Alphabetical List - T

Tall oaks grow from little acorns.	Great things may come from small beginnings.
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.	Children resemble their parents.
The best advice is found on the pillow.	A good night's sleep may help us find an answer to our problem.
The best things in life are free.	You don't have to pay for what is important: happiness, friendship, good health.
The darkest hour is just before dawn.	The most difficult moment is just before a problem is solved.
The devil looks after his own.	Success comes to those who deserve it least.
The devil makes work for idle hands.	People who have no work, or are idle, often get into trouble.
The die is cast.	A decision has been made and it is impossible to change it.
The early bird catches the worm.	Act early, or before anyone else, if you want to have an advantage or be successful.
The end justifies the means.	Wrong or unfair methods may be used if the result of the action is good.
The first step is the hardest.	The most difficult part of an action is the beginning.
The more haste, the less speed.	A person makes more progress if they take time to do things carefully.
The more you have, the more you want.	People have a constant desire to possess more.
The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.	If you depend on just one thing, and it fails, you have no alternatives.
The pen is mightier than the sword.	Words and communication have a greater effect than war and fighting.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.	The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested.
The road to hell is paved with good intentions.	It is not enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it.
The tongue wounds more than a lance.	Insults can be more hurtful than physical injuries.
The truth is in the wine.	People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.
The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.	Feed a man well and he will love you.
The wish is father to the thought.	You think that something is true because you want it to be so.
There is a black sheep in every flock.	There is always someone who doesn't behave or perform like the others.
There's many a slip between the cup and the lip.	We do not own something until we actually get it.
There is a trick in every trade.	There is an established way of doing things.
There is no fool like an old fool.	An older person is expected to behave more sensibly.
There is safety in numbers.	Being in a crowd makes you feel more confident.
(A) tidy house holds a bored woman.	If a house is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing but housework to occupy her time.
Time and tide wait for no man.	Delaying a decision will not prevent events from taking place.
Time has wings.	Time goes by quickly.
Time heals all wounds.	The passage of time lessens the impact of bad events.
Time is money.	Time is valuable and should not be wasted.
To err is human, to forgive divine.	It is human nature to make mistakes, therefore one should forgive them.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.	If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done properly.
Too much bed makes a dull head.	When you sleep too much, you are not able to think clearly.
(The) tongue wounds more than a lance.	Insults can be more hurtful than physical injuries.
A tree is known by its fruit.	A person is judged by their actions.
Trust not a horse's heel nor a dog's tooth.	A horse kicks from behind, a dog attacks with its teeth.
Truth has no answer.	You cannot argue against facts or refute what is true.
(The) truth is in the wine.	People speak more freely under the influence of alcohol.
Truth is stranger than fiction.	Events in real life are often stranger than in fiction.
Two wrongs don't make a right.	It is wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you.

Alphabetical List - R

Revenge is sweet.	There is satisfaction in returning an injury.
(A) rising tide lifts all boats.	Refers to something that will be helpful to all.
(The) road to hell is paved with good intentions.	It is not enough to intend to do something, you must actually do it.
(A) rolling stone gathers no moss	If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither friends nor possessions. Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being tied down!
Rome was not built in a day.	It takes time to a job properly.  You should not expect to do it quickly.
(A) rotten apple spoils the barrel.	A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence on a group.

Alphabetical List - S

Save me from my friends.	Friends can be more dangerous than enemies.
Saying is one thing, doing is another.	People don't always do what they announce.
Short reckonings make long friends.	Debts paid quickly encourage friendship.
Sickness in the body brings sadness to the mind.	Physical suffering can lead to sadness or depression.
Silence gives consent.	If you don't object something, it is assumed that you agree with it.
(A) soft answer turneth away wrath.	If your reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger.
(A) smooth sea never made a skilled mariner.	Overcoming adversity leads to competence.
Snug as a bug in a rug.	Feeling very comfortable.
Spare the rod and spoil the child.	If you don't punish a child when he does wrong, you will spoil his character.
Speech is silver, silence is golden.	Speaking is good, but discretion can be better.
Sticks and stones will break my bones but names will never hurt me.	Physical attacks may harm me, but cruel words will  not.
Still waters run deep.	A quiet person with a calm outward appearance can have much knowledge or wisdom.
(A) stitch in time saves nine.	It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage so as to prevent it from getting worse.
Stolen fruit is sweet / the sweetest Stolen pleasures are the sweetest.	What is forbidden is the most tempting.
(A) stumble may prevent a fall.	Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making a bigger one.
(A) swallow does not make the summer.	One good event does not mean that everything is alright.

