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Spreekwoorden en Gezegden met het Woord "Dutch"
POSITIEF
| GEZEGDE | BETEKENIS |
| Double Dutch | a jump rope game |
| Dutch angle | a type of camera shot in films |
| Dutch barn | a farm building with a curved roof on a frame that has no walls |
| Dutch betting | the practice of backing more than one selection to achieve the same profit regardless of which selection wins |
| Dutch bulb | the term used to describe collectively certain kinds of garden bulbs that are planted in the fall for spring bloom |
| Dutch clover | white clover, a valuable pasture plant |
| Dutch cousins | close friends |
| Dutch door | a door divided horizontally so that the lower or upper part can be shut separately |
| Dutch hoe | a scuffle hoe, a garden hoe that has both edges sharpened and can be pushed forward or drawn back |
| Dutch mineral | copper beaten out into very thin leaves |
| Dutch oven | a heavy cast iron cooking pot with tight-fitting lid |
| Dutch roll | a combination of directional and lateral oscillation of an airplane |
| Dutch tilt | a type of camera shot in films |
| Dutchman's log | a rough method for finding a ship's speed by throwing a piece of wood into the sea well in front of it, then timing its passage between two marks on the vessel |
| Flying Dutchman | a ghost ship - a sailor who sees the Flying Dutchman will die before reaching home |
| Pennsylvania Dutch | this is actually German and not Dutch at all; the confusion stems from Deutsch, the German word for German |
NEGATIEF
| GEZEGDE | BETEKENIS |
| Be in Dutch with someone | being in trouble with someone |
| Beat the Dutch | to exceed expectations |
| Double Dutch | gibberish, hard to understand language |
| Dutch act | committing suicide |
| Dutch agreement | an agreement made while intoxicated |
| Dutch auction | an auction in which the goods are offered at gradually decreasing prices - the first bidder to accept wins |
| Dutch bargain | a bargain settled over drinks |
| Dutch collar | a horse collar |
| Dutch comfort | deriving comfort from the fact that things could be worse |
| Dutch concert | lots of noise, like that made by a group of drunken dutchmen |
| Dutch courage | liquid courage provided by alcohol |
| Dutch cure | committing suicide |
| Dutch defence | a sham defence |
| Dutch fuck | to light one cigarette with another cigarette |
| Dutch generosity | stinginess |
| Dutch gold | an alloy of copper and zinc, yellow in colour, that’s easily tarnished unless lacquered imitation gold leaf is made from it, hence the name dutch leaf |
| Dutch headache | hangover |
| Dutch leaf | false gold leaf |
| Dutch leave | when a soldier is absent without leave, awol |
| Dutch metal | an alloy of copper and zinc, yellow in colour, that’s easily tarnished unless lacquered imitation gold leaf is made from it, hence the name dutch leaf |
| Dutch nightingales | frogs |
| Dutch oven | flatulence in bed |
| Dutch reckoning | an excessively high bill that’s neither itemised nor detailed |
| Dutch rub | to rub your knuckles across the top of someone’s head while holding their head under your other arm |
| Dutch talent | more brawn than brain |
| Dutch treat | when you go out to eat and each person pays for themselves |
| Dutch widow | a prostitute |
| Dutch wife | a long bolster |
| Dutched | cancelled |
| Dutchman's draught | a very large beer |
| Go Dutch | when you go out to eat and each person pays for themselves |
| If not, I'm a Dutchman | used to strengthen an affirmation or assertion |
| I'm a Dutchman if I do | a strong refusal |
| In Dutch | in trouble, out of favour, under suspicion |
| Talk like a Dutch uncle | being stern and firm |
| Well, I'm a Dutchman! | an exclamation of strong incredulity |
C1
Hieronder staan bijna 400 populaire Engelse spreekwoorden en de betekenis.
