eng/eng_meaining_generation_native.csv

Proverb,Description
an apple a day keeps the doctor away,apples are healthy and stave off illnesses
there is an exception to every rule,usually said in a situation when the rule is incorrect and unusable
there is nothing new under the sun,there is nothing truly novel in existence; every new idea has some sort of precedent or echo from the past
every day is a school day,you learn something new every day
the chickens come home to roost,a person's past wrongdoings will return to negatively affect them
Absence makes the heart grow fonder,Being away from someone or something for a period of time makes you appreciate that person or thing more when you see them or it again
Actions speak louder than words.,What you do is more important than what you say
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step,"You must begin something if you hope to finish it; something that takes a long
time to finish begins with one step"
All good things must come to an end,Everything ends; good times don’t last forever
A picture is worth a thousand words,An image can tell a story better than words
A watched pot never boils,"If something takes time to do, it doesn’t help to constantly check on it. You just
have to give it time."
Beggars can’t be choosers,"If you’re in a bad situation and someone offers to help you, you have to take
whatever they give you and shouldn’t ask for more"
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,What is “beautiful” is different for each person
Better late than never,It’s better to finish something late than to never do it at all
Birds of a feather flock together,People who are similar spend time together
Cleanliness is next to godliness,"It’s good to be clean. God is clean, and you should be too."
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you,"Don’t make someone angry or hurt someone who is helping you or paying for
you"
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.,Don’t expect a positive result before you actually see it
Don’t judge a book by its cover,Don’t judge someone or something by appearance alone
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,Don’t put all of your hopes and resources into one goal or dream
Don’t put off until tomorrow what you can do today,"If you can do something today, do it. Don’t wait until tomorrow; don’t procrastinate."
Don’t put too many irons in the fire,Don’t try to do too many things at the same time; focus on one thing at a time
"Easy come, easy go","When you make money quickly, it’s very easy to lose it quickly as well"
Fortune favors the bold,"People who are brave and who take risks are more successful than people who
are do things safely all the time"
God helps those who help themselves,Don’t just wait for good things to happen to you. Work hard to make them happen
Good things come to those who wait,"If you are patient, good things can happen"
Honesty is the best policy,It’s always better to tell the truth than it is to lie
"Hope for the best, prepare for the worst","In any situation, be optimistic about the result, but always be ready for the
worst outcome"
"If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it","If something is already working well, don’t try to change it or improve it"
"If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em","If you can’t change someone’s behavior or opinion, sometimes it’s better or
easier to do what they want to do"
"If you play with fire, you’ll get burned","If you get involved in something dangerous or beyond your abilities, you will
probably experience negative consequences"
"If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself",Don’t depend on someone else to do a good job; do it yourself
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer","If someone is your enemy, treat them like a friend so you can be ready if they
ever try to betray you"
Knowledge is power,"The more you know, the more powerful you can be in different areas of your
life"
Laughter is the best medicine,"When you’re in a difficult situation, laughing can make it easier to get through
that situation"
"Like father, like son","Said when a son is similar to his father; also, “Like mother, like daughter”"
No man is an island,"No one is truly capable of living alone. We need human connection to be
healthy"
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones,Don’t criticize someone if you’re not perfect either; don’t be a hyprocrite
Practice makes perfect,"The more you do something, the better you will become at it"
The early bird gets the worm,"People who wake up early or who get to places early have a better chance of
success"
The enemy of my enemy is my friend,"If someone whom I don’t like doesn’t like someone else whom I don’t like, we
can act like friends and unite against the other person (common in war)"
The grass is always greener on the other side,People always want what they don’t have
The pen is mightier than the sword,"If you’re trying to convince someone of something, words and ideas are stronger than using physical force (common in politics)"
There is no place like home,Your home is the most comfortable place in the world
There is no such thing as a free lunch.,Nothing is free. Even the things that are free have a hidden cost
There is no time like the present,Don’t wait to do something. Do it now.
The squeaky wheel gets the grease,The person who complains in a situation is more likely to get something.
Time is money,"Don’t waste your time or other people’s time; also, if you can use your time to
make money in some way, you should do that"
Two heads are better than one,It’s easier to do something as a team than by yourself
Two wrongs don’t make a right,"Trying to get revenge on someone who has hurt you will only make things
worse"
"When the going gets tough, the tough get going","When a situation becomes difficult, strong people don’t give up; they work
harder"
"Where there’s smoke, there’s fire","If something seems wrong, it probably is; also, there is usually some truth to a
rumor"
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it","You can try to help someone by giving good advice, but you can’t force them to
accept it or follow it"
A light purse makes a heavy heart,"If you do not have enough money,
you will worry and be unhappy"
A little body often harbors a great soul ,"This is said about people or things
that are not big, or tall, but instead
have other positive qualities"
A little fire is quickly trodden out,"If you deal with a small problem
quickly, it won’t grow into a bigger
problem"
A man can die but once,"If death comes now, you will not
have to experience it again"
A fool and his money are soon parted.,Fools lose money because of their foolish conduct.
