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Speakers
tend to use proverbs to comment on a situation, often at the end of a true story
someone has told, or in response to some event. Like all idiomatic expressions,
they are useful and enjoyable to know and understand, but should be used with
care.
A.
Warning/advice/morals – dos and don’ts
proverb
paraphrase
Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.
Don’t anticipate
(=think that something will probably happen) the future too much.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
Don’t invest
(=put money, effort, time etc. into something to make a profit or get an
advantage) all your efforts, or attention in just one thing.
Never judge a book by its cover.
Don’t judge people/things by their outward appearance.
Never look a gift-horse in the mouth.
Never refuse good fortune when it is there in front of you.
Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of themselves.
Take care of small sums of money and they will become large sums.
B.
Key elements
Proverbs can be grouped by key elements, for example, animals and birds.
proverb
paraphrase
When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
People will take advantage of someone else’s absence to behave more
freely.
You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.
You can try to persuade someone, but you can’t force them.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
One positive sign doesn’t mean that all will be well. A swallow is a
very fast-flying bird that returns to Britain in late spring.
C.
Visualizing
As with learning all vocabulary, visualizing
(=imagining) some elements often helps.
proverb
paraphrase
There’s no smoke without fore. or Where there’s smoke,
there’s fire.
Rumors
(=unofficial information that may or may not be true) are usually
based on some degree of truth.
Too many cooks spoil the broth
/brɔθ/(=soup).
Too many people interfering is a bad way of doing things.
People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Don’t criticize
(=say what you think is wrong or bad about something) others’
faults if you suffer from them yourself.
Many hands make light work.
A lot of people helping makes a job easier.
Adopted from English Vocabulary in Use Upper-intermediate
Informal contractions are short forms of other words that people use when speaking casually. They are not exactly slang, but they are a little like slang.
For example, "gonna" is a short form of "going to". If you say "going to" very fast, without carefully pronouncing each word, it can sound like "gonna".
Please remember that these are informal contractions. That means that we do not use them in "correct" speech, and we almost never use them in writing. (If you see them in writing, for example in a comic strip, that is because the written words represent the spoken words or dialogue.) We normally use them only when speaking fast and casually, for example with friends. Some people never use them, even in informal speech.
It is probably true to say that informal contractions are more common in American English.
Also note that, unlike normal contractions, we do not usually use apostrophes (') with informal contractions when written.
On the right are some common informal contractions, with example sentences. Note that the example sentences may be a little artificial because when we use a contraction we may also use other contractions in the same sentence, or even drop some words completely. For example:
What are you going to do? >>
Whatcha going to do? >>
Whatcha gonna do?
or
Do you want a beer?
Do you wanna beer?
D'you wanna beer?
D'ya wanna beer?
Ya wanna beer?
Wanna beer?
These informal contractions are not "correct" English. Do not use them in a written exam, for example, except in appropriate situations.
ain't = am not/are not/is not
I ain't sure.
You ain't my boss.
ain't = has not/have not
I ain't done it.
She ain't finished yet.
gimme = give me
Gimme your money.
Don't gimme that rubbish.
Can you gimme a hand?
gonna = going to
Nothing's gonna change my love for you.
I'm not gonna tell you.
What are you gonna do?
gotta = (have) got a
I've gotta gun.
I gotta gun.
She hasn't gotta penny.
Have you gotta car?
gotta = (have) got to
I've gotta go now.
I gotta go now.
We haven't gotta do that.
Have they gotta work?
If something is a day late and a dollar short, it is too little, too late.
All bets are off
If all bets are off, then agreements that have been made no longer apply.
All hat, no cattle
When someone talks big, but cannot back it up, they are all hat, no cattle.('Big hat, no cattle' is also used.)
All over the map
If something like a discussion is all over the map, it doesn't stick to the main topic and goes off on tangents.
As mad as a wrongly shot hog
If someone is as mad as a wrongly shot hog, they are very angry. (Same as, Angry as a bear or Angry as a bull).
At a drop of a dime
If someone will do something at the drop of a dime, they will do it instantly, without hesitation.
At loose ends
If you are at a loose end, you have spare time but don't know what to do with it.
At the bottom of the totem pole
If someone is at the bottom of the totem pole, they are unimportant. Opposite is at the top of the totem pole.
At the end of your rope
If you are at the end of your rope, you are at the limit of your patience or endurance.
Baby boomer
Ababy boomer is someone born in the years after the end of the SecondWorld War, a period when the population was growing very fast.
Balls to the walls
If you do something balls to the wall, you apply full acceleration or exertion.