| GEZEGDE | BETEKENIS |
| A bad cause requires many words | It is difficult to defend a bad cause |
| A bad excuse is better than none | Always give an excuse when necessary, even if it's a poor one |
| A bad penny always turns up | An unwanted or disreputable person constantly comes back |
| A bad tree does not yield good apples | A bad parent does not raise good children |
| A bad workman blames his tools | Blaming tools for bad workmanship is an excuse for lack of skill |
| A barking dog seldom bites | Someone who constantly makes threats rarely carries them out |
| A bird in hand is worth two in a bush | It's better to keep what you have than to risk losing it by searching for something else |
| A black plum is as sweet as a white | People should not be judged by their appearance |
| A book holds a house of gold | There is a wealth of knowledge in books |
| A broken friendship may be soldered but will never be sound | Friendships can be rebuilt after a dispute but will never be as strong as before |
| A burden of one's own choice is not felt | Something difficult seems easier when it is done voluntarily |
| A burnt child dreads the fire | A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things |
| A calm sea does not make a skilled sailor | A person shows their competence or ability when difficulties arise |
| A cat has nine lives | 1) Cats can survive many accidents because they land on their feet without injury, or 2) Nine lives = 3 years to play, 3 years to stray, 3 years to stay |
| A chain is no stronger than its weakest link | The strength of a group depends on each individual member |
| A change is as good as a rest | A change in routine is often as refreshing as a break or a holiday |
| A closed mouth catches no flies | If you learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble |
| A constant guest is never welcome | If you come to visit too often, your host will be less pleased to see you |
| A danger foreseen is half avoided | If you are prepared to face a problem or difficulty, it will be easier to deal with |
| A day of sorrow is longer than a month of joy | Times goes by very quickly when you are happy and very slowly when you are sad |
| A drop of ink may make a million think | A thought expressed in writing (perhaps published in a newspaper) can influence a large number of people |
| A dry March, a wet April and a cool May may fill barn and cellar and bring much hay | Harvest predictions according to the weather |
| A fault confessed is half redressed | Confession is the beginning of forgiveness |
| A flower blooms more than once | If you miss an occasion, you can avail yourself of it another time |
| A fly will not get into a closed mouth | If you learn when to keep silent you will avoid trouble |
| A fool and his money are (soon) easily parted | A foolish person usually spends money carelessly |
| A fool at forty is a fool forever | If a person hasn't matured by the age of 40, they never will |
| A friend in need is a friend indeed | Someone who helps you when you are in trouble is a real friend |
| A friend to all is a friend to none | Someone who is a friend to everyone makes none of them feel special |
| A friend's eye is a good mirror | A real friend will tell you the truth |
| A good beginning makes a good end | If a task is carefully planned, there's a better chance that it will be well done |
| A good conscience is a soft pillow | People who do not commit a crime or mistake will live in peace and sleep well |
| A good example is the best sermon | Giving a good example is better than giving advice |
| A good mind possesses a kingdom | Intellectual assets are more valuable than material ones |
| A good name is better than a good face | A good reputation is better than a good appearance |
| A growing youth has a wolf in his belly | Young boys eat a lot / are often hungry |
| A guilty conscience needs no accuser | If you know that you have done something wrong, you don't need anyone to tell you that you're guilty |
| A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains | Patience is more precious than intelligence |
| A happy heart is better than a full purse | Happiness is better than wealth |
| A heavy purse gives to a light heart | When you have money you feel more cheerful and secure |
| A hedge between keeps friendship green | It is important to respect the privacy of others |
| A hungry belly has no ears | A hungry person is totally concentrated on their need for food and nothing else interests them |
| A hungry wolf is fixed to no place | A desperate person will go from place to place when they need to satisfy their needs |
| A Jack of all trades is master of none | A person who can do many different things is not expected to be particularly good at any one of them |
| A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step | Any journey or task, however long or difficult, starts with one initial action |
| A lender nor borrower be | Do not lend or borrow money |
| A leopard cannot change its spots | It is impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant |
| A lie begets a lie | Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one |
| A little fire is quickly trodden out | If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue |
| A little of what you fancy does you good | It's ok to give into a little temptation occasionally |
| A loaded wagon makes no noise | Really wealthy people do not talk about money |
| A loveless life is a living death | Without affection, life is difficult |
| A man can die but once | If death comes now, you will not have to experience it later |
| A man is as old as he feels himself to be | Your age doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy |
