Proverb: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Meaning:
If you spend time away from someone you love, you will love them even more. In
other words, you realize how much you love something when you are spend time
away from it.
Proverb: Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Meaning:
You should not depend on just one thing for success. Instead, you should
diversify your risks. For example, don't invest all your money in one thing
because you might lose everything if it fails.
Proverb: There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Meaning:
There is more than one way to solve a problem. In other words, if one solution
doesn't work, try to find another way to solve the problem.
Proverb: You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it
drink.
Meaning:
You can tell somebody what the best thing to do is, but you can't make them do
it. In other words, even if you give somebody good advice, they might not
follow it.
Proverb: What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
Meaning:
People become tougher and wiser by facing hardships. For example, if someone
cheats you out of money, the experience will make you wiser so that you
Proverb: Necessity is the mother of invention.
Meaning:
If you really need to do something you will find a way. In other words, people
can be very creative when they have to be.
Proverb: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
Meaning:
Children grow up to be similar to their parents. For example, if the parents
are bad then the child will be bad as well.
Proverb: Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
Meaning:
Don't rely on something that hasn't happened yet. For example, you shouldn't
spend money that you haven't earned yet.
Proverb: That's the pot calling the kettle black.
Meaning:
You shouldn't criticize other people's faults if you have those same faults.
For example, if you are lazy you shouldn't complain when other people are lazy.
Proverb: Every cloud has a silver lining.
Meaning:
There is a positive side to every bad situation. In other words, bad things
also produce some good.
Proverb: When it rains, it pours.
Meaning:
When bad* things happen, they happen all at once. In other words, if you have
some bad luck, more bad luck will follow shortly.
(*It
is also sometimes used for good things as well.)
Proverb: A leopard cannot change its spots.
Meaning:
People cannot change their personality or nature. For example, if someone is
bad then they will always be bad (so don't believe people who say they've
changed).
Proverb: You shouldn't judge a book by its cover.
Meaning:
Outward appearances can be deceiving. In other words, you should look at
something closely before deciding if it is good or bad.
Proverb: Look before you leap.
Meaning:
You should carefully plan things before you do anything. In other words, don't
be hasty because If you act rashly, you might get hurt.
Proverb: Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Meaning:
If too many people are managing something, it will fail. In other words, it's
better to have one person directing a project than many people.
