Daffodil International University
Faculty of Humanities and Social Science => English => Topic started by: Mustafizur rRhman on May 21, 2015, 04:18:14 PM
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LET US KNOW THE ENGLISH PROVERBS AND TRY TO USE THEM IN LIFE.
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'A bad excuse is better than none'=Always give an excuse, even if it's a poor one.
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A bad penny always turns up =[An unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back.]
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A bad workman blames his tools.
=[ Blaming the tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill.]
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A barking dog seldom bites.
=[Someone who constantly makes threats rarely carries them out.]
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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]
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A black plum is as sweet as a white.
=[People should not be judged by their appearance.]
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A book holds a house of gold.
=[There is a wealth of knowledge in books.]
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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]
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A burden of one's own choice is not felt.
=[Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily.]
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A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor.
=[A person shows their competence or ability when difficulties arise.]
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A cat has nine lives.
=1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury.
2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay.
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A change is as good as a rest.
= [A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday.]
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A constant guest is never welcome.
=[If you come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you.]
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A danger foreseen is half avoided.
=[If you are prepared to face a problem or difficulty, it will be easier to deal with.]
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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.]
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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.]
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A flower blooms more than once.
= [If you miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time.]
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A fly will not get into a closed mouth.
A closed mouth catches no flies.
=[ If you learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble.]
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A fool and his money are (soon) easily parted.
=[A foolish person usually spends money carelessly.]
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A fool at forty is a fool forever.
=[If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will.]
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A friend in need is a friend indeed.
=[ Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend.]
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A friend to all is a friend to none.
=[ Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special.]
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A friend's eye is a good mirror.
=[ A real friend will tell you the truth]
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A good beginning makes a good end.
= [If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done.]
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A good conscience is a soft pillow.
=[You sleep well when you have nothing to be guilty about.]
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A good example is the best sermon.
=[Giving a good example is better than giving advice]
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A good mind possesses a kingdom.
=[Intellectual assets are more valuable than material ones]
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A good name is better than a good face.
=[ A good reputation is better than a good appearance.]
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A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
=[If you know that you have done something wrong, you don't need anyone to tell you that you're guilty.]
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patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.
=[Patience is more precious than intelligence.]
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A happy heart is better than a full purse.
=[ Happiness is better than wealth.]
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A heavy purse gives to a light heart.
=[When you have money you feel more cheerful
and secure.]
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A hedge between keeps friendship green.
=[It is important to respect the privacy of others.]
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A hungry belly has no ears.
=[A hungry person is totally concentrated on their need for food and nothing else interests them.]
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A hungry wolf is fixed to no place.
=[A desperate person will go from place to place when they need to satisfy their needs.]
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A lender nor borrower be.
[Do not lend or borrow money.]
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A leopard cannot change its spots.
=[It is impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.]
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A lie begets a lie.
=[Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one.]
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A little fire is quickly trodden out.
=[If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue.]
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A loaded wagon makes no noise.
=[Really wealthy people do not talk about money.]
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A loveless life is living death.
=[Without affection, life is difficult.]
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A man is as old as he feels himself to be.
=Your age doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.
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A man is judged by his deeds, not by his words.
=A person is judged on what he/she actually does, not on what they say they will do.
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A man is known by the company he keeps.
=A person's character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time.
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A monkey in silk is a monkey no less.
=No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath.
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A picture paints a thousand words.
=A picture is better than a long description.
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A problem shared is a problem halved.
(Also : A worry shared is a worry halved.)
=It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone.
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A rolling stone gathers no moss
=If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor possessions.
Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down!
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A rotten apple spoils the barrel.
=A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.
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A soft answer turneth away wrath.
=If your reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger.
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A stitch in time saves nine.
=If you deal with a problem at an early stage you will save time and prevent it from getting worse.
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A tidy house holds a bored woman
=If a house is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her time.
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A wise head keeps a still tongue
=An intelligent person knows when to stay silent.
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A wonder lasts but nine days
=The effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine days; after that, life goes on as before.
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Actions speak louder than words
=What a person actually does is more important than what they say they will do.
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Adversity makes strange bedfellows.
=People of all origins who share the same misfortune are drawn together.
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After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a while.
=Dinner is called 'lunch' nowadays, and supper has become 'dinner'.
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All cats are grey in the dark.
=People are undistinguished until they have made a name for themselves.
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All covet, all lose
=If you try to obtain everything, you risk losing everything.
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All days are short to industry and long to idleness.
=Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do.
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All good things come to those who wait.
=If you are patient you will be rewarded.
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All that glitters is not gold.
=Appearances can be deceptive.
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All is fair in love and war.
=Things that are done in love or war can often be excused.
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All's well that ends well.
=There is a solution to everything even if there are doubts.
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All roads lead to Rome
=There are many different ways to reach an objective.
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All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
=Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation. It is not good to work all the time.
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An ant may well destroy a whole dam.
=A small problem can sometimes cause a lot of harm.
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An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
=Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy.
Other interpretation: A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems.
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An empty purse frightens away friends.
=When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear.
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An idle brain is the devil's workshop
=When you are busy working, you avoid temptation.
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An old fox is not easily snared.
=A person of experience is difficult to fool or manipulate.
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An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
=It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later.
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Anger is the one thing made better by delay.
=When you are angry, it is best not to speak or act immediately.
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Any time means no time.
=If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen.
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April showers bring May flowers.
=Something bad or unpleasant today may bring good things in the future.
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As you sow, so shall you reap.
=You have to accept the consequences of your actions.
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Bad news travels fast.
=People tend to circulate bad news very quickly (accidents, illness, etc.).
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Beauty is only skin deep.
=A person's character is more important than their appearance.
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Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
=Different people have different tastes.
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Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.
=It is preferable to have something sure now than the possibility of something better later.
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Better be alone than in bad company.
=Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with.
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Better flatter a fool than fight him.
=It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people.
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Better late than never.
=It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all.
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Birds of a feather flock together.
=People of the same sort are usually found together.
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Blood is thicker than water.
=Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.
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Charity begins at home.
=A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.
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Children and fools tell the truth.
=Neither children nor fools know that it is sometimes advantageous to lie.
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Cleanliness is next to godliness.
=A clean body is just as important as a pure soul.
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Clothes don't make the man.
=Appearances can be deceiving.
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Constant occupation prevents temptation.
=When you are busy working, you avoid temptation.
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Diligence is the mother of good fortune.
=Hard work brings rewards.
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Diseases of the soul are more dangerous
than those of the body.
=Thought to refer to mental and emotional disorder or spiritual torment as opposed to bodily pain.
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Dogs of the same street bark alike.
=People of the same background have the same behaviour.
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Don't dig your grave with our own knife and fork.
=Don't do something yourself that causes your own downfall.
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Don't judge a book by its cover.
=Don't judge by appearances.
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Early to bed, and early to rise, makes
a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
=It is much better for you to go to bed early and to get up early in the morning;
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Easier said than done.
=What is suggested sounds easy, but it is more difficult to actually do it.
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Empty vessels make the most noise.
=The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy.
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Every ass likes to hear himself bray.
=People like to listen to themselves talking.
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Every cloud has a silver lining.
=There is a positive or hopeful side to every situation.
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...some of these are really thought provoking,nice sharing sir :)
Afroza Akhter Tina
Senior Lecturer
Department of English, DIU
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All are nice quotes.
Thanks sir.
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'Soon learnt, soon forgotten'
Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.
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Everyone,
please share more so that we can learn more.
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"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover" – Mark Twain
Afroza Akhter Tina
Senior Lecturer
Department of English, DIU