1---You can’t argue with success
Though you may tell someone they are doing something in a wrong way, you have to stop criticizing them if their method works.
2---Nothing succeeds like success
Like money in a savings account, success seems to compound itself. A person who has a small success expects it to be followed by a bigger one.
3---The end justifies the means
It does not matter how you succeed. Any method is all right if it works for you. This proverb is not always accepted. Often one hears the opposite, ” the end doesn’t justifies the means.”
4---If you can’t beat them, join them
If you cannot compete successfully with a person or a group, stop competing and go join them. Then you can share in their success.
5---Always a day late and a dollar short
A criticism of a person who never succeeds. The failures may not be drastic but the pattern of small failures is annoying to others, especially in two areas that Americans value as highly as time and money.
6---One thing at a time
Concentration leads to success. The person who tires to do too many things at once may fail at all of them.
7---We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it
We will not discuss or worry about a future problem. If and when the problem becomes urgent, we will deal with it.
8---Don’t put the cart before the hourse
Do things in a sensible order. For example, do something to impress your boss before you ask for a raise in pay. Don’t ask for the raise first.
9---All’s fair in love and war
Do not trust a rival or an enemy at all. His or her desire to succeed will overrule everything else. Such a people may lie, cheat, attack or do many other things far more terrible than he or she would normally do.
10---When in Rome do as the romans do
Flexibility leads to success in unfamiliar circumstances. People may changes their normal way of doing things in order to fit in better with those they are visiting.
11--—Easy does it
Some things require gentleness for success. One should not push too hard. Force may cause damage
12---The bigger they are, the harder they fall
Do not be discouraged by the size of your problem or the fame of your competitor. (the saying is traced to a boxer preparing to fight an opponent much larger than he was.)
13---All is well that ends well
If we can come to a successful conclusion, let us forget about the pain and mistakes along the way.
14---Go for it
Go ahead and try to achieve your goal. Don’t worry about failing. Similar to this proverb—God provides food to every bird, but he won’t cast to its nest, you got to earn it.
15---Every little bit helps
If someone apologizes for giving only a small gift, the recipient may encourage the giver by quoting this proverb. This is especially true if there is a huge job to do or a huge amount of money to be raised from many people.
16---Look before you leap
Don’t jump into a situation carelessly. You may land in difficulty.
17---All that glitters is not gold
Do not be fooled by worthless things that seem valuable or look attractive.
“Fool’s gold ” is the popular name for a kind of stone that glitters like gold but contains no gold at all.
18--—Curiosity killed the cat
Do not ask too many questions or become too curious about things. You may get yourself into trouble like a cat that does not see the danger in a new situation.
19---Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
Do not risk everything in one place or on one project. Divide your sources that one failure will not ruin you. Similar to this proverb—-Do not use both feet to test the depth of the river.
20---Don’t bite off more than you can chew
Do not attempt something too large for you to handle.
21---Too good to be ture
This is often used to warn about advertising. An offer looks good but turns out to be misleading.
22---Flattery will get you nowhere
If flattery (insincere praise) is recognized, it will not succeed. One sometimes hears the opposite, Flattery will get you everywhere.
23---There is no such thing as a free lunch
If someone you do not know offers you a free lunch or other gift, watch out. The gift may be a method of getting something from you.
24--—Pride goes before a fall
Do not be over-confident and careless. Your circumstances may change quickly and the emptiness of your bragging will be exposed.
25--—Better safe than sorry
It is better not to take a risk than to take a risk foolishly.
26---Winning isn’t everything
One may enjoy the process of playing a game whether one wins or not. This traditional proverb is now often heard in the opposite form, Winning isn’t everything. It’s the only thing!
27--—Time will tell
Wait and see how something will work out. Don’t trust a person or thing too much right now.
28---The burned child shuns fire
Some of life’s lessons are learned the hard way. The person who has had to pay for a mistake will be careful not to make that mistake again.
29---There are other fish in the sea
There are opportunities! For example, this may be used to encourage someone who has just broken off a relationship with a sweetheart.
30---Don’t count your chickens before they are hatched
Do not become too confident of success before you can see that progress is happening.
31---Rome wasn’t built in a day
Do not be discouraged if your goal still seems far away. On a big project, success takes time!
32---There is more here than meets the eye
Be careful. People are hiding something in order to protect themselves or take advantage of you.
33---The customer is always right
Businesses instruct their clerks not to do anything that might threaten a customer’s self-esteem, no matter how unreasonable the customer is. Any complaint of any customer must be carefully and politely heard by any employee. The customer must not be made to feel ignorant.
34---Be true to yourself
Do not compromise yourself or your beliefs in order to please other people or fit in with a system. Know who you are. Let other people know what you stand for. Do not give in to pressure to conform or to do things you do not agree with.
