English proverbs

30 Most Popular English Proverbs and Their Meanings

• Proverbs are traditional sayings that offer advice or capture ideas found in life.
• They reflect the values of a population and reveal more about the culture of a country than any textbook can.
• Native English speakers frequently use proverbs in their conversations without realizing it.
• There are thousands of proverbs, but this guide curates the 30 most popular need-to-know proverbs in English.
• Proverbs such as "Many hands make light work" and "Strike while the iron is hot" offer advice on how to approach difficult tasks and take advantage of favorable situations.
• Other proverbs such as "Honesty is the best policy" and "Don't judge a book by its cover" reflect the importance of honesty and not making snap judgments based on appearances.
• Proverbs such as "An apple a day keeps the doctor away" and "Better late than never" offer advice on health and timing.
• "Actions speak louder than words" and "It's no use crying over spilled milk" reflect the importance of taking action and not dwelling on past mistakes.
• Proverbs such as "Curiosity killed the cat" and "My hands are tied" caution against being too curious or helpless in a situation.
• "Easy come, easy go" and "You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs" offer advice on the transience of money and the inevitability of problems.
• Proverbs such as "Where there's a will, there's a way" and "The squeaky wheel gets the grease" reflect the importance of perseverance and speaking up for oneself.
• Proverbs are different from idioms, which are expressions with a different meaning from the words used.