Some useful proverbs and idioms

Proverbs

1.       A little knowledge is a dangerous thing

Have a slight knowledge and understanding of something can tempt you into overestimating  your  ability and trying to deal with something that requires more specialist knowledge.

E.g.  Jack says that he knows enough about building to carry out the repairs to the house himself. But a little knowledge is a dangerous thing; I think he will get into difficulties very  quickly and will have to call in a qualified tradesman.

2.       A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

It is better to accept something satisfactory while it is available, than to pursue other, possibly better, but less certain, prospects. You might fail to get anything better, and you might even lose what you have within your grasp. Shortened form the proverb is a bird in the hand

E.g.  After  several interviews Jack has been offered a job that he must accept or refuse immediately. He’s still waiting to hear about a post with better prospects, but he may just decide that  a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

3.Actions speak Louder than words

What you do is more important than what you say.

E.g. Politicians are always talking about what their parties will do, but they never seem to do anything. Someone should tell them that actions speak louder than words.

4. A friend in need is a friend indeed

A true friend is someone who helps you when you are in some kind of difficulty or trouble.

Eg. When my flat was badly damaged in the fire, jenny immediately invited me to stay with her until it was habitable again; a friend in need is a friend indeed.

5. A good beginning makes a good ending

If a job or project is carried out properly from the start, with enough attention given to preparation and planning, then it is likely to turn out well.

E.g. If you are going to redecorate the house yourself, you should make sure that you prepared all the surfaces properly; a good beginning makes a good ending.

6. All that glitters  is not gold

This proverb is used as a warning against judging by appearances, in case you are misled into thinking that someone or something is better than they actually are.

Eg. Jenny thought that her new job with a PR company was going to be very glamorous. She soon learnt that all that glitters is not gold when she spent all day making coffee and doing photocopying.

7. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

Everyone  needs some leisure and recreation, as working all the time will make them boring and uninteresting.

Eg. Some of my colleagues seem to have no interests outside the office, and they make very boring company-all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

8.A man is known by the company he keeps

People assume that, whatever you friends and associates are like, you will be much the same.

E.g. You have to keep away from that gang of rowdies you’re going around with, if you don’t want to be thought  a rowdy yourself- a man is known by the company he keeps.

9. A rolling stone gathers no moss

This  proverb recommends stability and settling down. Someone who is constantly moving from place to place and never settles down does not acquire money and possessions.

E.g. Jim’s two brothers went to work in the family firm as young men and are no affluent businessmen. Jim, however, has spent a lifetime travelling and changing jobs and has no savings; a rolling stone gathers no moss.

10. A stitch in time saves nine

If you deal with a problem straight away, you will prevent it from getting any worse and so save yourself time and effort.

E.g. We should get the roof repaired right away while there is  only one small section leaking; a stitch in time saves nine-we don’t want to be faced with a huge roof bill later.

Idioms

1.       Beat around the bush

To keep talking in a vague or uncertain way because you are too frightened or embarrassed to tell someone something immediately.

Eg. Stop beating around the bush and tell me exactly what happened!

2.       Bear fruit

If something that you do bears fruit, it produces a positive result.

Eg. The police investigation eventually bore fruit when they found some important evidence.

3.       Put your best foot forward

You put your best foot forward when you start an activity, especially a difficult activity, in a determined way, aiming to do your best.

E.g. If I put my best foot forward, I might get all these reports finished by the end of the day.

4.       A bone of contention

When something is a bone of contention, it causes strong  arguments between people over a long time.

There is a very little parking space, which makes it quite a bone of contention in our street.

5.       Could eat a horse

You say that you could eat a horse if you are extremely hungry.

E.g. After all that exercise, I expect you could have eaten a horse.

6.       Lend someone a hand

If you lend someone a hand, you help them to do something

E.g. Is Mick lending his dad a hand with gardening?

7.Get the picture

When you get the picture you understand something, for example a situation or a process that has been explained to you.

E.g. After we had explained the process several times, he eventually go the picture.

8.Pull your socks up

When you pull your socks up, you try harder and do better.

This lazy attitude just isn’t good enough, Graham. You really must pull your socks up.

9.A snake in the grass

You call someone a snake in the grass if they deliberately act in such a way as to harm people who trust them.

That snake in the grass pretended to be one of the team, but she was just stealing our ideas to use herself.

10. on top of the world

Someone who is on top of the world is extremely happy.

E.g. Old Mrs. Smith was on top of the world when she heard her son was coming to visit her.

Exercise: Find out the meaning of the following idioms

Piece of the action

Man in the street

Tip of the iceberg

Icing on the cake

Slap in the face

Pat on the back

Pick of the bunch

Pie in the sky

Pain in the neck

Walls have ears.

Phrasal Verbs

1.    act up (no object): misbehave (for people); not work properly (for machines).

"The babysitter had a difficult time. The children acted up all evening."

"I guess I'd better take my car to the garage. It's been acting up lately."

2.    back down (no object): not follow a threat.

"Tom was going to call the police when I told him I'd wrecked his car, but hebacked down when I said I'd pay for the damages."

3.    break down (1. separable): separate something into component parts.

"We spent a lot of money at the supermarket. When we broke the total costdown, we spent more on cleaning supplies than food."

4.    break down (2. no object): stop working / functioning.

"Sharon will be late for work today. Her car broke down on the freeway."

5.    butt in (no object): impolitely interrupt (a conversation, an action).

"Hey, you! Don't butt in! Wait for your turn!"

6.    butter up (separable): praise someone excessively with the hope of getting some benefit.

"I guess Marty reall wants to be promoted. He's been buttering his boss up all week."

7.    call off (separable): cancel something that has been scheduled.

"We don't have school today. The mayor called classes off because of the snow."

8.    call on (inseparable): ask someone for an answer in class.

"I don't know why the teacher never calls on you. You always know the answer."

9.    catch up (with) (often without an object; with an object, inseparable): stop being behind.

"Terry stopped to rest for a few minutes. He'll catch up / catch up with us later."

10. drag on (no object): last much longer than expected or is necessary.

"I thought the meeting would be a short one, but it dragged on for more than three hours."

11. cheer up (separable): help someone feel less worried / depressed / sad.

"Suzie's brother was depressed about not getting a promotion, so she sent him a funny card to cheer him up."

12. drop out (of) (inseparable): stop attending / leave school or an organization.

"No, Paul isn't at the university. He dropped out. / He dropped out of school."

13. eat out (no object): have a meal in a restaurant.

"I'm too tired to cook tonight. Why don't we eat out?"

14. end up (1. no object): finally arrive at; arrive at an unexpected place.

"We got lost last night and ended up in the next town."

15. end up (2. no object): arrive somewhere as a result or consequence.

"You're working too hard. If you don't take it easy, you'll end up in the hospital!"

16. figure out (2. separable): understand why someone behaves the way she/he does.

"I can't figure Margie out. Sometimes she's very warm and friendly and sometimes she acts as if she doesn't know me."

17. get along (with) (inseparable): have a friendly relationship (with); be friendly (toward).

"Why can't you and your sister get along? Everyone else gets along with her just fine!"

18. get over (2. inseparable): recover from an illness or painful experience.

"Katy was really upset when she failed the test. She thought she would never get over feeling so stupid."

19.hand in (separable): submit homework, an assignment, etc.

"You'd better get started on your report. You know that you have to hand it in at 8:30 tomorrow morning!"

20. hang up (no object): end a phone conversation by replacing the receiver.

"I'd like to talk longer, but I'd better hang up. My sister needs to make a call."