3．Advice when most needed is least heeded 1
INDEX 1
A 1
1．Absence makes the heart grow fonder 1
2．Actions speak louder than words 1
7．All good things come to an end 2
4．After a storm comes the calm 2
5．All are not thieves that dogs bark at 2
6．All cats are grey in the dark 2
10．All are fish that come to the net 3
8．All his geese are swans 3
9．All’s fair in love and war 3
12．All lay loads on a willing horse 4
11．All’s well that ends well 4
15．All things are difficult before they are easy 5
13．All roads lead to Rome 5
14．All that glitters is not gold，（or All is not gold that glitters.） 5
18．Among the blind the one-eyed man is king 6
16．All truth is not always to be told 6
17．All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy 6
21．An apple a day keeps the doctor away 7
19．Any port in a storm 7
20．Appearances are deceptive 7
24．As well be hanged for a sheep as for a lamb 8
22．An army marches on its stomach 8
23．As a man makes his bed so must he lie 8
27．At night all cats are grey 9
25．As you make your bed，so you must lie（in it） 9
26．As you sow，so shall you reap 9
30．Bad news travels fast 10
B 10
28．A bad excuse is better than none at all 10
29．Bad excuses are worse than none 10
33．The bait hides the hook 11
31．A bad shearer never had a good sickle 11
32．A bad workman always blames（or quarrels with）his tools 11
37．Beauty is but skin-deep 12
34．Barking dogs seldom bite 12
35 The beaten road is the safest 12
36．Beauty and folly are often companions 12
41．Better be a fool than a knave 13
38．The best fish swim near the bottom 13
39．Best is cheapest 13
40．Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow 13
44．Better be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion．（Better to rule in Hell than se rve in Heaven．） 14
42．Better be alone than in ill company 14
43．Better be born lucky than wise 14
48．Better late than never 15
45．Better bend than break 15
46．Better buy than borrow 15
47．Better go to heaven in rags than to hell in embroidery 15
50．Better to ask the way than go astray 16
49．Better lose the saddle than the horse 16
52．Between two stools you fall to the ground．（or To fall between two stools．） 17
51．Better to wear out than rust out 17
55．Birds of a feather flock together 18
53．Beware of no man more than thyself 18
54．A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 18
58．Books and friends should be few but good 19
56．Blessed is he that （or who）expects nothing，for he shall never be disappointed 19
57．Blood is thicker than water 19
61．Brevity is the soul of wit 20
59．Boys will be boys 20
60．Bread is the staff of life 20
65．A bu rnt child dreads the fi re 21
62．The bull must be taken by the horns．（or Take the bull by the horns．） 21
63．A bully is always a coward 21
64．Burn not your house to fright the mouse away 21
68．Cast not a clout till（or ere）May be out 23
C 23
66．Call a spade a spade 23
67．Care killed the cat 23
70．Catch the（or your）bear before you sell its skin 24
69．A cat may look at a king 24
73．A cheerful wife is the joy of life 25
71．Charity begins at home 25
72．Cheats never prosper 25
76．Child ren should be seen but（or and）not heard 26
74．The child is father of the man 26
75．Children and fools tell the truth 26
79．Cleanliness is next to godliness 27
77．Choose you r（or a）wife by your ear rather than by your eye 27
78．Circumstances alter cases 27
83．Constant dripping（or dropping）wears away the stone 28
80．Clothes do not make the man 28
81．Coming events cast their shadows before 28
82．Comparisons are odious 28
86．A contented mind is a perpetual feast 29
84．A constant guest is never welcome 29
85．Content is better than riches 29
89．Cowards die many times before their deaths 30
87．The course of true love never did run smooth 30
88．Courtesy costs nothing 30
91．Cut your coat according to your cloth 31
90．A creaking gate hangs long 31
94．Death pays all debts．（or Death pays all scores．） 32
D 32
92．Dead men tell no tales 32
93．Death is the great leveller 32
98．The devil finds work for idle hands（to do） 33
95．Deeds，not words 33
96．Delays are dangerous 33
97．Despise not your enemy 33
101．Discretion is the better part of valour 34
99．The devil is not as（or so）black as he is painted 34
100．The devil looks after his own 34
104．Do not cry（out）before you are hurt 35
102．Do as I say，not as I do 35
103．Do not count your chicken before they are hatched 35
