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Life is just a bowl of cherries |
Life is full of happiness and pleasure | |
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Like a bull in a china shop |
A clumsy or tactless person | |
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Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted |
Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening. | |
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The longest day must have an end |
All difficult jobs or situations also have an end. | |
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Losers weepers, finders keepers |
If someone loses something, he weeps -- but if someone finds it, he keeps it. | |
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Love me, love my dog |
If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all. | |
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Many hands make light work |
Many people sharing a job or tasks make easier work of it. | |
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The mountain labors and brings forth a mouse |
To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless. | |
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Opportunity only knocks once |
Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never happen again. | |
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An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure |
It is even better to be cautious and prevent a misfortune or an accident from happening. | |
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Possession is nine points of the law |
In disputes over property ownership, the person in possession of something is sometimes said to have nine-tenths a chance of winning it in a legal argument | |
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Promises are like pie crust |
Most promises cannot be kept | |
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Put a quart into a pint pot |
Doing something that's impossible | |
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The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike |
No matter how good or bad a person, he must still face the everyday problems that confront us all. | |
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The sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children |
People will be punished for the wrongs committed by their parents, forefathers, or those who have preceded them. | |
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Someone's bark is worse than his bite |
People sometimes bark but in time we learn they're not always as frightening as they seem. | |
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The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak |
To do something unworthy just because it gives you the pleasure | |
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A stitch in time saves nine |
By taking immediate action we can prevent a fault, damage or trouble from getting worse | |
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A straw will show which way the wind blows |
A small incident can reveal an important event | |
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Teach an old dog new tricks |
It is impossible to change someone's ways or habits, especially if he is old and resists change | |
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That's where the shoe pinches |
That's the source or cause of a problem or an annoyance | |
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There are none so blind as those that will not see |
People ,who never admit they might be wrong, refuse to listen to the opinions or ideas of anyone | |
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There are none so deaf as those who will not hear |
People sometimes hear only what they want to hear | |
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There's more than one way to skin a cat |
There is more than one way of getting a job done | |
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The thin end of the wedge |
That something can appear to be small and of no particular importance - yet it can turn out to be the beginning of a major problem. | |
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A thing of beauty is a joy forever |
It means that though something beautiful may not last, the happy memory of it will live forever. | |
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Time heals old wounds |
The passing of time helps us to forget things that have caused us pain or made us unhappy. | |
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The truth will out |
Truth about something will eventually be discovered or made known | |
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Turn up like a bad penny |
Something or someone disliked just won't go away | |
| Two wrongs do not make a right | If a person does something to harm or offend us, that's wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's wrong too. | |
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Uneasy is the head that wears the crown |
Notable or important people are often concerned about losing their positions. | |
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Waste not, want not |
If we're careful and waste nothing we'll never go without things we need. | |
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The way to a man's heart is through his stomach |
Most men love to eat so feed your husband well and he will always love you. | |
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Wear out one's welcome |
One is no longer welcome, usually because he has become a nuisance | |
| When poverty comes in the door, love flies out the window | As soon as a happily married couple begin having financial problems and the bills pile up their love will disappear. | |
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Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl |
If we associate with bad companions we, too, will become bad | |
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You pays your money and you takes your chances |
A humorous way of saying that we sometimes must trust in luck when buying something. | |
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Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them |
If you are rich and successful, you will attract many friends, but if you should suffer hardship or have misfortune ( adversity ), your friends will quickly depart. |
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All's fish that comes the net |
When something comes our way we should consider how it might be useful or benefit us. | |
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away |
It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you in the peak of health. | |
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Be on the safe side |
To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake | |
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder |
What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to others. | |
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Beggars can't be choosers |
Someone in need should be grateful for what is given to him -- even if it's not what he wants or expects | |
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The blind leading the blind |
A person helping or advising someone knows as little about the subject as the person who is being advised. | |
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The buck stops here |
It means final decision or total responsibility for an action | |
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Burn the candle at both ends |
Those who are always busy and seem to get little rest | |
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Buy a pig in a poke |
Buy something without examining it for faults or checking to see if they are really getting what they believe they have purchased | |
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Catch as catch can |
To do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or reach a goal. | |
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Children should be seen and not heard |
To stop a child from asking questions, talking, or making unnecessary noise. | |
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Christmas comes but once each year |
An excuse to indulge in food and drink and spend money during the Christmas season. | |
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Cry over spilled milk |
It's pointless to get upset or feel regret about a loss or mistake that can't be undone | |
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Curiosity killed the cat |
To warn people not to show too much interest in affairs that don't concern them. | |
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Cut off your nose to spite your face |
When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing foolish things that prove harmful to themselves. | |
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The devil finds work for idle hands |
Unless one keeps busy doing useful or constructive things he could be tempted into mischief or evil. | |
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The devil has the best tunes |
To do something unworthy because it gives you pleasure | |
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Dog eat dog |
In competitive situations where each person has his own interests at heart, it is usually the strong and the determined who succeed. | |
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An exception to the rule |
Something does not conform to or agree with a rule | |
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Fling/throw mud at someone |
To say evil or bad things about someone and in doing so, to damage his or her reputation. | |
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A fool and his money are soon parted |
A person who spends his money foolishly will soon be penniless | |
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Forgive and forget |
Excusing or pardoning someone for doing something | |
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Give someone enough rope and he will hang himself |
