Illustrated AZ of English Traditional Proverbs
A collection of popular English proverbs with the meaning explained using humor and illustrations.
These phrases are used in everyday speech as part of the normal conversation. Often only a small part of the expression is said because the speaker expects the listener to know the rest of it.
It is interesting learning the expressions and phrases that are used. Some of them make immediate sense while others are more difficult to understand.
Many of them contradict each other so there is one for every occasion and another to argue back with. "Too many cooks" and "Many hands make light work" are examples of proverbs that have completely opposite meanings.
This AZ list of popular expressions might put some fun into learning and remembering them.
These phrases are used in everyday speech as part of the normal conversation. Often only a small part of the expression is said because the speaker expects the listener to know the rest of it.
It is interesting learning the expressions and phrases that are used. Some of them make immediate sense while others are more difficult to understand.
Many of them contradict each other so there is one for every occasion and another to argue back with. "Too many cooks" and "Many hands make light work" are examples of proverbs that have completely opposite meanings.
This AZ list of popular expressions might put some fun into learning and remembering them.
Another Day Another Dollar
The worker's lament, each day of work bringing another dollar in income.
The reality of today means a dollar is perhaps a few minutes work for many. The sentiment remains the same. It doesn't need updating for inflation.
Another Day Another Dollar Gifts >>
A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush
This means something in your possession is worth more than a possibility.
It is for those who believe it ain't happened until it happens.
It is better to possess one thing than to be dreaming of two. You can think about those free birds in the bush but until you have one in your hand you have nothing.
It is for those who believe it ain't happened until it happens.
It is better to possess one thing than to be dreaming of two. You can think about those free birds in the bush but until you have one in your hand you have nothing.
A Bird In The Hand Gifts >>
A Cat May Look At A King
This is an interesting expression. It means no matter how important you are a cat can look at you.
Common people have rights too. Unfortunately whoever wrote that proverb didn't own a cat. They use it to mean low status but cats are way higher up the scale.
A cat would look at a king and think "If you can feed me I might let you stroke me for a while". A better proverb might have been "A King can look at a cat when granted permission".
Common people have rights too. Unfortunately whoever wrote that proverb didn't own a cat. They use it to mean low status but cats are way higher up the scale.
A cat would look at a king and think "If you can feed me I might let you stroke me for a while". A better proverb might have been "A King can look at a cat when granted permission".
A Cat May Look At A King Gifts >>
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
A stone laying on the ground for years will eventually become covered in moss and lichen.
Whereas a fast-moving go-getting stone will stay moss free.
The idea is that a person who is constantly on the move will progress in life.
The saying tells us to keep going rather than reaching a certain point, slowing down and ending up covered in moss.
Whereas a fast-moving go-getting stone will stay moss free.
The idea is that a person who is constantly on the move will progress in life.
The saying tells us to keep going rather than reaching a certain point, slowing down and ending up covered in moss.
A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss
Carpe Diem - Seize the Day
A Latin phrase which means "Seize the Day" - to make the most of today. A more literal translation is "Pluck the day" which is like picking or plucking a fruit when it is ripe.
Other similar sayings include "Make hay while the sun shines" which is a more obvious expression helped by the fact it is not written in Latin.
Would Nike have been so successful if the marketing men had chosen "Carpe Diem" instead of "Just Do It"?
Other similar sayings include "Make hay while the sun shines" which is a more obvious expression helped by the fact it is not written in Latin.
Would Nike have been so successful if the marketing men had chosen "Carpe Diem" instead of "Just Do It"?
Carpe Diem Gifts >>
The Early Bird Catches the Worm
This proverb means people who get up in the mornings and get on with their life instead of lazing around are more likely to catch that worm, or be successful.
It makes sense that if there is only one worm in the garden you need to be the first one there. That is a simple idea which anyone can understand.
It can apply to anything where you need to make an early start on the day - not just for eating worms.
It makes sense that if there is only one worm in the garden you need to be the first one there. That is a simple idea which anyone can understand.
It can apply to anything where you need to make an early start on the day - not just for eating worms.
The Early Bird Gifts >>
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining
A positive statement for when things seem, well, a bit cloudy. Even in the gloom one can find reasons to be cheerful. That's the theory.
Every Cloud Has A Silver Lining Gifts >>
Everything Comes to Those Who Wait
This is also referred to as "He Who Waits" rather than "Those Who Wait".
Instead of getting on with things you can wait patiently and hope that something will eventually turn up.
We should slow down, take our time and adopt a more peaceful and less grasping attitude to life.
Instead of getting on with things you can wait patiently and hope that something will eventually turn up.
We should slow down, take our time and adopt a more peaceful and less grasping attitude to life.
Everything Comes to Those Who Wait Gifts >>
Fine Words Butter No Parsnips
This is a proverb which is hard to understand at first - a poetic combination of words.
It is a response to those who get carried away with the importance of their own voice. Can apply to politicians and others who use flowery speech to make their intentions seem better than they really are.
The point is that words alone do not achieve anything. No matter how fine the talking, the person who quotes this expression would prefer to see action.
The parsnip is an English root vegetable which has a taste greatly improved by adding butter.
It is a response to those who get carried away with the importance of their own voice. Can apply to politicians and others who use flowery speech to make their intentions seem better than they really are.
The point is that words alone do not achieve anything. No matter how fine the talking, the person who quotes this expression would prefer to see action.
The parsnip is an English root vegetable which has a taste greatly improved by adding butter.
Fine Words Butter No Parsnips Gifts >>
Get Your Ducks In A Row
Get organized, sort yourself out. Everything lined up and ready to go.
It does not apply only to ducks or other farmyard creatures.
It's about life. Sort yourself out and deal with it.