Alphabetical List - P-Q

(The) pen is mightier than the sword.	Words and communication have a greater effect than war and fighting.
Penny wise, pound foolish.	Refers to a person who is careful about spending small amounts of money, but not careful about spending large amounts.
People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.	One should not criticize others for faults similar to one's own and risk retaliation.
(A) picture paints a thousand words.	A picture is better than a long description.
Pity is akin to love.	If you begin to feel sorry for someone, you may start to love them.
Poverty waits at the gates of idleness.	If you do not work, you will not earn any money.
Practice makes perfect.	Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it.
Practice what you preach.	Do yourself what you advise others to do.
Prevention is better than cure.	It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later.
Pride comes before a fall.	Don't be too self-confident or proud; something may happen to make you look foolish.
(A) problem shared is a problem halved.	It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with someone.
Procrastination is the thief of time.	Delaying an action for too long is a waste of time.
(The) proof of the pudding is in the eating.	The real value of something can be judged only after it has been tried or tested.
Punctuality is the soul of business.	You should always be on time for your business appointments.
Put all your eggs in one basket.	Risk everything by relying on one plan (e.g. by putting all one's money into one business).

Alphabetical List - O

An) old fox is not easily snared.	A person of experience is difficult to fool or manipulate.
Once bitten, twice shy.	After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid something similar.
One father is (worth) more than a hundred schoolmasters.	A teacher cannot replace a father. A child is raised by a father and taught by a teacher.
One good turn deserves another.	You should be helpful to someone who helps you.
One of these days is none of these days.	Until a date is set, 'one of these days' remains a vague promise.
One today is worth two tomorrows.	What you have today is better than what is promised or hoped for.
One man's meat is another man's poison.	People don't always like the same things.
One man's trash is another man's treasure.	What is useless to one person could be valuable to another.
One swallow doesn't make a summer.	A single satisfactory event does not mean that all the others will be as good.
(An) onion a day keeps everyone away.	A humoristic version of "an apple a day..."
Only real friends will tell you when  your face is dirty.	Only a real friend will tell you the truth.
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.	Don't miss opportunities that come along.
(An) ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit.	It is better to be cautious and discreet than to try to be funny.
(An) ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.	It is easier to prevent something from happening than to repair the damage or cure the disease later.
Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings.	Children often speak wisely.
Out of sight, out of mind.	We tend to forget people or things that we do not see.

Alphabetical List - N

Necessity is the mother of invention.	The need for something forces people to find a way of obtaining it.
Need teaches a plan.	Necessity will make you find a solution.
Needs must when the devil drives.	Sometimes you are compelled to do something that you would rather not do.
Never put off till tomorrow what can be done today.	Don't postpone until later something you can do now.
Never say die.	Never give up.
Never trouble troubles until troubles trouble you.	Don't look for problems in advance; deal with them when they arise.
(A) new broom sweeps clean (but the old brush knows all the corners...)	A newly-appointed person often makes changes quickly .
(A) nod is as good as a wink (to a blind horse/man).	A hint or a subtle signal is enough to convey meaning to someone who is ready to understand.
Nobody is perfect.	It is understandable not to be perfect or to make occasional mistakes.
No joy without annoy	There is no happiness without clouds.
No losers, no winners.	If there were no losers, there could be no winners.
No man can serve two masters.	It's impossible to follow instructions from two different sources.
No man is a hero to his valet.	Few people are admired by those who know them intimately and are aware of their failings.
No man is an island.	We are all interdependent and need other people.
No news is good news.	If the news was bad, we would hear of it. Since we have heard nothing, we can assume that all is well.
No pain, no gain.	Nothing is achieved without effort.
No rain, no grain.	Without rain the harvest will be poor.
No smoke without fire.	There could be some truth in the rumour ...
No wind, no waves.	Similar to 'no smoke without fire'.
Nothing ventured nothing gained.	You cannot expect to achieve anything if you take no risks.

