English Language Education

 26. You made your bed, now you have to lie in it. No one likes sleeping in a poorly made bed. If you make your bed with the sheets all tangled and blankets facing the wrong way, you can’t switch with someone else. You have to sleep in that bed. This proverb uses bed-making to describe any bad situation in which you may find yourself. You can’t trade places with anyone else. You must live with the results of your actions, so make good choices. 27. Actions speak louder than words. The Greek philosopher Plato once said that action is character. People are not defined by what they say because a lot of talk does not mean anything. People are judged by the things they do. Your actions are more important than what you say. 28. It takes two to tango. This proverb is often said during a fight in which one person is putting all of the blame on the other person, when both people were actually responsible. Just as one person can’t tango...

 1. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. ‘The grass is always greener” is a proverb that teaches us it’s not good to be jealous (to want what other people have). It may seem like everyone around you has “greener grass,” meaning nicer cars, better jobs, etc. But your neighbor probably thinks you have greener grass too, which means that your friends and other people think that you have better looks, a happier family, etc. So instead of thinking about what everyone else has, this proverb wants you to be thankful for what you have. 2. Don’t judge a book by its cover. Things are not always what they seem. This proverb teaches you not to make judgments about other people because of how they look or dress. A book with a boring or plain cover could be amazing. The same is true with people. A person might look like an athlete or fool, but there is probably a lot more to them than clothes suggest. 3. Strike while the iron is hot. This old expressi...

Idiom Meaning Usage A little learning is a dangerous thing People who don't understand something fully are dangerous by itself A snowball effect Events have momentum and build upon each other as part of a sentence A snowball's chance in hell No chance at all as part of a sentence A stitch in time saves nine Fix the problem now because it will get worse later by itself A storm in a teacup A big fuss about a small problem as part of a sentence An apple a day keeps the doctor away Apples are good for you by itself An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure You can prevent a problem with little effort. Fixing it later is harder. by itself As right as rain Perfect as part of a sentence Bolt from the blue Something that happened without warning as part of a sentence Burn bridges ...

Life is just a bowl of cherries Life is full of happiness and pleasure. Like a bull in a china shop A clumsy or tactless person. Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening. The longest day must have an end All difficult jobs or situations also have an end. Losers weepers, finders keepers If someone loses something, he weeps -- but if someone finds it, he keeps it. Love me, love my dog If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all. Many hands make light work Many people sharing a job or tasks make easier work of it. The mountain labors and brings forth a mouse To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless. Opportunity only knocks once Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never happen again. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure It is even better to be cautious and preve...

All's fish that comes the net When something comes our way we should consider how it might be useful or benefit us. An apple a day keeps the doctor away It means that apples are so nutritious they keep you in the peak of health. Be on the safe side To take special precautions to avoid making a mistake. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder What is beautiful to one person may not be beautiful to others. Beggars can't be choosers Someone in need should be grateful for what is given to him -- even if it's not what he wants or expects. The blind leading the blind A person helping or advising someone knows as little about the subject as the person who is being advised. The buck stops here It means final decision or total responsibility for an action. Burn the candle at both ends Those who are always busy and seem to get little rest. Buy a pig in a poke Buy something without examining it for faults or checking to see if they are really getting what they believe they h...

A bad workman always blames his tools A careless or unskilled worker blames bad work on his tools rather than himself. A new broom sweeps clean A person newly appointed is always eager and enthusiastic in his work. Don't judge a book by its cover Do not be deceived by appearances. Blood is thicker than water Family ties are stronger than any other. Don't count your chickens before they are hatched Do not make plans based on something that has not happened. Don't make a mountain out of a molehill Do not make a big fuss or issue over something minor or small. Experience is the best teacher The best way to learn a job is to do it. The last straw that broke the camel's back The final thing that, when added to a bad or unpleasant situation, causes failure or ruin. Look at the bright side Be optimistic. Make hay while the sun shines Seize opportunities. Out of sight, out of mind You will soon forget friends you do not meet or keep in contact with. A leopard cann...

Actions speak louder than words Children usually learn more from the examples set by their elders than from what they are told ; a person's character is judged by the thing she does and not by what he says; actions give evidence or proof of. Fortune knocks once at every man's door Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be successful in life. Give the devil his due Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or unfair; we should punish a person according to his wrongdoings. God helps those who help themselves God only helps those people who work hard and make an honest effort. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good A bad or evil occurrence. Great minds think alike Wise people will normally think and behave alike in certain situations. Habit is second nature An act done repeatedly and often enough will sooner or later become a habit or second nature. He laughs bes...

Between the devil and the deep sea To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma. Where there's a will there's a way When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it. A burnt child dreads fire A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime. First come, first served The first in line will be attended to first. A friend in need is a friend indeed A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend. Discretion is the better part of valor If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do. A hungry man is an angry man A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage. Empty vessels make the most noise Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss. A man is as ...