English Proverbs for discussion
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Catch/Clutch/Grasp At Straws
A drowning man will reach for anything to save himself, including pieces of straw. That's the idea behind this expression which means to resort to any means to save yourself when in serious trouble. "The neighbourhood kids must be desperate," Abe said. "How else can I explain the way they're clutching at straws to find ways to enjoy themselves?" -
Catch As Catch Can
"Ozzie can neither kick nor run so there was no logical reasons for putting him on our team," the coach said. "But we needed a goalkeeper and Ozzie was the only man available. Giving him the position was more or less a case of catch-as-catch-can." I hope that doesn'toffend Ozzie because catch-as-catch-can means to do anything or use any means to achieve an aim or reach a goal. -
wonder when u will ever reach z
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For 16th January
Children Should Be Seen And Not Be Heard
Much to the remorse of the children, this saying means exactly what the words say. Adults use it to suggest - a better word is command - a child to stop asking questions, talking, or making unneccessary noise. "You children must stop arguing so much. Dont you know children should be seen and not be heard?" "Isnt 'unneccessary noise' a value judgement?" Fiona whispered. -
For 17th January
Christmas Comes But Once Each Year
"Our ship's gone and we're stranded in the middle of the sea, but Christmas comes but once each year and I intend to celebrate!" Tim said. I wish Tim well - even though this saying is normally used to provide people with an excuse to indulge on food and drink and spend money during the Christmas season. -
busy clearing backlog?
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Yar lor, so busy with assignments these days and holidays (yeah!!)........
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For 18th January
Cry Over Spilt Milk
Natalie is a little girl with a big problem. The cow she was milking has overturned the milk pail. "I am close to tears," Natalie cried. The cow is more relaxed about it. "A loss is a losse, but there's no point in crying over spilt milk" The cow's right - and this saying means it's pointless to get upset or feel regret about a loss or mistake that can't be undone. -
For 19th January
Curiousity Killed The Cat
Cats are said to have nine lives. It's also said that having too much curiousity kills them. That has given us this proverb which we use to warn people not to show too much interest in affairs that didnt concern them. "You attend to your affairs and I'll attend to mine. Remember that curiousity killed the cat." -
For 20th January
Cut Off Your Nose To Spite Your Face
When people are dissatisfied or angry, they sometimes react by doing foolish things that proves harmful to themselves. When someone does, he is said to cut off his nose to spite his face. "If you quit your job before you find another, you might be cutting off your nose to spite your face," Tom cautioned his brother. -
For 21st January
Dead Men Tell No Tales
This proverb states that those who are no longer alive aren't able to speak - and therefore won't reveal someone's deepest, darkest secrets. "We may never learn the truth behind the JFK's assassination. All the witnesses are gone, and as you know dead men tell no tales." -
For 22nd January
The Devil Finds Work For Idle Hands
When Maurice was young, his parents warned him that the devil finds work for idle hands. They were telling him that unless he kept busy doing useful or constructive things he could be tempted into mischief or evil. "Sorry, but I dont think the saying the devil finds work for the idle hands means I should waste my time sweeping floors," Maurice said to a stranger. -
For 23rd January
The Devil Has The Best Tunes
About 200 years ago a religious leader in England named John Wesley turned popular songs into church hymns. "Why should the devil has the best tunes?" he asked. Today someone doing unworthy things because it gives him pleasure might use this phrase humourously. "I know I watch too much television when I should be studying but the devil has the best tunes," Kurt said. -
For 24th January
Dog Eat Dog
In a competitive situations where each person has his own interests at heart and his own desires in mind it is usually the strong and the determined who succeed. People refer to this type of situation as dog eat dog. "I am happy that there's no dog eat dog in the office where I work," Mildred said. Millie is fortunate because there are some who might say we seen to live in a dog-eat-dog world. -
For 25th January
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
A drop of rain landed on Felix's head. That caused him to look up until he located a particular cloud. "Sometimes when it's raining we can see the sun peeking through the clouds," he said. That causes some clouds to have a silver edge and had led to the saying that no matter how dark things are every cloud has a silver lining" He smiled. "That means good things usually follow the bad." -
For 26th January
An Exception To The Rule
While inspecting his troops, the captain noticed something odd. "What's wrong with you?" he shouted at Wilburforce. "My moustache is an exception to the rule," Wilburforce replied. There are no exceptions to the rule in the army," the captain barked - and no one saw Wilburforce again. An exception to the rule is something that does not conform to or agree with a rule. -
For 27th January
Experience Is The Best Teacher
You can tell someone how to do something and you can show him how to do it. He will learn best, though, if he does it himself. That's the idea expressed in this saying. "Hold tight and keep trying," Agatha smiled as her niece flew by in her broomstick. "Experience is the best teacher." -
For 28th January
Fling/Sling/Throw Mud At Someone
Fling, sling and throw mean virtually the same thing. In this proverb, to fling/sling or throw mud at someone is to say evil or bad things about someone and in doing so, to damage his or her reputation. "Some people sling mud at people just because they're jealous," Sammy said. That's just awful, isnt it" It is and wouldnt it be nicer world if everyone stopped throwing mud? -
A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted
Many people know this proverb but few actually practise it. It says that a person who spends his money foolishly will soon be penniless. That is, he and his money are parted. "Rodney made a lot of money last month but he spent it unwisely. A fool and his money are soon parted, they say." -
For 30th January
Forgive And Forget
Officer Mutt caught Albert in the act of leaving the jail. "I was just stepping out for a pizza. Forgive me and forget it," Albert said. Mutt was furious. " You do such naughty things! How can you expect me to forgive and forget!" The expression forgive and forget refers to excusing or pardoning someone for doing something. " And then trying your best to forget it!" Mutt muttered. -
A Friend In Need Is A Friend Indeed
This saying - often shortened to a friend in need - describes a truly genuine friend. No matter how difficult things are, he can always be depended on to help. "Oh,oh, I forgot my umbrella," Felix said. "Dont worry, you can share mine," both Herb and Dan smiled. "After all, a friend in need is a friend indeed." -
For 1st February
Genius Is The Infinite Capacity For Taking Pains
The writer Thomas Carlyle said that the genius consists of having limitless patience to do a perfect job but he said it i nthe way it appears above. If someone were to ask me to give an example, I'd suggest they stand at Robert's window watching him work. "Its not easy painting butterflies! Robert exclaimed. -
Give Someone Enough Rope And He Will Hang HImself
If encouraged, a person doing wrong, foolish or ridiculous things will keep on doing them. 'He doesnt even have to be encouraged," Lester said. Just let him keep doing wrong because if you give him enough rope he'll hang himself." What Lester means is if we allow someone to continue in his bad ways he'll evetually bring about his own downfall or ruin. -
For 3rd February
A Golden Key Opens Every Door
"Look what I found!" Albert cried. "Why its a golden key!". Officer Mutt observed. "It reminds me that a golden key opens every door," Albert smiled. "Yes, I think it will open a door for you at my nice jail," Mutt replied. Actually the golden key here is money and it is asumed it will let someone do anything he wants. -
Originally posted by laurence82:
qian nen shi gui tui mo?
For 3rd February
[b]A Golden Key Opens Every Door
"Look what I found!" Albert cried. "Why its a golden key!". Officer Mutt observed. "It reminds me that a golden key opens every door," Albert smiled. "Yes, I think it will open a door for you at my nice jail," Mutt replied. Actually the golden key here is money and it is asumed it will let someone do anything he wants.[/b]