107．Do not empty the baby out with the bath water 36
105．Do not cry for the moon 36
106．Do not cut off your nose to spite your face 36
110．Do not keep （or put）all your eggs in one basket 37
108．Do not halloo till you are out off the wood 37
109．Do not keep a dog and bark yourself 37
114．Do not rob Peter to pay Paul 38
111．Do not make a mountain out of a moleh 38
112．Do not play with edged tools 38
113．Do not quarrel with your bread and butter 38
116．Do not （try to）teach your grandmother to suck eggs 39
115．Do not spur a willing horse 39
120．Dog does not eat dog 40
117．Do not tell tales out off school 40
118．Do not wear out your welcome 40
119．Do what is right，come what may 40
123．Dumb dogs are dangerous 41
121．Doing nothing is doing ill 41
122．A drowning man will catch（or clutch）at a straw 41
124．Dying is as natural as living 42
127．Easier said than done 43
E 43
125．The early bird catches the worm 43
126．Early to bed and early to rise，makes a man healthy，wealthy and wise 43
130．An empty sack cannot stand upright 44
128．Easy come，easy go 44
129．Eavesdroppers never hear any good of themselves 44
134．Enough is as good as a feast 45
131．Empty vessels make the most noise（or sound） 45
132．The end justifies the means 45
133．An Englishman’s home is his castle 45
137．Even the weariest river winds somewhere safe to sea 46
135．Envy never enriched any man 46
136．Even a worm will turn 46
139．Every cloud has a silver lining 47
138．Every ass likes to hear himself bray 47
142．Every little（bit）helps 48
140．Every dog has his day 48
141．Every family has a skeleton in the cupboard 48
145．Every man must carry his own cross 49
143．Every man has his price 49
144．Every man is his own（worst）enemy 49
149．Everything comes to him who waits 50
146．Every woman would rather be beautiful than good 50
147．Everybody’s business is nobody’s business 50
148．Everyone to his taste 50
153．Expectation is better than realization 51
150．Example is better than precept 51
151．The exception proves the rule 51
152．Exchange is no robbery 51
157．An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth 52
154．Experience is the best teacher．（orExperience is the mother of wisdom．） 52
155．Experience must be bought 52
156．Extremes are dangerous 52
160．Familiarity breeds contempt 54
F 54
158．Faint heart never won fair lady 54
159．False friends are worse than bitter enemies 54
162．Fine feathers make fine birds 55
161．Finding（s） is（are）keeping（s）．（or Finders keepers．） 55
165．First come，first served 56
163．Fingers were made before forks 56
164．Fire is a good servant but a bad master 56
168．A fool and his money are soon parted 57
166．First impressions are most lasting 57
167．Fling enough mud（or dirty enough）and some will stick 57
172．（To be）Forewarned is（to be）forearmed 58
169．A fool may sometimes give a wise man counsel 58
170．Fools rush in where angels fear to tread 58
171．Forbidden fruit is sweetest 58
176．Fortune knocks（at least）once at every man’s door（or gate） 59
173．Fortune favours fools 59
174．Fortune favours the bold（or brave） 59
175．Fortune favou rs those who use their judgement 59
179．Friendship should not be all on one side 60
177．A friend in need is a friend in deed 60
178．A friend is easier lost than found 60
181．Give a fool enough rope and he will hang himself 62
G 62
180．Give a dog a bad name and hang him 62
185．Go（or Get out）while the going is good 63
182．Give him （or knaves）an inch and he（or they）will take a yard 63
183．Give the devil his due 63
184．Get to bed with the lamb and rise with the lark 63
188．God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb 64
186．God helps those who help themselves 64
187．God made the country；man made the town 64
192．A good （or clear）conscience is a soft pillow 65
189．Gold will not buy everything 65
190．A golden key opens every door 65
191．A good beginning is half the battle 65
195．Good words are worth much and cost little 66
193．A good name is sooner lost than.won 66
194．A good wife is e good（or great）prize 66
198．Great minds think alike 67
196．The grapes are sour．（or Sour grapes．） 67
197．Grasp all，lose all 67
199．Grin and bear it 68
202．Handsome is that（or as）handsome does 69
H 69
200．Habit is second nature 69
201．Half a loaf is better than no bread 69
206．Have two strings to your bow 70
203．Harp not for ever on the same thing 70
204．Haste is of the devil 70
205．Hasty climbers have sudden falls 70
