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...

wuming78 SG

Originally posted by laurence82:
For 7th February

[b]Hide Your Light Under A Bushel

A bushel is a type of basket used to hold a measure of grain. This saying (its from the Bible) expresses the idea of a modest or shy person concealing his talents, skills or abilities. "Really, Jaime, I didnt know you were such an artist!" his teacher exclaimed. "You shouldnt hide your light under a bushel. You should paint more pictures."

For our Parka who paints marvelous comics pics[/b]

wow. i like this one! abit like feng mang bu lu like tt.

laurence82 SG

What is feng mang bu lu?

The next few are nice too, and i never heard them uttered by Singaporeans b4.

laurence82 SG

For 8th February

Hitch One's Wagon To A Star

Many years ago travellers used the stars to guide them in the correct direction over land and sea. That led to this expression which means to move forward in a way to improve your chances of achieving success. "I have a goal in life," Teddy said, "and to accomplish it I am going to htich my wagon to a star and spend more time in the library studying my lessons."

wuming78 SG

feng1 mang2 bu4 lu4

it means literally like a sword is sheathed, and hence its brightness and sharpness is not revealed.

laurence82 SG

For 9th February

Home Is Where The Heart Is

No matter where you are, 'home' is where you feel most comfortable and content. It is where you really and truly want to be. "No matter where my steps might lead me, my heart will always ne here with you and my good friends," Albert said. "I know," Officer Mutt said. "Home is where the heart is."

laurence82 SG

For 10th February

If Money Is Not Thy Servant It Will Be Thy Master

This proverb - and you are likely to see a number of variations of it - is a caution: use money wisely and you are its master. Use it badly and you become its slave. No one knows better than the King for he has this to say about it: "Money hasnt made me its servant for I am the humble master of all money I collect from my subjects!"

laurence82 SG

For 11th February

If The mountain Will Not Come to Mohammed, Mohammed Must Go To The Mountain

This saying is so long that its usually shortened in several ways. Its a reminder that if someone wants something its not going to come about by itself: he must do soemthing to attain his goals. "if its success you're after you will have to work for it. Keep in mind that the mountain isnt going to come to Mohammed," Mrs Bell said to her son Alexander.

laurence82 SG

For 12th February

If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride

If we could get all the things we wanted just by making a wish, everyone would have all he ever wanted. That would include beggars, of course, who usually would suddenly become rich. This saying is usually shortened to if wishes were horse. "If wishes were horse I'd live in a big house."

wuming78 SG

Originally posted by laurence82:
For 12th February

[b]If Wishes Were Horses, Beggars Would Ride

If we could get all the things we wanted just by making a wish, everyone would have all he ever wanted. That would include beggars, of course, who usually would suddenly become rich. This saying is usually shortened to if wishes were horse. "If wishes were horse I'd live in a big house."

[/b]

Laughing

laurence82 SG

For Friday the 13th February

If You Cant Lick Them ('em), Join Them ('em)

Today we are going to join some leopards to look at an old saying. The 'em' in it is a contraction of 'them', and its pronounced um. We can define this as saying 'if you cannot defeat an opponent or get him to change his ideas, plans or way of doing things, the best thing is to change your ideas, plans etc'

laurence82 SG

For 14th February Valentine Day

In For A Penny, In For A Pound

The pound here is the British pound sterling. A penny is one hundredth part of one. This old saying tells us that if we decide to do something, we should commit ourselves to it boldly and completely. "I am going to devote myself to earning as much as possible this summer," Teddy said. "After all, in for a penny, out for a pound."

laurence82 SG

For 15th February

A Job Worth Doing Is A Job Worth Doing Well.

Jeffrey has made what may be his last great trip of explorations. Watching someone trying to build a fire by rubbing sticks together he became distressed. "Havent you heard that a job woth doing is a job worth doing well? Here, use my lighter!" This proverb means if you do something you should do it as well as you can.

laurence82 SG

For 16th February

Keep The Wolf From The Door

Wolves, it is said, prey on the weak when searching for food. From that, the 'wolf' in this expression is a metaphor for hunger. To keep the wolf from the door, then, is to avoid hunger and poverty. "I dont like my job,' Rudolph confessed, "but I have to do something to keep the wolf from the door."

laurence82 SG

Keep A Dog And Bark Oneself

People who keep a dog to guard their property would be very unhappy if the dog failed to do his duty. In the same way, a boss who has to do the work his employees should be doing might complain to them by using this expression: "You're never around when I need you! I might as well keep a dog and bark myself!"

skinnybeanie SG

Originally posted by laurence82:
[b]Keep A Dog And Bark Oneself

People who keep a dog to guard their property would be very unhappy if the dog failed to do his duty. In the same way, a boos who has to do teh work his employees should be doing might complain to them by using this expression: "You're never around when I need you! I might as well keep a dog and bark myself!"[/b]

thanks, that's interesting!

p/s: i've got a dog, and well, she do all the barking Razz

laurence82 SG

For 18th February

Kills Two Birds With One Stone

When someone kills two birds with one stone, he gets two things done by performing one action. Two birds in autumn were discussing winter plans. "Why dont we kill two birds with one stone by stopping off to visit Aunt Martha when we fly south this winter?"

laurence82 SG

For 19th February

Know A Hawk From A Handsaw

When Shakespeare was searching for a way to have Hamlet tell people that he wasnt a fool and that he indeed knew what he was talking about, he gave Hamlet these words to say (Hamlet II,2). Here we have Teddy using the same words to say somethin gabout his uncle. "He's the smartest man in the world. If anyone knows a hawk from a handsaw, Uncle Felix does."

laurence82 SG

For 20th February

Laugh And The World Laughs With You

Most people like to laugh. I guess thats why someone once said that laughter is contagious. Therefore, when someone is in a happy,cheerful mood, people like being with him. Thats the meaning behind laugh and the world laughs with you. The complete saying is this: laugh and the world laughs with you, weep and you weep alone.

laurence82 SG

Least Said, Soonest Forgotten

After making a mistake, saying or doing the wrong thing or, perhaps, embarrassing ourselves or others in some way we tend to think and worry about it - and we might apologize for it over and over. Usually least said, soonest forgotten. That is, less we say about it the sooner the incident will be forgotten.

laurence82 SG

double post

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