English proverbs and jokes

1. Bacchus has drowned more men than Nepture. Bacchus has drowned more men than Nepture.

2. Bad news has wings. Bad news spreads thousands of miles.

3. Bad workmen often blame their tools.

4. Bare words, no bargain. Bare words cannot make a deal.

5. Barking dogs seldom bite. Barking dogs seldom bite.

6. Be always as merry as ever you can, for no-one delights in a sorrowful man.

7. Beauty is but a blossom. Beauty is just a blooming flower.

8. Beauty is but skin-deep. Beauty is changeable.

9. Beauty is in the eye of the gazer. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

10. Beauty is potent; but money is omnipotent. Beauty is powerful, but money is more authoritative.

11. Beauty is truth, truth beauty. Beauty is truth, truth is beauty.

12. Beauty lies in lover's eyes.

13. Beauty may have fair leaves, but bitter fruit.

14. Beauty, unaccompanied by virtue, is as a flower without perfume.

15. Be considerate towards the poor. Be considerate towards the poor.

16. Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails. Bees that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails.

17. Bed is a midicine. A good night's sleep is like taking medicine.

18. Before gold, even kings take off their hats.

19. Beg from beggers and you'll never be rich. Beg from beggars and you'll never be rich.

20. Beggars cannot be choosers. Beggars cannot be choosers.

21. Beggars must be no choosers. Beggars must be no choosers.

22. Behind bad luck comes good luck. A blessing in disguise.

23. Be honest rather clever. Be honest rather clever.

24. Being on sea, sail; being on land, settle. Be content with the situation.

25. Be just to all, but trust not all. Treat all people fairly, but do not trust all people.

26. Believe no tales from the enemy.

27. Believe not all that you see nor half what you hear.

28. Believe somebody on his bare word. Don’t believe someone’s words without evidence.

29. Benefits please like flowers, while they are fresh.

30. Be prepared to put one's hand in one's pocket. Be prepared to give generously.

31. Be slow in choosing a friend; slower in changing. Be cautious in choosing a friend, and even more cautious in discarding them.

32. Be slow to promise and quick to perform.

33. Be swift to hear, slow to speak. Listen more and speak less.

34. Better a bachelor's life than a slovenly wife.

35. Better ask twice than lose you way once. Better ask twice than lose you way once.

36. Better a glorious death than a shameful life.

37. Better a little fire to warm us, than a great one to burn us.

38. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. Although the future is promising, the reality is particularly valuable.

39. Better an empty purse than an empty head. Better an empty purse than an empty head.

40. Better an open enemy than a false friend.

41. Better are small fish than an empty dish. Something is better than nothing.

42. Better be alone than in bad company. It is better to have bad friends than to have no friends.

43. Better be out of the world than out of fashion. Better be out of the world than out of fashion.

44. Better be poor than wicked. Better be poor than wicked.

45. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion. Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion.

46. Better be the head of an ass than the tail of a horse.

47. Better deny at once than promise long.

48. Better die with honor than live with shame. Better die with honor than live with shame.

49. better early than late. Better early than late.

50. Better eye sore than all blind.

51. Better good neighbors near than relations far away.

52. Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt. Better go to bed supperless than rise in debt.