If we allow someone to continue in his bad ways he'll eventually bring about his own downfall or ruin. | |
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Grin and bear it |
To put up with discomfort or a bad situation without complaining. | |
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He who pays the piper calls the tune |
The person who pays for something has the right to do as he wants. | |
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Hide your light under a bushel |
Concealing your talents, skills or abilities | |
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Hitch one's wagon to a star |
To Move forward in a way to improve your chances of achieving success. | |
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Home is where the heart is |
No matter where you are, 'home' is where you feel most comfortable and content. | |
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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. | |
| If you can't lick them, join them | 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. | |
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In for a penny, in for a pound |
If we decide to do something, we should commit ourselves to it boldly and completely. | |
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A job worth doing is a job worth doing well |
When you do something you should do it as well as you can. | |
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Keep the wolf from the door |
To avoid hunger and poverty | |
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Laugh and the world laughs with you |
When someone is in a happy, cheerful mood, people like being with him. | |
| Least said, soonest forgotten | The less we say about it the sooner the incident will be forgotten. | |
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A chicken and egg question |
A mysterious question which can't be answered | |
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You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink |
We can help, show or encourage someone to do something but we can't make him do what he is unwilling or unable to do |
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A bad workman always blames his tools |
A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself. | |
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A new broom sweeps clean |
A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work. | |
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Don't judge a book by its cover |
Do not be deceived by appearances. | |
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Blood is thicker than water |
Family ties are stronger than any other. | |
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Don't count your chickens before they are hatched. |
Do not make plans based on something that has not happened. | |
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Don't make a mountain out of a molehill |
Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small | |
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Experience is the best teacher |
The best way to learn a job is to do it. | |
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The last straw that broke the camel's back |
The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin. | |
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Look at the bright side |
Be optimistic | |
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Make hay while the sun shines |
Seize opportunities | |
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Out of sight, out of mind |
You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with. | |
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A leopard cannot change its spots |
A person's nature cannot change. | |
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There are two sides to every question |
There are always two ways of looking at something | |
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Too many cooks spoil the broth |
Too many people doing the same thing at the same time will not be successful | |
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We never miss the water till the well runs dry |
You only realize the importance of something when it is gone | |
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To put the cart before the horse |
To do something in an incorrect order | |
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Bite off more than one can chew |
To try to do something one is unable to do or incapable of doing. | |
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Half a loaf is better than none |
It's better to have or receive less than one desires than to have or receive nothing at all. | |
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Have an old head on young shoulders |
Youngsters who possess qualities of wisdom one would only expect to find in experienced older people. | |
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Have eyes in the back of one's head |
An ability to know what is happening not within the scope of one's vision. | |
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If it's not one thing it's another |
The troubles seem to go on and on without end. | |
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The sky is the limit |
There is no upper limit to something | |
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A trouble shared is a trouble halved |
Your troubles seem half as great when you discuss them with someone else | |
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A watched pot never boils |
If you watch or wait for something to get done or to happen it seems to take forever | |
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Worship the ground somebody walks on |
Very much in love with somebody | |
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Between a rock and a hard place |
To be in a difficult situation from which there seems to be no escape | |
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Cleanliness is next to Godliness |
To be clean and tidy is just as important as being spiritually good and religious. | |
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Money is the root of all evil |
Crimes and wickedness are associated with money. | |
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Two's company, three's a crowd |
It is always fun while there are only two people whereas the third person is an unwelcome intrusion. | |
| It takes all sorts to make a world | You should not expect everyone to think and act as you do. | |
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Jump from the frying pan into the fire |
To go from a bad position to a worse one. | |
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Go from the sublime to the ridiculous |
Move from one situation which is wonderful or perfect to another which is absurd or awful | |
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One swallow doesn't make a summer |
One success doesn't guarantee complete success | |
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Truth is stranger than fiction |
Real life can be more incredible than anything which can be imagined | |
| You can't have your cake and eat it | You must choose between two things as it is impossible to have both at the same time | |
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A miss is as good as a mile |
Something that one already has is better than something that one may not be able to get | |
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As you make your bed so must you lie on it |
You must accept the consequences of your act | |
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Cut your coat according to your cloth |
Live within your income; don't be too ambitious in your plans |
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Actions speak louder than words
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Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of. | |
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Fortune knocks once at every man's door |
Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life. | |
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Give the devil his due
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Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings. | |
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God helps those who help themselves |
God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort. | |
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It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good |
A bad or evil occurrence. | |
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Great minds think alike |
Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations. | |
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Habit is second nature |
An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature. | |
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He laughs best who laughs last |
A person who does his best is the one who will get the greatest satisfaction in the end. | |
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Never do things by halves
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One should not do an incomplete or imperfect job - certain tasks must not be left half done; they must be done away with immediately. | |
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Great haste makes great waste |
If one does things hastily he will make a lot of mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time correcting those mistakes later. | |
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It's never too late to mend |
It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or faults. | |
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It's no use crying over spilt milk
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It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing lost that can never be found or a mistake done that can never be corrected or rectified. | |
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Still waters run deep |
One who is usually silent and goes about his business quietly may be a very wise person. | |
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Jack of all trades and master of none |