| A man is judged by his deeds, not by his words | A person is judged on what he/she actually does, not on what they say they will do |
| A man is known by the company he keeps | A person's character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time |
| A monkey in silk is a monkey no less | No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath |
| A new broom sweeps clean, but the old brush knows all the corners | A newly-appointed person often makes changes quickly (but experience is also valuable) |
| A nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse/man) | A hint or a subtle signal is enough to convey meaning to someone who is ready to understand |
| A picture paints a thousand words | A picture is better than a long description |
| A problem shared is a problem halved | It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone |
| A rising tide lifts all boats | A growing economy will lead to beneficial conditions for all |
| A rolling stone gathers no moss | 1) If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor possessions, or 2) By moving often, one avoids being tied down |
| A rotten apple spoils the barrel | A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group |
| A smooth sea never made a skilled mariner | Overcoming adversity leads to competence |
| A soft answer turneth away wrath | If your reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger |
| A stitch in time saves nine | It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage so as to prevent it from getting worse |
| A stumble may prevent a fall | Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one |
| A swallow does not make the summer | One good event does not mean that everything is all right |
| A tidy house holds a bored woman | If a house is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her time |
| A watched pot never boils | If you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to take a long time |
| A wise head keeps a still tongue | An intelligent person knows when to stay silent |
| A wonder lasts but nine days | The effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine days; after that, life goes on as before |
| A worry shared is a worry halved | It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone |
| A young idler, an old beggar | If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're old |
| Absence is the mother of disillusion | A period of absence may enable you to see people in a truer but less favourable light |
| Absence makes the heart grow fonder | When you are away from someone you love, you love them even more |
| accidents will happen | Some unfortunate events must be accepted as inevitable |
| Actions speak louder than words | What a person actually does is more important than what they say they will do |
| Admiration is the daughter of ignorance | Admiration can lead to blindness - some people do not want to see any faults in those they admire |
| Adversity makes strange bedfellows | People of all origins who share the same misfortune are drawn together |
| Advice is cheap | It doesn't cost anything to offer advice |
| Advice is least heeded when most needed | When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice given |
| Advisors run no risks | It's easier to give advice than to act |
| After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a while | Dinner is called 'lunch' nowadays, and supper has become 'dinner' |
| Age before beauty | Older people should be given precedence over the younger (who are thought to be more beautiful) |
| Agree, for the law is costly | A compromise is better than an expensive lawsuit |
| All cats are grey in the dark | People are undistinguished until they have made a name for themselves |
| All covet, all lose | If you try to obtain everything, you risk losing everything |
| All days are short to industry and long to idleness | Time goes by slowly when you have nothing to do |
| All good things come to those who wait | If you are patient you will be rewarded |
| All in good time | Be patient - things will happen when the time is right |
| All is fair in love and war | Things that are done in love or war can often be excused |
| All roads lead to Rome | There are many different ways to reach an objective |
| All that glitters is not gold | Appearances can be deceptive |
| All things are difficult before they are easy | With practice everything becomes easier |
| All things grow with time - except grief | As time goes by, grief subsides little by little |
| All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy | Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation - it is not good to work all the time |
| All's well that ends well | There is a solution to everything even if there are doubts |
| An ant may well destroy a whole dam | A small problem can sometimes cause a lot of harm |
| An apple a day keeps the doctor away | 1) Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy, or 2) A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems |
| An empty purse frightens away friends | When one's financial situation deteriorates, friends tend to disappear |
| An Englishman's home is his castle | An Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys privacy and can do as he wishes |
| An idle brain is the devil's workshop | When you are busy working, you avoid temptation |
| An old fox is not easily snared | A person of experience is difficult to fool or manipulate |
| An onion a day keeps everyone away | A humoristic version of "an apple a day..." |
| An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit | It is better to be cautious and discreet than to try to be funny |
| An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure | It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later |