Be out in left field
Tobe out in left field is not to know what's going on. Taken frombaseball, when youngsters assign less capable players to the outfieldwhere the ball is less likely to be hit by a young player. In business,one might say, 'Don't ask the new manager; he's out in left field anddoesn't know any answers yet.'
Beat someone to the draw
If you beat someone to the draw, you do something before they do.
Beating a dead horse
Ifsomeone is trying to convince people to do or feel something withoutany hope of succeeding, they're beating a dead horse.This is used when someone is trying to raise interest in an issue thatno-one supports anymore; beating a dead horse will not make it do anymore work.
Bells on
To be somewhere with bells on means to arrive there happy and delighted to attend.
Belt and suspenders
Someone who wears belt and suspenders is very cautious and takes no risks.
Bet your bottom dollar
If you can bet your bottom dollar on something, you can be absolutely sure about it.
Big Apple
The Big Apple is New York.
Big Easy
The Big Easy is New Orleans, Louisiana
Blow off steam
If you blow off steam, you express your anger or frustration.
Blow smoke
If people blow smoke, they exaggerate or say things that are not true, usually to make themselves look better.
Can't dance and it's too wet to plow
Whenyou can't dance and it's too wet to plow, you may as well do somethingbecause you can't or don't have the opportunity to do anything else.
Cat fur and kitty britches
WhenI used to ask my grandma what was for dinner, she would say 'cat furand kitty britches'. This was her Ozark way of telling me that I wouldget what she cooked. (Ozark is a region in the center of the UnitedStates)
Cat's pajamas
Something that is the cat's pajamas is excellent.
Caught with your hand in the cookie jar
If someone is caught with his or her hand in the cookie jar, he or she is caught doing something wrong.
Circle the wagons
Ifyou circle the wagons, you stop communicating with people who don'tthink the same way as you to avoid their ideas. It can also mean tobring everyone together to defend a group against an attack.
Close but no cigar
If you are close but no cigar, you are close to success, but have not got there.
Coon's age
A very long time, as in 'I haven't seen her in a coon's age!'
Country mile
A country mile is used to describe a long distance.
Crepe hanger
Onewho always looks at the bad side of things and is morbid or gloomy. Inolden days crepe was hung on the door of a deceased person's home.
Curve ball
If something is a curve ball, it is deceptive.
Cute as a bug
If something is as cute as a bug, it is sweet and endearing.
Decorate the mahogany
When someone buys a round a pub or bar, they decorate the mahogany; putting cash on the bar.
Different ropes for different folks
This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Different strokes for different folks
This idiom means that different people do things in different ways that suit them.
Dime a dozen
If something is a dime a dozen, it is extremely common, possibly too common.
Dog and pony show
A dog and pony show is a presentation or some marketing that has lots of style, but no real content.
Dollars for doughnuts
If something is dollars for doughnuts, it is a sure bet or certainty.
Don't sweat the small stuff
This is used to tell people not to worry about trivial or unimportant issues.
Don't take any wooden nickels
This idiom is used to advise people not to be cheated or ripped off.
Down to the wire
If something goes down to the wire, like a competition, then it goes to the very last moment before it is clear who has won.
Drop a dime
If you tell someone to drop a dime, you're suggesting he or she telephone you at some future time.
Drop in the bucket
A drop in the bucket is something so small that it won't make any noticeable difference.
Drunker than a peach orchard boar
Southern US expression - Very drunk, as when a boar would eat fermented peaches that have fallen from the tree.
Duck soup
If something is duck soup, it is very easy.
Ducks in a row
If you have your ducks in a row, you are well-organized.
Eat crow
If you eat crow, you have to admit that you were wrong about something.
Fair shake of the whip
If everybody has a fair shake of the whip, they all have equal opportunities to do something.
Fall off the turnip truck
If someone has just fallen off the turnip truck, they are uninformed, naive and gullible. (Often used in the negative)
Fifth wheel
A fifth wheel is something unnecessary or useless.
Fish or cut bait
This idiom is used when you want to tell someone that it is time to take action.
Forest for the trees
Ifsomeone can't see the forest for the trees, they get so caught up insmall details that they fail to understand the bigger picture.
From Missouri
If someone is from Missouri, then they require clear proof before they will believe something.
From the get-go
If something happens from the get-go, it happens from the very beginning.
Go fly a kite
This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go fry an egg
This is used to tell someone to go away and leave you alone.
Go over like a lead balloon
If something goes over like a lead balloon, it will not work well, or go over well.
Going Jesse
If something is a going Jesse, it's a viable, successful project or enterprise.
Green thumb
Someone with a talent for gardening has a green thumb.
Hold the bag
If someone is responsible for something, they are holding the bag.