"After victory, tighten your helmet chord.","There is no room for complacency. Get down to work after a victory. Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, calls it Day 0 mentality."
A good listener is a silent flatterer.,"Human beings have an innate desire to be listened, but only few are good listeners. So, if you listen to someone attentively, you’ll flatter them."
A goose quill is more dangerous than a lion’s claw.,"Foul, inconsiderate words can cause more pain than a physical attack."
One law for the rich and another for the poor.,"The law is same for both, but the rich, through their abundant resources, can get favourable decisions by influencing decision makers, hiring the best lawyers, and delaying the case if it suits them, among several measures at their command."
Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.,"Teaching fishing, a skill, is far more important than merely handing doles (fish, here) to people. It serves an important reminder to our educational institutions, especially higher education, where majority of graduates are churned out without marketable skills. Most animals, in contrast, teach only the most essential skills – finding food and escaping predators – to their young ones. Nothing superfluous there."
A rolling stone gathers no moss,A person who does not settle in one place will not make progress
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,It’s better to be content with what you have than to risk losing everything by seeking to get more
A barking dog seldom bites,Don’t be afraid of people that always threaten you as they rarely take action
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy wealthy and wise,Someone who gets enough sleep and starts work early in the day will have a successful life
It’s no use locking the stable door after the horse has bolted,It is too late try to prevent something that has already happened
Too many cooks spoil the broth,"If too many people are involved in a task or activity, it will not be done well"
All that glitters is not gold,Not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so
Actions speak louder than words,What you do is more important than what you say
Don’t put all of your eggs in one basket,Don’t put all of your hopes and resources into one goal or dream
Knowledge is power,"The more you know, the more powerful you can be"
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones,You shouldn’t criticize others when you have similar faults of your own
The early bird catches the worm,One who arrives first has the best chance for success
Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.,"One should be positive, but at the same time be ready to face hardships."
History repeats itself.,What has happened once is likely to happen again.
A hedge between keeps friendship green.,Giving enough space to each other help maintain a good relationship.
Health is better than wealth.,Physical well-being is more important than financial prosperity.
He laughs best who laughs last.,People who laugh first may have others laugh at them in the end.
Haste makes waste.,Too much of a hurry leads to mistakes and loss of productivity.
"The hand that rocks the cradle rules the world.
",Mothers who care for their children are creating the next generation of men.
"Half a loaf is better than no bread.
","One should be thankful for whatever one gets, considering one may otherwise get nothing."
Great oaks from little acorns grow.,Much may come from a small beginning.
Grapes are sour.,"When people cannot get what they desire, they save face by pretending they never wanted it."
A good name is sooner lost than won.,"A reputation takes long to build, but can be quickly destroyed."
A good husband makes a good wife.,One who treats others well will be treated well in return.
God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb.,Heaven is more kind to the weak.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.,True friends are those who help in difficult times.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.,Spread your risks widely and wisely.
Don't put the cart before the horse.,Always do things in the right order.
Don't ride the high horse.,One should not be arrogant.
Don't wash your dirty linen in public.,It is best to confine shameful family matters to the home.
"East or west, home is best.","Wherever one may travel, the happiest place is one's abode."
"Easy come, easy go.",What is acquired without effort especially money is likely to be lost.
Empty vessels make the most sound.,People who are stupid are very talkative.
Every cloud has a silver lining.,There is hope even in difficult situations.
 Every cock crows on his own dunghill.,"Anyone can show off his courage in a familiar, safe environment."
Every dog has his day.,All of us have a favorable period.
Familiarity breeds contempt.,Intimacy can cause us to lose our regard.
Fine feathers make fine birds.,A person can look impressive in smart clothes.
Forbidden fruit is the sweetest.,"When something is not allowed, we are more tempted to it."
Forgive and forget.,We must not hold against someone a thing of the past.
Fortune favors the bold.,Success comes to those who have the courage to try.
Never say die.,"Always be hopeful in life, and do not give up."
Ninety per cent of inspiration is perspiration.,Along with brilliance goes a lot of hard work
No gain without pain.,One is unlikely to achieve anything without trouble.
No news is good news.,If there is no information then one can assume all is fine.
Nothing succeeds like success.,"Once prosperity is achieved, then it helps achieve more."
"Once bitten, twice shy.",An unpleasant experience is not forgotten and teaches caution.
One good turn deserves another.,"If someone has been kind to you, then you should return the kindness."
One is never too old to learn.,"Whatever our age and however much we know, we can still increase our knowledge."
One man's meat is another man's poison.,What works positively for one person may be harmful to another.
One must draw the line somewhere.,There is a definite limit beyond which one decides not to go.
One swallow does not make a summer.,A single piece of evidence is not enough to prove anything.
