Understand English more deeply with proverbs expressing qualities such as superficiality, contrast, usefulness, and similarity.
11 topics132 words
Superficiality15 words
a (good|fair) face needs no paintsentenceused to imply that a person's true beauty lies in their virtues, personality, and inner qualities, which surpass the need for external enhancements
a fair face may hide a foul heartsentenceused to warn that appearances can be deceiving, so it is important to look beyond a person's outward appearance or charm to understand their true character or intentions
a monkey in silk is a monkey no lesssentenceused to say that external appearances or material possessions do not change one's true nature or inherent qualities
outside noisy, inside emptysentenceused to imply the importance of a rich inner life for true satisfaction, as external success cannot guarantee inner fulfillment, and even the successful may feel empty or unhappy
shallow streams make most dinsentenceused to suggest that those who make the most noise or attract the most attention may not have much depth or substance to their words or actions
still waters run deepsentenceused to imply that people or things that appear calm or unremarkable on the surface may actually have great depth or complexity
you can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pigsentenceused to convey the idea that no matter how much one tries to disguise or enhance the appearance of something or someone, their true nature or essence remains unchanged
all are not thieves that dogs bark atsentenceused to imply that people should not be judged solely based on accusations or appearances, and that it is important to assess the facts and evidence before making any conclusions
the bait (hides|covers) the hooksentenceused to warn that people or situations may be deliberately deceptive, and that it is important to be cautious and discerning in order to avoid being taken advantage of or harmed
bitter pills (may|can) have (blessed|sweet|wholesome) effectssentenceused to imply that sometimes unpleasant experiences or difficult decisions may have positive or beneficial outcomes over time
cold hands, warm heartsentenceused to suggest that people should not judge others based solely on their outward demeanor or behavior, as someone who appears cold or distant may actually be warm and caring
everyone's faults are not written (in|on) their [forehead]sentenceused to imply that people should not be judged or criticized based solely on their external appearance or behavior, as underlying factors may not be immediately apparent
{not} think there are no crocodiles (just|) because the water is calmsentenceused to emphasize that even in seemingly safe situations, people should be aware of potential dangers and threats
the lion is not so fierce, as he (too|) is paintedsentenceuse to imply that appearances or reputations can be deceiving and should not be relied upon to judge someone or something's true character or abilities
every couple is not a pairsentenceused to suggest that people's lives and relationships may appear better or more ideal from a distance, but the reality may be different when seen up close
Duality & Contrast23 words
clergymen's sons always turn out badlysentenceused to imply that the burden of high expectations placed on the children of successful or accomplished individuals can be damaging and lead to rebellion or negative behavior
doctors make the worst patientssentenceused to imply that those who work in a certain profession may be difficult clients or recipients of services related to that profession due to their preconceived notions and knowledge of the field
every light has its shadowsentenceused to imply that in any situation or experience, there are both positive and negative aspects that coexist
every white has its black, and every sweet its soursentenceused to emphasize that every positive or desirable thing is accompanied by its contrasting or negative counterpart
extremes meetsentenceused to suggest that two seemingly opposite or extreme things or people can actually have some common ground or similarity, despite their apparent differences
from the sublime to the ridiculous is only (a|one) stepsentenceused to imply that it is possible for something that is very serious or profound to quickly and easily become something trivial or absurd, often with little warning or explanation
honey is sweet, but the bee stingssentenceused for saying that something may appear pleasant or desirable on the surface, but it can have negative or harmful consequences as well
one cannot love and be wisesentenceused to imply the idea that love is often associated with strong emotions and impulsive behavior, which can cloud a person's judgment and lead them to behave foolishly or make unwise decisions
opposites (often|) (tend to|) attractsentenceused to suggest that people are often drawn to those who are different from themselves in terms of personality, interests, or other characteristics
the shoemaker's son always goes barefootsentenceused to imply that professionals or experts in a particular field may neglect to use their skills or services for their own benefit or that of their family members
