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A "proverb"
is a short, traditional saying in general use. It usually
expresses some obvious truth or familiar experience. Here are
some proverbs that are well known in English, though some of
them come from other languages. Click on each proverb for an
explanation and word definitions if necessary.
●
The best things
in life are free.
● A stitch in time
saves nine.
● Still waters run
deep.
● He teaches ill,
who teaches all.
● Better untaught
than ill taught.
● Don't cross your
bridges before you come to them.
● Soon learnt, soon
forgotten.
● Where there's
a will there's a way.
● The best advice is
found on the pillow.
● All clouds bring not
rain.
● No news is good news.
"The best things in life are
free."
We don't have to pay for the things that are really
valuable, like love, friendship, good health etc.
"A stitch in time saves
nine."
Repair something as soon as it is damaged. That's a
small repair job. If not, you will have a much bigger and more
expensive repair job later.
Do it now and you'll need one stitch. Do it later and you'll
need 9 stitches! (Why nine and not eight or ten? Because
"nine" rhymes (approximately) with "time".)
• stitch (noun) = a link
made with thread in sewing
• in time = not late
"Still waters run deep."
Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's usually
because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the
surface. But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and
the water is smooth and still. "Still waters run deep" means
that people who are calm and tranquil on the outside, often
have a strong, "deep" personality.
• still (adjective) =
calm, motionless
• deep (adjective) =
going far down
"He teaches ill, who
teaches all."
The unusual structure of this proverb may make it difficult to
understand. It becomes easier if we change the structure to
"He who teaches all teaches ill." The word "ill" here means
"badly". So it means that the teacher who teaches students
everything, does not teach well. A good teacher lets students
discover some things for themselves.
• ill (adverb) = badly
"Better untaught than ill
taught."
This proverb drops the verb "to be". But we
understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be
taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to
learn it badly.
This idea is echoed in Pope's famous line: "A little learning
is a dang'rous thing;".
• taught = past participle of verb "teach"
(here used in passive voice)
• ill taught = badly taught
"Don't cross your bridges before you
come to them."
Don't worry about problems before they arrive.
"Soon learnt, soon forgotten."
Something that is easy to learn is easy to forget.
"Where there's a will
there's a way."
If we have the determination to do something, we can
always find the path or method to do it.
• will (noun) = strong
determination, desire.
• way (noun) = path, method
"The best advice is found on the
pillow."
If we have a problem, we may find the answer after a
good night's sleep.
People also often say: "I'll sleep on it."
• advice (noun) = recommendation as
to what to do
• pillow (noun) = cushion that you
rest your head on while you sleep
"All clouds bring not rain."
We can rephrase this: "Not every cloud brings
rain."
And that's true. Sometimes there are many clouds in the
sky, but it doesn't rain. Sometimes it's the same with
problems, or what we think are problems.
"No news is good news."
This is like the proverb "Bad news travels fast." If we are
waiting for news about someone, it's probably good if we hear
nothing because "bad news" would arrive quickly.
Bad news travels fast.
"Bad news" means news about "bad" things like
accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type
of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning
some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.
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