53. Better half an egg than empty shell.

54. Better is the neighbor's hen than mine. No one knows how big a seedling is.

55. Better late than never. Better late than never.

56. Better lose a jest than a friend. Would rather not say a wisecrack to avoid offending friends.

57. Better lose the saddle than the horse. Take a small loss and take advantage.

58. Better master one than engage with ten. Better master one than engage with ten.

59. Better one-eyed than stone-blind. One-eyed is better than stone-blind.

60. Better poor with honour than rich with shame.

61. Better pills may have wholesome effects. Good medicine tastes bitter.

62. Better say nothing than nothing to the purpose. It is better to say nothing than nothing to the purpose.

63. Better some of a pudding than none of a pie.

64. Better the foot slip than the tongue trip. Better the foot slip than the tongue trip.

65. Better to do well than to say well. Better to do well than to say well.

66. Better wear out shoes than sheets. Better wear out shoes than sheets.

67. Better wear out than rust out. Better to be busy than idle.

68. Better wit than wealth. Intelligence is better than wealth.

69. Between friends all is common.

70. Between the cup and the lip a morsel may slip.

71. Between two stools one falls to the ground.

72. Beware beginnings. Beware of beginnings.

73. Beware of a man of one book. Don’t argue with a person who has professional knowledge.

74. Beware of a silent dog and still water. Beware of a silent dog that bites, and still water that capsizes a boat.

75. Beware of him who regards not his reputation.

76. Big mouthfuls ofter choke. Eat more than you can chew.

77. Bind the sack before it be full. Do things in moderation.

78. Birds of a feather flock together. Birds of a feather flock together. Birds of a feather flock together.

79. Birth is much, but breeding is more. Birth is important, but breeding is even more important.

80. Bite off more than one can chew. Bite off more than one can chew.

81. Bite the hand that feeds one. Repay kindness with hatred.

82. Bitter pills may have wholesome effects. Good medicine tastes bitter but is good for disease.

83. Blessed is he who expects nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.

84. Blind men can judge no colours. It is not appropriate to ask blind men.

85. Blood is thicker than water. Blood is thicker than water.

86. Blood will have blood. Blood debt must be repaid with blood.

87. Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen. Books, like friends, should be few and well chosen.

88. Borrowed garments never fit well. Borrowed garments never fit well.

89. Brave actions never want a trumpet. Brave actions never want a trumpet.

90. Bread is the staff of life. Food is the most important thing for people.

91. Brevity is the soul of wit. Brevity is the most precious.

92. Bring up a raven and he'll pick out your eyes. Raising a tiger brings trouble.

93. Burn not your house to rid it of the mouse.

94. Burnt child dreads the fire. Once bitten by a snake, it will be afraid of well ropes for ten years.

95. Business before pleasure. Business first, pleasure later.

96. Business is business. Business is business.

97. Business is the salt of life. Business is the salt of life.

98. Business makes a man as well as tries him. Business both tests and builds people.

99. Business may be troublesome, but idleness is pernicious. Business may be troublesome, but idleness is pernicious.

100. Business neglected is business lost. Business neglected is business lost.

101. Business sweetens pleasure, and labor sweetens rest. Recreation is more pleasant after work, and rest is more comfortable after labor.

102. Butter to butter is no relish. Same things are boring.

103. By doing nothing we learn to do ill. It is wrong to be lazy in learning.

104. By doing we learn.

105. By falling we learn to go safely.

106. By gambling we lose both time and treasure, two things most precious to the life of man.

107. By other's faults, wise men correct their own. Stones from other mountains can attack jade.

108. By reading we enrich the mind; by conversation we polish it.

109. By the hands of many a great work made light.

110. By the side of sickness health becomes sweet. Compared with disease, health becomes valuable.

111. By the street of "Bye and bye" one arrives at the house of "Never". By procrastination, nothing will be accomplished.

112. By writing you learn to write.

Danger is next neighbor to security.

Danger itself is the best remedy for danger. Danger itself is the best remedy for danger.

Dead men tell no tales.

Death is the grand leveller. All mortals must die, everyone is the same.

Death meets us everywhere. Death meets us everywhere.

Death pays all debts. Death pays all debts.

Death when it comes will have no denial. When death comes, there will be no denial.

Deeds, no words. Don’t just talk without practicing.

Debt is better than death. Debt is better than death.

Deeds are fruits; words are but leaves. Actions are fruits, words are just leaves.

Deeds are males, and words are females. Words are soft and weak, but deeds are strong and powerful.

Deep rivers move in silence, shallow brooks are noisy. Deep rivers move in silence, shallow brooks are noisy.

Delays are dangerous. If you miss a good opportunity, there will be trouble.

Deliberate before you begin, then execute with vigour.

Deliberate in counsel, prompt in action. Consider carefully and act quickly.

Deliberating is not delaying. Deliberating is not delaying.

Deliver not your words by number but by weight.