Is a person who can do almost anything, but he rarely excels in any of them. | |
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Let bygones by bygones |
One should consider forgiving one's and forget all the bad deeds done by others. | |
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Let not the pot call the kettle black
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A person who has a fault should not point out the same fault in another; do not criticize another person as you may have the same weakness. | |
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Let sleeping dogs lie |
One should preferably avoid discussing issues that are likely to create trouble. | |
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No news is good news |
When there is no news, it is likely that everything is all right. | |
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Look before you leap |
Avoid acting hastily, without considering the possible consequences. | |
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Necessity is the mother of invention |
When a person is in great need of something, he will find a way of getting it. | |
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Honesty is the best policy |
Being honest is believed to be the best route to take. | |
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One man's meat is another man's poison |
No two persons are alike - every one has his own preferences, likes and dislikes. | |
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Once bitten twice shy |
If a person has been tricked once he will more be careful and alert the next time. | |
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Like father, like son, like mother, like daughter |
( used to describe a child's behavior when he or she acts like the father or mother ) | |
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Practice makes perfect |
It is believed that if one practices a certain skill often, he will excel in it | |
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Prevention is better than cure |
It is better to be careful beforehand than to try to solve a problem after it has arisen. | |
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Rome was not built in a day |
Any great plan or big dream cannot be achieved overnight or easily. | |
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Robbing Peter to pay Paul |
( this is quoted when one takes another loan to pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give another. | |
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Spare the rod and spoil the child |
A child who is not punished and showed the error of his ways will become unruly. | |
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Speech is silver, silence is golden |
Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes acquiescence may be the best option to take. | |
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It takes two to make a quarrel |
Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame or take responsibility for it; no one can start a quarrel all by himself. | |
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Strike while the iron is hot |
Seize a good opportunity as quickly as possible. | |
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There's no smoke without fire |
Rumors do not spread unless there is some element of truth in them. | |
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Time and tide wait for no one |
Time is precious, once it is past no one can go back and claim it thus everyone should be mindful of how his time is spent. | |
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To err is human, to forgive divine
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It is only normal for man to make mistakes and do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his wrong is indeed great and gracious act. | |
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What's done can't be undone
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In life there are some things once done or decisions once made cannot be changed; malicious words once uttered or harmful actions once done cannot be taken back. | |
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Two heads are better than one |
It is always better to get the view of another than to rely entirely on one's own judgment. | |
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When in Rome do as the Romans do |
When one is in a new place, country or situation he must adapt himself to the new manners and customs. | |
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When the cat is away the mice will play |
When law enforcers are not present, certain public members will take the opportunity to break the law | |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder | One usually desires another more when he or she is far away. | |
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Between the devil and the deep sea |
To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma. | |
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Where there's a will there's a way |
When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it. | |
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A burnt child dreads fire |
A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime. | |
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First come, first served |
The first in line will be attended to first. | |
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A friend in need is a friend indeed |
A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend. | |
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Discretion is the better part of valor
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If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do. | |
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A hungry man is an angry man |
A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage. | |
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Empty vessels make the most noise |
Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss. | |
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A man is as old as he feels |
A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old. | |
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Great talkers are little doers |
Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work. | |
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An idle brain is the devil's workshop |
One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts. | |
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An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit |
It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever. | |
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Faint heart never won fair lady |
To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants. | |
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A penny saved is a penny gained |
By being thrifty one will be able to save up. | |
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A rolling stone gathers no moss
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A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done. | |
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As you sow, so you shall reap |
One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions. | |
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Barking dogs seldom bite |
Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out. | |
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Better late than never |
To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all. | |
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A bird in hand is worth two in the bush
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Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get. | |
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Birds of a feather flock together |
People of the same sort of character or belief always go together. | |
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Call a spade a spade
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If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression. | |
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Charity begins at home |
A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others. | |
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Dead men tell no lies
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( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.) | |
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A great talker is a great liar |
A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar. | |
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Every cloud has a silver lining
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If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation. | |
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All that glitters is not gold |
Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive. | |
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Eat to live, but do not live to eat |
Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food. | |
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Don't put all your eggs in one basket |
One should not risk everything he has in a single venture. | |
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Every dog has its day |
Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime. | |
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Every one can find fault, few can do better |
It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly. | |
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Any time means no time |
When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place. | |
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Fair exchange is no robbery
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A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated. | |
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Fire is a good servant but a bad master |
Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely. |
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