35---Once bitten, twice shy
This may be used to explain the behavior of a person who is overly cautious about something. The wise person makes mistakes but does not usually make the same mistake twice.
36---It isn’t over till the fat lady sings
I refuse to admit defeat yet. Though right now it looks like I may fall, there is still time for things to change. (The “fat lady” is an insulting reference to an opera soloist, opera often end with a female solo.)
37---To each his own
Each individual should be allowed to have his or her own preferences. people will naturally choose different activities, goals, life-s, etc.
38---Looking out for number one
Looking out for one’s own personal welfare more than anything else. This is sometimes used to criticize a person who has abused or taken advantage of someone else, “All he was doing was looking out for number one.” Or it may be used to defend himself or herself, “There is nothing wrong with what I did. I was just looking out for number one.”
39---When the going gets tough, the tough get going
When situation is difficult, only the determined people can handle it. They don’t give up!
40---Times flies when you are having fun
A day seems shot when it is full of enjoyable things but it seems like an eternity if one is idle or stuck with a boring job.
41---If it feels good, do it
Live according to your desires at the moment. Forget about rules, regulations or consequences. Just have fun.
42---Live and let live
Do not be judgmental. Do not try to control or punish other people.
You live as you like and let others live as they like.
43---Variety is the spice of life
Variety is what makes life pleasureable. Boredom is seen as a threat and monotony is the surest route to boredom.
44--—Money talks
Wealth has influence. People who make big contributions to political candidates are “talking” to the candidates and expecting them to listen.
45---All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
This is used to criticize someone who takes work too seriously. It affirms that play is as an essential part of human life.
46---The more the merrier
This is a way of welcoming someone to participate. It means, the bigger the group, the bigger the party.
47--—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
A thing you already have is worth twice as much as a thing you might get in the future.
48---You can’t have your cake and eat it too
Make up your mind. Sometimes one must choose between two very desirable things, giving up one thing in order to enjoy the other.
49---There is more than one way to skin a cat
Any of several methods may bring about the desired result. Each person may choose the method that best suits her. If one method does not work, choose a different one and try again.
50---One man’s meat is another man’s poison
Since the same thing may affect different people in different ways, each person must choose the things that will work in his or her particular case.
51---Love finds a way
Love is considered one of the most powerful and determined forces in the world. Two people in love will “find a way” to get together.
52---Absence makes the heart grow fonder
When lovers are separated, they may think about each other constantly. their love may deepen.
53---Out of sight, out of mind
This is said of someone not considered important or worthy of loyalty. One forgets about that person as soon as he or she is out of sight.
54--—Love makes the world go around
Love is the driving force in all of life. Love makes life worth living. If you understand love,you understand everything about life.
55---Marry in haste and repent at leisure
Do not rush into any long-term commitment. In the past this meant, “take your time before you commit yourself to a marriage partner.” Now it means, “Do not commit yourself to anyone you will be sorry.” or it may mean, “Live with a person for a while before marrying him or her.” It may also apply to any long-term partnership, such as a joint business venture.
56--—Talk is cheap
Talking is not doing, It is easy to talk about a plan, but this gets little respect untill one takes a risk and puts the plan into action.
57---Love is blind
When people are in love, they do not see each other’s faults.
58---Time is money
Time can be converted to money, that is, wages are often paid per hour of work. Managers want employees to do things quickly because “time is money.” If employees waste time, the company loses money.
59---If you’re so smart, why ain’t you rich
This question implies that intelligence, like time, can be converted into money. It is used to cut down an ordinary person (not a rich one) who has expressed an opinion as if it is the final word on the subject.
60---Beggars can’t be choosers
Beggars have to accept whatever they get. A poor person has very few choices in life. This harsh reply may be used if people complain about the size or quality of a gift.
61---The love of money is the root of all evil
Greed will lead a person into many other evils such as cheating, oppression and violence. (one also hears, money is the root of all evil, which places the blame more on money than on greed.)
62---A fool and his money are soon parted
Folly will always show up in the way a fool handles money. Wise people are the ones smart enough to guard money once they have it.
63---It isn’t whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game
Playing well and fairly is more important than succeeding. This saying is sometimes used to console someone who has lost a game. The ideas is that in spite of losing, one may still feel like a success if one has played as well as possible.
64---Money can’t buy happiness
There are some things money just can’t buy. This reminds people that money is not an ultimate value although it often is treated as one. The saying may be used as a comment when a wealthy but lonely and wretched person commits suicide.
65---Nice guys finish last
Success is valued more highly than kindness and politeness. If unkindness and impoliteness contribute to one’s success, they are sometimes excused as “toughness” or “what it takes.” This is more often applied to men than woman.