209．He is rich that has few wants 71
207．He daren’t say“Boo”to a goose 71
208．He gives twice who gives quickly 71
212．He runs with the hare and hunts with the hounds 72
210．He knows most who speaks least 72
211．He laughs best who laughs last 72
215．He that has a tongue in his head may find his way anywhere 73
213．He that fights and runs away，lives to fight another day．（or may live to another day．） 73
214．He that goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing 73
218．He that （or who）pays the piper calls the tune 74
216．He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned 74
217．He that is down need fear no fall 74
221．He who would climb the ladder must begin at the bottom 75
219．He who hesitates is lost 75
220．He who makes no mistakes makes nothing 75
224．A heavy purse makes a light heart 76
222．Health is better than wealth 76
223．Health is not valued till sickness comes 76
228．Hope springs eternal in the human breast 77
225．Home is where the heart is 77
226．Honesty is the best policy 77
227．Hope for the best and prepare for the worst 77
229．Hunger is the best sauce 78
232．If it were not for hope，the heart would break 79
I 79
230．I know on which side my bread is buttered 79
231．Idle folk have the least leisure 79
235．If two men ride on a horse，one must ride behind 80
233．If the cap fits，wear it 80
234．If the mountain will not go to Muhammed（or Mahomet），Muha-mmed（or Mahomet）must go to the mountain 80
237．If you cannot bite，never show your teeth 81
236．If wishes were horses，beggars would ride 81
242．It is a dirty bird that fouls its own nest 82
238．If you want peace，prepare for war 82
239．Ill news comes apace 82
240．In peace prepare for war 82
241．It costs nothing to be polite 82
245．It is an ill wind that blows nobody any good 83
243．It is a long road （or lane）that has no turning 83
244．It is a poor（or sad）heart that never rejoices 83
249．It is easy to bear the misfortunes of others 84
246．It is better to travel hopefully than to arrive 84
247．It is easier to get money than to keep it 84
248．It is easy to be wise after the event 84
252．It is no use crying over spilt milk 85
250．It is good fishing in troubled water 85
251．It is never too late to mend 85
255．It never rains but it pours 86
253．It is the first step that is troublesome 86
254．It is too late lock （or shut）the stable（door）after（or when）the horse has been stolen 86
258．It was the last straw that broke the came l’s back．（or The last straw broke the camel’s back．） 87
256．It takes all sorts to make a world 87
257．It takes two to make a quarrel 87
259．It will all be（or be all）the same a hundred years hence 88
260．（A）Jack of all trades，（is）master of none 89
J 89
263．Kill not the goose that lays the golden eggs 90
K 90
261．Keep something for a rainy day 90
262．Keep your mouth shut and your ears open 90
266．Knowledge is power 91
264．Kill two birds with one stone 91
265．The King is dead；long live the King 91
269．Laugh，and the world laughs with you；Weep，and you weep alone 92
L 92
267．The last drop makes the cup run over 92
268．Laugh and grow fat 92
273．Lend your money and lose your friend 93
270．Learn to walk before you run 93
271．Least said，soonest mended 93
272．Leave well alone 93
276．Let sleeping dogs lie 94
274．The leopard cannot change its spots 94
275．Let bygones be bygones 94
279．Liars should have good memories 95
277．Let the cobbler stick to his last 95
278．A liar is not believed when he tells the truth 95
283．Like draws to like the whole world over 96
280．Life is not all beer and skittles 96
281．Light not a candle to the sun 96
282．A light purse makes a heavy heart 96
286．Little pitchers have long（or big，wide）ears 97
284．Listeners seldom hear good（or hear no good）of themselves 97
285．A little is better than none．（or Some thing is better than nothing．） 97
290．Live not to eat but eat to live 98
287．Little things please little minds 98
288．Live and learn 98
289．Live and let live 98
294．Look at the bright side 99
291．A living dog is better than a dead lion 99
292．Long absent，soon forgotten 99
293．Look after number one 99
297．Love is blind 100
295．Look before you leap 100
296．Lookers-on see most of the game 100
301．Love will find a way 101
298．Love me little，love me long 101
299．Love me，love my dog 101
300．The love of money is the root of all evil 101
304．A man can only die once 103
M 103
302．Make haste slowly 103
303．Make hay while the sun shines 103