I don't know much about ducks but I'm guessing they are fairly random in their nature. So good luck with it.
Get Your Ducks In A Row
Glass Half-full
The expressions glass half-full and glass half-empty apply to positive and negative people. A glass containg equal amounts of liquid and air can be set before a person.
The optimist will see a glass half-full. The pessimist will see a half-empty one.
The simple idea is to show how people will see a situation and choose their path accordingly.
The optimist will see a glass half-full. The pessimist will see a half-empty one.
The simple idea is to show how people will see a situation and choose their path accordingly.
Glass Half Full
Herding Cats
An impossible task although our cat-herding shepherd below makes it look easy.
The problem with cats, as any cat-owner knows, is their refusal to obey commands of any kind. The chance of herding even a single one in the direction of your choice is close to zero.
Herding Cats Gifts >>
Horse To Water
The full expression is "You Can Lead A Horse To Water But You Can't Make Him Drink".
Horse to water will do for our purposes. It is about the problems with assuming an action will lead to the desired result. Nothing is guaranteed, prepare for the unexpected. Like a reluctant horse refusing to drink.
Horse to water will do for our purposes. It is about the problems with assuming an action will lead to the desired result. Nothing is guaranteed, prepare for the unexpected. Like a reluctant horse refusing to drink.
Horse To Water Gifts >>
In The Land of the Blind The One-Eyed Man is King
This is a fun way of saying it doesn't take much to rise to the top.
The king only needs to have one eye more than the other people.
It manages to insult the common people and the leader at the same time.
"In the Land of the Blind" is a good way of expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling classes - whether they be political or closer to home in the office, workplace or school.
The king only needs to have one eye more than the other people.
It manages to insult the common people and the leader at the same time.
"In the Land of the Blind" is a good way of expressing dissatisfaction with the ruling classes - whether they be political or closer to home in the office, workplace or school.
Land of the Blind
Live And Let Live
A truly excellent saying. The meaning is to live your own life as you wish and let others live theirs as they wish.
A peaceful reasonable way to behave in society and on this planet.
A peaceful reasonable way to behave in society and on this planet.
Live and Let Live Gifts >>
Make Hay While The Sun Shines
When the weather is good the farmer will be out in the fields cutting the grass and baling it to make hay.
We mostly don't have fields and grass to tend to but we do have chores and responsibilities. If the opportunity is there then get those tasks done and make that hay!
Tomorrow it may be raining.
We mostly don't have fields and grass to tend to but we do have chores and responsibilities. If the opportunity is there then get those tasks done and make that hay!
Tomorrow it may be raining.
Make Hay While The Sun Shines Gifts >>
Not My Cup of Tea
An expression used when something is not to your taste or you don't want it.
A person might ask if you like a particular band or TV program and you could respond "It is not my cup of tea".
In the UK cups of tea can be variable. With or without milk, with or without sugar, one spoon or two - and so on.
If you got the wrong cup of tea it might not be to your liking!
A person might ask if you like a particular band or TV program and you could respond "It is not my cup of tea".
In the UK cups of tea can be variable. With or without milk, with or without sugar, one spoon or two - and so on.
If you got the wrong cup of tea it might not be to your liking!
Not My Cup of Tea
Revenge Is A Dish Best Served Cold
Rather than reacting immediately, a more intelligent person will wait for the right time to take their revenge.
It is not done in the heat of the moment but later when tempers have cooled. That makes the eventual punishment more considered and suitable.
It is not done in the heat of the moment but later when tempers have cooled. That makes the eventual punishment more considered and suitable.
Revenge Gifts >>
Stick in the Mud
"Stick in the Mud" means someone who is set in their ways and not open to new ideas or change.
Stick In The Mud
Still Waters Run Deep
There may be far more to someone than you see on the surface. Hidden depths is another way of putting it.
Whereas with shallow people - what you see is what you get.
Whereas with shallow people - what you see is what you get.
Still Waters Run Deep Gifts >>
Take the Bull by the Horns
Means to grab hold of the problem - in this case a bull - and deal with it directly.
Don't beat around the bush, procrastinate or avoid the issue.
Don't beat around the bush, procrastinate or avoid the issue.
Bull Head
Throw Out Baby With the Bathwater
Throwing the baby out with the bathwater is an easy mistake for a busy father to make.
You need to get the job done quickly and get back to watching the sport. Wash baby, empty bath, back to the cricket. It should take no more than five minutes.
Then the big question - where's the baby?
The saying means to take care over decisions so you don't miss important things, like babies.
You need to get the job done quickly and get back to watching the sport. Wash baby, empty bath, back to the cricket. It should take no more than five minutes.
Then the big question - where's the baby?
The saying means to take care over decisions so you don't miss important things, like babies.
Throw Out Baby With The Bathwater
Time Waits For No Man
This is a reminder that no one can stop the sands of time marching on. It can be used as a message to get up and doing something with your life. Get on with stuff now because the clock keeps on ticking.
None of us know how much time we have so it makes sense to make the most of it.
None of us know how much time we have so it makes sense to make the most of it.
Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth
This expression sums up what happens when too many people are involved in something, especially when there is no one in overall charge.
They get in each other's way, they have different points of view, they will argue and fall out.
Anyone who has worked with a team of people where more than one person wants to be the leader will know how this feels.
The final product or broth will not taste good.
They get in each other's way, they have different points of view, they will argue and fall out.
Anyone who has worked with a team of people where more than one person wants to be the leader will know how this feels.
The final product or broth will not taste good.
Too Many Cooks Gifts >>
Signing Off
That's the end of my illustrated proverb collection. Not all sayings lend themselves easily to a design.
I hope to add more as time goes by.
Created by Mark Ewbie. Last Updated: November 23, 2025.