| Anger is the one thing made better by delay | When you are angry, it is best not to speak or act immediately |
| Another day, another dollar | A job may be hard or tedious but at least there is some financial reward |
| Any time means no time | If the date of an event remains vague, it will never happen |
| April showers bring May flowers | Something bad or unpleasant today may bring good things in the future |
| As you sow, so shall you reap | You have to accept the consequences of your actions |
| Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies | There are subjects one would rather not discuss |
| Bad beginnings lead to bad results | If you start something badly the result will be unsatisfactory |
| Bad news travels fast | People tend to circulate bad news very quickly (accidents, illness, etc.) |
| Be just before you are generous | Make sure all your debts are paid before you start offering help to others |
| Be swift to hear, slow to speak | Listen carefully before speaking |
| Beauty is in the eye of the beholder | Different people have different tastes |
| Beauty is only skin deep | A person's character is more important than their appearance |
| Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow | It is preferable to have something sure now than the possibility of something better later |
| Better be alone than in bad company | Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with |
| Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion | It's better to be the leader of a small group than a subordinate in a bigger one |
| Better be untaught than ill-taught | It's better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly |
| Better brain than brawn | It's better to have a brain than muscles |
| Better flatter a fool than fight him | It's better to avoid disputes with stupid people |
| Better late than never | It's better to do something, even if it's late, than not do it at all |
| Better lose the saddle than the horse | It's better to stop and accept a small loss than continue and risk losing everything |
| Better safe than sorry | It's better to be too careful than to be careless and regret it later |
| Better the devil you know than the devil you don't know | It's better to deal with someone difficult but familiar than change and risk dealing with somebody worse |
| Better to drink the milk than to eat the cow | Be careful not to destroy the source of your income or welfare |
| Beware of Greeks bearing gifts | Don't trust your enemies |
| Birds of a feather flock together | People of the same sort are usually found together |
| Blood is thicker than water | Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people |
| Blood will out | A person's background or education will eventually show |
| Care is no cure | Worrying about something does not solve the problem |
| Charity begins at home | A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family |
| Children and fools tell the truth | Neither children nor fools know that it is sometimes advantageous to lie |
| Children are certain cares but uncertain comforts | Children are bound to cause anxiety but do not always bring joy |
| Cleanliness is next to godliness | A clean body is just as important as a pure soul |
| Clear moon, frost soon | If the atmosphere is clear, frost may form |
| Clothes don't make the man | Appearances can be deceiving |
| Constant occupation prevents temptation | When you are busy working, you avoid temptation |
| Courtesy is contagious | If you are polite to other people, they will be polite to you |
| Cross the stream where it is shallowest | Always do something the easiest possible way |
| Crosses are ladders that lead to heaven | Suffering and misfortune often show the best in a person's character |
| Dead men tell no lies | A dead person cannot cause difficulties by revealing something that it would be preferable to conceal |
| Death is the great leveller | All people are equal when they die |
| Diamonds cut diamonds | Refers to two people equally matched in wit or cunning |
| Diligence is the mother of good fortune | Hard work brings rewards |
| Discretion is the better part of valour | It is sometimes better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it |
| Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body | Thought to refer to mental and emotional disorder or spiritual torment as opposed to bodily pain |
| Distance makes the heart grow fonder | When you are separated from the person you love, your feelings are even stronger |
| Dogs of the same street bark alike | People of the same background have the same behaviour |
| Don't bark if you can't bite | Don't complain if you can't enforce your point of view |
| Don't count your chickens before they're hatched | You must not be too confident that something will be successful |
| Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork | Don't do something yourself that causes your own downfall |
| Don't judge a book by its cover | Don't judge by appearances |
| Early to bed, and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise | It is much better for you to go to bed early and to get up early in the morning; |
| Easier said than done | What is suggested sounds easy, but it is more difficult to actually do it |
| Elbow grease is the best polish | Hard work produces the best results |
| Empty vessels make the most noise | The least intelligent people are often the most talkative or noisy |
| Enough is as good as a feast | A moderate amount is sufficient |
| Even a worm will turn | Even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation |
| Every ass likes to hear himself bray | People like to listen to themselves talking |
| Every cloud has a silver lining | There is a positive or hopeful side to every situation |
