Learn English proverbs to better understand daily life, covering health, habits, and more.
7 topics71 words
Hunger & Appetite7 words
hunger is the (best|finest) saucesentenceused to imply that hunger can enhance the flavor of food, making it more enjoyable and satisfying
hunger drives the wolf out of the woodsentenceused to imply that necessity can be a powerful motivator, driving individuals to take action they might not otherwise consider
a hungry belly has no earssentenceused to imply that when a person is hungry or in need, they are less likely to listen to reason or advice
a growing youth has a wolf in his bellysentenceused to imply that young people have a strong appetite and need plenty of food and nutrition to support their physical and mental growth and development
a hungry man is an angry mansentenceused to imply that hunger can affect a person's mood or behavior and that being hungry for an extended period can lead to frustration and anger
an army marches on its stomachsentenceused to highlight the essential role of sufficient food and nourishment in enabling soldiers or workers to perform effectively and achieve success
hunger finds no fault with cookerysentenceused to imply that when a person is very hungry, they will eat whatever food is available, regardless of its quality or taste
Health & Well-Being12 words
nothing is so good for the inside of a man as the outside of a horsesentenceused to imply that being in nature and forming connections with animals can have a profound effect on one's sense of inner peace and happiness
a bow long bent grows weaksentenceused to imply that prolonged effort or strain can lead to a decrease in strength or effectiveness, as the body and mind may become fatigued or overworked
a change is as good as a restsentenceused to suggest that making a change in one's routine or environment can have a similar refreshing effect as taking a break or rest
diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the bodysentenceused to imply that mental and emotional health issues can have a profound impact on one's overall well-being, and can often be more challenging to address than physical health issues
eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a paupersentenceused to imply that eating a substantial breakfast can provide the necessary energy to start the day, while consuming a lighter lunch and dinner can aid digestion and promote better sleep
gluttony kills more than the swordsentenceused to imply that indulging in excessive or unhealthy eating habits can be more harmful than physical violence
one hour's sleep before midnight is worth (two|three) aftersentenceused to imply that quality sleep before midnight is more beneficial than the same amount of sleep after midnight, emphasizing the importance of a regular and restful sleep schedule
one hand for {oneself} and one (hand|) for the shipsentenceused to imply that individuals should prioritize their own needs while also contributing to the overall success of the group
laugh and (grow|be) fatsentenceused to emphasize that laughter is beneficial to one's physical and mental health, and that it can promote a positive outlook on life
laughter is the best medicinesentenceused to imply that laughter can boost the immune system, reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall well-being
a creaking door hangs longestsentenceused to imply that people who seem to be in worse health could potentially live longer than those who appear to be healthier
the head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harmsentenceused to emphasize the importance of focusing on essential needs and taking care of foundational aspects to maintain overall health and well-being
Health & Hygiene13 words
an onion a day keeps everyone awaysentenceused to suggest that the strong odor of onions can make people avoid one
cleanliness is next to godlinesssentenceused to imply that being clean and hygienic is important for spiritual purity and overall well-being
a good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's booksentenceused to suggest that laughter and rest can be powerful tools for promoting mental and physical health
an apple a day keeps the doctor awaysentenceused to suggest that eating healthy foods, such as apples, can help to prevent illness and keep one healthy
better to be poor and healthy than rich and sicksentenceused to emphasize the importance of prioritizing health and well-being over material wealth, implying that good health is more essential for a fulfilling life
better pay the butcher than the doctorsentenceused to suggest that investing in a healthy and balanced diet can help to prevent illness and reduce the need for costly medical treatment
an empty (sack|bag) (cannot|will not) stand uprightsentenceused to suggest that in order to function well or be successful, one needs to have the necessary resources, such as knowledge, experience, skills, or material possessions
the best advice is found on the pillowsentenceused to suggest that taking time to reflect and think things over before going to sleep can lead to better decision-making and finding solutions to problems
early to bed, (and|) early to risesentenceused to imply that maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, with sufficient hours of sleep can have a positive impact on one's health, productivity, and overall well-being
it is ill speaking between a full man and a fastingsentenceused to advise against having serious conversations or arguments when one person is well-fed and satisfied while the other is hungry and irritable, as it may lead to misunderstandings and conflict
night brings counselsentenceused to imply that a good night's sleep and taking time to reflect on a problem or decision can lead to greater clarity and perspective, resulting in better decision-making
after dinner sleep a while, after supper walk a milesentenceused to encourage individuals to prioritize their health and well-being, and to recognize the potential benefits of different activities after meals
an empty sack cannot stand uprightsentenceused to suggest that having enough nourishment through food is essential for carrying out one's duties effectively
Habits & Routine7 words
old habits die hardsentenceused to suggest that changing deeply ingrained habits can be difficult due to the comfort and familiarity associated with them
bad habits die hardsentenceused to suggest that negative or harmful habits can be particularly difficult to break or change, even when one knows they are harmful to one's well-being or success
habit is second naturesentenceused to imply that habits or actions that are repeated frequently become automatic and require less conscious effort, emphasizing that people should be mindful of their habits
