. What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over. |
| What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts | /wʌt juː luːz ɒn ðə swɪŋz juː ɡeɪn ɒn ðə ˈraʊndəbaʊts/ | Losses in one area are balanced by gains in another; overall, things even out. | I lost money on that investment, but my other stocks did well. What you lose on the swings you gain on the roundabouts. |
| Whatever floats your boat | /wʌtˈɛvər floʊts jɔːr boʊt/ | Do whatever makes you happy or works for you; an expression of tolerance. | You want to paint your room purple? Whatever floats your boat. |