| Every man for himself | You must think of your own interests before the interests of others |
| Every man has his price | Everyone's loyalty can be bought for a price |
| Every man is the architect of his own fortune | Life is what you make it |
| Every man thinks his own geese swans | Everyone tends to rate their own children, possessions or achievements more highly than others do |
| Every path has its puddle | Progress is rarely without difficulty |
| Every rose has its thorn | Every good thing has an unpleasant side |
| Every why has a wherefore | There is an explanation for everything |
| Everything in the garden is rosy | Everything is satisfactory |
| Experience is the father of wisdom | Experience and knowledge result in better judgement |
| Facts speak louder than words | People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than by what they say |
| Failure teaches success | People can learn from their failures and be successful later on |
| Fair exchange is no robbery | Swapping two items of equal value is an honest deal |
| False friends are worse than open enemies | It's better to know who your real enemies are rather than trust someone who pretends to be a friend but is capable of stabbing you in the back |
| Familiarity breeds contempt | Knowing someone very well can lead to a lack of respect for them |
| Fear lends wings | Fear makes you do things faster than would normally seem possible |
| Fine words butter no parsnips | No amount of talking can replace action |
| First come, first served | The first person in the line will be attended to first |
| Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me | One should learn from one's mistakes |
| Fools rush in where angels fear to tread | Inexperienced people become involved in situations that more intelligent people would avoid |
| Forbidden fruit is sweet | What you cannot have is what is always the most desirable |
| Friendship is like money, easier made than kept | Effort is necessary to keep a friendship alive |
| Friendship is love with understanding | A friend is more tolerant than a lover/partner/spouse? |
| Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade | Nothing is achieved without effort |
| Give someone an inch and they will take a mile (or yard) | Give someone a little and they will want more - some people are never satisfied |
| Give someone enough rope and they will hang themselves | Give someone enough time and freedom and they will get into trouble |
| God helps those who help themselves | Success comes to those who make a real effort to achieve it |
| Good accounting makes good friends | You will keep your friends if you avoid disputes over money |
| Good and quickly seldom meet | A well-done job takes time |
| Good management is better than good income | Income can be lost if it is used carelessly |
| Grasp all, lose all | Trying to obtain everything will often result in gaining nothing |
| Great minds think alike | Very intelligent people often have the same idea at the same time |
| Great oaks grow from small acorns | Large successful operations can begin in a small way |
| Grief divided is made lighter | If you share your grief, it will be easier to bear |
| Half a loaf is better than none | You should be grateful for something, even if it is not as much as you wanted |
| Handsome is what handsome does | Behaviour is more important than appearance |
| Hard words break no bones | Criticism or verbal attacks may be unpleasant but will not kill anyone |
| Haste makes waste | If something is done too quickly, it may be done carelessly and need to be redone |
| Hatred is as blind as love | A person who feels hatred does not see any qualities in the person he/she hates |
| He can who believes he can | If you believe you can do something, you will be able to do it |
| He has enough who is content | A happy person needs nothing more |
| He laughs best who laughs last | Don't express your joy, or triumph, too soon |
| He who digs a pit for others falls into it himself | If you do harm to others you will get harmed yourself |
| He who hesitates is lost | If you delay your decision too long, you may miss a good opportunity |
| He who is everywhere is nowhere | It's not good to do too many things at the same time |
| He who knows nothing doubts nothing | People who are uninformed have no doubts, knowledge leads us to make good choices |
| He who pays the piper calls the tune | The person who provides the money for something should control how it is spent |
| He who plays with fire gets burnt | If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems |
| He who wills the end wills the means | If you are determined to do something you will find a way |
| Health is better than wealth | It's better to be in good health than to be rich |
| Home is where the heart is | You call home the place where the people you love are |
| Honesty is the best policy | It's always better to be honest |
| Honey catches more flies than vinegar | You can obtain more cooperation from others by being nice |
| However long the night, the dawn will break | Bad things don't last forever |
| Hunger is a good sauce | All food tastes good when you are hungry |
| If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will follow | If you let something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult |
| If in February there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain | Plants and grains will grow badly if there is no rain in early spring |
| If two ride a horse, one must ride behind | When two people do something together, one will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate |
| If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride | If just wishing for something were enough to make it happen, then even the poorest of people would have everything they wanted - wishing alone is not sufficient, you must act as well |
| If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will avoid 100 days of sorrow | Avoid regrets by taking the time to think before speaking or acting angrily |
| If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one | If you try to do two things at the same time, you will not succeed in doing either of them |
| If you want a friend, be a friend | Friendship must be reciprocal |
| Ignorance is bliss | What you do not know causes no worry or sadness - it is sometimes better not to know all the facts |
| In for a penny, in for a pound | If you start something, it is better to spend the time or money necessary to complete it |
| In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king | A man of even limited ability has an advantage over a person who is less able |
| In times of prosperity friends are plentiful | You have many friends when you have no difficulties |
| It is always darkest before the dawn | The most difficult time is just before the problem is solved |
| It never rains but it pours | Misfortune usually comes in large numbers |
| It takes all sorts to make a world | People vary in character and abilities, and this is a good thing |
| It's no use crying over spilt milk | Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied |
| Justice delayed is justice denied | If the law is applied too late, there is no justice |
| Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer | Keep an eye on your enemies so that you know what they're up to |
| Kill not the goose that lays the golden egg | Do not destroy the source of your good fortune |
| Kill one to warn a hundred | Warn many people by punishing a few |
| Kindle not a fire you cannot put out | Do not start something that you cannot control; you may fail or cause damage |
| Kindness begets kindness | If you are kind to someone, they will return your kindness |
| Kindness, like a boomerang, always returns | If you are kind to others, and serve as an example, you will receive kindness in return |
| Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age | What you learn when you are young will be invaluable when your grow old |
| Knowledge is power | The more knowledge or education you have, the better your chances are of being successful in life, or the more control you will have over your future |
| Laughter is the best medicine | Laughter makes people feel good |
| Learn to walk before you run | Don't rush into doing something before you know how to do it |
| Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere | Education is something that you keep forever |
| Least said, soonest mended | The less you talk about an incident, the more easily it will be forgotten |
| Let bygones be bygones | Let's forgive and forget past quarrels |
| Let the chips fall where they may | We should not try to control our destiny |
| Liars need good memories | People who do not tell the truth must be careful to remember what they say |
| Liberty is not licence | Freedom does not mean that people can do whatever they like |
| Like father, like son | A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's |
| Little strokes fell good oaks | If you divide a task into small parts, it become easier to do |
| Look before you leap | Consider possible consequences before taking action |
| Loose lips sink ships | Disclosing important information (to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large losses |
| Losers weepers, finders keepers | If you lose something you lament, if you find something you keep it |
| Love is blind | A person in love does not see the faults of the person he/she loves |
| Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear | Manage to produce something good using poor material |
| Man is the head of the family and woman is the neck that turns the head | Men's actions are guided by their wives |
| Man proposes, God disposes | Our destiny depends on God's will |
| Manners make the man | A person's manners reveal their origins |
| Many a true word is spoken in jest | Even if something is said as a joke it can still be true |
| Many hands make light work | Sharing work makes the task easier |
| March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb | The weather at the beginning of March is stormy and at the end is mild |
| March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers | The storms and rain in March and April produce flowers in the month of May |
| Mark, learn and inwardly digest | Note and reflect upon something in order to thoroughly assimilate it |
| Marry in haste, repent as leisure | If you get married too quickly, you may spend your whole life regretting it |
| Memory is the treasure of the mind | A good memory is very precious |
| Men make houses, women make homes | Women give a house its comfort and character |
| Might as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb | If the penalty is going to be same, you might as well commit the greater offence |
| Misery loves company | When people are sad they often like others to feel sad too |
| Money begets money | If you have money you can make more money |
| Money doesn't grow on trees | You should not waste money because it is not plentiful or obtained easily |
| Monkey see, monkey do | Foolish people copy others |
| Necessity is the mother of invention | The need for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it |
| Necessity knows no law | Being desperate may lead you to do illegal things |
| Need teaches a plan | Necessity will make you find a solution |
| Needs must when the devil drives | Sometimes you are compelled to do something that you would rather not do |
| Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today | Don't postpone until later something you can do now |
| Never say die | Never give up |
| Never trouble troubles until troubles trouble you | Don't look for problems in advance; deal with them when they arise |
| No cure no pay | If the results promised are not produced, there will be no payment |
| No joy without annoy | There is no happiness without clouds |
| No losers, no winners | If there were no losers, there could be no winners |
| No man can serve two masters | It's impossible to follow instructions from two different sources |
| No man is a hero to his valet | Few people are admired by those who know them intimately and are aware of their failings |
| No man is an island | People are all interdependent and need each other |
| No news is good news | If the news was bad, we would hear of it - since we have heard nothing, we can assume that all is well |
| No pain, no gain | Nothing is achieved without effort |
| No rain, no grain | Without rain the harvest will be poor |
| No smoke without fire | There could be some truth in a rumour |
| No wind, no waves | Similar to 'no smoke without fire' |
| Nobody is perfect | It is understandable not to be perfect or to make occasional mistakes |
| Nothing ventured nothing gained | You cannot expect to achieve anything if you take no risks |
| Oil and water do not mix | Some people or things are incompatible by nature |
| Once bitten, twice shy | After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar |
| One father is (worth) more than a hundred schoolmasters | A teacher cannot replace a father - a child is raised by a father and taught by a teacher |
| One good turn deserves another | You should be helpful to someone who helps you |
| One man's meat is another man's poison | People don't always like the same things |
| One man's trash is another man's treasure | What is useless to one person could be valuable to another |
| One of these days is none of these days | Until a date is set, 'one of these days' remains a vague promise |
| One swallow does not make the summer | One good event does not mean that everything is alright |
| One swallow doesn't make a summer | A single satisfactory event does not mean that all the others will be as good |
| One today is worth two tomorrows | What you have today is better than what is promised or hoped for |
| Only real friends will tell you when your face is dirty | Only a real friend will tell you the truth |
| Opportunity seldom knocks twice | Don't miss opportunities that come along |
| Out of sight, out of mind | We tend to forget people or things that we do not see |
| Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings | Children often speak wisely |
| Parents are patterns | Parents are role models for their children and should therefore set a good example |
| Penny wise, pound foolish | Refers to a person who is careful about spending small amounts of money, but not careful about spending large amounts |
| People who live in glass houses should not throw stones | One should not criticize others for faults similar to one's own and risk retaliation |
| Pity is akin to love | If you begin to feel sorry for someone, you may start to love them |
| Poverty waits at the gates of idleness | If you do not work, you will not earn any money |
| Practice makes perfect | Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it |
| Prevention is better than cure | It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later |
| Pride comes before a fall | Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish |
| Procrastination is the thief of time | Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time |
| Punctuality is the soul of business | You should always be on time for your business appointments |
| Put all your eggs in one basket | Risk everything by relying on one plan (e.g. by putting all one's money into one business) |
| Rats desert a sinking ship | People abandon a failing enterprise when problems develop |
| Reason does not come before years | Wisdom and maturity come with age - young people lack common sense |
| Respect is greater from a distance | A person who keeps themselves apart from others is more likely to be respected |
| Revenge is a dish best served cold | Vengeance is often more satisfying if it is exacted after time has passed |
| Revenge is sweet | There is satisfaction in returning an injury |
| Rome was not built in a day | It takes time to a job properly, you should not expect to do it quickly |
| Safe bind, safe find | If you fasten something securely or lock it up safely, it will still be there when you return |
| Save me from my friends | Friends can sometimes be more dangerous than enemies |
| Saying is one thing, doing is another | People don't always do what they announce |
| Short reckonings make long friends | Debts paid quickly encourage friendship |
| Sickness in the body brings sadness to the mind | Physical suffering can lead to sadness or depression |
| Silence gives consent | If you don't object to something, it is assumed that you agree with it |
| Snug as a bug in a rug | Feeling very comfortable |
| Spare the rod and spoil the child | If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character |
| Speech is silver, silence is golden | Speaking is good, but discretion can be better |
| Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me | Physical attacks may harm me, but cruel words will not |
| Still waters run deep | A quiet person with a calm outward appearance can have much knowledge or wisdom |
| Stolen fruit is sweet / the sweetest | What is forbidden is the most tempting |
| Stolen pleasures are the sweetest | What is forbidden is the most tempting |
