50 proverbs examples

 Another amazing challenge I completed last year was writing examples using 50 proverbs. The file is up for grabs for free on Alex's website and you can watch his related videos on YouTube in 4 parts (part 1, part 2, part 3, part 4). Here are my examples: 

Actions speak louder than words

Jessica didn’t ask for promotion. She thought as actions speak louder than words, her manager might notice that she always keeps her nose to the grindstone, but it didn’t work that way. 

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

She wanted to pull a sicky and attend to a new training instead of going to work. But after the training got cancelled, she realised a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 

All good things come to those who wait

Lucy was trying to be with Jack through thick and thin, telling herself all good things come to those who wait. 

Better late than never 

I was knackered and spent watching reels after work. Right before hitting the sack, I remembered to jot down some examples with proverbs and share them with friends, better late than never!

Fortune favors the bold

Jessica didn’t want to get out of her comfort zone and leaver her job. But eventually she convinced herself that fortune favors the bold and the time is ripe to move on and change her career. 

Honesty is the best policy

Farhad was tired of lying to his wife regarding losing his job, as he was scared if his wife leaves him. But he decided to be honest with her as honesty is the best policy. 

Keep your friends close and your enemies closer

Despite the Taliban killing Iranian diplomats in 1998, the Iranian government became an ally of the Taliban after the U.S. invasion. That’s how politics work, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. 

Laughter is the best medicine

Lucy loves hanging out with funny friends who make her laugh, always saying laughter is the best medicine.

Make hay while the sun shines

Lucy works for a flower shop and she has to burn the candle at both ends during university graduation period, when lots of people buy flowers. She has to make hay while the sun shines. 

Look before you leap

When Jessica was giving custody of her pet to her fella after the break up, she had to look before she leaps when signing the custody form. 

No pain, no gain 

She had to study hard to get band 8 in the IELTS exam, as she knew no pain, no gain. 

Out of sight, out of mind 

When Maria’s dad asked her why she didn’t pay the electricity bill, she said: out of sight, out of mind, as the bill was in her father’s files and she didn’t have access to it, and eventually she forgot about it.

The grass is always greener on the other side

When Jack bought a new car, Jacob was green with envy and blamed Jessica for not helping him to save money. Jessica told him: calm down, the grass is always greener on the other side! 

There’s no smoke without fire

Lucy was knocked up and was trying to keep mum, but everyone could guess by her constant vomiting. When Jasmine congratulated her, she ignored it. But Jasmine told her: there's no smoke without fire.

Two heads are better than one 

Carlos didn’t know how to write his proposal and asked ChatGPT to help him, saying: two heads are better than one. 

When in Rome, do as the Romans do

My mom was in pieces when I told her that I wanted to go back to our country with them. She told me: you’re out of your mind! Your freedom will be limited there and everyone will constantly remind you: When in Rome, do as the Romans do! 

Where there’s a will, there’s a way

Will Smith screwed everything up right before receiving his Oscar award, proving that where there's a will, there's a way, even in screwing everything up.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink

Lucy: All my students failed the exam. I feel I’m not good at teaching. 

Jasmine: Don’t take it personally! You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. 

Practice makes perfect 

Don’t cram for your English speaking exam. You need to practice every day, in order to sound like a native. Remember practice makes perfect. 

You reap what you sow

Jack: I’m tired of burning the candle at both ends! I want to give up and stop working on this project! 

Jacob: It’s up to you mate, you reap what you sow. 

A penny for your thoughts

Miguel: Alex taught us a wonderful idiom as usual, but you haven’t made your example yet. A penny for your thoughts? 

Me: The ball is in my court; I love to hold it for a longer period if you don’t mind! Jajajajajaja! 

Absence makes the heart grow fonder 

Mia: Where have you been Jack? It’s been a donkey's years that I didn’t see you and I missed you very much. 

Jack: Understood, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

All that glitters is not gold

Lucy: Hey Jack, let’s buy this printer, it’s small, portable & easy to carry it around. 

Jack: All that glitters is not gold. 

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Jessica: I don’t like your new raincoat! 

Sophie: I don’t give a monkeys, as beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 

Curiosity killed the cat

Jack: Jacob just started working here 6 months ago as supervisor and now out of the blue, he’s appointed as CEO. What’s going on here?  

Benjamin: If I were in your shoes, I would ignore the elephant in the room. As you know curiosity killed the cat. 

Don't judge a book by its cover

Jessica: Mary is very rude! 

Sophie: Don’t judge a book by its cover. She has a good critical thinking skill.

Every dog has its day

Jack faced lots of headwinds at his start up business and wanted to throw the towel. But Benjamin told him: “Don’t worry! I believe in you, you will be able to storm the weather. Don’t forget that every dog has its day”.  

Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime

When they were discussing how much funds they have to allocate for giving financial funds to those who were strapped for cash, Nancy suggested education and distributing books and backed up her opinion by the proverb saying give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime. 