the dog (always|) returns to its vomitsentenceused to imply that some people repeat harmful behavior despite knowing it is harmful to their well-being or success, emphasizing the importance of learning from past mistakes
go to bed with the lamb and rise with the larksentenceused to imply that a consistent sleep schedule, where one goes to bed early and wakes up early, can lead to increased productivity and overall well-being
let the cobbler stick to his lastsentenceused to suggest that individuals should focus on their area of expertise or specialization, rather than attempting to do things they are not skilled at, to avoid the risk of failure
once a thief, always a thiefsentenceused to suggest that someone who has a history of stealing or engaging in dishonest behavior is likely to continue doing so in the future, regardless of any attempts to change or reform
Death16 words
ashes to ashes (, dust to dust|)sentenceused to imply that all living things will eventually die and return to the earth as dust, emphasizing the idea of mortality and the fleeting nature of human life
dead men {not} bitesentenceused to imply that once someone or something is dead, it no longer poses a threat or danger, aiming to reassure someone who is afraid of a situation that their fear may be unfounded
death is the great levelersentenceused to emphasize that all humans are equal in the face of death, and that the pursuit of material wealth or status is ultimately meaningless in the face of mortality
death pays all debtssentenceused to suggest that when a person dies, any debts or obligations they may have had during their lifetime are considered to be settled or paid in full
dying is (just|) as natural as livingsentenceused to emphasize the idea that death is a natural part of the human experience, and that it should be accepted as such
the end makes all equalsentenceused emphasize the importance of treating all individuals with respect and dignity, as they will ultimately be equal in death regardless of any differences that may have existed during their lifetimes
in the midst of life we are in deathsentenceused to emphasize the fragility of human life and the idea that death is an inescapable part of the human experience
stone-dead hath no fellowsentenceused to express the idea that death is the ultimate end, and that nothing can compare to it or reverse its effects
there is a remedy for everything except deathsentenceused to emphasize that while there may be solutions or cures for many of the difficulties we face in life, death is the one force that cannot be avoided or overcome
life is not separate from death, it only looks that waysentenceused as a reminder that people's lives are part of a larger cycle of existence, and that death is a natural and inevitable part of that cycle
let the dead bury the deadsentenceused to emphasize the importance of living in the present moment and not becoming overly attached to the past or to the dead
young men may die, but old men must diesentenceused to suggest that death is a natural and inevitable part of life, and that all people, regardless of age, will eventually die
shrouds have no pocketssentenceused to suggest that it is pointless to accumulate material possessions in life because they cannot be taken with us after we die
art is long and life is shortsentenceused to imply that artistic creations have the ability to endure long after their creators have passed away, making them a kind of immortality
the good die youngsentenceused to imply that when a person is good or virtuous, it is always too soon for them to die, regardless of their age
the good die youngsentenceused to express the idea that life is unfair, and that sometimes individuals who are the most deserving of a long and fulfilling life are taken too soon
Age9 words
a man is as old as he feels himself to besentenceused to say that a person's age is not solely determined by the number of years they have lived, but by their physical and mental state
an old man is twice a childsentenceused to imply that as a person ages, they become more childlike in their behavior and needs, emphasizing the importance of treating the elderly with care and respect
early ripe, early rottenphraseused to suggest that someone who achieves success or matures too quickly or too early in life may also experience a decline or downfall earlier than others
every man is (either|) a fool or physician by (forty|thirty)sentenceused to imply that as a person reaches middle age, they either gain wisdom and expertise from their experiences or remain foolish due to their inability to learn from mistakes
life begins at fortysentenceused to suggest that the second half of life can be as rewarding as the first, as the age of forty allows more time and resources to focus on personal interests
other times, other mannerssentenceused to suggest that customs, behavior, and social norms change over time, and what is acceptable or expected in one era or culture may not be in another
there is many a good tune played on an old fiddlesentenceused to suggest that even though something or someone may be old and worn out, they can still be effective and have value
(the|) youth must be servedsentenceused to imply that young people should be given opportunities to grow, learn, and express themselves while being treated with patience and understanding to nurture their potential
youth will have its (fling|swing)sentenceused to emphasize that young people should be allowed to explore and experiment with their lives, make mistakes, and learn from them
Nature7 words
nature abhors a vacuumsentenceused to suggest that empty or unoccupied spaces tend to be filled quickly by other things or forces
a dry March, a wet April and a cool May fill barn and cellar and bring much haysentenceused to suggest that a lack of rain in March, abundant rain in April, and cooler temperatures in May, are beneficial for agriculture, leading to a bountiful harvest
{not} cast a clout (until|till) May (be|is) outsentenceused to suggest that it is wise to wait and avoid making significant decisions or taking action until the situation or circumstances have become clearer or more certain
if in February there be no rain, it is neither good for hey nor grainsentenceused to highlight the importance of weather conditions during the early part of the year for agricultural purposes
as the day lengthens, so the cold strengthenssentenceused to suggest that as winter continues and the days become shorter, the weather becomes colder and more severe, and people should prepare accordingly
ne'er cast a clout till may be outsentenceused to advise not to stop wearing warm clothes until the end of May, because the weather can still turn cold and unpredictable in spring
april showers bring may flowerssentenceused to imply that that the rainy days of April contribute to the growth and blooming of flowers in May
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