Out of sight out of mind.,Anybody or anything no longer seen is soon forgotten.
Paddle your own canoe.,Mind your own business and be self-reliant.
The pen is mightier than the sword.,The written word has more power to cause change than physical force.
Poverty is no sin.,It is not a crime to be poor.
Practise what you preach.,One must behave in the same way as one advises others to behave.
Prevention is better than cure.,It is preferable to take precautions against a bad occurrence than to repair the damage after it has happened.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.,A thing can be assessed only after practically experiencing it.
Respect is greater from a distance.,A person will be held in more esteem if he keeps aloof from others.
Rome was not built in a day.,"Great tasks take time, hard work and perseverance."
A rose with any other name would smell as sweet.,What a thing is called is unimportant compared to what it really is.
One rotten apple spoils the rest.,Just a single bad person can have a negative influence on all others.
Set a thief to catch a thief.,A person who knows the tricks of the trade is best equipped to do the job.
"Speech is silver, silence is golden.","At times, there is more value to holding one's tongue than using it."
Still waters run deep.,"A quiet person can have much knowledge or ability, and should not be underestimated."
A stitch in time saves nine.,Early corrective action may prevent more trouble later.
The strength of the chain is in the weakest link.,The most fragile point determines the quality of a structure.
Strike while the iron is hot.,Choose the most opportune time to act.
The tailor makes the man.,A person can appear attractive in good clothes.
Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.,Savings in small amounts will eventually lead to a large total.
There are as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it.,"If an opportunity is missed, there will be plenty more."
Talk of the devil and the devil appears.,This is said in jest when a person we have been talking about meets us.
There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.,We cannot assume anything is ours until we actually get it.
There is no rose without a thorn.,"Unalloyed happiness is impossible, because joy and sorrow go together."
There is no smoke without fire.,Rumours are not baseless but have some truth in them.
A thing of beauty is a joy forever.,The memory of something pleasant provides everlasting pleasure.
Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.,The memory of something pleasant provides everlasting pleasure.
Time and tide wait for no man.,One must not miss opportunities by delaying action.
Time is a great healer.,Pain or grief diminish or disappear with the passage of time.
To err is human.,It is natural for all of us to make mistakes.
Touch pitch and be defiled.,"If you keep contact with bad people, you get spoiled."
Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.,With greatness and power comes a lot of responsibility.
"United we stand, divided we fall.",There is strength and safety in numbers compared individuals acting alone.
Variety is the spice of life.,Experiencing different things makes living interesting and prevents boredom.
Wake not a sleeping lion.,It is wise not to disturb things at times lest you invite trouble.
Walls have ears.,Take care when you speak lest others hear what they should not.
"Waste not, want not.","If one is careful with things especially money, one will not lack them when needed."
"Water is a boon in the desert, but the drowning man curses it.",There is too little of what we want and too much of what we don't want.
Well begun is half done.,A good start to a task leads to its easy and successful completion.
What's done cannot be undone.,It is too late to change one's mind after performing an action.
What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.,What is appropriate for one is appropriate for another.
When in Rome do as the Romans do.,One must adapt to one's surroundings.
When one door shuts another opens.,"Failure should not discourage us, for some other opportunity always exists."
When the cat is away the mice will play.,People take advantage when the person in charge is absent.
Where ignorance is bliss it is folly to be wise.,It is better to be unaware of something that will bring unhappiness.
Where there's a will there's a way.,"If one is determined, one will find a path to success."
The wish is father to the thought.,It is a desire that gives birth to a belief.
You cannot have your cake and eat it.,You cannot have everything because a choice has to be made between alternatives.
"You can take a horse to the water, but you cannot make him drink.",You cannot help an unwilling person beyond a certain point.
You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.,You do me a favor and I will reciprocate.
Beauty is but skin deep.,Do not judge solely by looks because appearances are deceptive.
Every ass likes to hear himself bray.,Foolish people talk a lot.
"Nothing venture, nothing gain.","Without risks, there are no rewards."