Horse of a different color
If something is a horse of a different color, it's a different matter or separate issue altogether.
Hot button
A hot button is a topic or issue that people feel very strongly about.
Hot ticket
A hot ticket is something that is very much in demand at the moment.
How do you like them apples
Thisidiomatic expression is used to express surprise or shock at somethingthat has happened. It can also be used to boast about something youhave done.
If I had a nickel for every time
Whensomeone uses this expression, they mean that the specific thing happensa lot. It is an abbreviation of the statement 'If I had a nickel forevery time that happened, I would be rich'
In high gear
If something is in high gear, it is in a quick-paced mode. If someone is in high gear, they are feverishly on the fast track.
In the catbird seat
If someone is in the catbird seat, they are in an advantageous or superior position.
ohn Q Public
John Q Public is the typical, average person.
Kick up your heels
If you kick up your heels, you go to parties or celebrate something.
lLike taking candy from a baby
If something is like taking candy from a baby, it is very easy to do.
Like white on rice
If you do something like white on rice, you do it very closely:When Bob found out I had front row tickets for the concert, he stuck to me like white on rice.
Little pitchers have big ears
This means that children hear more and understand the world around them better than many adults realize.
Lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut
Ifsomeone or something is lower than a snake's belly in a wagon rut, theyare of low moral standing because a snake's belly is low and if thesnake is in a wagon rut, it is really low.
Mad as a cut snake
One who is mad as a cut snake has lost all sense of reason, is crazy, out of control.
Mad as a hornet
If someone is as mad as a hornet, they are very angry indeed.
Make bets in a burning house
Ifpeople are making bets in a burning house, they are engaged in futileactivity while serious problems around them are getting worse.
Make out like a bandit
If someone is extremely successful in a venture, they make out like a bandit.
Mind your own beeswax
This idiom means that people should mind their own business and not interfere in other people's affairs.
Mom and pop
Amom and pop business is a small business, especially if it is run bymembers of a family. It can used in a wider sense to mean thatsomething is small scale.
Monday morning quarterback
A Monday morning quarterback is someone who, with the benefit of hindsight, knows what should have been done in a situation.
My dogs are barking
When someone says this, they mean that their feet are hurting.
New York minute
If something happens in a New York minute, it happens very fast.
Nickel tour
If someone gives you a nickel tour, they show you around a place.('Fifty-cent tour' is also used.)
Not know beans about
If someone doesn't know beans about something, they know nothing about it.
Not worth a red cent
If something is not worth a red cent, it has no value.
Out of the left field
If something comes out of the left field, it is beside the point and has nothing to do with the matter being discussed.
Paddle your own canoe
If you paddle your own canoe, you do things for yourself without outside help.
Paint yourself into a corner
If someone paints themselves into a corner, they get themselves into a mess.
Penny ante
Something that is very unimportant is penny ante.
Pick-up game
A pick-up game is something unplanned where people respond to events as they happen.
Polish the apples
Someone who polishes the apples with someone, tries to get into that person's favor.
Pull numbers out of your ass
If sopmeone pulls numbers out of their ass, they give unreliable or unsubstantiated figures to back their argument.
Pull out of the fire
If you pull something out of the fire, you save or rescue it.
Pull your chain
If someone pulls your chain, they take advantage of you in an unfair way or do something to annoy you.
Put more green into something
To put more green into something is to spend more or to increase investment in it.
Put some mustard on it!
I think its used to encourage someone to throw a ball like a baseball hard or fast.
Ragged blue line
This term was used to signify the Union forces (who wore blue uniforms) in the American Civil war .
Raise Cain
If someone raises Cain, they make a big fuss publicly, causing a disturbance.
Rake someone over the coals
If you rake someone over the coals, you criticize or scold them severely.
Rest is gravy
If the rest is gravy, it is easy and straightforward once you have reached that stage.
Root hog or die poor
It'sa expression used in the Southern USA that means that you must look outfor yourself as no one's going to do it for you. (It can be shortenedto 'root hog'. A hog is a pig.)
Run around the bush
If you run around the bush, it means that you're taking a long time to get to the point.
Saigon moment
A Saigon moment is when people realise that something has gone wrong and that they will lose or fail.
Say uncle
If you say uncle, you admit defeat.('Cry uncle' is an alternative form.)
Sharp as a tack
If someone is as sharp as a tack, they are very clever indeed.
Sharpen your pencil
If someone says this when negotiating, they want the other person to make a better offer, a lower price.
Slap leather
This is used as an instruction to tell people when to draw their guns.
