English Proverbs for discussion
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For 23rd February
LIfe Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries
This is the title of a song that was popular in US in the 1930s. The song spoke of life being full of happiness and pleasure though tehre was a certain amoutn of sarcasm in it. Today the expression mightb e used hopefully or mockingly. "I just got promoted! Life is just a bow of cherries!" "I fell terrible, but I keep telling myself life is just a bow of cherries." -
For 24th February
Like A Bull In A China Shop
You can imagine what happen if a bull walked into a china shop. It would lead to a mess, and thats why we say a clumsy or tactless person is like a bull in a china shop. "Jim has no patience or diplomacy. He's like a bull in a china shop at business meetings." -
For 25th February
Lock The Stable Door After The Horse HAs Bolted
Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, its too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening. Thats the idea behind this proverb. Therefore, we should take care to prevent trouble before - not after - it happens. "Thats why I am locking up," Mortimer said. "The horse is gone but I dont want people stealing my hay!" -
For 26th February
The Longest Day Must Have An End
Some days seems partcularly long and endless, especially when we're unhappy.Every day does end, though, even those that are painful or difficult. By extension, all difficult jobs or situations also have an end. "This has been an awful day," Felix mumbled, " but even the longest day must have an end, thank goodness!" -
Look Before One Leaps
"I never make mistakes. I always look before I leap," Henry declared. His wife wasnt so sure. "How about the time you jumped into the lake?" she asked, "That was different. I was so much in love I wasnt thinking clearly," Henry answered. To look before you leap is to consider carefully your actions before performing them. -
Laurence.. tell that to CX in the Speakers Corner. He blasted me for over generalising that most Singaporeans can't speak English. He obviously never left his social circle!Originally posted by laurence82:You would want to talk to my mother. She was British educated, and really hate Singaporean worsening standard of English.
But then again, as her son, it is 'painful' to have your mother standing by your side and correcting everything you said.
Son: "I know my English poor what, then I go England learn some more lah!"
Mum: "No, no, its 'I know my my standard of English is poor, and that I have to travel to England to strengthen my grasp of the English language'"
Son: ................ -
Hmm, I go read his posts first, come back to u later yah....Originally posted by Lingos:Laurence.. tell that to CX in the Speakers Corner. He blasted me for over generalising that most Singaporeans can't speak English. He obviously never left his social circle! -
For 28th February
Losers Weepers, Finders Keepers
This is an old rhyming statement used (mostly) by children. If someone loses something, he weeps - but if someone finds it, he keeps it. As you might imagine, children who say this are usually 'the finders' of something. "THe King cant find his crown. Losers weepers, finders keepers," Nobbin laughed. -
Leap Day
Love ME, Love My Dog
This old saying comes from the fact that people who have dogs expect others to appreciate them as much as they do. It has come to mean that if we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all. "I know i talk too much, Harry, but as the saying goes love me, love my dog." -
Well, actually, ShakespeareÂ’s double-entendres all used puns. Puns donÂ’t really belong to either.Originally posted by laurence82:Yup, I guess its American pun and British verbal fencing. But I like both hehe
Cool thread, laurence!
One thing, though – “there’s not rest for the wicked” and “idle hands do the devil’s work”. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. How’s that for a triple? -
Whoa, those are the upcoming proverbs.....Originally posted by Gedanken:Well, actually, ShakespeareÂ’s double-entendres all used puns. Puns donÂ’t really belong to either.
Cool thread, laurence!
