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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair exchange is no robbery | /fɛr ɪksˈtʃeɪndʒ ɪz noʊ ˈrɑbəri/ | A fair trade is not dishonest. | Q: Is it okay to trade? A: Fair exchange is no robbery. |
| Faith will move mountains | /feɪθ wɪl muv ˈmaʊntənz/ | Strong belief can achieve the impossible. | Q: Can we finish this? A: Faith will move mountains. |
| Fake it till you make it | feɪk ɪt tɪl ju meɪk ɪt | Act confident and capable even if you are not, and eventually you will become so. | Q: I'm nervous about my presentation. A: Just fake it till you make it; soon you'll feel confident. |
| Fall seven times, stand up eight | fɔl ˈsɛvən taɪmz, stænd ʌp eɪt | No matter how many times you fail, you must keep trying and never give up. | After losing his job and his house, he reminded himself: fall seven times, stand up eight. |
| False friends are worse than open enemies | fɔls frɛndz ɑr wɜrs ðæn ˈoʊpən ˈɛnəˌmiz | Betrayal by someone you trust is more harmful than having an obvious enemy. | She learned the hard way that false friends are worse than open enemies when her best friend stole her idea. |
| Familiarity breeds contempt | /fəˌmɪliˈɛrɪti bridz kənˈtɛmpt/ | Knowing someone too well can lead to disrespect. | They were close friends but now argue constantly. Familiarity breeds contempt. |
| Feed a cold, starve a fever | fid ə koʊld, stɑrv ə ˈfivər | Eat when you have a cold, but avoid food when you have a fever. | My grandmother always said, 'Feed a cold, starve a fever,' so she made me soup when I had a cold. |
| Fight fire with fire | faɪt ˈfaɪər wɪð ˈfaɪər | Use the same methods as your opponent to counter them. | When the competitor lowered prices, the company decided to fight fire with fire and cut their own prices. |
| Finders keepers (losers weepers) | ˈfaɪndərz ˈkipərz (ˈluzərz ˈwipərz) | If you find something, you have the right to keep it; the person who lost it must accept the loss. | The child picked up the coin and said, 'Finders keepers!' when his friend asked for it. |
| Fine feathers make fine birds | faɪn ˈfɛðərz meɪk faɪn bɜrdz | Attractive clothing or appearance makes a person look good. | He looked so handsome in his new suit; fine feathers make fine birds. |
| Fine words butter no parsnips | faɪn wɜrdz ˈbʌtər noʊ ˈpɑrsnɪps | Kind words are not enough; actions are needed. | He promised to help, but fine words butter no parsnips; I need actual assistance. |
| First come, first served | fɜrst kʌm, fɜrst sɜrvd | Those who arrive first will be served or get the best choice. | The tickets are limited, so it's first come, first served. |
| First impressions are the most lasting | /fɜrst ɪmˈprɛʃənz ɑr ðə moʊst ˈlæstɪŋ/ | The first time you meet someone shapes your long-term opinion. | He dressed well for the interview. First impressions are the most lasting. |
| First things first | fɜrst θɪŋz fɜrst | Important matters should be dealt with before others. | Let's finish this report first; first things first. |
| Fish always rots from the head downwards (The fish rots from the head down) | fɪʃ ˈɔlˌweɪz rɑts frʌm ðə hɛd ˈdaʊnwərdz (ðə fɪʃ rɑts frʌm ðə hɛd daʊn) | Corruption or problems start at the top of an organization. | The company's scandal began with the CEO; fish always rots from the head downwards. |
| Fish and guests smell after three days | fɪʃ ænd gɛsts smɛl ˈæftər θri deɪz | Visitors overstay their welcome if they stay too long. | I love having friends over, but fish and guests smell after three days. |
| Flattery will get you nowhere | ˈflætəri wɪl gɛt ju ˈnoʊˌwɛr | Insincere praise will not help you achieve your goal. | He tried to compliment the boss, but flattery will get you nowhere. |
| Fools rush in (where angels fear to tread) | fulz rʌʃ ɪn (wɛr ˈeɪndʒəlz fɪr tu trɛd) | Inexperienced or foolish people act boldly in situations where wiser people are cautious. | He invested all his savings in that risky startup; fools rush in where angels fear to tread. |
| For want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the man was lost | fɔr wɑnt ʌv ə neɪl ðə ʃu wʌz lɔst; fɔr wɑnt ʌv ə ʃu ðə hɔrs wʌz lɔst; ænd fɔr wɑnt ʌv ə hɔrs ðə mæn wʌz lɔst | Small neglects can lead to major disasters. | He forgot to tighten one bolt, and the whole machine broke; for want of a nail the shoe was lost. |
| Forewarned is forearmed | fɔrˈwɔrnd ɪz fɔrˈɑrmd | Advance warning gives you time to prepare. | I told him about the difficult exam; forewarned is forearmed. |
| Fortune favours the bold/brave | ˈfɔrtʃən ˈfeɪvərz ðə boʊld/breɪv | Taking risks often leads to success. | She quit her job to start a business, and fortune favours the bold—it succeeded. |
| Free is for me | fri ɪz fɔr mi | People like getting things for free. | When the store offered free samples, she grabbed one, saying 'Free is for me.' |
| From its fruit the tree is known | frʌm ɪts frut ðə tri ɪz noʊn | A person's character is judged by their actions. | He always helps others; from its fruit the tree is known. |
| From the sublime to the ridiculous there is but a step | frʌm ðə səˈblaɪm tu ðə rɪˈdɪkjələs ðɛr ɪz bʌt ə stɛp | Something very noble can quickly become absurd. | The ceremony was grand, but then the speaker tripped; from the sublime to the ridiculous there is but a step. |
| Genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains | ˈdʒinjəs ɪz æn ˈɪnfɪnət kəˈpæsəti fɔr ˈteɪkɪŋ peɪnz | True genius comes from hard work and attention to detail. | She practiced for hours every day; genius is an infinite capacity for taking pains. |