In Unity There Is Strength,We can accomplish more as a group than we can by ourselves
It Takes Two to Tango,it was just asmuch your fault as it was mine
A Man Is Known by the Company He Keeps,People often believe that a person is like his friends
You can’t always get what you want,Don’t complain if you don’t get what you want
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it","You can try to help someone by giving good advice, but you can’t force them to accept it or follow it"
A closed mouth catches no flies,Sometimes it’s better to keep quiet
The darkest hour has only sixty minutes,"Even in difficult times, there’s hope and a limited duration of darkness"
A smooth sea never made a skilled sailor,Challenges and hardships are opportunities for personal growth
You can’t unscramble eggs,"Once something is done, it’s irreversible"
Don’t cross the bridge until you come to it,Don’t worry about problems before they actually occur
"Penny wise, pound foolish","Being overly frugal with small expenses can lead to greater, more costly problems"
The early worm gets eaten,"A twist on the early bird proverb, emphasizing the risks of being too hasty"
All good things come to an end,Nothing great lasts forever
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush,What you have is better than what you might get
An idle brain is the devil’s workshop,Evil thoughts come to us easily when we are idle
Better safe than sorry,It is better to take precautions than to regret later
Appearances can be deceptive,Something might be different from how they appear outwardly
"As you sow, so you shall reap",Your actions determine your results
The grass is always greener on the other side,"Other people always seem to be in a better situation, although it might not be true"
Blood is thicker than water,Family relationships are always stronger than other relationships
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,Don’t risk everything on a single venture
Enjoy it while it lasts,Make the best of a moment since it won’t last forever
It’s no use crying over spilt milk,You shouldn’t be upset over something that has already happened
Every dog has its day,everyone attains success at some point in their lives
Each bird loves to hear himself sing,people often enjoy hearing themselves talk or express their own views
"You can lead a horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink it","You can advise someone or show them how to do something, but you can’t force them to accept or mak them do it."
A bird in hand is worth two in the bush,Certainty of having something in hand is better than mere probability of having even more things.
A bad workman always blames his tools,This proverb is used when someone blames the quality of their equipment or other external factors when they perform a task poorly
Absence makes heart grow fonder,"When we’re away from loved ones, we long for their company more than in normal times"
A cat has nine lives,Cat can survive seemingly fatal events
A diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfect,"A rare, precious opportunity that comes with some problems is better than a regular opportunity that seems to be perfect"
A drowning man will clutch a straw,"When someone is in a difficult situation, s/he will take any available opportunity to come out of it."
A happy heart is better than a full purse,What’s the use of money if you’re unhappy despite loads of it? Happiness is better than plenty.
A jack of all trades is master of none,A person with some knowledge of several fields (jack of all trades) can’t be a master in any of them
A lean agreement is better than a fat lawsuit,"In disputes, it’s better to compromise and get only part of the potential outcome than to contest an expensive lawsuit for years, with no guarantee on the outcome"
A leopard doesn’t change its spots,"People can’t change their innate character, especially bad"
All is fair in love and war,One can break the rules of fair play under extenuating circumstances.
All is well that ends well,"As long as the outcome is good, problems on the way don’t matter."
All lay loads on a willing horse,"A person who says ‘yes’, even if hesitatingly, to any work given to him will soon find himself overloaded with work."
"Among the blind, one-eyed man is king",An incapable person can gain powerful position if others in the fray are even more incapable.
An army of sheep led by a lion would defeat an army of lions led by a sheep,This proverb exemplifies importance of leadership. A strong army (lions) led by a weak leader (sheep) can lose to a weak army (sheep) led by a strong leader (lion).
An empty vessel makes much noise,Fools and persons with shallow knowledge often talk a lot.
An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening,"People are generally more productive in the morning: first, they’re fresh after night’s sleep; second, there are fewer distractions in the morning."
An idle brain is devil’s workshop,"If you’ve nothing to do, you’ll likely think of mischief"
An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure,A little precaution before a crisis is better than lot of firefighting afterwards
"A ship in the harbor is safe, but that’s not what a ship is for",Get out of your comfort zone to grow and fulfill your potential
Ask no questions and hear no lies,"Don’t ask questions which people can’t or don’t want to answer. If you ask such questions, you’ll hear only lies"
A thing begun is half done,A good beginning makes it easier to accomplish rest of the project
A tree is known by its fruit,"Like a tree is known by the fruit it bears, people are known by their character and actions (and not by their appearance)"
Barking dogs seldom bite,People who appear threatening rarely do harm
Beauty is in the eye of beholder,What may seem beautiful to one person may not seem to another
Beauty is only skin deep,"A person’s character, intellect, and other inner qualities are more important than his/her physical appearance"
Begin to weave and God will give the thread,"When taking up a task that has no playbook to follow, we plan a lot and think a lot but don’t act. In such pursuits, you can’t foresee everything in advance and lot of assumptions will come to naught."
"Be slow in choosing, but slower in changing","Choose things or people after diligence, but once you choose, stick for long"
Best things in life are free,Most valuable things are often free.
Better to be poor and healthy than rich and sick,Health is more important than money
Clothes do not make a man,A person’s character can’t be judged by his/her clothing and outward appearance
Cowards die many times before their death,Cowards suffer the feared effects of death many times in their lives.
Cross the stream where it is shallowest,Do things in the easiest possible way
Curiosity killed the cat,Enquiring into others’ work can be dangerous. One should mind own business
"Curses, like chickens, come home to roost",The consequence of wrongdoings always catches up with the wrongdoer
Different strokes for different folks,"Different people have different needs and wants, and we should be respectful to them"
Discretion is the better part of valor,It is wise to be careful and not show unnecessary bravery
Do as you would be done by,Treat others like the way you would like to be treated.
