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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| All roads lead to Rome | /ɔl roʊdz lid tu roʊm/ | Many different methods can achieve the same goal. | You can learn coding through many courses. All roads lead to Rome. |
| All that glitters/glistens is not gold | /ɔːl ðæt ˈɡlɪtərz/ˈɡlɪsənz ɪz nɒt ɡoʊld/ | Appearances can be deceiving; not everything valuable looks valuable. | Q: That ring looks expensive. A: All that glitters is not gold. |
| All the world loves a lover | /ɔːl ðə wɜːrld lʌvz ə ˈlʌvər/ | People are generally happy for those in love. | Q: Everyone is smiling at the couple. A: All the world loves a lover. |
| All things come to those who wait | /ɔːl θɪŋz kʌm tuː ðoʊz huː weɪt/ | Patience leads to achieving what you want. | Q: I hope I get a job soon. A: All things come to those who wait. |
| All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare (Spinoza) | /ɔːl θɪŋz ˈɛksələnt ɑːr æz ˈdɪfɪkəlt æz ðeɪ ɑːr rɛr/ | Excellent things are both hard to achieve and uncommon. | Q: This masterpiece took years to create. A: All things excellent are as difficult as they are rare. |
| All things must pass | /ɔːl θɪŋz mʌst pæs/ | Nothing lasts forever; difficult times will end. | Q: I'm sad this vacation is over. A: All things must pass. |
| All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy | /ɔl wɜrk ænd noʊ pleɪ meɪks dʒæk ə dʌl bɔɪ/ | Working without rest makes a person boring and unhappy. | You've been studying all weekend. Remember, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. |
| All you need is love | /ɔːl juː niːd ɪz lʌv/ | Love is the most important thing in life. | Q: What's the secret to happiness? A: All you need is love. |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away | /æn ˈæpəl ə deɪ kiːps ðə ˈdɑktər əˈweɪ/ | Eating healthily can prevent illness. | I eat fruit every morning. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. |
| An army marches on its stomach | /æn ˈɑːrmi ˈmɑːrtʃɪz ɒn ɪts ˈstʌmək/ | A group needs proper food and supplies to function. | Q: Why is the chef so important? A: An army marches on its stomach. |
| An Englishman's home is his castle/A man's home is his castle | /æn ˈɪŋɡlɪʃmənz hoʊm ɪz hɪz ˈkæsəl/ | A person's home is their private sanctuary. | Q: Why won't he let us in? A: An Englishman's home is his castle. |
| An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind (Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948), leader of the Indian independence movement) | |||
| An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth | /æn aɪ fɔːr æn aɪ, ə tuːθ fɔːr ə tuːθ/ | Revenge should be proportional to the harm done. | Q: He broke my phone, so I broke his. A: An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. |
| An honest man doesn't need to remember much | /æn ˈɒnɪst mæn ˈdʌzənt niːd tuː rɪˈmɛmbər mʌtʃ/ | Honest people don't have to keep track of lies. | Q: Why is he so relaxed? A: An honest man doesn't need to remember much. |
| An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure | /æn aʊns ʌv prɪˈvɛnʃən ɪz wɜːrθ ə paʊnd ʌv kjʊr/ | Preventing a problem is easier than fixing it later. | Q: Why do you exercise daily? A: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. |
| Another day, another dollar | /əˈnʌðər deɪ, əˈnʌðər ˈdɑːlər/ | Each day brings more work and more pay; routine. | Q: How was work? A: Another day, another dollar. |
| Any port in a storm | /ˈɛni pɔːrt ɪn ə stɔːrm/ | In a crisis, any solution is acceptable. | Q: I'll take any job right now. A: Any port in a storm. |
| Any publicity is good publicity | /ˈɛni pʌbˈlɪsɪti ɪz ɡʊd pʌbˈlɪsɪti/ | Even negative attention can be beneficial. | Q: The article was critical of us. A: Any publicity is good publicity. |
| Anything worth doing is hard | /ˈɛniθɪŋ wɜːrθ ˈduːɪŋ ɪz hɑːrd/ | Valuable achievements require effort. | Q: This training is tough. A: Anything worth doing is hard. |
| April showers bring forth May flowers | /ˈeɪprəl ˈʃaʊərz brɪŋ fɔːrθ meɪ ˈflaʊərz/ | Difficult times can lead to good outcomes. | Q: I'm struggling now. A: April showers bring forth May flowers. |
| As a tree bends, so shall it grow | /æz ə triː bɛndz, soʊ ʃæl ɪt ɡroʊ/ | Early influences shape a person's development. | Q: He's stubborn because of his upbringing. A: As a tree bends, so shall it grow. |
| As queer as a three dollar bill | /əz kwɪr æz ə θri ˈdɑlər bɪl/ | Very strange or suspicious; obviously fake or counterfeit. | That guy's story is as queer as a three dollar bill—I don't believe a word. |
| As the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined | /əz ðə twɪɡ ɪz bɛnt, soʊ ɪz ðə tri ɪnˈklaɪnd/ | Early influences shape a person's character for life. | Children learn from their parents; as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined. |
| As you make your bed, so you must lie upon it | /əz ju meɪk jɔr bɛd, soʊ ju mʌst laɪ əˈpɑn ɪt/ | You must accept the consequences of your own actions. | He skipped all his classes and failed the exam. As you make your bed, so you must lie upon it. |
| As you sow so shall you reap | /æz ju soʊ soʊ ʃæl ju rip/ | Your actions determine your consequences. | He worked hard and succeeded. As you sow so shall you reap. |