Depend on others and you always repent.

Despair gives courage to a coward. When people are anxious to rebel, dogs are anxious to jump over the wall.

Destruction pursues the great. A big tree attracts the wind.

Devil must be driven out with devils. Fight fire with fire.

Dexterity comes by experience.

Diamond cut diamond. The best among the best.

Diet cures more than the doctor. Medicinal supplements are not as good as dietary supplements.

Diligence is near success. Diligence is near success.

Diligence is the mother of good luck. Diligence is the mother of success.

Diligence is the mother of success. Diligence is the mother of success.

Discontent is the first step in progress. Discontent is the first step in progress.

Discretion is the better part of valour. To be careful is to be brave.

Disease, enemy, and debt --these three must be cut off as soon as they begin to grow.

Diseases of the soul are more dangerous than those of the body.

Diseases are the price of ill pleasures.

Diseases come on horseback, but go away on foot.

Disgraced may be he who thinks ill.

Do as most men do and men will speak well of thee. Do as most men do and men will speak well of thee.

Do as the Romans do(or Do as they do at Rome). When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Do as you would be done by. Respect yourself and others.

Do business, but be not a slave to it. Do business, but be not a slave to it.

Dog does not eat dog.

Dogs that bark at a distance bite not at hand. Dogs that bark fiercely at a distance will not bite people at close range.

Dogs that run after many hares kill none.

Dogs wag their tails not so much in love to you as your bread.

Doing is better than saying. Actions speak louder than words.

Do in Rome as the Romans do. Do as the Romans do.

Do not all you can, spend not all you have; believe not all you hear; and tell not all you know. To the best of your knowledge.

Do not cut down the tree that gives you shade. Don’t be ungrateful.

Do not despise your enemy.

Do not give a dog bread every time he wags his tail.

Do not praise a day before sunset.

Do not run too fast after gain. Don’t run too fast after gain.

Do not speak of your happiness to one less fortunate than yourself.

Do not swap horses when crossing a stream. When in danger, it is not advisable to make major changes.

Do no through fear of poverty surrender liberty.

Do not to others what you do not wish them to do to you. Do not do to others what you do not want others to do to you.

Do not wash dirty linen in public.

Don't cast out the foul water till you bring in the clean. When clean water comes, don't throw dirty water.

Don't count your chicken before they are hatched. Don't be prematurely optimistic.

Don't climb a tree to look for fish.

Don't cross the bridge till you get to it.

Don't fly till your wings are feathered. Don't fly till your wings are feathered.

Don't cry out before you are hurt. If you haven't suffered yet, don't complain.

Don't halloo till you are out of the wood. Don't cheer before you are out of danger.

Don't have thy cloak to make when it begins to rain. Don't improvise.

Don't keep all your eggs in one basketball.

Don't put off till tomorrow what should be done today.

Don't speak all you know, but know all you speak.

Don't teach your grandmother to suck eggs.

Don't throw out your dirty water before you get in fresh. Don't throw out the dirty water before you get in fresh.

Don't trouble trouble until trouble troubles you.

Don't whistle until you are out of the wood. Don't be happy too early if you are not out of danger.

Do one's level best. Do your best.

Dot the i's and cross the t's.

Doubt is the key of knowledge. Doubt is the key of knowledge.

Do well is worse than say well. Say well than do well.

Downy lips make thoughtless slips. Hairless lips make things difficult.

Draw not your bow till your arrow is fixed. Don’t act rashly until everything is ready.

Draw water with a sieve. The bamboo basket draws water in vain.

Dream are lies. Dreams are lies.

Dreams go by contraries. Dreams are always the opposite of reality.

Drive your business, do not let it drive you. Drive your business, do not let it drive you.

Drop by drop the oceans are filled; stone by stone the walls are built.

Drowning man will catch at a straw. A drowning man will catch at a straw.

Drunken days have all their tomorrows.

Drunkenness reveals what soberness conceals.

Dumb dogs are dangerous. Dumb dogs are the most vicious.

Dying is as natural as living. Dying is as natural as living.