| Tall oaks grow from little acorns | Great things may come from small beginnings |
| Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one | An unusual event is not likely to occur again in exactly the same circumstances |
| The apple doesn't fall far from the tree | Children resemble their parents |
| The best advice is found on the pillow | A good night's sleep may help us find an answer to our problem |
| The best helping hand is at the end of your sleeve | The best way to get something done is to do it yourself |
| The best things in life are free | You don't have to pay for what is important: happiness, friendship, good health |
| The darkest hour is just before dawn | The most difficult moment is just before a problem is solved |
| The devil looks after his own | Success comes to those who deserve it least |
| The devil makes work for idle hands | People who have no work, or are idle, often get into trouble |
| The die is cast | A decision has been made and it is impossible to change it |
| The early bird catches the worm | Act early, or before anyone else, if you want to have an advantage or be successful |
| The end justifies the means | Wrong or unfair methods may be used if the result of the action is good |
| The first step is the hardest | The most difficult part of an action is the beginning |
| The more haste, the less speed | A person makes more progress if they take time to do things carefully |
| The more you have, the more you want | People have a constant desire to possess more |
| The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken | If you depend on just one thing, and it fails, you have no alternatives |
| The pen is mightier than the sword | Words and communication have a greater effect than war and fighting |
| The proof of the pudding is in the eating | The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested |
| The road to hell is paved with good intentions | It is not enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it |
| The tongue wounds more than a lance | Insults can be more hurtful than physical injuries |
| The truth is in the wine | People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol |
| The used key is always bright | Activity, work and exercise are good for the body |
| The way to a man's heart is through his stomach | Feed a man well and he will love you |
| The wish is father to the thought | You think that something is true because you want it to be so |
| Two wrongs don't make a right | It is wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you |
| Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown | Those in power have a lot of responsibility and can never rest easy |
| Union is strength | A group has more force than an individual |
| United we stand, divided we fall | People who join forces are more difficult to defeat than they would be separately |
| Unwillingness easily finds an excuse | A person who doesn't want to do something always finds a reason to avoid it |
| Use it or lose it | Skills or knowledge that are not used may be lost over time |
| Variety is the spice of life | Doing a lot of different things makes life more interesting |
| Virtue is its own reward | You should not expect praise for acting in a correct or moral way |
| Vision without action is a daydream, action without vision is a nightmare | If you have good ideas but don’t act on them, you are just daydreaming, but if you act without thinking, you may end up in trouble |
| Walls have ears | Be careful, people could be listening |
| Waste not, want not | If you never waste anything, you will have is when you need it |
| What a man says drunk, he thinks sober | People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol |
| What soberness conceals, drunkenness reveals | People are less discreet under the influence of alcohol |
| What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over | If a person doesn't know about something, it cannot hurt them |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do | You should adopt the customs of the people or country you are visiting and behave in the same way |
| When poverty comes in the door, love goes out the window | When a couple loses everything, their relationship becomes difficult |
| When the cat's away, the mice play | People sometimes misbehave when the person in authority, is absent |
| Where there's a will there's a way | If you are determined to do something, you will find a way to do it |
| Where there's life there's hope | As long as a person is breathing, there is hope for recovery |
| Who makes himself a sheep will be eaten by the wolves | Possible interpretation: an easily influenced person can be mislead |
| Wisdom is better than strength | It is preferable to use one's intelligence than one's physical strength |
| Worry often gives a small thing a big shadow | We often worry unnecessarily about small things, and the more we worry, the more important they appear |
| You are never too old to learn | You can always learn something new, no matter how old you are |
| You are what you eat | What you eat has an effect on your well-being |
| You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink | You can offer somebody an opportunity to do something but you can't force them to do it |
| You can’t have your cake and eat it | You can’t have it both ways (you can’t eat a cake and still expect to have a cake afterwards) |
| You can't teach an old dog new tricks | A person who is used to doing things a certain way cannot change |
| You never know what you can do until you try | Try first before deciding not to do something |
| You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours | You help me and I'll help you |
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