Doctors make the worst patients,It’s difficult to advice a person on a matter in which he is an expert.
Don’t carry coals to Newcastle,"In the past, Newcastle was known for its coal mines. Coal was mined here and taken to other parts of England. So, if you carry coal to Newcastle, you’re doing unnecessary work."
Don’t cast pearls before swine,Don’t offer something valuable to someone who doesn’t value it
Don’t cross the bridge till you come to it,Deal with a situation when it happens and not unnecessarily worry about it in advance.
Don’t empty the water jar until the rain falls,"Don’t quit something, say a job, before securing its replacement"
Don’t kill the goose that lays golden eggs,"If you kill a goose that lays golden eggs, you destroy something that makes lot of money for you."
Don’t open a shop unless you know how to smile,It’s difficult to attract customers without a pleasant persona
Don’t think there are no crocodiles because the water is calm,Everything calm and peaceful doesn’t mean there are no dangers around.
Don’t throw the baby with the bathwater,Don’t discard something valuable while getting rid of something worthless.
Eagles don’t catch flies,"Eagles catch bigger prey than flies, don’t they? Don’t take trivial matters to senior leaders in your organization. You have to resolve them, not they"
Empty bags can’t stand upright,A poor or hungry person cannot discharge his duties well.
Every horse thinks its own pack is heaviest,We think that we work the hardest. This is also called responsibility bias: People tend to overvalue their own contributions and undervalue contributions of others.
Every tub must stand on its own bottom,We can’t hide incompetency behind teamwork. Everyone has to justify their expense.
Fall seven times; stand up eight.,Be resilient and try despite failures. That’s how you succeed.
Faults are thick where love is thin,"If the love is shallow, people will find faults in each other."
"Flattery, like perfume, should be smelled but not swallowed","Enjoy the flattery you receive, but don’t believe it because people often flatter to meet their own selfish interests."
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread,"Fools or inexperienced persons get involved in situations or pursue goals without much thought. In contrast, wise think through such situations or goals."
Fortune favors the brave,"If you carry out your plans boldly, luck is more likely to favor you"
"For want of a nail the shoe is lost, for want of a shoe the horse is lost, for want of a horse the rider is lost","in insignificant nail resulted in the loss of the rider. Small things can have huge implications. So, don’t ignore nuances and minute details. They’re the ones that stand people out."
Get out while the going (getting) is good,Get out of a situation while it’s still easy to leave on good terms
Good bargains empty the purse,"Good bargains can be tempting and entice people into buying more than required, most of which can even go unused"
Good swimmers are often drowned,Overconfidence can doom even the competent
Good wine needs no bush,A good product doesn’t need promotion; it spreads through word of mouth
Grief divided is made lighter,"If you share your grief, it’ll get easier to bear"
Half a loaf is better than none,We should thank for what we get even though it’s less than what we had hoped for
Home is where the heart is,"Don’t you feel relieved on reaching home after you’ve been away for few days? No matter where you visit, you’ll long to return to your home and family."
"Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst","Be optimistic, but be prepared for a scenario where things can go wrong"
"If wishes were horses, beggars would ride","If things were to happen by just wishing them, even the poorest will have everything they want"
"If you are patient in a moment of anger, you will escape hundred days of sorrow",Actions and decisions taken in moments of anger aren’t the best. They can bring great misery. Wait for your anger to pass and then act or decide
" If you buy cheaply, you pay dearly",Something cheap will be of suspect quality and will trouble you later in the form of higher maintenance and/or poor performance.
"If you can’t beat them, join them","If you can’t beat your opponent, then work alongside them for mutual benefit."
"If you want peace, prepare for war","If you utilize the peace time to get better at war, your adversaries will hesitate in waging a war on you, and hence the time of peace will stretch."
"If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together","Working with others may be somewhat slow compared to solo work, but you’ll need to collaborate if you want long-term success because you can’t do everything yourself"
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,Words of flattery may not be sincere. But action (imitation) is sincere. Who wouldn’t be flattered if someone imitates them in some way?
It’s better to be safe than sorry,It’s better to be cautious than regret later
It’s better to lose the battle and win the war,It’s fine to lose small things if it helps you win the big pie
"It is easy to find a thousand soldiers, but hard to find a good general",Leaders are not easy to find. Retain them at whatever price it takes if you’ve them.
It’s never too late to mend,It’s never too late to change course or make amends for a past mistake. Don’t let your ego come in between
"It is part of a good shepherd to shear his flock, not to skin it",People shouldn’t be subjected to discomfort beyond tolerance
It takes a village to raise a child,It takes an entire community to raise children in safe and nourishing environment
It takes two to make a quarrel,"Without involvement of at least two persons, a quarrel won’t happen. So, if one of the two persons decide, a quarrel won’t happen."
Justice delayed is justice denied,"In many countries, wheels of justice move so slow that sometimes it takes decades to pronounce a judgment. This causes suffering in terms of time and money wasted and the long wait for justice."