307．Man proposes，God disposes 104
305．A man is as old as he feels 104
306．A man is known by his friends．（orA man is known by the company he keeps．） 104
310．Many hands make light（or quick）work 105
308．Manners maketh man．（or Manners make the man．） 105
309．Many a mickle（or a little）makes a muckle（or a mickle） 105
314．Men are not be measured in inches 106
311．Marriages are made in heaven 106
312．Marry in haste，（and）repent at leisure 106
313．Men are blind in their own cause 106
317．The mills of God grind slowly．（or Though the mills of God grind slowly，yet they grind exceeding small．） 107
315．Men make houses，women make homes 107
316．A merry heart goes all the way 107
321．Money breeds（or begets）money 108
318．Misfortunes never come singly 108
319．A miss is as good as a mile 108
320．Moderation in all things 108
324．More haste，less speed 109
322．Money is the root of all evil 109
323．Money talks 109
326．The more you have，the more you want 110
325．The more the merrier 110
329．Necessity knows no law 111
N 111
327．The nearer the church，the farther from God 111
328．Necessity is the mother of invention 111
333．Never（or Do not）cross a bridge till you come to it 112
330．Needs must（go）when the devil drives 112
331．Neither a borrower nor a lender be 112
332．Never buy a pig in a poke 112
336．Never judge by appearances 113
334．Never do things by halves 113
335．Never hit a man when he is down 113
338．Never （or Do not）meet trouble half way 114
337．Never look a gift horse in the mouth 114
341．Never spoil a ship for a ha’porth of tar 115
339．Never put off till tomorrow what you can do（or may be done）today 115
340．Never say“die”（；up，man，and try） 115
343．No cross，no crown 116
342．Never trouble trouble，till trouble troubles you 116
347．No man is indispensable 117
344．No fool like an old fool．（or There is no fool like an old fool．） 117
345．No gain without pain 117
346．No man is a hero to his valet 117
351．None so blind as those that（or who）will not see 118
348．No man is infallible 118
349．No news is good news 118
350．None but the brave deserves the fair 118
355．Nothing succeeds like success 119
352．None so deaf as those that （or who）will not hear 119
353．Nothing is as good as it seems beforehand 119
354．Nothing is cheap if you do not want it 119
356．Nothing venture，nothing gain （or have） 120
359．Old shoes are easiest 121
O 121
357．Of two evils choose the lesser 121
358．Old birds are not caught with chaff 121
362．One is never too old to learn 122
360．Once a thief，always a thief 122
361．One good turn deserves another 122
366．Opportunity seldom knocks twice 123
363．One lie makes many 123
364．One man’s meat is another man’s poison 123
365．One swallow does not make a summer 123
369．Out of sight，out of mind 124
367．Other times，other manners 124
368．An ounce of luck is better than a pound of wisdom 124
372．Possession is nine-tenths（or nine points）of the law 125
P 125
370．Penny wise，pound foolish 125
371．Pity is akin to love 125
376．Pride goes before a fall 126
373．The pot calls （or called）the kettle black 126
374．Practice makes perfect 126
375．Prevention is better than cure 126
380．Punctuality is the politeness of kings 127
377．Procrastination is the thief of time 127
378．The proof of the pudding is in the eating 127
379．Prosperity makes friends，adversity tries them 127
381．Put your shoulder to the wheel 128
384．The road to hell is paved with good intentions 129
R 129
382．A ragged coat may cover an honest man 129
383．Respect is greater from a distance 129
387．A rose by any other name would smell as sweet 130
385．A rolling stone gathers no moss 130
386．Rome was not built in a day 130
390．See Naples and die 131
S 131
388．Scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours 131
389．Seeing is believing 131
393．Set a thief to catch a thief 132
391．Self-praise is no recommendation 132
392．Set a beggar on horseback and he will ride to the devil 132
397．A soft answer tu rneth（or turns）away wrath 133
394．Share and share alike 133
395．Silence gives consent 133
396．Slow and steady（or Slow but sure） wins the race 133
401．Still waters run deep 134
398．Spare the rod and spoil the child 134
399．Speech is silver；silence is golden 134
400．A still tongue makes a wise head 134
405．Strike while the iron is hot 135
402．A stitch in time saves nine 135
403．Stolen fruit（or pleasure）is sweetest 135
404．A straw will show which way the wind blows 135