Slower than molasses going uphill in January
Tomove extremely slowly. Molasses drips slowly anyway but add Januarycold and gravity, dripping uphill would be an impossibility, therebymaking the molasses move very slowly indeed!
Squeaky wheel gets the grease
Whenpeople say that the squeaky wheel gets the grease, they mean that theperson who complains or protests the loudest attracts attention andservice.
Squeeze blood out of a turnip
Whenpeople say that you can't squeeze blood out of a turnip, it means thatyou cannot get something from a person, especially money, that theydon't have.
Stool pigeon
A stool pigeon is a police informer.
Take the fifth
Ifyou do not want to answer a question you can take the fifth, meaningyou are choosing not to answer. ('Plead the fifth' is also used.)
Talk a blue streak
If someone talks a blue streak, they speak quickly and at length.('Talk up a blue streak' is also used.)
Tell them where the dog died
If you tell them where the dog died, you strongly and sharply correct someone.
That and 50 cents will buy you a cup of coffee
Thisis used to describe something that is deemed worthless. "He's got aPh.D. in Philosophy." "So? That and 50 cents will buy you a cup ofcoffee."
That dog won't hunt
Very common Southern US expression meaning: What you say makes no sense.
That's all she wrote
This idiom is used to show that something has ended and there is nothing more to say about something.
Throw a curve
Ifyou throw someone a curve, you surprise them with something they finddifficult to deal with. ('Throw' a curveball' is also used.)
Throw a monkey wrench into the works
If you throw a monkey wrench into the works, you ensure that something fails.
Tough row to hoe
A tough row to hoe is a situation that is difficult to handle.('A hard row to hoe' is an alternative form.)
Ugly as a stick
If someone is as ugly as a stick, they are very ugly indeed.
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam is the government of the USA.
Under the wire
If a person does something under the wire, they do it at the last possible moment.
Watch your six
This idiom means that you should look behind you for dangers coming that you can't see.
Water over the dam
If something has happened and cannot be changed, it is water over the dam.
Wedge politics
Inwedge politics, one party uses an issue that they hope will dividemembers of a different party to create conflict and weaken it.
what can you expect from a hog but a grunt What can you expect from a hog but a grunt?
Thismeans that you can't expect people to behave in a way that is not intheir character- a 'hog' is a 'pig', so an unrefined person can't beexpected to behave in a refined way.
Where the rubber meets the road
Wherethe rubber meets the road is the most important point for something,the moment of truth. An athlete can train all day, but the race iswhere the rubber meets the road and they'll know how good they reallyare.
Whistling Dixie
If someone is whistling Dixie, they talk about things in a more positive way than the reality.
Whistling past the graveyard
If someone is whistling past the graveyard, they are trying to remain cheerful in difficult circumstances.('Whistling past the cemetery' is also used.)
Who wears the pants?
The person who wears the pants in a relationship is the dominant person who controls things.
Whole ball of wax
The whole ball of wax is everything.
Wouldn't touch it with a ten-foot pole
If you wouldn't touch something with a ten-foot pole, you would not consider being involved under any circumstances.(In British English, people say they wouldn't touch it with a bargepole)
Wrench in the works
If someone puts or throws a wrench, or monkey wrench, in the works, they ruin a plan.In British English, 'spanner' is used instead of 'wrench'.
You can't have cake and the topping, too
This idiom means that you can't have everything the way you want it, especially if your desires are contradictory.
You've got rocks in your head
Someone who has acted with a lack of intelligence has rocks in their head.
words that people use in their own every day language. They are not official words. People who speak the same language but live in different countries may not understand each other's slang.
Living the good life
living without problems, being happy, and having everything that you need.
Road rage
the anger many people feel today when they drive in their cars. This anger is often caused by other people who drive badly, or by too much traffic. Some people get out of their cars and fight in the street.
Daily bread
anything that a person needs every day to survive.
His days are numbered
a person only has a particular number of days to live before he dies or before something bad happens to him.
Doubting Thomas
a person who is never sure that the things people tell him are true. Thomas was a follower of Jesus who could not believe that Jesus was alive, even though all his friends said it was true.
Blind leading the blind
a situation where one person teaches another but does not know any more than the person he teaches.
Prodigal son
a person who takes money from his friends or family and wastes it on bad things. In the original story, the son returns to his family and asks them to forgive him.
The Eleventh Hour
the time immediately before something important (and often bad) happens.
"The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable man persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
Author (George Bernard Shaw)
"Want to multiply your life? Then divide yourself from people of subtraction, and surround yourself with people of addition."
Author (Austin Staubus)
Don't need, get needed."
Author (LimSW)
If it breathes or has moving parts, sooner or later it'll give you trouble."
Author (Scott Buchler)
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