One thing, though – “there’s not rest for the wicked” and “idle hands do the devil’s work”. You’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. How’s that for a triple? -
Yeah, laurence, you've already covered the "idle hands" one - what I'm looking at is taking the proverbs in conjunction with each other:
“there’s not rest for the wicked” but “idle hands do the devil’s work”, so you’re damned if you do, and damned if you don’t. -
For 1st March
Many Hand Make Light Work
Mr Hayday is fortunate to have found somone as useful as Ollie for his shipping department. Not only does Ollie do the work of several men, he sings songs while he works. "Two hands good, eight hands better," he sings. Ollie is good - and he's proving the saying that many hands (people) sharing a job or task male light (easier) work of it. -
Make Hay While The Sun Shines
Farmers with hay to harvest dont wait until its raining to go to their fields: they take advantage of bright sunny days. From that, make hay while sun shines refers to taking advantage of a favourable situation to benefit or profit from it. "Everyone has gone to bed so I am going make hay while the sun shines and study while its quiet," Elliot said. -
For 3rd March
Marriage Are Made In Heaven
"People often say that marriages are made in heaven," Polly said. "What does that mean? Don asked. "It means that long before we met it was decided in heaven that we were ideally suited for each other and therefore we would meet and get married," she replied. -
For 4th March
Money Burn A Hole In Someone's Pocket
Here is a riddle: What is it that when some people have it they are so eager to get rid of it that it seems to burn a hole on their pocket and disappear? The answer is money. "No sooner do teh workers get their wages but the money seems to burn a hole in their pocket and they rush out to spend it," Basil said. -
Money Doesnt Grow On Trees
Its difficult for children to undertsand that money doesnt grow pn trees. That is, money isnt as abundant as leaves and it certainly doesnt fall from the skies. This old saying is meant to advise us that we should spend our money carefully for work is required to earn it -
For 6th March
The Mountain Labours And Bring Forth A Mouse
"Whats that funny statue doing there?" Bimbi asked. "Its there to encourage someone to think up a silly saying," Hoozit said. In time someone proved Hoozit correct by creating the above proverb. Hoozit even knew what it would mean: to work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless. -
No News Is Good News
If something good happens we seldom hear about it. If something bad happens we hear about it immediately. Its on television, in the newspapers, its eevrywhere. For that reason, we've come to believe that if we hear no news about something its because its good news. "I ve given up reading or listening to the daily news," Felix said. "No news is good news," he said. -
For 8th March
Not The Only Pebble On The Beach
Peggy and Polly had a quarrel. "I'll never talk to you again! Peggy shouted. "What do I care? You're not the only pebble on the beach," Polly answered. I hope these two settle tehir dispute soon because when someone uses this expression he (or she) is boldy saying, "You're not the only person in this world!" -
Originally posted by laurence82:
I've never heard of this one before but "There are other fish in the sea" ...is the one I've heard of kind of is the same I guess..
For 8th March
[b]Not The Only Pebble On The Beach
Peggy and Polly had a quarrel. "I'll never talk to you again! Peggy shouted. "What do I care? You're not the only pebble on the beach," Polly answered. I hope these two settle tehir dispute soon because when someone uses this expression he (or she) is boldy saying, "You're not the only person in this world!"[/b] -
For 9th March
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Ned's dog hasnt shown much interest in playing with him lately. "Once bitten, twice shy," the dog whimpered. This says if you have have had a bad experience (been bitten) doing something, you will be extremely (twice shy) about repeating the mistake. "The last time i played with Ned he bit me! That little kid's rough!" the dog explained. -
Yup, there are others like 'the only tree in the forest', 'not the only guy/gal left in the world' etc etcOriginally posted by questor:I've never heard of this one before but "There are other fish in the sea" ...is the one I've heard of kind of is the same I guess.. -
For 10th March
One Man's Meat Is Another Man's Poison
"In my line of work you get use to eating when you can and in all sorts of restaurants. But I enjoy trying different kinds of food." "How is your lunch?" Vulpone asked. Timothy took one bite and fainted but before he did he was heard to mutter: "One man's meat is another man's poison." This means that while something may be unpleasing to one person it can be thoroughly unpleasant to another. -
For 11th March
One Swallow Does Not A Summer Make
When winter is due to end, migrating birds - like swallows - think of returning to their northern homes. People there must be careful, though, for the sight of one swallow doesnt mean winter is really over.That has given us this cautionary advice dont form hasty opinions or come to quick conclusions on the basis of a few facts.