406．Sweet are the uses of adversity 136
409．Take heed of the snake in the grass 137
407．The tailor makes the man 137
408．Take care of the pence and the pounds will take care of them-selves 137
413．A tale never loses in the telling 138
410．Take not a musket to kill a butterfly 138
411．Take no thought for the morrow 138
412．Take the bull by the horns 138
417．There is many a slip between （or’twixt）the cup and the lip 139
414．Talk of the devil（and he is sure to appear） 139
415．There are tricks in every trade 139
416．There is life in the old dog yet 139
420．There is no garden without its weeds 140
418．There is many a true word spoken in jest 140
419．There is no disputing about tastes 140
424．There is no rule without an exception 141
421．There’s no place like home 141
422．There is no pleasure without pain 141
423．There is no royal road to learning 141
428．A thing of beauty is a joy for ever 142
425．There is no smoke without fire 142
426．There is no time like the present 142
427．There is safety in numbers 142
431．Those that （or who）live in glass houses should not throw stones 143
429．A thing you don’t want is dear at any price 143
430．Things are seldom what they seem 143
434．Through obedience learn to command 144
432．Those whom the gods love die young 144
433．Though I say it that shouldn’t 144
437．Time is money 145
435．Time and tide wait for no man 145
436．Time flies 145
441．To err is human 146
438．Tit for tat is fair play 146
439．To be like a fish out off water 146
440．To cast pearls before swine 146
443．To know the disease is half the cure 147
442．To have a bee in one’s bonnet 147
447．Too many cooks spoil the broth 148
444．Tomorrow is another day 148
445．Tomorrow never comes 148
446．The tongue is not steel，yet it cuts 148
449．Truth is stranger than fiction 149
448．Trust in God and keep your powder dry 149
454．Two wrongs do not make a right 150
450．The truth will out 150
451．Turn over a new leaf 150
452．Two is company，three is none（or a crowd） 150
453．Two of a trade can never agree 150
456．A useful trade is a mine of gold 152
U 152
455．Unity（or Union）is strength 152
457．Virtue is its own reward 153
V 153
461．The（or A）watched pot never boils 154
W 154
458．Wake not a sleeping lion 154
459．Walls have ears 154
460．Wash your dirty linen at home 154
465．What is worth doing（at all）is worth doing well 155
462．Well begun is half done 155
463．What has been done cannot be undone．（or Things done cannot be undone．） 155
464．What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander 155
469．When the wolf comes in at the door，love creeps out of the win- dow（or When poverty comes in at the door，loves flies out at the window．） 156
466．What the eye doesn’t see the heart doesn’t grieve over 156
467．When in Rome do as the Romans do 156
468．When the cat is away the mice will play 156
472．Where ignorance is bliss，tis folly to be wise 157
470．When the word is out it belongs to another 157
471．When thieves（or rogues）fall out，（then）honest men come by their own 157
475．Who will bell the cat？ 158
473．Where there is a will there is a way 158
474．Where there is life there is hope 158
479．A woman’s work is never done 159
476．A wilful man must have his way 159
477．Wink at small faults 159
478．The wish is father to the thought 159
481．A word to the wise is enough．（or A word is enough to the wise．） 160
480．A wonder lasts but nine days 160
485．The worst wheel of the cart creaks most 161
482．A word spoken is past recalling 161
483．Words are but wind，but seeing is believing 161
484．Words cut more than swords 161
486．Work won’t kill but worry will 162
488．You cannot get blood out of a stone 163
Y 163
487．You cannot burn the candle at both ends 163
492．You cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs 164
489．You cannot have your cake and eat it 164
490．You cannot make a crab walk straight 164
491．You cannot make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear 164
495．You can not teach an old dog new tricks 165
493．You cannot put old heads on young shoulders 165
494．You cannot see the wood for the trees 165
499．You never know（what you can do）till you have tried （or try） 166
496．You may know by a handful the whole sack 166
497．You（or One）may lead a horse to the water，but you（or twenty） cannot make him drink 166
498．You must not expect an old head on young shoulders 166
500．You never know your luck 167