Proverbs

 An apple a day keeps the doctor away.*   Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy.  Other interpretation : A small preventive treatment wards off serious problems.    .    A burnt  child dreads the fire.   A bad experience will make people stay away from certain things.    A friend in need is a friend indeed.   Someone who helps you when you are in trouble.    As you sow, so shall you reap  You have to accept the consequences of your actions.           Better late than never.  It's better to do something,  even if it's late,  than not do it at all.   Blood is thicker than water     Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other people.    Diligence is the mother of good fortune.   Hard work brings rewardsEasier said than done.  What is suggested sounds easy but it is more difficult to actually do it.     Honesty is the best policy.      It's no use crying over spilt milk.   Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.    Like father, like son.   A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's Many hands make light work.  Sharing work makes work easier.    Never say die.   Never give upOne good turn deserves another.   You should be helpful to someone who helps you.    Opportunity seldom knocks twice.   Don't miss opportunities that come along. 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. Time has wings.  Time goes by quickly.Time is money.  Time is valuable and should not be wastedWhere there's a will, there's a way.   A person with determination will find a way of doing something.    .      You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.   You help me and I'll help you.Kindness begets kindness.   If you are kind to people, they will be kind to you.

Idioms

A problem shared is a problem halvedIf you talk about your problems, it will make you feel better.

Above parBetter than average or normal

Absence makes the heart grow fonderThis idiom means that when people are apart, their love grows stronger.

Alike as two peasIf people or things are as alike as two peas, they are identical.

All eyes on meIf all eyes are on someone, then everyone is paying attention to them.

All heartSomeone who is all heart is very kind and generous.

Angry as a bullIf someone is as angry as a bull, they are very angry.

Arm and a legIf something costs an arm and a leg, it is very expensive.

Bad eggA person who cannot be trusted is a bad egg. Good egg is the opposite.

Bag of nervesIf someone is a bag of nerves, they are very worried or nervous.

Bear fruitIf something bears fruit, it produces positive results.

Bee in your bonnetIf someone is very excited about something, they have a bee in their bonnet.

Bend over backwardsIf someone bends over backwards, they do everything they can to help someone.

Big fishAn important person in a company or an organisation is a big fish.

Bird's eye viewIf you have a bird's eye view of something, you can see it perfectly clearly.

Black sheepSomeone who is the black sheep doesn't fit into a group or family because their behaviour or character is not good enough.

Bright and breezyWhen someone is cheerful and full of energy, they are bright and breezy.

Bright as a buttonA person who is as bright as a button is very intelligent or smart.

Bring someone to bookIf somebody is brought to book, they are punished or made to account for

By and largeBy and large means usually or generally.

By dint ofThis means 'as a result of' or 'because of': It would be good to think he'd risen to position of Chief Executive by dint of hard work.

Cat napIf you have a short sleep during the day, you are cat napping.

Chalk and cheeseThings, or people, that are like chalk and cheese are very different and have nothing in common.

Cheap as chips(UK) If something is very inexpensive, it is as cheap as chips.

Cheek by jowlIf things or people are cheek by jowl, they are very close together.

Close at handIf something is close at hand, it is nearby or conveniently located.

Cloud nineIf you are on cloud nine, you are extremely happy. ('cloud seven' is a less common alternative)

Couch potatoA couch potato is an extremely idle or lazy person who chooses to spend most of their leisure time horizontal in front of the TV and eats a diet that is mainly junk food.

Could eat a horseIf you are very hungry, you could eat a horse.

Dog daysDog days are very hot summer days.

Down and outIf someone is down and out, they are desperately poor and need help.

Dress to killWhen someone is dressed to kill, they are dressed very smartly.

Drop into your lapIf something drops into your lap, you receive it suddenly, without any warning.

Earn a livingTo make money Ex: We need to get a good job to earn a decent living.

Easier said than doneIf something is easier said than done, it is much more difficult than it sounds. It is often used when someone advises you to do something difficult and tries to make it sound easy.

Easy as ABCSomething that is as easy as ABC is very easy or simple.

Eat like a birdIf someone eats like a bird, they eat very little.

Eat like a horseSomeone who eats like a horse, eats a lot.

Eat like a pigIf some eats like a pig, they either eat too much or they have bad table manners.

Eat my hatfed up to the back teeth.

Feel at homeIf you feel relaxed and comfortable somewhere or with someone, you feel at home

Fit as a fiddleIf you are fit as a fiddle, you are in perfect health.permission.

Fresh from the ovenIf something is fresh from the oven, it is very new.

From scratchThis idiom means 'from the beginning'.

Full as a tickIf you are as full as a tick, you have eaten too much.

Full of the joys of springIf you are full of the joys of spring, you are very happy and full of energy.

Give it some stick(UK) If you give something some stick, you put a lot of effort into it.

Give me a handIf someone gives you a hand, they help you.

Good as goldIf children are as good as gold, they behave very well.

Good SamaritanA good Samaritan is a persoon wh helps others in need.

Good shapeIf something's in good shape, it's in good condition. If a person's in good shape, they are fit and healthy.

Hand in handHand in hand= work together closely When people in a group, say in an office or in a project, work together with mutual understanding to achieve the target, we say they work hand in hand. There is no lack of co-operation and each synchoranises the activity with that of the other.

Hard by"Hard by" means mean "close to" or "near".

Have a ballIf you have a ball, you have a great time, a lot of fun.

Have a heart

If someone has a heart, they arekind and sympathetic.  If you say, 'Have a heart' to someone, you are asking them to be understanding and sympathetic.

