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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ask a silly question and you will get a silly answer | /æsk ə ˈsɪli ˈkwɛstʃən ænd ju wɪl ɡɛt ə ˈsɪli ˈænsər/ | If you ask a foolish question, don't expect a serious reply. | Q: Why is the sky green? A: Ask a silly question and you will get a silly answer. |
| Ask my companion if I be a thief | /æsk maɪ kəmˈpænjən ɪf aɪ bi ə θif/ | A person's character is known by the company they keep. | He hangs out with known criminals—ask my companion if I be a thief. |
| Ask no questions and hear no lies | /æsk noʊ ˈkwɛstʃənz ænd hɪr noʊ laɪz/ | If you don't ask, you won't be told something untrue (or unpleasant). | I didn't ask where he was last night. Ask no questions and hear no lies. |
| At the end of my rope | /æt ði ɛnd əv maɪ roʊp/ | Having no more patience or ability to cope. | I've been dealing with this noise all day—I'm at the end of my rope. |
| Attack is the best form of defense | /əˈtæk ɪz ðə bɛst fɔrm əv dɪˈfɛns/ | Taking aggressive action can be the most effective way to protect yourself. | In the debate, she went on the offensive. Attack is the best form of defense. |
| Bad money drives out good | /bæd ˈmʌni draɪvz aʊt ɡʊd/ | Inferior currency circulates while good currency is hoarded (Gresham's Law). | When counterfeit coins appear, people hoard real ones—bad money drives out good. |
| Bad news travels fast | /bæd nuz ˈtrævəlz fæst/ | Unpleasant information spreads quickly. | Everyone already knows I got fired. Bad news travels fast. |
| Barking dogs seldom bite | /ˈbɑrkɪŋ dɔɡz ˈsɛldəm baɪt/ | People who make threats rarely carry them out. | He yells a lot but never fights. Barking dogs seldom bite. |
| Be yourself | /bi jɔrˈsɛlf/ | Act naturally; don't pretend to be someone else. | Don't try to impress them—just be yourself. |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder | /ˈbjuti ɪz ɪn ði aɪ ʌv ðə bɪˈhoʊldər/ | Beauty is subjective. | She thinks the painting is ugly, but I love it. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. |
| Beauty is only skin deep | /ˈbjuti ɪz ˈoʊnli skɪn dip/ | Physical appearance is not a measure of a person's true worth. | She may be gorgeous, but beauty is only skin deep. |
| Before setting out on a mission of vengeance, dig two graves | /bɪˈfɔr ˈsɛtɪŋ aʊt ɑn ə ˈmɪʃən əv ˈvɛndʒəns, dɪɡ tu ɡreɪvz/ | Revenge often harms the avenger as much as the target. | Think twice before you retaliate—before setting out on a mission of vengeance, dig two graves. |
| Beggars cannot be choosers | /ˈbɛɡərz ˈkænɑt bi ˈtʃuzərz/ | When you are in need, you must accept whatever is offered. | I didn't like the job, but I needed money. Beggars cannot be choosers. |
| Behind every great man, there is a great woman | /bɪˈhaɪnd ˈɛvəri ɡreɪt mæn, ðɛr ɪz ə ɡreɪt ˈwʊmən/ | Successful men often have the support of a capable woman. | His wife managed the household and encouraged his career. Behind every great man, there is a great woman. |
| Better late than never | /ˈbɛtər leɪt ðæn ˈnɛvər/ | It's better to do something late than not do it at all. | He finally apologized after a year. Better late than never. |
| Better safe than sorry | /ˈbɛtər seɪf ðæn ˈsɔri/ | It's better to take precautions than to regret not doing so. | I'll bring an umbrella even if it's sunny. Better safe than sorry. |
| Better the Devil you know (than the Devil you do not) | /ˈbɛtər ðə ˈdɛvəl ju noʊ ðæn ðə ˈdɛvəl ju du nɑt/ | It is safer to deal with a known problem than a new, unknown one. | I stayed with my old car rather than buying a used one. Better the devil you know. |
| Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all | /ˈbɛtər tu hæv lʌvd ænd lɔst ðæn ˈnɛvər tu hæv lʌvd æt ɔl/ | Experiencing love, even if it ends, is better than never loving. | After the breakup, she said, 'Better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.' |
| Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness | /ˈbɛtər tu laɪt wʌn ˈkændəl ðæn tu kɜrs ðə ˈdɑrknəs/ | It is more productive to take positive action than to complain. | Instead of complaining about the problem, he started a fundraiser. Better to light one candle than to curse the darkness. |
| Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven (John Milton, in Paradise Lost) | /ˈbɛtər tu reɪn ɪn hɛl ðæn sɜrv ɪn ˈhɛvən/ | It is preferable to be a leader in a bad situation than a follower in a good one. | He quit his corporate job to start his own business. Better to reign in hell than serve in heaven. |
| Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt | /ˈbɛtər tu rɪˈmeɪn ˈsaɪlənt ænd bi θɔt ə ful ðæn tu spik ænd rɪˈmuv ɔl daʊt/ | It's wiser to say nothing than to say something foolish. | He almost made a rude comment, but remembered: better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. |
| Better wear out than rust out | /ˈbɛtər wɛr aʊt ðæn rʌst aʊt/ | It is better to stay active and wear out than to become inactive and decay. | At 80, she still volunteers daily. Better wear out than rust out. |
| Beware of Greeks bearing gifts (Trojan War, Virgil in the _Aeneid_) | /bɪˈwɛr əv ɡriks ˈbɛrɪŋ ɡɪfts/ | Be suspicious of gifts or favors from enemies. | When a rival company offered free consulting, he remembered: beware of Greeks bearing gifts. |
| Big fish eat little fish | /bɪɡ fɪʃ it ˈlɪtəl fɪʃ/ | The powerful prey on the weak. | In the corporate world, big fish eat little fish. |
| Birds of a feather (flock together) | /bɜrdz əv ə ˈfɛðər flɑk təˈɡɛðər/ | People with similar interests or characteristics tend to associate. | All the artists sit together at lunch. Birds of a feather flock together. |
