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

For 23rd February

LIfe Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries

This is the title of a song that was popular in US in the 1930s. The song spoke of life being full of happiness and pleasure though tehre was a certain amoutn of sarcasm in it. Today the expression mightb e used hopefully or mockingly. "I just got promoted! Life is just a bow of cherries!" "I fell terrible, but I keep telling myself life is just a bow of cherries."

laurence82 SG

For 24th February

Like A Bull In A China Shop

You can imagine what happen if a bull walked into a china shop. It would lead to a mess, and thats why we say a clumsy or tactless person is like a bull in a china shop. "Jim has no patience or diplomacy. He's like a bull in a china shop at business meetings."

laurence82 SG

For 25th February

Lock The Stable Door After The Horse HAs Bolted

Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, its too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening. Thats the idea behind this proverb. Therefore, we should take care to prevent trouble before - not after - it happens. "Thats why I am locking up," Mortimer said. "The horse is gone but I dont want people stealing my hay!"

laurence82 SG

For 26th February

The Longest Day Must Have An End

Some days seems partcularly long and endless, especially when we're unhappy.Every day does end, though, even those that are painful or difficult. By extension, all difficult jobs or situations also have an end. "This has been an awful day," Felix mumbled, " but even the longest day must have an end, thank goodness!"

laurence82 SG

Look Before One Leaps

"I never make mistakes. I always look before I leap," Henry declared. His wife wasnt so sure. "How about the time you jumped into the lake?" she asked, "That was different. I was so much in love I wasnt thinking clearly," Henry answered. To look before you leap is to consider carefully your actions before performing them.

Lingos SG

Laurence.. tell that to CX in the Speakers Corner. He blasted me for over generalising that most Singaporeans can't speak English. He obviously never left his social circle!

laurence82 SG

Hmm, I go read his posts first, come back to u later yah.... Mr. Green

laurence82 SG

For 28th February

Losers Weepers, Finders Keepers

This is an old rhyming statement used (mostly) by children. If someone loses something, he weeps - but if someone finds it, he keeps it. As you might imagine, children who say this are usually 'the finders' of something. "THe King cant find his crown. Losers weepers, finders keepers," Nobbin laughed.

laurence82 SG

Leap Day

Love ME, Love My Dog

This old saying comes from the fact that people who have dogs expect others to appreciate them as much as they do. It has come to mean that if we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all. "I know i talk too much, Harry, but as the saying goes love me, love my dog."

Gedanken SG

Well, actually, Shakespeares double-entendres all used puns. Puns dont really belong to either.

Cool thread, laurence!

One thing, though theres not rest for the wicked and idle hands do the devils work. Youre damned if you do, and damned if you dont. Hows that for a triple? Mr. Green

laurence82 SG

Whoa, those are the upcoming proverbs.....

Gedanken SG

Yeah, laurence, you've already covered the "idle hands" one - what I'm looking at is taking the proverbs in conjunction with each other:
theres not rest for the wicked but idle hands do the devils work, so youre damned if you do, and damned if you dont. Mr. Green

laurence82 SG

For 1st March

Many Hand Make Light Work

Mr Hayday is fortunate to have found somone as useful as Ollie for his shipping department. Not only does Ollie do the work of several men, he sings songs while he works. "Two hands good, eight hands better," he sings. Ollie is good - and he's proving the saying that many hands (people) sharing a job or task male light (easier) work of it.

laurence82 SG

Make Hay While The Sun Shines

Farmers with hay to harvest dont wait until its raining to go to their fields: they take advantage of bright sunny days. From that, make hay while sun shines refers to taking advantage of a favourable situation to benefit or profit from it. "Everyone has gone to bed so I am going make hay while the sun shines and study while its quiet," Elliot said.

laurence82 SG

For 3rd March

Marriage Are Made In Heaven

"People often say that marriages are made in heaven," Polly said. "What does that mean? Don asked. "It means that long before we met it was decided in heaven that we were ideally suited for each other and therefore we would meet and get married," she replied.

laurence82 SG

For 4th March

Money Burn A Hole In Someone's Pocket

Here is a riddle: What is it that when some people have it they are so eager to get rid of it that it seems to burn a hole on their pocket and disappear? The answer is money. "No sooner do teh workers get their wages but the money seems to burn a hole in their pocket and they rush out to spend it," Basil said.

laurence82 SG

Money Doesnt Grow On Trees

Its difficult for children to undertsand that money doesnt grow pn trees. That is, money isnt as abundant as leaves and it certainly doesnt fall from the skies. This old saying is meant to advise us that we should spend our money carefully for work is required to earn it

laurence82 SG

For 6th March

The Mountain Labours And Bring Forth A Mouse

"Whats that funny statue doing there?" Bimbi asked. "Its there to encourage someone to think up a silly saying," Hoozit said. In time someone proved Hoozit correct by creating the above proverb. Hoozit even knew what it would mean: to work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless.

laurence82 SG

No News Is Good News

If something good happens we seldom hear about it. If something bad happens we hear about it immediately. Its on television, in the newspapers, its eevrywhere. For that reason, we've come to believe that if we hear no news about something its because its good news. "I ve given up reading or listening to the daily news," Felix said. "No news is good news," he said.

laurence82 SG

For 8th March

Not The Only Pebble On The Beach

Peggy and Polly had a quarrel. "I'll never talk to you again! Peggy shouted. "What do I care? You're not the only pebble on the beach," Polly answered. I hope these two settle tehir dispute soon because when someone uses this expression he (or she) is boldy saying, "You're not the only person in this world!"

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