the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weaksentenceused to suggest that even though a person may have the desire or intention to do something, their physical weakness or limitations may prevent them from actually carrying it out
there is no joy without alloysentenceused to suggest that even the happiest experiences in life come with some negative aspects or challenges
wanton kittens make sober catssentenceused to describe the behavior of young people, who may be impulsive and reckless in their youth but become more responsible and sensible as they get older
where God builds a church, the devil will build a chapelsentenceused to suggest that wherever there is progress or success, there will always be those who seek to exploit or corrupt it
God sends meat (and|as) the devil sends cookssentenceused to warn against being misled by tempting but ultimately harmful or unnecessary things, emphasizing that God provides what is needed while the devil tempts with what is wanted
fire is a good servant but a bad mastersentenceused to imply that while certain things can be beneficial when used properly, they can become harmful or dangerous if they are not controlled or managed effectively
one man's loss is another man's gainsentenceused to imply that resources and opportunities are finite, and that one person's loss can create an opportunity for someone else to succeed
the cobbler's wife is the worst shodsentenceused to suggest that professionals or experts in a particular field may neglect to apply their skills or services to their own lives or those of their immediate family
(everyone|everybody) wants to go to heaven, but (nobody|no one) wants to diesentenceused to suggest that people often desire the rewards or benefits of a particular goal but are not willing to take the necessary steps or make the necessary sacrifices to achieve it
the weakness of the enemy makes our strengthsentenceused to suggest that the vulnerabilities of one's opponent can provide an opportunity for one's own strength or power to be demonstrated
every rose has its thornsentenceused to imply that every good thing in life has its own negative aspects or challenges
the road to hell is paved with good intentionssentenceused to imply that even if one's intentions are good, one's actions may still lead to negative consequences, and that one must be mindful of the impact of one's actions on others
go abroad and you will hear news of homesentenceused to suggest that being away from home can make a person more interested in news from their home and family, as they are no longer directly involved in the daily events
Usefulness & Value9 words
it does not matter if a cat is black or white (as|so) long as it catches micesentenceused to imply that achieving the desired outcome is more important than superficial qualities or traditional approaches, highlighting the importance of practicality and effectiveness
a king's chaff is worth more than other men's cornsentenceused to imply that something associated with a person in a position of power is perceived as more valuable than the same thing associated with someone of lesser status, regardless of its actual worth
a store is no soresentenceused to highlight the idea of keeping or storing items that may not have immediate value or purpose, as they could prove useful or valuable in the future
free vinegar is sweeter than honeysentenceused to suggest that something that is free is often more appreciated than something that is expensive, even if the free thing is of lower quality
it is a poor dog that is not worth whistling forsentenceused to imply that even seemingly insignificant things or people can have value or usefulness, and that one should not dismiss or underestimate them too quickly
not worth a brass farthingphraseused to imply that something or someone is completely worthless and has no value at all
one man's (trash|junk) is another man's treasuresentenceused to suggest that what is considered worthless by one person may be valuable to another, as value is subjective and varies from person to person
keep a thing seven years and you will find a use for itsentenceused to suggest that if one holds on to something for a long enough time, one will eventually find a purpose or a use for it
no more than the man in the moonphraseused to imply that someone or something is considered to be insignificant, unimportant, or of little value
Quality & Performance13 words
a cracked bell can never sound wellsentenceused to imply that something that is damaged or flawed will never work properly, regardless of its other qualities or potential, as the flaw can significantly impact its effectiveness
a diamond with a flaw is better than a common stone that is perfectsentenceused to suggest that something of high value, even with a minor imperfection, is more desirable than something ordinary or mundane that is perfect
a good tale is none the worse for being told twicesentenceused to suggest that a good story is timeless and can be enjoyed and appreciated regardless of how many times it is repeated
