Between the devil and the deep sea
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1) The proverbs provide advice on various topics including relationships, work, decision making, character, and life challenges. 2) Common themes across the proverbs include the importance of being prudent, working hard, choosing friends wisely, and maintaining a positive outlook. 3) Examples convey messages such as "An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure," "Look on the sunny side of life," and "Many hands make light work."
Between the devil and the deep sea
- 1. Between the devil and the deep sea To choose between two equally bad alternatives in a serious dilemma. Where there's a will there's a way When a person really wants to do something, he will find a way of doing it. A burnt child dreads fire A bad experience or a horrifying incident may scar one's attitude or thinking for a lifetime. First come, first served The first in line will be attended to first. A friend in need is a friend indeed A friend who helps when one is in trouble is a real friend. Discretion is the better part of valor If you say discretion is the better part of valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or unpleasant situation is sometimes the most sensible thing to do. A hungry man is an angry man A person who does not get what he wants or needs is a frustrated person and will be easily provoked to rage. Empty vessels make the most noise Those people who have a little knowledge usually talk the most and make the greatest fuss. A man is as old as he feels A person's age is immaterial - it is only when he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he actually becomes old. Great talkers are little doers Those people who talk a lot and are always teaching others usually do not do much work. An idle brain is the devil's workshop One who has nothing to do will be tempted to do many mischievous acts. An ounce of discretion is worth a pound of wit It is better to be careful and discrete than to be clever. Faint heart never won fair lady To succeed in life one must have the courage to pursue what he wants. A penny saved is a penny By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
- 2. gained A rolling stone gathers no moss A person who never settles in one place or who often changes his job will not succeed in life ; one who is always changing his mind will never get anything done. As you sow, so you shall reap One will either enjoy or suffer the consequences of his earlier actions or inactions. Barking dogs seldom bite Those who make loud threats seldom carry them out. Better late than never To do something that is right, profitable, or good a little late is still better than not doing it at all. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush Something that one already has is better than going after something seemingly more worthwhile that one may not be able to get. Birds of a feather flock together People of the same sort of character or belief always go together. Call a spade a spade If you say that someone calls a spade a spade, you mean that they speak frankly and directly, often about embarrassing or unpleasant subjects; an informal expression. Charity begins at home A person's first obligation should be to help the member of his own family before he can begin thinking of talking about helping others. Dead men tell no lies ( often used as an argument for killing someone whose knowledge of a secret may cause one loss or get into serious trouble.) A great talker is a great liar A smooth and persuasive talker may be a good liar. Every cloud has a silver lining If you say that every cloud has a silver lining, you mean that every sad or unpleasant situation has a positive side to it. If you talk about silver lining you are talking about something positive that comes out of a sad or unpleasant situation. All that glitters is not gold Do not be deceived by things or offers that appear to be attractive. Eat to live, but do not live to eat Man was created for a divine purpose and he has a destiny with his Creator - he was not born just to enjoy food. Don't put all your eggs in one basket One should not risk everything he has in a single venture. Every dog has its day Everyone will get a period of success or satisfaction during his lifetime.
- 3. Every one can find fault, few can do better It is easier to find fault in other people's actions or methods than to do it properly or correctly. Any time means no time When an event is not decided on or planned earlier it will never take place. Fair exchange is no robbery A contract is fair as long as both the parties understand and agree to the conditions willingly; after a deal is closed neither side can turn around and say that he was unfairly treated. Fire is a good servant but a bad master Fire, like any other manmade tool or device, will serve man well only when it is controlled and used wisely. Life is just a bowl of cherries Life is full of happiness and pleasure Like a bull in a china shop A clumsy or tactless person Lock the stable door after the horse has bolted Once a mistake has been made or an error committed, it's too late to take precautions to prevent it from happening. The longest day must have an end All difficult jobs or situations also have an end. Losers weepers, finders keepers If someone loses something, he weeps -- but if someone finds it, he keeps it. Love me, love my dog If we want a person's friendship we must accept him totally, faults and all. Many hands make light work Many people sharing a job or tasks make easier work of it. The mountain labors and brings forth a mouse To work hard and long on a project that turns out to be pretty useless. Opportunity only knocks once Seize an opportunity when it occurs for it may never happen again. An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure It is even better to be cautious and prevent a misfortune or an accident from happening.
