PROVERBS AND SAYINGS

I. Many proverbs tell you what NOT TO DO. Complete these well-known ones.

1. Don’t count your chickens _________________ .
2. Don’t cry over _________________________ .
3. Don’t change horses _____________________ .
4. Don’t make a mountain ___________________ .
5. Don’t throw pearls ______________________ .
6. Don’t cross your bridges __________________ .
7. Don’t put all your eggs ___________________ .
8. Don’t put the cart _______________________ .

J. Match the meaning of the proverb with the actual proverb listed below.

a) Live not to eat, but eat to live.
b) Make the best of a bad situation.
c) Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
d) Practice what you preach.
e) Give credit where credit is due.
f) Learn to walk before you run.
g) Strike while the iron is hot.
h) Never spur a willing horse.

1. You should behave the same way you advise others to behave.
2. Accept your present position without complaint, learn to tolerate difficulties that can’t be helped.
3. Choose the right moment to act; take advantage of a sudden opportunity.
4. Don’t urge a person who works well to work harder and faster.
5. Filling the stomach is not the purpose of life.
6. We should recognize the good points of others, even if we don’t like them.
7. Knowledge cannot be acquired all at once, but only step by step.
8. Don’t make difficulties for yourself by doing things the hard way.

K. Select a proverb for these exercises.

Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
A stitch in time, saves nine.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Time and tide wait for no man.

Example: Eat the grape, not the vine.

1. Media transfer

a) Write a newspaper headline based on a proverb.

New Agricultural Policy – Grapes not Vines
Save our Vines, Eat Grapes Say Farmers

b) Write an advertising slogan based on the proverb.

Vines are our business. Grapes are yours.
You eat the grapes. We’ll take care of the vines.

2. Creating text

Write a parallel proverb with the same or a similar meaning.

Cut the rose but leave the bush.
This year’s corn is next year’s seed.

3. Analysis

a) What is the grammatical form of the proverb? (Interrogative? Imperative? Indicative?) What other characteristic forms do proverbs have? Why?
b) Why does the proverb use “the” (the grape, the vine) rather than “a” or the plural? Look at special vocabulary and usage of your proverb. What can you understand about it?

L. Match the meaning of the proverb with the actual proverb listed below.

a) Curiosity killed the cat.
b) A faint heart never won a fair lady.
c) A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
d) Who chatters to you will chatter of you.
e) What is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh.
f) Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.
g) You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
h) Give knaves an inch and they will take a mile.

1. We inherit certain characteristics from our ancestors and pass them on to our descendents.
2. If you mix with evil companions you will soon be as wicked as they.
3. A timid or easily discouraged person won’t be very successful in life.
4. A person in extreme difficulties will try every possible means of escape, however unlikely.
5. If you grant some people a small favor, it only encourages then to take more than you offered.
6. It is foolish or dangerous to be so inquisitive.
7. You help me and I’ll help you in return.
8. A gossip who tells you tales about others will tell others tales about you.

M. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given.

1. There’s many a good tune __________ on an old fiddle. (PLAY)
2. The road to hell __________ with good intentions. (PAVE)
3. Poet’s are born, not __________. (MAKE)
4. Many __________, but few __________. (CALL, CHOOSE)

N. Write out the following sayings, pairing them with their meanings below.

1. To burn one’s bridges means _______________________________________
2. To keep others at arm’s length means _______________________________________
3. To take a leaf from someone else’s book means _______________________________________
4. To play with fire means __________________________________________
5. To have one’s feet on the ground means _______________________________________
6. To be in someone’s black books means ________________________________________
7. To keep one’s fingers crossed means _______________________________________
8. To add a feather to one’s cap means _______________________________________

a) to have incurred that person’s displeasure.
b) to decide to go forward, come what may.
c) to be practical and moderate in outlook.
d) to profit by another’s example.
e) to achieve a success which adds to one’s reputation.
f) to hope for a successful outcome.
g) to remain aloof.
h) to meddle in a potentially dangerous situation.

O. Compete these well-known proverbs

1. Out of the frying pan _____________________
2. Liars should have ________________________
3. Those who live in glass houses ___________________________________________________
4. Laughter is the best ______________________
5. Don’t trouble trouble until __________________
6. Rats desert ____________________________
7. A rotten apple __________________________
8. No living man ___________________________
9. United we stand, _________________________
10. Let sleeping dogs _______________________

P. Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate situation from the list below.

a) There’s many a true word spoken in jest.
b) A burnt child dreads the fire.
c) Forewarned is forearmed.
d) A straw will show which way the wind blows.
e) Take the rough with the smooth.

1. It shouldn’t have caught you by surprise. I told you he was going to quit soon.
2. Until now my road through life has been pretty easy but there are bound to be some difficulties ahead.
3. Of course she was joking when she told you, but still there could be something to it.
4. I know the fact that he didn’t come was a small thing, but still it might be an indication of things to come.
5. Her heart was so broken when he broke off the engagement suddenly. I don’t know if she will ever be able to love again.

By Erin Bouma

ANSWER KEY:

I.

1. … before they hatch.
2. … split milk.
3. … in mid-stream.
4. … out of a molehill.
5. … before swine.
6. … until you come to them.
7. … in one basket.
8. … before the horse.

J.

a – 5, b – 2, c – 8, d – 1, e – 6, f – 7, g – 3, h – 4

L.

a – 6, b – 3, c – 4, d – 8, e – 1, f – 2, g – 7, h – 5

M.

1. played
2. is paved
3. made
4. are called, are chosen

N.

1 – b, 2 – g, 3 – d, 4 – h, 5 – c, 6 – a, 7 – f, 8 – e

O.

1. … and into the fire.
2. … good memories.
3. … shouldn’t throw stones.
4. … medicine.
5. … trouble troubles you.
6. … a sinking ship.
7. … spoils the whole barrel.
8. … all thing can.
9. … divided we fall.
10. … lie.

P.

a – 3, b – 5, c – 1, d – 4, e –2