Education & Upbringing: English Vocabulary List

Explore 13 English words about education & upbringing with pronunciation, definitions and example sentences.

13 words English Proverbs: Knowledge And Wisdom
as the old cock crows, so does the young /æz ðɪ ˈoʊld kˈɑːk kɹˈoʊz sˌoʊ dˈʌz ðə jˈʌŋ/ sentence

used to imply that children often imitate the behavior and attitudes of their elders, and that they can be influenced by the examples set by those around them

"Children copy parents."

"The younger generation's approach to business mirrored their parents' methods, proving as the old cock crows, so does the young."

as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined /æz ðə twˈɪɡ ɪz bˈɛnt sˌoʊ ɪz ðə tɹˈiː ɪnklˈaɪnd/ sentence

used to imply that a person's early experiences and upbringing shape their character and behavior in later life

"Early life shapes you."

"His rigid adherence to rules stemmed from his strict upbringing, showing as the twig is bent, so is the tree inclined."

it takes three generations to make a gentleman /ɪt tˈeɪks θɹˈiː dʒˌɛnɚɹˈeɪʃənz tə mˌeɪk ɐ dʒˈɛntəlmən/ sentence

used to suggest that becoming a refined and well-mannered individual requires several generations of effort, education, and example

"Refinement takes time."

"The family's continued elegance and grace demonstrated that it takes three generations to make a gentleman."

many a good cow has a bad calf /mˈɛni ɐ ɡˈʊd kˈaʊ hɐz ɐ bˈæd kˈæf/ sentence

used to emphasize that even a successful and capable individual can produce an offspring or product that is inferior or unsuccessful

"Good parents can have bad kids."

"Despite their excellent reputation, the company's latest product was a failure, proving many a good cow has a bad calf."

little birds (that|who) can sing and will not sing must be made to sing /lˈɪɾəl bˈɜːdz ðæt hˌuː kæn sˈɪŋ ænd wɪl nˌɑːt sˈɪŋ mˈʌst biː mˌeɪd tə sˈɪŋ/ sentence

used to imply that sometimes, people need to be pushed or encouraged to fulfill their potential or to achieve their goals

"Encourage shy people."

"The coach believed that little birds who can sing and will not sing must be made to sing, pushing them to excel."

an ordinary teacher tells, a good teacher explains, (but|) an excellent teacher (demonstrates and|) inspires /ɐn ˈɔːɹdɪnˌɛɹi tˈiːtʃɚ tˈɛlz ɐ ɡˈʊd tˈiːtʃɚɹ ɛksplˈeɪnz bˌʌt ɐn ˈɛksələnt tˈiːtʃɚ dˈɛmənstɹˌeɪts ænd ɪnspˈaɪɚz/ sentence

used to highlight that a great teacher is one who not only imparts knowledge but also inspires and motivates students to achieve their full potential

"Great teachers inspire students."

"Her lectures were engaging and thought-provoking; an ordinary teacher tells, a good teacher explains, but an excellent teacher inspires."

money spent on the brain is never spent in vain /mˈʌni spˈɛnt ɑːnðə bɹˈeɪn ɪz nˈɛvɚ spˈɛnt ɪn vˈeɪn/ sentence

used to emphasize that investing in education and intellectual pursuits is always worthwhile and valuable, as it can lead to personal and professional success and can never be wasted

"Education is a good investment."

"He prioritized his studies above all else, knowing that money spent on the brain is never spent in vain."

spare the rod and (you will|) spoil the child /spˈɛɹ ðə ɹˈɑːd ænd juː wɪl spˈɔɪl ðə tʃˈaɪld/ sentence

used to suggest that without proper discipline, guidance, and correction when a child misbehaves, they may become spoiled, undisciplined, and poorly behaved

"Discipline is important for kids."

"The parents were strict, believing that spare the rod and you will spoil the child if discipline is lacking."

train up a child in the way he should go /tɹˈeɪn ˌʌp ɐ tʃˈaɪld ɪnðə wˈeɪ hiː ʃˌʊd ɡˈoʊ/ sentence

used to imply that proper guidance and instruction from an early age are essential for a child's proper development and success

"Guide children early."

"The community's focus on early education aimed to train up a child in the way he should go for a better future."

better unborn than untaught /bˈɛɾɚɹ ʌnbˈɔːɹn ðɐn ʌntˈɔːt/ sentence

used to emphasizes the importance of education, suggesting that it is better not to be born at all than to be born and remain uneducated or ignorant

"Education is vital."

"She argued passionately for universal schooling, stating that it is better unborn than untaught in this modern world."

better (be|) untaught than ill-taught /bˈɛɾɚ biː ʌntˈɔːt ðɐn ˈɪltˈɔːt/ sentence

used to imply that receiving poor or incorrect education can be more detrimental than having no education at all, emphasizing the importance of ensuring that education is of high quality

"Bad teaching is worse than none."

"The online course was so confusing and inaccurate that it was worse than not learning anything at all."

birth is much but breeding more /bˈɜːθ ɪz mˈʌtʃ bˌʌt bɹˈiːdɪŋ mˈoːɹ/ sentence

used to imply that a person's upbringing and education are more important than their birth or social status in shaping their character and determining their success in life

"Good upbringing matters more."

"Despite his noble lineage, his refined manners and education truly demonstrated that birth is much but breeding more."

he teaches ill who teaches all /hiː tˈiːtʃᵻz ˈɪl hˌuː tˈiːtʃᵻz ˈɔːl/ sentence

used to imply that a teacher who claims to know everything and teaches beyond their expertise may be doing more harm than good

"Don't claim to know everything."

"The professor's overconfidence in his own knowledge led to misinformation, proving that he teaches ill who teaches all."

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English Proverbs: Knowledge And Wisdom — Topics