Hear a pin dropIf there is complete silence in a room, you can hear a pin drop.

Heart of goldSomeone with a heart of gold is a genuinely kind and caring person.

Hell for leatherIf you do something hell for leather, especially running, you do it as fast as you can.

Hit the hayWhen you hit the hay, you go to bed.

Hungry as a bearIf you are hungry as a bear, it means that you are really hungry.

In a flashIf something happens in a flash, it happens very quickly indeed.

In a fogIf you're in a fog, you are confused, dazed or unaware.

In a heartbeatIf something happens very quickly or immediately, it happens in a heartbeat.

In apple-pie orderIf something is in apple-pie order, it is very neat and organised.

In light of'In light of' is similar to 'due to'.

In my bookThis idiom means 'in my opinion'.

Sleep like a babyIf you sleep very well, you sleep like a baby.

Sleep like a logIf you sleep like a log, you sleep very soundly.

So on and so forthAnd so on and so forth mean the same as etcetera (etc.).

Spare the rod and spoil the childThis means that if you don't discipline children, they will become spoilt.

Spick and spanIf a room is spick and span, it is very clean and tidy.

Stone deafSomeone who is stone deaf is completely deaf.

Stone's throwIf a place is a stone's throw from where you are, it is a very short distance away.

Strong as an ox

Someone who's exceedingly strong physically is said to be as strong as an ox.

Stubborn as a muleSomeone who will not listen to other people's advice and won't change their way of doing things is as stubborn as a mule.

Stuffed to the gillsIf someone is stuffed to the gills, they have eaten a lot and are very full.

Take for grantedIf you take something for granted, you don't worry or think about it because you assume you will always have it.  If you take someone for granted, you don't show your appreciation to them.

Take forty winksIf you take 40 winks, you have a short sleep.

Take the floorStart talking or giving a speech to a group

Teacher's petThe teacher's favorite pupil is the teacher's pet, especially if disliked by the other pupils.

The more the merrierThe more the merrier means that the greater the quantity or the bigger the number of something, the happier the speaker will be.

Thick as thievesIf people are thick as thieves, they are very close friends who have no secrets from each other.

Think outside the boxIf you think outside the box, you think in an imaginative and creative way.

Turn a deaf earIf someone turns a deaf ear to you, they don't listen to you.

Turn a new leafIf someone turns a new leaf, they change their behaviour and stop doing wrong or bad things.

Twinkling of an eyeIf something happens in the twinkling of an eye, it happens very quickly.

Twist someone's armIf you twist someone's arm, you put pressure on them to try to make them do what you want them to do.

Twisting in the windIf you are twisting in the wind, you are without help or support - you are on yourWith flying colours (colors)

If you pass something with flying colours (colors), you pass easily, with a very high mark or grade.

Work like a dogIf you work like a dog, you work very hard.

Lend an earIf you lend an ear, you listen to what someone has to say. ('Lend your ear' is an alternative form.)

Like a cat that got the creamIf someone looks very pleased with themselves and happy, they look like a cat that got the cream.

Like a kid in a candy storeIf someone is like a kid in a candy store, they are very excited about something.

Like peas in a podIf people or things are like peas in a pod, they look identical.

Live wireA person who is very active, both mentally and physically, is a live wire.

Long time no hearThe speaker could say this when they have not heard from a person, either through phone calls or emails for a long time.

Long time no see'Long time no see' means that the speaker has not seen that person for a long time.

Make your hair stand on endIf something makes your hair stand on end, it terrifies you.

Make your toes curlIf something makes your toes curl, it makes you feel very uncomfortable, shocked or embarrassed.something is achieved.

Many hands make light workThis idiom means that when everyone gets involved in something, the work gets done quickly.

Many happy returnsThis expression is used to wish someone a happy birthday.

Many moons agoA very long time ago.

Money burns a hole in your pocketIf someone has money burning a hole in their pocket, they are eager to spend it, normally in a wasteful manner.

Money doesn`t grow on treesThis means that you have to work to earn money; it doesn't come easily or without effort.

Money for jam

If something's money for jam, it's a very easy way of making money.Money for old rope

(UK) If something's money for old rope, it's a very easy way of making money.

Monkey businessIf children get up to monkey business, they are behaving naughtily or mischievously. This is the same as 'monkeying around'.

Monkey see, monkey doThis idiom means that children will learn their behaviour by copying what they see happening around them.

My hands are fullIf your hands are full, you have so much to do that you cannot take on any more work, responsibilities and so on.

My hands are tiedIf your hands are tied, you are unable to act for some reason.

My heart bleedsIf your heart bleeds for someone, you feel genuine sympathy and sadness for them.

My heart goes out to someoneIf your heart goes out to someone, you feel genuine sympathy for them.

Now and thenThis idiom means 'occasionally'.

Once in a blue moonIf something happens once in a blue moon, it happens very rarely indeed.

Out of pocketIf you are out of pocket on a deal, you have lost money.

Over and overIf something happens over and over, it happens repeatedly.

Over my dead bodyIf you say that something will happen over your dead body, you will not let it happen.

Packed like sardinesIf a place is extremely crowded, people are packed like sardines, or packed in like sardines.

Paddle your own canoe(USA) If you paddle your own canoe, you do things for yourself without outside help.

Pain in the neckIf someone is very annoying and always disturbing you, they are a pain in the neck. Pain in the butt, or pain in the ass (USA), and Pain in the arse (UK) are less polite alternative forms.

Raining cats and dogs

When it is raining cats and dogs, it is raining very heavily.