- 4. Possessionis nine points of the law In disputes over property ownership, the person in possession of something is sometimes said to have nine- tenths a chance of winning it in a legal argument Promises are like pie crust Most promises cannot be kept Put a quart into a pint pot Doing something that's impossible The rain falls on the just and the unjust alike No matter how good or bad a person, he must still face the everyday problems that confront us all. The sins of the fathers will be visited upon the children People will be punished for the wrongs committed by their parents, forefathers, or those who have preceded them. Someone's bark is worse than his bite People sometimes bark but in time we learn they're not always as frightening as they seem. The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak To do something unworthy just because it gives you the pleasure A stitch in time saves nine By taking immediate action we can prevent a fault, damage or trouble from getting worse A straw will show which way the wind blows A small incident can reveal an important each an old dog new tricks It is impossible to change someone's ways or habits, especially if he is old and resists change That's where the shoe pinches That's the source or cause of a problem or an annoyance There are none so blind as those that will not see People ,who never admit they might be wrong, refuse to listen to the opinions or ideas of anyone There are none so deaf as those who will not hear People sometimes hear only what they want to hear
- 5. There's more than one way to skin a cat There is more than one way of getting a job done The thin end of the wedge That something can appear to be small and of no particular importance - yet it can turn out to be the beginning of a major problem. A thing of beauty is a joy forever It means that though something beautiful may not last, the happy memory of it will live forever. Time heals old wounds The passing of time helps us to forget things that have caused us pain or made us unhappy. The truth will out Truth about something will eventually be discovered or made known Turn up like a bad penny Something or someone disliked just won't go away Two wrongs do not make a right If a person does something to harm or offend us, that's wrong. If we do something to harm them back, that's wrong too. Uneasy is the head that wears the crown Notable or important people are often concerned about losing their positions. Waste not, want not If we're careful and waste nothing we'll never go without things we need. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach Most men love to eat so feed your husband well and he will always love you. Wear out one's welcome One is no longer welcome, usually because he has become a nuisance When poverty comes in the door, love flies out the window As soon as a happily married couple begin having financial problems and the bills pile up their love will disappear. Who keeps company with If we associate with bad companions we, too, will
- 6. wolves, will learn to howl become bad You pays your money and you takes your chances A humorous way of saying that we sometimes must trust in luck when buying something. Prosperity makes friends, adversity tries them If you are rich and successful, you will attract many friends, but if you should suffer hardship or have misfortune ( adversity ), your friends will quickly depart. Look on the sunny side of life Be positive in life Loose lips sink ships People who talk too much may give away important secrets that could harm themselves or others Love conquers all Love motivates people to make things work Love covers a multitude of sins When you treat people with love, compassion, kindness, forebearing etc. you make up for a lot of your own faults because it is right to love people Love makes the world go round Love is the important thing in life that makes life meaningful Love sees no faults Real love does not take into account the flaws of a person Love will find a way Love motivates people to look for solutions to all problems Man cannot live by bread alone It takes more than food to complete your life Marry in haste, repent at leisure Do not rush into marriage because if you marry the wrong person, you will spend the rest of your life regretting it Measure twice, cut once Consider your options carefully in order to make a good decision ( The ) meek shall inherit the earth The humble and the downtrodden but not the proud or the mighty will be rewarded with the best at the end of time
- 7. Mirrors do everything we do, but they cannot think for themselves man-made devices have their limits, and cannot do everything humans can Misery loves company unhappy people seem to like to make others unhappy too Money cannot buy happiness You cannot buy joy, peace, contentment etc Money isn't everything Riches cannot solve all your problems or bring you joy, peace, contentment etc. Money makes the world go round People work hard and go through a lot of pain just to earn more money as if it is what keeps them going Monkey see, monkey do People without minds of their own tend to blindly do and say what others do and say More haste, less speed The more you hurry, the slower you seem to progress because hurrying causes you to make mistakes