66---The one who dies with the most toys wins
This recent, cynical saying makes fun of three common American desires—competing, accumulating property, and having fun.
67---Just do it
This proverb is actually a recently invented advertising slogan for the Nike Shoe company. It may also be the best three-word summary of American cultural values. It means, “quit being indecisive, Don’t bother consulting a lot of people. Don’t waste much times on planning. Just do it and do it now.
68---You only go around once in life
Enjoy life, do what you want to do, experience everything you can.
69---Put your money where your mouth is
Get serious about what you are saying. When you have spoken in favor of something, prove that you mean it by risking some money on it in a bet or an investment.
70---The best defense is a good offense
Be pro-active and goal-oriented, not timid or conservative. Aim to conquer, not merely to protect yourself.
71---The road to hell is paved with good intentions
Like talking, intending is not doing. Actions matter far more than intentions. Actions determine where a person ends up.
72---Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today
Doing is better than waiting. If you wait, you might lose your opportunity
73---Action speak louder than words
To know people’s hearts, pay more attention to what they do than what they say.
74---Idle hands are the devil’s workshop
When people have nothing constructive to do, they get into mischief. The child who is bored may pick up a crayon and color on the wall, something that would not happen if the child were happily occupied in some other activity.
75---You’ve got to take the bull by the horns
Grab directly and fearlessly for the toughnest part of a problem. Don’t look for an easy way out.
76---Money doesn’t grow on trees
You have to work for things. Success does not come on its own.
77---Easy come, easy go
If you have received something without working for it, it may soon be gone. You will not be as careful with it as you will be with something you earned.
78---Too many cooks spoil the broth
Individual action or action by the smallest group possible is better than consulting a lot of people. Too much consultation will waste time and create problems.
79---Stand on your own two feet
Grow up; act like an adult. Don’t ask me to do something for you. This may be said to a young or immature person who depends too much on others. It is like a cow kicking a grown calf that wants to suckle.
80--—If you want something done right, do it yourself
This discourages people from trusting anyone except themselves. It maybe said to someone who ask another person to do a job for him/her and then complains about it was done.
81--—Necessity is the mother of invention
When a person really needs something, he or she figures out some new way to get it. This creative initiative to change one’s situation is considered much better than giving up and accepting things as they are.
82--—First come, first served.
This saying is used when there is a limited supply of something such as tickets to an event or food at a picnic. The idea is that no matter what your status, if you want some of what is being given away or sold, you must present yourself in person and in good time.
83---No pain no gain
one must put forth an effort in order to succeed. This saying comes from physical fitness instructors. They say that if you do not exercise hard enough to make your muscles hurt, the exercise is not doing you much good.
84---Give him an inch and he’ll take a mile
Be careful of presumptuous people who take more initiative than they should. If you do someone a small favor or delegate a little permission or a little power, he or she may take advantage of you.
85---If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it
Do not bother trying to improve something if it is already working satisfactorily. That is a waste of time and you run the risk of breaking the thing while you are trying to improve it.
86---There is no harm in trying
A person expects to be respected for making an effort even if it does not succeed.
87---The cure is worse than the disease
While trying to solve one problem, we create an even bigger problem. We would have been better off if we had done nothing.
88---Count to ten before you lose your temper
Do not instantly let your feelings control your actions. Slow down. Think before you react.
89---All things come to him who waits
Sometimes patience is better than initiative.
90---There is many a slip between the cup and the lip
This refers to a plan that has gone wrong. When one is drinking from a cup, one intends to get all the drink into the mouth, but this does not always happen. The plan is good but it can still fail.
91---Boys will be boys
People will act according to their nature, including some mischief. This is sometimes used to describe irresponsible but not too seriously wrong behavior by men. In other words, grown men will sometimes act like little boys.
92--—One bad apple can spoil the whole barrel
Do not associate with bad people. They may spoil you as a rotting apple spoils the apples next to it in the barrel.
93---Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t
People are generally not trustworthy. It is therefore better to deal with a familiar person or situation than an unknown one. That way you know what to watch out for and you can protect yourself better.
94---Nobody is perfect
Everyone has shortcomings. This is used as an excuse for a minor Mistake that has been made.
95--—The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
People are never satisfied with what they have. They always want what someone else has.
96---A man is only as old as he feels
A person’s energy level is more important than age.
97---A man’s home is his castle
At home a man is like a king, completely free to do as he wishes.
98---Clothes make the man
The way a man dresses will affect the way he sees himself and the way other people see him. The implication is that if you want to succeed, dress for success.
99---Two heads are better than one
Two people are more likely to succeed than one working or thinking alone. It is better to consult than to act alone.
100---Beauty is only skin deep
One should admire a person, particularly a woman, for her deep, inner character and not simply for her superficial beauty.
Jiao Liu
01 Jan 2008 13:21
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