Kind words will unlock an iron door,"If you talk politely, people are more amenable to your suggestions and ask."
Kings have long arms,Governments have far-reaching powers.
Learn to walk before you run,Learn basic skills first before venturing into complex things
"Least said, soonest mended","When you fall out with someone, restrain yourself from using foul, upsetting language. Words can leave a lasting impression and make it difficult to reconcile."
Lend your money and lose your friend.,"Lending money to a friend can lead to souring of friendship. If you ask to repay, he may feel offended, and if he fails to repay, you’ll be offended."
Let sleeping dogs lie,Don’t talk about a bad situation people have forgotten and that could unnecessarily create problem in the present
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place,Misfortune does not occur twice in the same way to the same person.
"Like people, like priest","Quality of people is a good indicator of the quality of their leader. We expect our bureaucracy, politicians, and other leaders to be impeccable. But they don’t descend from heavens. They come from the very people they represent, and hence their quality will be reflective of the quality of people."
"Long absent, soon forgotten","If you haven’t met or spoken to a friend or relative in long time, he’ll be forgotten. Such friendships eventually wither away or may just remain a distant acquaintance."
 Look before you leap,"Consider all consequences before taking an action, especially when you can’t retract."
"Love me, love my dog","If you love someone, then you should love them as they come with their qualities, shortcomings, friends, family, and so on."
Make hay while the sun shines,Make the most of favorable conditions till they last
"Make yourself all honey and the flies will devour you
","If you’re a yes-man and often talk sweet language to please others, people won’t respect you."
Money doesn’t grow on trees,Spend money carefully because it’s limited. You can’t grow it on trees and replenish.
Money talks,Money gives one power and influence
More die of food than famine,More people die because of excess indulgence in food and eating unhealthy than because of shortage of food.
Murder will out,Secrets rarely remain secret. They’ll eventually come out and be known to all
Necessity is the mother of invention,A need or problem forces people to come up with innovative solutions
"Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today
",Don’t delay doing something if you can do it immediately
Never test the depth of water with both feet,"If you’re testing the depth of water with both feet down, you risk being drowned if the water turns out to be deep. But if you test with one foot, you can pull away. The proverb means that before going whole hog into something unknown, assess the risk well."
Night brings counsel,"If you have a difficult problem to solve or an important decision to make, a good night’s sleep will work wonders"
Oaks may fall when reeds stand the storm,Those who are flexible and relatively insignificant can survive a crisis that brings down powerful who are unable or unwilling to adapt
Once bitten twice shy,A person won’t do something a second time because he/she had bad experience the first time.
One man’s junk is another man’s treasure,What may seem to be junk to one person maybe valuable to another.
Pen is mightier than sword,Thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than use of force.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones at others.,People who have some shortcomings shouldn’t criticize others for having the same shortcomings.
Persuasion is better than force,You can achieve better results through persuasion than through coercion.
Politeness costs little but yields much.,"Speaking politely costs no more than speaking rudely, but it can yield much more by making friends."
Practice what you preach,Behave the way you encourage others to behave
Rich man’s joke is always funny,People agree with and flatter rich people to be in good books with them.
Shrouds have no pockets,"We arrived in this world without anything, and we’ll leave without anything."
Silence is half consent,"If you don’t object to what someone says or does, you may be assumed to agree to some extent."
Slow and steady wins the race,Slow and consistent work leads to better chance of success than quick work in spurts.
Smooth seas do not make skillful sailors.,"If you work only on regular projects, you won’t be challenged and hence not become better at what you do. So, volunteer into few challenging projects as well."
Still water runs deep,"If a person doesn’t speak much, it doesn’t mean they lack depth or are uninteresting."
The course of true love never did run smooth,True love goes through ups and downs
The family that (eats) prays together stays together.,The family that gets together regularly to pray or eat is more close-knit than the family that doesn’t.
The grass is greener on the other side of fence,People are never satisfied with their own situation; they always think others have it better.
"The harder you work, the luckier you get","The harder you work, the more ideas and chances you may make for yourself."
The higher the monkey climbs the more he shows his tail.,"The higher an incompetent person rises in an organization, the more his incompetence is exposed"
The highest branch is not the safest roost,"Those in the highest positions can be vulnerable as many aspire to replace them. Second, if the person is replaced, it’s not easy to find a similar position because of paucity of roles at the top."
The longest way around is the shortest way home,"If you want to achieve the desired quality, work diligently and carefully and not cut corners."
The nail that sticks out gets hammered down,"If you deviate from the norm, you’ll face resistance, even hostile reaction in extreme case."
The only free cheese is in the mousetrap,"There rarely are completely free offers; they come attached with hooks. So, beware of such offers."
The proof of pudding is in eating,"You can only judge the quality of something after you have tried, used, or experienced it."