Home is where the heart is

Benjamin was head over heels for Sophie. When Sophie asked him where is his home? He humorously answered: Home is where the heart is. 

If the shoe fits, wear it

Sophie: I heard that you and Jessica fell out. What went wrong? 

Jasmine: She has a big head and cannot handle criticism. I told her: “if the shoe fits, wear it” and she went bonkers. 

It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease

Jessica: I don’t like the new manager. 

Jasmine: Why? He seems to be very nice! 

Jessica: Well, haven’t you heard him keep saying: keep your nose to the grindstone, and even if you achieve a milestone at your work, don’t talk to me about a raise increment. 

Jasmine: Calm down, just tell him: If you’re bringing the issue to his attention, it’s because it’s the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. 

Jessica: Is our office cursed? 

Jasmine: What makes you think that way? 

Jessica: Every week someone is on medical leave, except me and I’m the one ending up doing all the work as we cannot rely on others! That begs the question if they’re pulling a sicky! 

Jasmine: Well, discuss it with the manager. It's the squeaky wheel that gets the grease. 

Keep your chin up

When Jasmine lost her uncle, her fella said: I understand how close you were to him, but keep your chin up and move on! 

Let sleeping dogs lie

Jessica: Why don't you see eye to eye with Jacob? 

Jasmine: I’m tired of him, blowing his own trumpet all the time! 

Jessica: What’s wrong with that? He’s a confident man! 

Jasmine: Wow! I prefer to let sleeping dogs lie, if you don’t know anything about him! 

Necessity is the mother of invention 

Sophie: How did you come up with making these beautiful fabric face masks?  

Benjamin: Well, everywhere is running out of face masks. That’s why I started sewing them. After all, necessity is the mother of invention. 

One man's trash is another man's treasure

Jessica: Hey Jack, could you please take the bottles box to the recycling centre when dropping Michael to his kindergarten? It’s just a 5 minutes walk from his kindergarten! 

Jack: How can I say no, when I can feel it in my bones that you will remind me that one man’s trash is another man’s treasure. 

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree: 

Jacob: Bob has a knack in art like his father. 

Lucy: Exactly, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. 

Time heals all wounds

Jasmine: Time heals all wounds! Stop being sad about what happened between you and Lucy! 

Sophie: Mmmmm, it’s easier said than done. 

Too many cooks spoil the broth

Benjamin: We need more staff at this company! Everyone is burning out! 

Jack: I agree, but the boss thinks too many cooks spoil the broth.

You can't have your cake and eat it too

Maryam: Boss was advising me to consume more red meat for its health benefit. 

Ahmad: The time was ripe to ask him for a raise and remind him that with your low salary, you can’t have your cake and eat it too. 

A stitch in time saves nine

Lucy: I hate going to the dentist again, the cavity doesn’t look as horrible as the dentist thinks.  

Jack: Listen to your dentist! As she said: a stitch in time saves nine. 

In for a penny, in for a pound

Lucy: If you don’t have time, I can ask Jessica for help. 

Jasmine: No, I can make time. In for a penny, in for a pound! 

Half a loaf is better than none

Jasmine asked for 1 week off from work to attend her friend’s wedding, but only got 3 days off. Half a loaf is better than none. 

Still waters run deep 

Jessica: Sophie is always quiet in online webinars, but whenever she speaks she hits the nail on the head. 

Jasmine: Yeap, don’t underestimate her. Still waters run deep. 

A watched pot never boils

Sue: What time is it? The training is boring. 

Issac: You just asked me 10 minutes ago. A watched pot never boils! 

Better to be safe than sorry, but too much caution can lead to a life unexplored: 

Lucy: I’m scared of leaving this job, what if the next job will be the same? 

Jasmine: I understand that it’s not a good time to look for a new job, but remember better to be safe than sorry, but too much caution can lead to a life unexplored.

A picture is worth a thousand words

Jasmine: We only prepared some handouts and presentations for the training.  

Sophie: Don’t forget to create some posters, as a picture is worth a thousand words. 

Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Jasmine: Why do you keep job hopping? 

Jessica: In today’s world, it’s good to develop different skills. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. 

The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now

Jessica: He’s gaslighting me. I should have broken up with him long ago. 

Jasmine: Don’t blame yourself. The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now. 

A calm sea never made a skilled sailor

Jasmine: I can’t bear with her anymore! She’s too hard on me! 

Sophie: I can feel your pain, but a calm sea never made a skilled sailor. 

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step

Me 2023: I want to speak English like a native speaker. 

Me 2024: Alex is building a learning community for those who want to speak like a native. Enroll for that. Bear in mind that a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. 

Many hands make light work

Jackson: We’re facing so many headwinds. I think we should hire more people. As the saying goes: many hands make light work. 

Jack: Stop faffing around and work harder. Don't forget that we’re running a tight ship and cannot hire new staff!