Proverbs with Explanations: 50+ Most Famous Proverbs

What is a proverb simple definition? and what is the main purpose of a proverb?

Generally, a proverb is a short sentence, saying, etc., usually known by many people. A proverb states something that is commonly experienced. The main purpose of a proverbs is to give advice or teach something.

Below is a number of English proverbs with explanations. Some of these best proverbs quotes start with ‘Don’t’. Actually, they are good proverbs verses that can be looked upon as pieces of advice. You might take them into consideration in the course of your life.

 English Proverbs with Meaning and Explanations

Famous proverbs with explanations

Proverbs with meaning

• Don’t bite the hand which feeds you.

Meaning: Don’t hurt someone who takes care of you.

• Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Meaning: You shouldn’t form an opinion about someone/something from their appearance only.

• Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Meaning: Don’t risk losing all that you have at once.

• Don’t put off for tomorrow what you can do today.

Meaning: You shouldn’t unnecessarily postpone what you can do now until tomorrow.

•  Don’t put the cart before the horse.

Meaning:  Don’t put or do things in the wrong order.

• Don’t climb the hill before you get to it.

Meaning: You should not worry about a problem ahead of time.

• Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched.

Meaning: You should not be too confident that something will be successful, because something may still go wrong.

•  Don’t boast until you see your enemy dead.

Meaning:  You should not be prematurely happy about escaping something dangerous or completing some work.

• Don’t bite off more than you can chew.

Meaning: You should not assume more responsibility than you are able to handle. Never be overconfident.

• Don’t judge a man until you have walked in his boots.

Meaning: You shouldn’t criticize someone until you have tried what they do.

• Don’t speak to the man at the wheel.

Meaning: You should not speak to the person driving as you

• Don’t get on your high horse.

Meaning: Don’t behave in a way that shows you think you are better than other people.

• Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

Meaning: Don’t tell or show someone to do something that they can already do well,  and probably better than you can.

• Do not praise the beginning until you see the end.

• Don’t make yourself a mouse, or the cat will eat you

Meaning: You should not belittle yourself, otherwise people will take advantage of you. Stand up for yourself.

• Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill.

meaning: Do not make an unimportant matter seem important.

• Don’t have too many irons in the fire.

Meaning: Don’t be involved in several activities or areas of business at the same time, hoping that at least one will be successful.

• Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.

Meaning: When you are angry, do not do something which is meant to harm somebody else but which also harms you.

• Don’t cross a bridge till you come to it

Meaning: You shouldn’t worry about a problem before it happens.

• Don’t cut the bough you are standing on.

Meaning: You should not endanger your own position by taking a thoughtless action.

• Don’t build castles in the air.

Meaning: You should not have plans or dreams that are unlikely to happen or come true.

• Do not overstay/ outstay your welcome.

Meaning: You’d better not stay somewhere as a guest more than you are wanted.

• Don’t wash your dirty linen in public.

Meaning: Don’t discuss your personal affairs in public, especially something embarrassing.

These English sayings and proverbs with explanations can be considered as valuable pieces of advice. We all need pieces of advice, especially those from wise and experienced people.

A stitch in time saves nine proverb meaning:

‘A stitch in time saves nine’ means that it is better to act or deal with problems immediately, because if you do not deal with them on the spot, things will get worse and it will take longer to deal with those problems.

For motivation, you may like to read these best short proverbs about life.

Best Proverbs About Success ( Inspirational Sayings )

• Nothing succeeds like success.
• Success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan.
• Success makes a fool look wise.
• Nothing venture, nothing gain.
• Nothing venture, nothing have.
• Success has many friends.
• The early bird catches the worm.

• Failure teaches success.
• Cheek brings success.
• God helps those who help themselves.
• Great oaks grow from small acorns.
• Diligence is the mother of success.
• Success is a ladder that cannot be climbed with your hands in your pockets.
• Success is never blamed.
• Success has brought many to destruction.

Proverbs About Work

1. Many hands make light work.
2. Perseverance performs greater works than strength.
3. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
4. As is the workman, so is the work.
5. A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
6. The hardest work is to do nothing.
7. He that will not work, shall not eat.
8. He works best who knows his trade.
9. Little wit in the head makes much work for the feet.
10. A good workman is known by his chips.
11. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.
12. Works of darkness hate the light.
13. He’ll eat till he sweats and he’ll work till he freezes.
14. The devil makes work for idle hands.

Sayings About Eggs

• The hen likes to lay in a nest where there are eggs already.
• In the broken nest there are no whole eggs.
•  Unlaid eggs are uncertain chickens.
• In a broken nest there are few whole eggs.
• Let every bird hatch its own eggs.
• Eggs and metal should not be put in the same sack.
•  Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs.
• The more eggs, the thicker the soup.
•  Chickens can’t go back into eggs.
•  If you are a cock, crow; if a hen, lay eggs.

Other Proverbs in English

• Actions speak louder than words
• Laugh today and cry tomorrow.
• A word to the wise is enough.
• You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink.
• A barking dog never bites.
• Eaten bread is soon forgotten.
• If you lie down with dogs, you will get up with fleas.
• If there were no clouds, we should not enjoy the sun.
• You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
• A friend who shares is a friend who cares.
• Better safe than sorry.
• Better late than never.
• If you cannot beat them, join them.
• All good things come to an end.
• A child must creep, then go.
• Well begun is half done.
• Adversity makes the man wise, not rich.
• A busy bee has no time for sorrow.
• After rain comes fair weather.
• In unity there is strength.

• Misery loves company.
• There is no place like home.
• Too many cooks spoil the broth.
• He who laughs last, laughs best.
• There is no honor among thieves.
• Love is blind.

Sayings and proverbs with explanations

Here are 7 common sayings in English