"There are many paths to the top of the mountain, but the view is always the same","We all want peace and happiness in life, and there are multiple ways of achieving this goal. However, many get so tunnel-focused that they fail to see paths other than their current job, which may ironically be hurting their pursuit of happiness. So, once in a while, take a step back and reflect."
There are more ways than one to skin a cat,There is more than one way to reach the same goal.
There is truth in wine,"People when drunk speak truth, often unwittingly"
The road to hell is paved with good intentions,Good intention doesn’t not matter if a person’s actions lead to bad outcomes.
"The tongue is but three inches long, yet it can kill a man six feet tall.","We should avoid foul, inconsiderate language because it can leave lasting scars and dent relationships forever."
"To know the road ahead, ask those coming back","Many take up a job or project they later hate, wasting precious years. This can be avoided if you ask few who’ve undertaken the same job or project about their experience."
What can you expect from a pig but a grunt?,What can you expect from a bad character but foul and rough language?
"When a twig grows hard, it is difficult to twist it","A person can be moulded when young but not when he has grown up. So, one should inculcate good values in children while they’re still young."
"Where there’s will, there’s way","If you are determined enough, you can find a way to achieve what you want, even if it is difficult."
"While the cat is away, the mice will play","Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules."
Why buy a cow when milk is so cheap?,Why take the trouble of investing in a cow and then maintaining it when you can simply buy milk far cheaply? You should avoid buying unnecessary assets when you can do with far cheaper options.
Why keep a dog and bark yourself?,"Sometimes, you have employees for specific job, but someone else ends up doing that job. That’s a waste."
"Words must be weighed, not counted",Word count doesn’t matter. What matters is how effective they’re.
You can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar,It’s easier to win people to your side by persuasion and politeness than by confrontation and threats.
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink","You can show people the way to do things, but you can’t force them to act."
You can’t have your cake and eat it too,"If you have your cake and eat it too, you get two things that are normally impossible to get simultaneously"
You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs.,It is hard to achieve something important without causing unpleasant effects
You can’t teach an old dog new tricks,People who have long been used to doing things in a particular way will not abandon their habits to learn something new.
You do not fatten a pig by weighing it,"This proverb is quoted by opponents of too much testing. Weighing a pig won’t fatten it. Altering its diet would. Similarly, testing kids in school multiple times won’t improve their performance in a particular subject. What’s required is an elaborate system to work on students’ weak areas."
"You show me the man, and I’ll show you the rule",Rules change depending on how powerful the person likely to be affected by the rules is.
Hunger drives the wolf out of the wood,"Like hunger forces the wolf out of the wood to seek food elsewhere, necessity forces poor to take up unpleasant tasks, sometimes in violation of law"
A house divided cannot stand,"Prosperity and success come when a country, society, institution, or family stand united on issues and work together."
"Until the lions produce their own historian, the story of the hunt will glorify only the hunter","History is written by the victors, and they, naturally, glorify themselves"
The fish always stinks from the head downwards,"A dead fish starts rotting from head downwards. Similarly, in any organization or country, the rot sets in from the top. If the leadership is defunct, corrupt, and self-centred, implications will soon spread to the entire organization."
"If every man would sweep his own doorsteps, the city would soon be clean","For community work, everyone should take responsibility and contribute whatever little they can. Small contributions by many can accomplish mammoth tasks such as cleaning an entire city."
Corporations have neither bodies to be punished nor souls to be damned,"Protesting against a government or a large organization is unlike protesting against individuals. An organization can use its deep pockets and power to take you on for decades together, and it wouldn’t bother anyone in that organization because individuals there don’t suffer financially or otherwise. In contrast, the protesters suffer individually. That’s why it’s not easy for individuals to slug it out against organizations and governments."
"When the last tree is cut down, the last fish eaten, and the last stream poisoned, you will realize that you cannot eat money","A Native American proverb. It’s paramount to save the environment. We’re already seeing the adverse effect, which seem to intensify every year, of untold exploitation of nature."
"New lords, new laws",New governments have their own agendas.
A penny saved is a penny earned,It’s just as important to save money as it is to earn it.
A bad excuse is better than none,"Always give an excuse when necessary, even if it's a poor one."
A bad penny always turns up,An unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back.
A bad tree does not yield good apples,A bad parent does not raise good children
A bad workman blames his tools.,Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill
A bird in hand is worth two in a bush,It is better to keep what you have rather than to risk losing it by searching for something better.
A black plum is as sweet as a white,People should not be judged by their appearance
A book holds a house of gold,There is a wealth of knowledge in books.
A broken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound.,Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before.
A burden of one's own choice is not felt.,Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.
A burnt child dreads the fire.,A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.
A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor,A person shows their competence or ability when difficulties arise.
A chain is no stronger than its weakest link,The strength of a group depends on each individual member.
A change is as good as a rest,A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.
A constant guest is never welcome.,"If you come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you"
A danger foreseen is half avoided,"If you are prepared to face a problem or difficulty, it will be easier to deal with"
A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy.,Times goes by very quickly when you are happy and very slowly when you are sad.
