So, just what is a proverb exactly? One famous Spanish author defined proverbs as “short sentences drawn from long experience.” In other words, a proverb is a short sentence that is full of meaning and sound advice. These little expressions add richness to our speech and allow us to explore and learn new vocabulary.
那么，谚语到底是什么？一位著名的西班牙作家将谚语定义为“从长期经验中汲取的短句”，换句话说，谚语是一个短句，它充满了意义和合理的建议。这些小小的表达方式为我们的演讲增添了丰富的内容，使我们能够探索和学习新的词汇。

PROVERB is a short saying that is commonly known by public, and repeated as a piece of advice or suggestion. A PROVERB usually expresses the common truth. Searching online for Proverbs will result in thousands of results, however, take care! Many sayings are not proverbs; they do not impart good advice or wisdom, and some are even contradictory to each other. In our list that follows we have only included proverbs that state a general truth or piece of advice.
谚语是一种简短的谚语，为公众所熟知，并作为建议或建议重复使用。谚语通常表达共同的真理。在网上搜索谚语将导致成千上万的结果，然而，保重！许多谚语不是谚语，它们不能提供好的建议或智慧，有些甚至相互矛盾。在我们接下来的清单中，我们只列出了一些谚语，说明了一个普遍的真理或一条建议。

Why not make it a goal to learn at least five of the proverbs below to use in your life sometime in the future?
为什么不把学习下面至少五条箴言作为一个目标，在将来的某个时候用在你的生活中呢？

The Most Common English Proverbs
最常见的英文格言

1. Two wrongs don’t make right
不要错上加错

When someone did something bad to you, trying to do something bad to them will only make things worse.
当有人对你做了坏事，试图对他们做坏事只会让事情更糟。

2. A friend in need is a friend indeed
患难见真情

If someone helps you when you have problems, or you are in trouble, that person is a true friend
如果有人在你有问题的时候帮助你，或者你有麻烦，那人就是你真正的朋友

3. Better safe than sorry
小心不出错

You should always be careful, even if you think it’s not necessary.
即使你认为没有必要，你也应该时刻小心。

4. Don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk
不要说一套做一套

Don’t brag about being able to do something, unless you actually know how to do it.
不要吹嘘自己有能力做某事，除非你真的知道怎么做。

5. Great minds think alike
英雄所见略同

Smart people usually have the same ideas. This proverb is used when someone has the same idea as you.
聪明人通常有相同的想法。当有人和你有同样的想法时，就用这个谚语。

6. Haste makes waste
欲速则不达

When you try to work too quickly, you usually make mistakes.
当你试图工作得太快时，你通常会犯错误。

7. If you snooze, you lose
一疏忽就失败

You have to act fast to get what you want.
你必须行动迅速才能得到你想要的。

8. Lie down with dogs, wake up with fleas.
与狗同眠，醒来一身虱。

If you associate with bad or dishonest people, bad things will happen to you.
如果你和坏人或不诚实的人交往，坏事就会发生在你身上。

9. Look before you leap
三思而后行

Make decisions carefully. Think about it first.
仔细做决定。先考虑一下。

Many people are physically hurt every year because they jump into water without checking what is beneath the surface.
许多人每年都会受到身体伤害，因为他们跳入水中时没有检查水下的东西。

This proverb helps us to understand that no matter what we are doing we should always check for dangers before we do anything that could cause us harm.
这句谚语帮助我们明白，无论我们在做什么，我们都应该在做任何可能伤害我们的事情之前检查危险。

10. Measure twice, cut one
三思而后行

It’s hard to change a decision, once you’ve made it.
一旦你做出决定，就很难改变。

11. Misery loves company
同病相怜

People who are unhappy want to make others unhappy too.
不快乐的人也会让别人不快乐。

12. Actions speak louder than words
事实胜于雄辩

What you do matters – not what you say.
你做什么很重要-不是你说什么。

People today make many promises. Unfortunately, many people never keep their promises, which is why others are more likely to trust a person who says little but does a lot. Their actions speak louder than words and are far more valuable.
今天的人们许下了许多诺言。不幸的是，许多人从不信守诺言，这就是为什么其他人更倾向于相信一个话不多，事不多的人。他们的行动胜于雄辩，更有价值。

13. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder
情人眼里出西施

Everyone has their own ideas of what is beautiful.
每个人对什么是美都有自己的想法。

A beautiful person is not always beautiful on the outside. They may not be physically attractive, but this proverb helps us understand that we find real beauty inside a person.
美丽的人外表并不总是美丽的。他们可能没有外表上的吸引力，但这句谚语帮助我们理解，我们在一个人的内心找到了真正的美。

14. Better late than never
亡羊补牢

It’s better if you do something later, than not do it at all.
晚一点做总比不做强。

15. First things first
先处理要紧的事

Be patient. Do the things in their correct order.
耐心点。按正确的顺序做事。

16. Honesty is the best policy
诚信是最好的策略。

It’s better to always tell the truth.
最好总是说实话。

Honesty at the beginning, although hard sometimes, always gives the best results over time. Therefore make being honest your policy or rule.
一开始诚实，虽然有时很难，但随着时间的推移，总是能带来最好的结果。因此，要使诚实成为你的政策或规则。

17. It never rains, but it pours
福无双至，祸不单行

Bad luck never comes alone. Bad things usually happen all together at once.
厄运不会一个人来的。坏事通常同时发生。

18. Love is blind
爱情使人盲目

If you love someone, you don’t notice his or her faults. You think they’re perfect.
如果你爱一个人，你不会注意到他的缺点。你觉得他们很完美。

19. Mind your own business
管好自己的事

Do not interfere with other people’s lives and affairs.
不要干涉别人的生活和事务。

20. Money is the root of all evil
金钱是万恶之源

Money is the cause of all problems.
金钱是一切问题的根源。

21. No pain, no gain
没有付出，没有收获。

If you don’t work hard, you’ll never achieve your goal.
如果你不努力工作，你就永远达不到你的目标。

22. Seeing is believing
眼见为实

People don’t often believe something, unless they see it.
人们不常相信某事，除非他们看到它。

23. Time is money
时间就是金钱。

The longer it takes to do something, the more costly it will be
做某事花的时间越长，代价就越大

24. What’s done is done
覆水难收

You cannot change what has already happened.
你不能改变已经发生的事。

25. Too many cooks spoil the broth
人多误事

If there are many people doing the same job, the result will come out to be bad.
如果有很多人做同样的工作，结果会很糟糕。

26. Practice what you preach
说到做到

You should do as you say.
你应该照你说的做。

Have you ever met someone who says one thing and does the complete opposite? This proverb tells us to do what we say and not be hypocritical.
你见过一个人说一件事却做完全相反的事吗？这句谚语告诉我们要言行一致，不要虚伪。

27. Opportunity seldom knocks twice
机会难得

You probably won’t get another chance, so it’s better to take one right now.
你可能再也找不到机会了，所以最好现在就抓住一次。

28. Once bitten, twice shy
一朝被蛇咬十年怕井绳

If you had a bad experience trying to do something, you won’t repeat it again.
如果你在尝试做某件事时有不好的经历，你就不会再重复了。

29. Practice makes perfect
熟能生巧

If you want to be perfect at something, you need to practice every day.
如果你想在某件事上做到完美，你需要每天练习。

Repeatedly doing something will improve our skills and help us to become perfect at doing that action.
反复做一些事情会提高我们的技能，帮助我们在做这个动作时变得完美。

30. Leave no stone unturned
千方百计

To achieve your goal, you should try every possibility.
为了达到你的目标，你应该尽一切可能。

31. It’s a small world
世界渺小

You usually say it to someone you know when you meet him/her very far away from home.
当你在离家很远的地方遇到你认识的人时，你通常会对他说这句话。

32. Forgive and forget
原谅忘记

Forgive and forget the bad things that have been done to you. Don’t hold the grudge.
原谅并忘记对你所做的坏事。不要怀恨在心。

33. Easy come, easy go
来得快，去得快

It’s as easy to make money as to lose it
赚钱和失去一样容易

34. An apple a day keeps the doctor away
一天一苹果，医生远离我。

You will not get sick if you eat fruit/ healthy food every day.
如果你每天吃水果/健康食品，你就不会生病。

