Proverbs: Top 30 English Proverbs and Their Meanings!

English Proverbs! Following is a list of 30 famous proverbs in English with their useful meanings you need to learn to master your English fluency.

List of Proverbs

Proverb is a simple, concrete, traditional saying that expresses a truth based on common sense or experience. Proverbs are often metaphorical and use formulaic language.

List of proverbs and their meanings:

• Two wrongs don’t make a right

Meaning: When someone did something bad to you, trying to do something bad to them will only make things worse.

• Better late than never

Meaning: It’s better if you do something later, than not do it at all.

• A friend in need is a friend indeed

Meaning:  If someone helps you when you have problems, or you are in trouble, that person is a true friend.

• Actions speak louder than words

Meaning:  What you do matters – not what you say.

• Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Meaning: Everyone has their own ideas of what is beautiful.

• Better safe than sorry

Meaning: You should always be careful, even if you think it’s not necessary.

• Practice makes perfect

Meaning: If you want to be perfect at something, you need to practice every day.

• Easy come, easy go

Meaning: When something, especially money, is easily got and then soon spent or lost.

famous proverbs | infographic 

• When in Rome, do as the Romans do

Meaning: When you are in another country, it’s better to behave like the citizens of this country.

• A picture speaks a thousand words / A picture is worth a thousand words

Meaning: No matter what language you speak, a picture can tell you more in a few seconds than in the time spent reading a thousand words describing the same thing.

• Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk

Meaning: Don’t brag about being able to do something, unless you actually know how to do it.

• Great minds think alike

Meaning: Smart people usually have the same ideas. This proverb is used when someone has the same idea as you.

• Haste makes waste

Meaning: When you try to work too quickly, you usually make mistakes.

• If you snooze, you lose

Meaning: You have to act fast to get what you want.

• Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.

Meaning: If you associate with bad or dishonest people, bad things will happen to you.

• Look before you leap

Meaning: Make decisions carefully. Think about it first.

• Measure twice, cut one

Meaning: It’s hard to change a decision, once you’ve made it.

• Misery loves company

Meaning: People who are unhappy want to make others unhappy too.

• First things first

Meaning: Be patient. Do the things in their correct order.

• Honesty is the best policy

Meaning: It’s better to always tell the truth.

• It never rains, but it pours

Meaning: Bad luck never comes alone. Bad things usually happen all together at once.

• Love is blind

Meaning: If you love someone, you don’t notice his or her faults. You think they’re perfect.

English proverbs | infographic 

• Mind your own business

Meaning: Do not interfere with other people’s lives and affairs.

• Money is the root of all evil

Meaning: Money is the cause of all problems.

• No pain, no gain

Meaning: If you don’t work hard, you’ll never achieve your goal.

• Seeing is believing

Meaning: People don’t often believe something, unless they see it.

• Time is money

Meaning: The longer it takes to do something, the more costly it will be

• What’s done is done

Meaning: You cannot change what has already happened.

• Too many cooks spoil the broth

Meaning: If there are many people doing the same job, the result will come out to be bad.

• Don’t count your chickens before they hatch

Meaning: Don’t assume your plans will come to fruition.

Famous Proverbs | Infographic

English Proverbs | Infographic 1

English Proverbs | Infographic 2

Learn more about English idioms.