A drop of ink may make a million think.,A thought expressed in writing (perhaps published in a newspaper) can influence a large number of people.
A fault confessed is half redressed,Admitting one's mistake or fault is the first step towards making amends.
A flower blooms more than once,"If you miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time."
Bad beginnings lead to bad results,If you start something badly the result will be unsatisfactory.
Bad news travels fast.,"People tend to circulate bad news very quickly (accidents, illness, etc.)."
"Be slow to promise, quick to fulfil","Be reliable: think carefully before making a promise, then keep it."
Better brain than brawn,It's better to have a brain than muscles.
Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow,It is preferable to have something sure now than the possibility of something better later.
Care is no cure,Worrying about something does not solve the problem.
Charity begins at home,A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.
Children and fools tell the truth,Neither children nor fools know that it is sometimes advantageous to lie.
"Clear moon, frost soon","If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form."
Clothes don't make the man,Appearances can be deceiving.
Courtesy is contagious,"If you are polite to other people, they will be polite to you."
No cure no pay,"If the results promised are not produced, there will be no payment."
Dead men tell no lies,A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal.
Death is the great leveller,All people are equal when they die.
Diamonds cut diamonds,Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning.
Diligence is the mother of good fortune.,Hard work brings rewards.
Don't bark if you can't bite,Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view.
Dogs of the same street bark alike.,People of the same background have the same behaviour.
Easier said than done.,"What is suggested sounds easy, but it is more difficult to actually do it."
Elbow grease is the best polish,Hard work produces the best results.
Empty vessels make the most noise,The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.
Enough is as good as a feast.,A moderate amount is sufficient.
Even a worm will turn.,Even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation.
Every man has his price,Everyone's loyalty can be bought for a price.
Failure teaches success,People can learn from their failures and be successful later on.
Fear lends wings,Fear makes you do things faster than would normally seem possible.
Forbidden fruit is sweet,What you cannot have is what is always the most desirable.
"Friendship is like money, easier made than kept.",Effort is necessary to keep a friendship alive.
Friendship is love with understanding,A friend is more tolerant than a lover/partner/spouse.
Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade,Nothing is achieved without effort.
Good accounting makes good friends.,You will keep your friends if you avoid disputes over money.
"Grasp all, lose all",Trying to obtain everything will often result in gaining nothing.
Great minds think alike,Very intelligent people often have the same idea at the same time.
Great oaks grow from small acorns.,Large successful operations can begin in a small way
Handsome is what handsome does,Behaviour is more important than appearance.
Hatred is as blind as love.,A person who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates.
He who hesitates is lost,"If you delay your decision too long, you may miss a good opportunity."
Hunger is a good sauce,All food tastes good when you are hungry.
If you snooze you lose,"You should pay attention and act quickly, otherwise someone else will do it before you."
"In for a penny, in for a pound","If you start something, it is better to spend the time or money necessary to complete it."
It never rains but it pours.,Misfortune usually comes in large numbers.
It is always darkest before the dawn,The most difficult time is just before the problem is solved.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.,Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.
Kill one to warn a hundred,Warn many people by punishing a few
Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age,What you learn when you are young will be invaluable when your grow old.
Less is more,A small amount of something can be more effective than too much of it.
Let bygones be bygones.,Let's forgive and forget past quarrels.
A lie begets a lie.,Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one.
Loose lips sink ships,Disclosing important information (to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large losses.
"Losers weepers, finders keepers","If you lose something you lament, if you find something you keep it."
Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.,Manage to produce something good using poor material.
"Man proposes, God disposes.",Our destiny depends on God's will
Manners make the man.,A person's manners reveal their origins.
"Marry in haste, repent as leisure","If you get married too quickly, you may spend your whole life regretting it."
Might is right,Thoose with the most strength or power think they can do whatever they want.
Money begets money.,If you have money you can make more money.
Money doesn't grow on trees,You should not waste money because it is not plentiful or obtained easily.
"Monkey see, monkey do",Foolish people copy others.
Necessity knows no law,Being desperate may lead you to do illegal things.
Need teaches a plan,Necessity will make you find a solution.
No joy without annoy.,There is no happiness without clouds.
"No losers, no winners","If there were no losers, there could be no winners."
"No rain, no grain.",Without rain the harvest will be poor.
"No wind, no waves",There could be some truth in the rumour ...
"Out of sight, out of mind",We tend to forget people or things that we do not see.
Parents are patterns,Parents are role models for their children and should therefore set a good example.
Pity is akin to love.,"If you begin to feel sorry for someone, you may start to love them."
Pride comes before a fall.,Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.
Procrastination is the thief of time,Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.
Rats desert a sinking ship,People abandon a failing enterprise when problems develop.
Reason does not come before years.,Wisdom and maturity come with age. Young people lack common sense.