Most Common English Proverbs

Proverbs are a brilliant way to show intelligence when you are speaking English. You can learn more vocabulary through studying these too! Here's my top list of the most common proverbs.

Remember, you don't NEED an RP British accent to speak English well... There are loads of accents out there! I'm just here to help people who have a love for modern versions of RP.

[chrysgnt]

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it"
"Too many cooks spoil the broth"
"Better safe than sorry"
"The early bird catches the worm"
"Better the devil you know"
"Every cloud has a silver lining"
"You can't judge a book by its cover"
"No pain, no gain"
"A watched pot never boils"
"You can't make an omelette without breaking a few eggs"
"The grass is always greener on the other side"
"The pot calling the kettle black"
The list might go on, as I heard those when I lived in the UK.
I believe that English proverbs are great! All proverbs carry wisdom within them.

[SoniaSonya-qm]

I like this one Chinese Proverb: The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now.
Thanks a lot for your wonderful videos. They help me a lot with my English learning. You are a great teacher and a really generous person.

[GiftSparks]

"Everything happens for a reason" is often used in the USA. it's usually a way of trying to come to terms with a bad thing that has taken place.
"Every dog has its day, " which means something good will happen for everyone if you just can wait long enough.
"It is always darkest before the dawn, " is often used when something bad to to keep your hopes up that things will get better.

[sergioteizen]

Elliot or Eliot? Anyhow, I love your channel. About proverbs, I’m a German Brazilian citizen and both in Portuguese and German we have a proverb equivalent with “beggars can’t be choosers” . It says more or less literally translated, a horse received as a present, you don’t check its teeth. Since German and Portuguese are so distinct languages, perhaps you have that expression in English too?

[joaoandre]

Hi Teacher. I enjoy your lesson. Here some proverbs in my language, Portuguese. Caso se faz caso se paga. If done, if paid. Means: when you do something to another person good or bad thing, you can hope that, someday somebody else, will do the same thing to you, as you did to someone else. I truly believe on that, it’s real. Another one. Fazes o eu que Digo, mas nao fassas, o que eu faço. Means: Do What I do, but not don’t do what I do. This proverb is very popular among politicians, and religious leaders. I think that many people have already headed this expression.

[azeemkhaja]

Hi...just amazing to see all your video's.
You corrected pronunciation of article 'the' in the idiom 'Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder '
I learned by watching on of your video.

[yiminghuang]

We probably have tens of thousands proverbs and idioms in Chinese, and most of them are still in use frequently in everyday life as well as in literature. I guess that's one of the reasons why Chinese seems really hard for the foreigners. I will just list out several ones that cones up at the moment.一叶障目，meaning sometimes your vision can be totally blocked by just one tiny leaf. 水能载舟亦能覆舟，water holds up the boat, water also swallows the boat. 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳 once bitten by the snake, ten years in fear of the rope. 情深不寿. 祸兮, 福之所倚；福兮，祸之所伏。Misfortune may be a blessing in disguise.；Danger is always lurking under security.

[Michal.Kaminski]

There's a Queen song called "If you can't beat them, join them". Queen is the band that made me interested in music, playing the guitar, and also in British culture and language.

[imspanishasianfilipi]

Im asian fr philippines .im half spanish and i loved ure accent. My sister married to an english guy . You spoke the same ways

[STARLA.channel]

Your are the best man ! Much respect from state of Kuwait 🇰🇼

[tayebsadi]

Hi teacher ETJ, I am Algerian . I am interrested in learning English . I really enjoyed your tube videos about English Proverbs and idioms and also the different lessons . I need more about proverbs if possible . They are very interresting . and clear explained . Thank you teacher . I love you a lot and your accent .

[elenaandreea]

You definitely picked some of my favourite proverbs, and another one that I really like and I always think about whenever I'm travelling is ”When in Rome, do as Romans”.

Also, my way of making *all good things must come to an end* sound less depressing is by associating it with *nothing lasts forever (neither good nor bad)*, meaning that everything is temporary. So if things are going well we should enjoy it because it won't last forever, likewise, if things are going bad we shouldn't worry too much about it because it will also pass.

[fernandojosebrasilardito]

There's one I use quite a lot:
He who laughs last, laughs longest

[ReeBee]

"Don't bite more than you can chew" Only do what you can handle/manage.
"Out of sight, out of mind" If you don't see something or someone, you won't think of it/them.
"Don't shoot the messenger" Don't blame the person who gave you the news.
"Two wrongs don't make a right" Revenge/payback is not the answer.

[zhenyat]

I'm a new subscriber, but I'm impressed! your accent, your speech, your understanding of what's better for learners, your everything ! thank you, I'm staying for good !!

[salma]

i started learning englih at the british council in my country and i rondomly found your videos .they are vers helpful and not boring really thnak you !

[PhilippRowe]

A very good and useful video. I have a german proverb where I look for an English proverb for. The 1:1 translation is "One unfortune seldom comes alone." Something like: when some bad situation happens, it is very likely than there will follow more bad situations.

[verodarcy]

I love your channel, I'm Italian and I've been taught the American english. Since I'd like to be a translator (which means I have to study english at University), my dream is to speak with a British accent. Just subscribed, thanks for the videos and merry Christmas!

[fevia.guegue]

I must say, Elliot from the ETJ English, you're of a kind teacher. I love the way how you enunciate the words. I like it. Thank you! Cheers.

[lavayuki]

I like the proverb "strike while the iron is hot". I use it quite a bit and have heard it in a few tv shows.