35. When in Rome, do as the Romans do
入乡随俗

When you are in another country, it’s better to behave like the citizens of this country.
当你在另一个国家时，最好表现得像这个国家的公民。

36. A picture speaks a thousand words / A picture is worth a thousand words
图片更有效果

No matter what language you speak, a picture can tell you more in a few seconds than in the time spent reading a thousand words describing the same thing.
不管你说什么语言，一张图片在几秒钟内就能告诉你比花在阅读一千个描述同一事物的单词上更多的信息。

37. Absence makes the heart grow fonder
一日不见，如隔三秋

Have you ever been separated from your loved one for a long time? You probably spent more time than normal thinking about them, which made you want to see that person even more.
你和你爱的人分开很久了吗？你可能花了比平常更多的时间去想他们，这让你更想见到那个人。

Therefore, absence (to be apart) made you think about them even more and increased your feelings of love (fondness) for them.
因此，不在（分开）会让你更加想念他们，增加你对他们的爱（喜爱）。

38. An answer when mild turns away rage
生气时的话不算数

Everyone has arguments and fights. During a heated fight, we might feel angry which may cause us to say unkind things about the other person. If we say something in anger, this will only make the argument worse.
每个人都有争吵和争吵。在激烈的争吵中，我们可能会感到愤怒，这可能会导致我们对对方说不友好的话。如果我们生气地说些什么，只会使争论更糟。

But this proverb tells us to control ourselves and try to say things in a kind way that will not unnecessarily offend the other person. Doing this will help the other person to calm down too.
但这句谚语告诉我们要控制自己，尽量用一种不会不必要地冒犯对方的方式来说话。这样做也会帮助对方冷静下来。

39. Anyone inexperienced puts faith in every word, but the shrewd one considers his steps
任何没有经验的人都相信每一句话，但精明的人会深思熟虑

Someone who has little experience in life may believe almost anything said to them, but a person who has experience in life doesn’t believe everything he hears. He will think before taking any action based on what was said.
一个没有生活经验的人可能会相信几乎所有对他们说的话，但一个有生活经验的人不会相信他听到的一切。他在根据所说的采取任何行动之前都会考虑。

40. Beggars can’t be choosers
别挑肥拣瘦

A beggar is an individual who is so poor that they must plead, or beg others to give them money. Therefore, a beggar can’t choose between many different things. Beggars can only get what is given to them or buy with whatever money they have at that time.
乞丐是一个穷人，他们必须恳求或乞求别人给他们钱。因此，乞丐不能在许多不同的事物中做出选择。乞丐只能得到给他们的东西，或者用他们当时所有的钱买东西。

We use this common proverb when we do not have enough money to get what we want but only what we need.
当我们没有足够的钱得到我们想要的，而只有我们需要的，我们就用这句俗语。

41. Count the cost
权衡得失

Before buying or building anything, this proverb reminds us to count the cost. How much will it cost me in money, time and energy?
在购买或建造任何东西之前，这句谚语提醒我们要计算成本。我要花多少钱、时间和精力？

42. Crime doesn’t pay
恶有恶报

Many people complain that criminals often get away with their crimes and live the good life, however, often their crimes catch up with them, and they are unable to escape the consequences of their actions.
许多人抱怨犯罪分子往往逍遥法外，过着美好的生活，然而，犯罪分子往往会追上犯罪分子，无法逃避自己行为的后果。

43. Do to others as you would have them do to you
己所不欲勿施于人

This proverb is called the Golden Rule by millions of people around the world. It has a simple meaning, treat others the way you would like them to treat you.
这句谚语被全世界数百万人称为黄金法则。它有一个简单的意思，就是以你希望的方式对待别人。

If you are kind to someone else, they would normally be kind in return. Mistreat someone, and they will mistreat you too.
如果你对别人很好，他们通常会很好的回报。虐待某人，他们也会虐待你。

43. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
不要恩将仇报

Most of us rely on someone else for our means of living (money). However, if we betray the trust that person has placed in us, we could find ourselves without a job and in much trouble.
我们大多数人的生活方式（金钱）依赖于别人。然而，如果我们背叛了那个人对我们的信任，我们可能会发现自己没有工作，陷入很多麻烦。

44. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
不要过早地盲目乐观

When you do something in preparation for another thing that may not even happen. For example, I am going to buy a dress, even though no one has invited me to the party.
当你为另一件可能不会发生的事情做准备时。例如，我要买一件衣服，尽管没有人邀请我参加聚会。

45. Don’t place all your eggs in one basket
不要孤注一掷

This proverb warns us about putting all of our trust into one thing that could fail.
这句谚语警告我们，要把所有的信任都放在一件可能会失败的事情上。

46. Don’t judge a book by its cover
不要以貌取人

Most books have pictures, symbols or other drawings on them to attract readers. However, a book with a beautiful cover may not be an enjoyable book to read at all! While a book with an ugly cover may be an excellent book to read. This proverb is also called a metaphor, to teach us not to judge another person by the way they look on the outside.
大多数书上都有图画、符号或其他吸引读者的图画。然而，一本封面漂亮的书可能根本不是一本令人愉快的书！而封面难看的书可能是一本很好的书。这句谚语也被称为隐喻，教我们不要用别人看外面的方式来判断别人。

47. Early in the year, early in the month, early in the week, early in the day
一年之计在于春，一日之计在于晨

To stress how important our time is, we are encouraged to do things as soon as possible and not delay.
为了强调我们的时间是多么重要，我们被鼓励尽快做事情，而不是拖延。

48. Enjoy it while it lasts
及时行乐

How do you feel on the final day of your vacation? Sad and upset it has already passed? Enjoy it while it lasts, means to make sure we don’t waste our time when we are doing something enjoyable.
你假期的最后一天感觉如何？悲伤和沮丧已经过去了？在它持续的时候享受它，意味着确保我们在做一些令人愉快的事情时不会浪费时间。

49. Failing to plan is planning to fail
凡事预则立不预则废

It is a tongue twister to say out loud, but it is very clever advice. Success is often dependent on good planning. If we don’t make plans in advance, we are more likely to be unsuccessful.
大声说出来是绕口令，但这是非常聪明的建议。成功往往取决于良好的计划。如果我们不提前计划，我们就更有可能失败。

50. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
抱最好的希望，做最坏的准备

It is an interesting proverb because it is telling us to stay positive but be realistic. We hope that everything always goes to plan and has a good result, but just in case, we should make plans in case something goes wrong.
这是一个有趣的谚语，因为它告诉我们要保持积极，但要现实。我们希望每件事都按计划进行，并有一个好的结果，但以防万一，我们应该制定计划，以防出问题。

51. Laughter is the best medicine
笑容是最好的良药

Scientists have discovered that laughter has many health benefits and can actually improve our overall health. It is free and fun making it the best medicine for everyone on earth!
科学家们发现笑对健康有很多好处，实际上可以改善我们的整体健康。它是免费和有趣的，使它成为地球上每个人最好的药物！

52. Love of money is the root of all evil
贪财是万恶之源

Perhaps not a proverb as much as it is a general truth. Sadly, the love of money causes many people to lie, steal and cheat from others. Greed, the love of money is sadly the primary cause of many terrible things that happen in the world.
也许不是一句谚语，而是一个普遍的真理。可悲的是，对金钱的热爱导致许多人撒谎、偷窃和欺骗他人。贪婪，对金钱的热爱是世界上许多可怕事情发生的主要原因。

53. Many hands make light work
众人拾柴火焰高

The more help we have from others, the easier a big job becomes to complete.
我们从别人那里得到的帮助越多，一项大工作就越容易完成。

54. Money doesn’t grow on trees
不要挥霍钱财

Those who spend a lot of money often have to be reminded that money is not easy to get, it is not like the leaves on a tree which grows in abundance. Money takes time and effort to obtain so we should use it wisely.
那些花了很多钱的人常常要提醒自己，钱不容易得到，它不像树上长得茂盛的叶子。金钱需要时间和努力才能获得，所以我们应该明智地使用它。