cheapest is (often|) (the|) dearestsentenceused to imply that opting for the least expensive option can end up being the most expensive in the long run, as it may require further expenses to fix problems or replace low-quality goods
good seed makes (for|) a good cropsentenceused to suggest that starting with high-quality materials or resources leads to better outcomes and long-term success
(a|) good wine needs no bushsentenceused to suggest that something of high quality or value does not require advertising or promotion, as its excellence is apparent
if you want (something|a thing) done (right|well), (you might as well|) do it yourselfsentenceused to suggest that to ensure a task is completed to a high standard, it is best to undertake it oneself rather than relying on others
if (a thing|it) is worth doing, it is worth doing wellsentenceused to imply that important tasks or activities deserve one's full effort and attention to ensure a successful outcome
small is beautifulsentenceused to imply that small or simple things can be just as significant and admirable as large or complex things, emphasizing that worth or quality is not necessarily linked to size or complexity
good and (quickly|quick) seldom meetsentenceused to war that it is difficult to achieve both speed and high quality simultaneously, suggesting that a focus on one may come at the expense of the other
good things (tend to|) (come|arrive) in small packagessentenceused to suggest that something small can have great value or significance, and that one should not judge the worth of something based solely on its size or outward appearance
jack of all trades is a master of nonesentenceused to imply that a person who tries to do many different things may not become excellent or an expert in any one thing
a creaking door hangs longestsentenceused to imply that something that is old or of poor quality is often more durable or long-lasting than something new or of better quality
Similarity & Dissimilarity7 words
a thief knows a thief, as a wolf knows a wolfsentenceused to imply that people who have experience in criminal activities have a certain level of understanding and familiarity with the behavior and tactics of other criminals
East is East, (and|) West is Westsentenceused to suggest that there are certain inherent differences between two things or groups of people that cannot be overcome or reconciled
all cats are gray in the darksentenceused to suggest that when we lack knowledge or understanding about a particular subject, it can be hard to discern the differences between similar things or people
like mother, like daughterphraseused to imply that daughters often share similar qualities, traits, or behaviors with their mothers, either as a result of genetics, upbringing, or cultural influence
all that glitters is not goldsentenceused to suggest that appearances can be deceiving, and that it is important to look beyond surface-level qualities to assess true value or worth
like father, like sonphraseused to say that a son's behavior or qualities are similar to those of his father
every light is not the sunsentenceused to highlight the notion that things or people may appear similar but they may not possess the same qualities
Suitability & Compatibility13 words
oil and water (do not|never) mixsentenceused to emphasize the idea that some things or people simply do not go well together, and that trying to combine them can result in conflict or a lack of success
day and night cannot dwell togethersentenceused for implying that elements that are fundamentally different or incompatible cannot exist together in harmony or unity
you cannot serve (both|) God and Mammonsentenceused to suggest that it is impossible to pursue both material wealth and spiritual or moral values at the same time
a place for everything and everything in its placesentenceused to emphasize the value of organization and orderliness by suggesting that items should be stored in their proper places to avoid clutter and confusion
different strokes for different folkssentenceused to emphasize that people have different tastes, preferences, and needs, and that it is important to recognize and respect these differences
borrowed garments never (fit|sit) wellsentenceused to suggest that relying on the ideas or attitudes of others may lead to discomfort or failure, as they may not be suitable for one's individual needs or preferences
every shoe fits not every footsentenceused to imply that a solution or approach that works for one person or situation may not work for another, emphasizing that one should find solutions to fit the specific needs and circumstances
horses for coursessentenceused to imply that different people are suited to different things, and what works well for one person may not work well for another
there is a time and (a|) place for everythingsentenceused to imply that certain actions, behaviors, or decisions are appropriate only in specific situations, and that it is important to recognize when and where they are appropriate
a carrion kite will never be a good hawksentenceused to imply that a person or thing cannot be something that they are not inherently suited for or capable of, and that it is important to recognize and accept one's limitations
