English Proverbs for discussion

last SG · 2004-01-03T14:43:52+00:00

Someone's Bark Is Worse Than His Bite You know the situation: you are walking down a street and a dog runs towards you and begins to bark. You are frightene...

laurence82 SG

A Bird In The Hand Is Worth Two In The Bush

"Some people aren't content with what they have," Maltida sighed. "They don't seem to realise that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." Maltida is using a proverb that tells us that we should be satisfied with what we have - and that we should not risk losing what we already possess searching for we imagine will be better.

laurence82 SG

double post

laurence82 SG

...........lalalalalla..................lalalalalla Mr. Green

gasband SG

some quotes I came up with after 27 years of 'wisdom' haha

"Sometimes, loneliness makes good company."

"Life is full of shIt. But mine seems to have more."

"We try so hard to find our purpose in life only to find ourselves irrelevant to the only certainty in life: death."

laurence82 SG

Here the proverb backdated for 10th February.

The Blind Leading The Blind

I know absolutely nothing about physics. If you asked me to help you with your physics lessons it would be a perfect example of the blind leading the blind. This expression is used to describe any situation in which a person helping or advising someone knows as little about the subject as the person who is being advised.

laurence82 SG

The Buck Stops Here/With Someone

"Stop!" Podunk shouted. "I'm the boss. I'll make the decisions in this offcie. The buck stops here." The expression Podunk is using means a final decisionn or total responsibility for an action rests with the speaker. In this case the buck stops with Podunk.

laurence82 SG

Burn The Candle At Both Ends

Those who are always busy and seem to get little rest are said to burn the candle at both ends. "Like me," Lily complained. That's true, during examination time Lily can be seen attending classes during the day and studying until the wee hours of the night. "I'll be happy when I graduate. I'll sleep all day and never have to burn the candle at both ends again," Lily daydreamed.

s|nNeD SG

Originally posted by laurence82:
[b]A Bed Of Roses

"Life," Chadwick grinned, "is a bed of roses." Then he frowned. "The only time it's not is when I am called upon to chase mice. Not many people know this but I can't really stand the things!" Chadwick yawned and went back to sleep. A bed of roses describes a life or a situation that is agreeable and gives comfort, peace and pleasure.[/b]

why would a bed of roses be comfortable when there are thorns?
Rolling Eyes

laurence82 SG

Donch know, English people are quite deep in their language as you can see from other posts. They probably mean other good quality about roses that appeals to people, like vibrant colour, wonderful fragrance...... Wink

laurence82 SG

Buy A Pig In A Poke

Those who buy something without examining it for faults or check to see if they are really getting what they believe they have purchased buy a pig in a poke. "What in the world is a poke?" Elmer asked. A poke is an old, old word for a sack or cloth bag. "So if I bought Ed's old car without having a mechanic look at it I'd be buying a pig in a poke?" That's right, Elmer.

laurence82 SG

Catch/Clutch/Grasp At Straws

A drowning man will reach for anything to save himself, including pieces of straw. That's the idea behind this expression which means to resort to any means to save yourself when in serious trouble. "The neighbourhood kids must be desperate," Abe said. "How else can I explain the way they're clutching at straws to find ways to enjoy themselves?"

laurence82 SG

Catch As Catch Can

"Ozzie can neither kick nor run so there was no logical reasons for putting him on our team," the coach said. "But we needed a goalkeeper and Ozzie was the only man available. Giving him the position was more or less a case of catch-as-catch-can." I hope that doesn'toffend Ozzie because catch-as-catch-can means to do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or reach a goal.

wuming78 SG

wonder when u will ever reach z Laughing

laurence82 SG

For 16th January

Children Should Be Seen And Not Be Heard

Much to the remorse of the children, this saying means exactly what the words say. Adults use it to suggest - a better word is command - a child to stop asking questions, talking, or making unneccessary noise. "You children must stop arguing so much. Dont you know children should be seen and not be heard?" "Isnt 'unneccessary noise' a value judgement?" Fiona whispered.

laurence82 SG

For 17th January

Christmas Comes But Once Each Year

"Our ship's gone and we're stranded in the middle of the sea, but Christmas comes but once each year and I intend to celebrate!" Tim said. I wish Tim well - even though this saying is normally used to provide people with an excuse to indulge on food and drink and spend money during the Christmas season.

wuming78 SG

busy clearing backlog? Wink

laurence82 SG

Yar lor, so busy with assignments these days and holidays (yeah!!)........ Mr. Green

laurence82 SG

For 18th January

Cry Over Spilt Milk

Natalie is a little girl with a big problem. The cow she was milking has overturned the milk pail. "I am close to tears," Natalie cried. The cow is more relaxed about it. "A loss is a losse, but there's no point in crying over spilt milk" The cow's right - and this saying means it's pointless to get upset or feel regret about a loss or mistake that can't be undone.

laurence82 SG

For 19th January

Curiousity Killed The Cat

Cats are said to have nine lives. It's also said that having too much curiousity kills them. That has given us this proverb which we use to warn people not to show too much interest in affairs that didnt concern them. "You attend to your affairs and I'll attend to mine. Remember that curiousity killed the cat."

laurence82 SG

For 20th January

Cut Off Your Nose To Spite Your Face

When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing foolish things that proves harmful to themselves. When someone does, he is said to cut off his nose to spite his face. "If you quit your job before you find another, you might be cutting off your nose to spite your face," Tom cautioned his brother.

« Previous Page Next Page »