Alphabetical List - M

Make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.	Manage to product something good using poor material.
Man is the head of the family and woman is the neck that turns the head.	No comment!
Man proposes, God disposes.	Our destiny depends on God's will.
(A) man can die but once.	If death comes now, you will not have to experience it later.
(A) man is as old as he feels himself to be.	Your age doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.
(A) man is judged by his deeds, not by his words.	A person is judged on what he/she actually does, not on what they say they will do.
(A) man is known by the company he keeps.	A person's character is judged by the type of people with whom they spend their time.
Manners make the man.	Possibly: a person's manners show their origins.
Many a true word is spoken in jest.	Even if something is said as a joke it can still be true.
Many hands make light work.	Sharing work makes the task easier.
March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.	The weather at the beginning of March is stormy and at the end is mild.
March winds and April showers bring forth May flowers.	The storms and rain in March and April produce flowers in the month of May.
Mark, learn and inwardly digest.	Note and reflect upon something in order to thoroughly assimilate it.
Marry in haste, repent as leisure.	If you get married too quickly, you may spend your whole life regretting it.
Memory is the treasure of the mind.	A good memory is very precious.
Men make houses, women make homes.	Women give a house its comfort and character.
Might as well be hanged for a sheep as (for) a lamb.	If the penalty is going to be same, you might as well commit the greater offence.
Misery loves company	When people are sad they often like others to feel sad too.
Money begets money.	If you have money you can make more money.
Money doesn't grow on trees.	You should not waste money because it is not plentiful or obtained easily.
(A) monkey in silk is a monkey no less.	No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person underneath.
(The) more haste, the less speed.	A person makes more progress if they take time to do things carefully.
(The) more you have, the more you want.	People have a constant desire to possess more.
(The) mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.	If you depend on just one thing, and it fails, you have no alternatives.

Alphabetical List - J-K

Justice delayed is justice denied.	If the law is applied too late, there is no justice.
Kill one to warn a hundred.	Warn many people by punishing a few.
Kill not the goose that lays the golden egg.	Do not destroy the source of your good fortune.
Kindle not a fire you cannot put out.	Do not start something that you cannot control; you may fail or cause damage.
Kindness begets kindness.	If you are kind to someone, they will return your kindness.
Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.	What you learn when you are young will be invaluable when your grow old.
Knowledge is power.	It is easier to make progress or be successful if you are educated or possess a lot of information.

Alphabetical List - L

Laughter is the best medicine.	Laughter makes people feel good.
Learn to walk before you run.	Don't rush into doing something before you know how to do it.
Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.	Education is something that you keep forever.
Least said, soonest mended.	The less you talk about an incident, the more easily it will be forgotten.
(A) lender nor borrower be.	Do not lend or borrow money.
(A) leopard cannot change its spots.	It is impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good or pleasant.
Let bygones be bygones.	Let's forgive and forget past quarrels.
Let the chips fall where they may.	We should not try to control our destiny.
Liars need good memories.	People who do not tell the truth must be careful to remember what they say.
A lie begets a lie.	Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one.
Lightning never strikes in the same place twice.	An unusual event is not likely to occur again in exactly the same circumstances.
Like father, like son.	A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's.
(A) little fire is quickly trodden out.	If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not become a major issue.
(A) little of what you fancy does you good.	It's ok to give into a little temptation occasionally.
Little strokes fell good oaks.	If you divide a task into small parts, it become easier to do.
(A) loaded wagon makes no noise.	Really wealthy people do not talk about money.
Look before you leap.	Consider possible consequences before taking action.
Loose lips sink ships.	Disclosing important information (to the enemy or a competitor) could result in large losses.
Losers weepers, finders keepers.	If you lose something you lament, if you find something you keep it.
Love is blind.	A person in love does not see the faults of the person he/she loves.
(A) loveless life is a living death.	Without affection, life is difficult.

Alphabetical List - I

(An) idle brain is the devil's workshop.	When you are busy working you avoid temptation.
In times of prosperity friends are plentiful.	You have many friends when you have no difficulties.
If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body will follow.	If you let something intrusive enter your life, your life will become difficult.
If in February there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain.	Plants and grains will grow badly if there is no rain in early spring.
If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will avoid 100 days of sorrow.	Avoid regrets by taking the time to think before speaking or acting angrily.
If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.	If you try to do two things at the same time, you will not succeed in doing either of them.
If two ride a horse, one must ride behind.	When two people do something together, one will be the leader and the other will be the subordinate.
If you want a friend, be a friend.	Friendship must be reciprocal.
If wishes were horses, then beggars would ride.	Wishing alone is of no use; you must act as well.
Ignorance is bliss.	Possible interpretation: what you do not know causes no worry or sadness.
In for a penny, in for a pound.	If you start something, it is better to spend the time or money necessary to complete it.
In the land of the blind the one-eyed man is king.	A man of even limited ability has an advantage over a person who is less able.
It never rains but it pours.	Misfortune usually comes in large numbers.
It is always darkest before the dawn.	The most difficult time is just before the problem is solved.
It's no use crying over spilt milk.	Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot be remedied.
It takes all sorts to make a world.	People vary in character and abilities, and this is a good thing.