everything is good in its seasonsentenceused to suggest that everything has its own appropriate time or occasion, and that it is important to respect the natural order of things
every pot has its lidsentenceused to express the idea that there is a suitable or compatible match for every person or situation
every couple is not a pairsentenceused to imply that individuals within a relationship may have significant differences or incompatibilities that hinder their ability to form a good partnership
Importance & Priority8 words
strain at gnats and swallow camelssentenceused to describe the act of focusing excessively on small or insignificant details while ignoring or overlooking much larger and more important matters
while the grass grows, the (horse|steed) starvessentenceused to warn against neglecting immediate needs and responsibilities in favor of long-term aspirations, as doing so can lead to negative consequences
eagles {not} catch fliessentenceused to imply that people of high status or intelligence do not waste their time on trivial matters or insignificant people
the mother of mischief is no bigger than a midge's wingsentenceused to suggest that seemingly minor or insignificant things can be the root of significant problems or mischief
it is idle to swallow the cow and choke on the tailsentenceused to imply that it is unwise to take on a task or challenge without being fully prepared to handle all of its components and potential consequences
do not lose sight of the forest for the treessentenceused to emphasize that one should not become so focused on small details that one loses sight of the bigger picture or the main goal
the head and feet keep warm, the rest will take no harmsentenceused to suggest that by focusing on the core aspects and addressing them effectively, one can avoid unnecessary complications and protect oneself from potential risks or harm
better one house spoiled than twosentenceused to imply that it is better to sacrifice one thing to prevent the destruction or damage of two things, emphasizing the importance of making tough choices and prioritizing what is most valuable
Time & Timeliness12 words
delays are dangeroussentenceused to warn that procrastination or putting off important tasks or decisions can lead to negative consequences and missed opportunities
a day of sorrow is longer than a month of joysentenceused to imply that negative experiences, such as sorrow or hardship, can make time feel slow and endless, while positive experiences, like joy or happiness, can make time seem to fly by
all days are short to industry and long to idlenesssentenceused to imply that being productive and busy makes time seem to pass quickly, while being idle and unproductive can make time seem to drag on
no sooner said than donesentenceused to imply that a task or action was accomplished immediately after it was suggested or requested
punctuality is the soul of businesssentenceused to suggest that being on time and meeting deadlines is essential for the success of any business or professional endeavor
there is no time like the presentsentenceused to imply that there is no better time to act or do something than the present moment
time and tide (wait|tarry) for no mansentenceused to emphasize that time and opportunities will not wait for anyone, and that once they have passed, they cannot be regained
time fleeth away without delaysentenceused to implt that time is a valuable and limited resource that should be used wisely and not taken for granted, as once it has passed, it cannot be regained
time is moneysentenceused to emphasize that time is a valuable and limited resource that should be used wisely and efficiently
the early man never borrows from the late mansentenceused to suggest that those who start early and work hard are more likely to be successful and not need to rely on others for help
there is a time to speak and a time to be silentsentenceused to suggest there are appropriate times to express oneself and times to refrain from speaking
(the|) early bird (catches|gets) the wormsentenceused to imply that the person who starts their day or task early will have an advantage over those who start later or procrastinate
Expectations & Predictabilities12 words
there is nowt so queer as folksentenceused to suggest that people can be unpredictable and diverse in their behavior, emphasizing the importance of being accepting and respectful of individual differences
(truth|fact) is stranger than fictionsentenceused to suggest that real-life events can be more surprising and unusual than anything that could be invented, emphasizing that reality is often unpredictable and extraordinary
jesters do oft prove prophetssentenceused to suggest that people who are seen as foolish or unimportant often have insights that others do not, because they have a unique perspective on the world or can notice what others cannot
blessed is he who expects nothing (, for he shall never be disappointed|)sentenceused to suggest that if someone does not expect too much from a situation or person, they will not be let down if things do not go as planned or hoped for