55. Necessity is the mother of invention
需要是发明之母

There are situations in life when we can’t get the things we may need. It is often at these moments when we invent something to solve our problem, which is why necessity is the mother of invention.
在生活中，有时我们得不到我们可能需要的东西。我们常常在这些时刻发明东西来解决我们的问题，这就是为什么需要是发明之母。

56. Patience is a virtue
忍耐是美德

Any virtue, is an excellent, admirable quality that we should all aspire to obtain. Patience is something many of us lack and therefore a quality which most of us find desirable and like to see in others.
任何美德，都是我们所有人都应该追求的一种优秀的、令人钦佩的品质。耐心是我们许多人所缺乏的，因此也是我们大多数人认为值得拥有的品质，并且喜欢从别人身上看到的品质。

57. Shrewd is the one that has seen the calamity and proceeds to conceal himself
精明的人大都有远见

A shrewd or intelligent person is someone who is smart and thinks ahead. They will take action to protect themselves from any danger that they think could happen.
一个精明或聪明的人是一个聪明且有远见的人。他们将采取行动保护自己免受任何他们认为可能发生的危险。

58. The early bird catches the worm
早起床的鸟儿有虫吃

Similar to our previous proverb about doing things at the beginning of the day, this proverb explains that a person who takes action sooner rather than later will benefit from doing so.
与我们之前关于一天之初做事的谚语类似，这句谚语解释了一个人早晚采取行动会从中受益。

59. Two heads are better than one
人多力量大

When trying to solve a problem on our own, we may not be able to think of a solution. If someone was to help us find a solution, this is better than trying to do it on our own.
当我们试图独自解决一个问题时，我们可能想不出解决办法。如果有人要帮我们找到解决办法，这总比自己动手好。

60. Where there is no wood, the fire goes out
没有木，就烧不起火

Another metaphor which helps us understand that when two people or sides are arguing if one of them were to stop fighting, the argument will die out.
另一个隐喻有助于我们理解，当两个人或双方争论时，如果其中一方停止战斗，争论就会消失。

61. You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink
你能帮到的地方是有限的

Because a horse has a mind of its own, only the horse can decide whether it wants to drink the water. The same applies to people. We can advise another person, but we can’t make them take the advice and use it, that part is up to them.
因为马有自己的头脑，所以只有马才能决定是否要喝水。这同样适用于人。我们可以建议另一个人，但我们不能让他们接受建议并加以利用，那部分由他们决定。

62. You cannot serve two masters
一仆不能侍奉二主

This wise proverb tells us that anyone who tries to do two things at the same time will either do well at one thing and not the other or fail at both. It is impossible to do both things well at the same time.
这句明智的谚语告诉我们，任何人试图同时做两件事，要么在一件事上做得好，而不是在另一件事上做得好，要么在两件事上都失败。两件事不可能同时做好。

63. You reap what you sow
种瓜得瓜种豆得豆

If a farmer plants potatoes, he will get potatoes, not another thing like tomatoes. Therefore, if we do good things we can expect good results, however, is we do wicked things we should expect the consequences.
如果一个农民种土豆，他会得到土豆，而不是西红柿。因此，如果我们做好事，我们可以期待好的结果，然而，是我们做坏事，我们应该期待的后果。

Many of these proverbs will work in various situations, some almost daily. Why not try to memorize one Proverb every week and attempt to use it at least three to five times during the week.
许多这样的谚语会在不同的情况下起作用，有些几乎每天都有。为什么不试着每周记住一句谚语，并在一周内至少使用三到五次呢。

Try to use it during a general conversation as this will make it sound more natural and fluent. Take care not to offend anyone also by applying a Proverb to the person directly. It is better to use a Proverb to describe a situation or about a person from afar. Do you know an English proverb? Write it in a comment below! Don’t forget to explain its meaning too!
试着在一般对话中使用它，因为这会使它听起来更加自然流畅。当心不要把谚语直接套用在别人身上，以免得罪别人。最好用一句谚语来描述一个情况或一个人的远在天边。你知道一个英语谚语吗？写在下面的评论里！别忘了解释它的意思！