- Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
- Origin: Not every egg hatches. [From Aesop’s fables]
- Meaning: Don’t be prematurely confident.
- The squeaky wheel gets the grease
- Origin: You grease up a noisy wheel because it drew your attention.
- Meaning: Something effortless or pleasant to do.
- Actions speak louder than words.
- Origin: The deeds one does carry more weight and significance than mere promises or declarations.
- Meaning: This proverb emphasizes the importance of actions over words, reminding us that true intentions are revealed through behavior.
- A penny saved is a penny earned.
- Origin: Money saved is as valuable as money earned.[Not quite true; it’s worth more since the penny saved isn’t taxed.]
- Meaning: This proverb underscores the virtue of frugality and the importance of thriftiness in financial matters. It encourages wise spending and saving habits, suggesting that even small savings can accumulate to significant wealth over time.
- Bite the bullet
- Origin: Operations done without anesthetic can only offer something to bite on to distract from the pain.
- Meaning: Do something painful but necessary.
- Easy as pie
- Origin: Very simple.
- Meaning: Something effortless or pleasant to do.
- Get a taste of your own medicine
- Origin: Receive the same bad treatment one gives others.
- Meaning: Karma or poetic justice.
- Go the extra mile
- Origin: Make more effort than expected.[Biblical admonition to do more than is legally required]
- Meaning: Show dedication beyond the minimum.
- Hit the hay
- Origin: Throwing yourself on top of some hay to sleep.
- Meaning: A casual way to say you’re going to sleep.
- In hot water
- Origin: Boiling water cooks things.
- Meaning: Caught in a problematic or risky situation.
- It’s not rocket science and It’s not brain surgery
- Origin: It’s not difficult to understand.
- Meaning: Used to simplify a problem or situation.
- Jump on the bandwagon
- Origin: Follow a trend.
- Meaning: Adopt something popular to fit in or benefit.
- Let the cat out of the bag
- Origin: Reveal a secret.
- Meaning: Disclose information prematurely or accidentally.
- Miss the boat
- Origin: Miss an opportunity.
- Meaning: Arrive too late to take advantage of something.
- No pain, no gain
- Origin: Effort is required to achieve success.
- Meaning: Success demands hard work or sacrifice.
- On the fence – American English
- Origin: Undecided.
- Meaning: Not yet choosing a side or position.
- Out of sight, out of mind.
- Origin: Things that are not visible or present are easily forgotten or disregarded.
- Meaning: This proverb highlights the tendency of people to forget about things or lose interest in them when they are not constantly reminded or visible. It underscores the importance of staying connected and maintaining presence in relationships or endeavors.
- Spill the beans
- Origin: Tell a secret.
- Meaning: To reveal confidential or hidden information.
- The early bird catches the worm.
- Origin: Those who act promptly and decisively are likely to succeed.
- Meaning: This proverb extols the virtues of punctuality and diligence, implying that those who are proactive and industrious are more likely to achieve their goals. It emphasizes the value of seizing opportunities before they slip away.
- Too many cooks spoil the broth.
- Origin: When too many people are involved in a task or decision, it is likely to end in failure or confusion.
- Meaning: This proverb warns against the pitfalls of excessive interference or micromanagement, advocating for clarity of roles and responsibilities. It suggests that collaboration is valuable but must be balanced to avoid inefficiency or discord.
- When pigs fly
- Meaning: Something that will never happen.
- You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.
- Meaning: There are limits to our influence and persuasion. One can provide opportunities or advice, ultimately, individuals must choose to act or take advantage of them.
- You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs.
- Meaning: This lighthearted proverb emphasizes the inevitability of sacrifice or inconvenience in achieving certain goals. It conveys the idea that progress or success sometimes requires accepting setbacks or making difficult choices.
These are sourced from the excellent site below.