expect disappointment and you will never be disappointedsentenceused to suggest that managing expectations and anticipating potential setbacks can help people avoid disappointment and maintain a more positive outlook
expectation is (far|way|) better than realizationsentenceused to imply that the excitement or imagination of something can be more satisfying than the reality of it, suggesting that people should not build up their expectations too much
the unexpected always happenssentenceused to suggest that no matter how prepared someone is, there is always the possibility of unforeseen circumstances or events that can alter the outcome
what can you expect from a hog but a gruntsentenceused to suggest that people should not have unrealistic expectations or demand too much from something or someone that is limited in its abilities or capacities
coming events cast their shadows beforesentenceused to suggest that future events can often be predicted by observing the signs or indications that precede them
a lion may come to be beholden to a mousesentenceused to suggest that even those in positions of power or influence may one day find themselves indebted to someone who is seemingly weaker or less significan
never is a long timesentenceused to suggest that circumstances and situations can change unexpectedly, making it unwise to make absolute statements or predictions about the future
it is all lombard street to a china orangesentenceused to suggest that something is very certain or obvious, emphasizing the clear outcome or result of a situation
Practicality11 words
a man is judged by his deeds, not by his wordssentenceused to imply that a person's true character is revealed through their actions, rather than their words or promises
better to have less thunder in the mouth, and more lightning in the handsentenceused to suggest that it is more effective and valuable to have tangible actions and accomplishments rather than merely impressive words or empty promises
deeds are fruits, words are but leavessentenceused to imply that the value of a person's actions is more significant than their words, which are merely superficial
fair words fill not the bellysentenceused to suggest that although kind or flattering words may be pleasing, they do not provide practical benefits or solve real problems
the proof of the pudding is in the eatingsentenceused to imply that the true value or quality of something can only be judged by experiencing it or putting it into practice
talk is cheapsentenceused to imply that words are easy to say, but they may not always be backed up by action or substance, and therefore, they may lack value or credibility
a tree is known by its fruitsentenceused to suggest that a person's true character or worth can be judged by the results of their actions or behavior
well done is (much|) better than well saidsentenceused to imply that actions are more valuable than mere words, and that it is better to demonstrate one's abilities or intentions through deeds or accomplishments rather than just talking about them
words are but wind (, but blows unkind|)sentenceused to emphasize that talk or promises alone do not hold much value without accompanying actions or follow-through
if ifs and ands were pots and pans (there'd be no work for tinkers' hands|)sentenceused to dismiss speculation and hypothetical thinking as useless, emphasizing the importance of focusing on practical and realistic solutions to problems
take the will for the deedsentenceused to suggests that the thought or intention of doing something is as valuable as actually carrying it out
Mistakes & Imperfections9 words
a good marksman may misssentenceused to imply that even skilled individuals can make mistakes or fail to achieve their desired outcome
every bean has its blacksentenceused to suggest that every person or thing has its flaws or negative aspects, no matter how good or perfect they may seem
a horse has four legs, yet it falls oftensentenceused to imply that even though something or someone may possess certain qualities or advantages, they are not immune to failure or setbacks
the best of men are but men at bestsentenceused to imply that even the most exceptional individuals are still human and therefore have limitations and flaws
even Homer (sometimes|) nodssentenceused to imply that even the most skilled and knowledgeable individuals are capable of making mistakes or errors
if you do not make mistakes, you do not make anythingsentenceused to emphasize that making mistakes is an inevitable and necessary part of the process of learning and achieving success
it is a good horse that never stumbles and a good wife that never grumblessentenceused to imply that making mistakes is a natural part of being human, and nobody is immune to it, regardless of how skilled or experienced they are
to err is human (, to forgive divine|)sentenceused to imply that making mistakes is a natural part of being human, and it is important to forgive people when they make mistakes
there is no garden without its weedssentenceused to imply that nothing in life is perfect and that even the best situations or individuals have their flaws, weaknesses, or challenges
Learn all 132 words in this list with spaced repetition