A proverb can be a comment on human behaviour for example: birds of a feather flock together or it can simply be a wise old saying such as: there’s no smoke without fire

Sometimes a proverb is so well-known that only the first half of it is used, for example: it’s the last straw, instead of: it’s the last straw that broke the camel’s back

Many English proverbs will probably have direct equivalents in your language. Some however may not.

So to help you understand and use the 60 idioms we present in the BBC English radio series

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT

Here are both explanations and exercises which we hope you will find useful.

Practice makes perfect- it is possible to learn something or develop a skill if you practice enough. People often say "practise makes perfect" to someone to encourage them to continue practising

Make a mountain out of a molehill- make a small problem seem very important or a minor difficulty seem like a serious one

Many hands make light work - the more people who are working together to complete an activity, the quicker it will be done

It’s no use crying over spilt milk - there’s no point in regretting something that has happened which cannot be changed

The early bird catches the worm- a person who rises early or arrives in good time gets the best out of a situation

Too many cooks spoil the broth- too many people are doing something and as a result it’s done badly (or something is being done badly because there are too many people doing it)

Birds of a feather flock together - people with the same ideas, characteristics or interests tend to come together

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched- don’t make plans according to what you expect to happen before it actually has happened

Excercise

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate idiom

• too many cooks spoil the broth
• the early bird catches the worm
• birds of feather flock together
• don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched

1. Lucy is rushing out of the door

Lucy: John, I’ll be home a bit later tonight. I’ve got another meeting about the hospital sponsored disco.
John: How many people have you got now?
Lucy: Oh, a lot – about 100!
John: I didn’t know there were so many people who liked disco dancing at the hospital!
Lucy: No, neither did I – but that’s how many people have volunteered to do it.
John: Obviously … But will they all be at the meeting tonight?
Lucy: On no – only a few of us who are on the committee. We’ve got so many things to discuss and lots of people would make it impossible … !
John: Oh well, see you later!

2. John is getting up but it’s very early indeed!

Lucy: Where are you going John?
John: I’m going to the market, remember? I want to be the first person there so that I can have all my things ready before everyone arrives. You know what they say …
Lucy: Who on earth is going to want to buy old spare parts of cars at this time in the morning?
John: You’d be surprised – Lots of people are willing to pay a fortune for the things I’ve collected. Just you wait and see. I’ll be home by midday with lots of money!
Lucy: … but good luck anyway!

Fill in the gap with the most appropriate idiom

• practice makes perfect
• it’s no use crying over spilt milk
• many hands make light work
• don’t make a mountain out of a molehill

3.
It’s Sunday morning and John and Lucy have some friends staying with them for the weekend.

Lucy: Let’s all have a big Sunday breakfast!
John: Not for me. I’m going to clear the snow away from the garden path.
Lucy: Why now? There wasn’t that much snow last night …
John: You don’t believe me? Come and have a look.
Lucy: Oh dear, you’re right – there is a lot of snow! Well, I’ll call Bob and Jane and we’ll all help …
John: And we’ll work up a good appetite for breakfast at the same time!

4. Lucy has just come home and looks very fed up.

John: So, how did your driving test go?
Lucy: Very badly – I failed it.
John: Oh never mind, Lucy.
Lucy: The thing is, I know how to drive, but I get so nervous during the test that I make silly mistakes.
John: Well, it’s over now and …
Lucy: I suppose you’re right, but what now?
John: I suggest we practise together until you feel more confident. Remember … !

A stitch in time saves nine
- it’s a good idea to do something about a problem as soon as it appears because it will only get worse if it is left until later

Better late than never- it’s better something happens late than not at all

There’s no smoke without fire- if there are rumours or other signs that something bad is happening then they must be at least partly true

Let bygones be bygones- forget the unpleasant things that have happened in the past (or if you say this to someone, you are suggesting that you should both forget about unpleasant things that have happened between you in the past)

Look on the bright side- when you try to be cheerful about a bad situation by thinking of some aspect of it that is advantageous or not as bad as it could have been

No news is good news
- people say this in order to encourage themselves when they are worried about a situation but have not heard any news about it for sometime

To wash your dirty linen in public- to discuss or argue about unpleasant or private things in front of other people

The last straw (that broke the camel’s back)- if you say that an event is the last straw, although it is not important in itself, it happens after a series of similar unpleasant or annoying events and makes you angry or makes you want to give up what you are doing (this saying is often shortened to the last straw)

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• let bygones be bygones
• a stitch in time saves nine
• better late than never
• there’s no smoke without fire

5. John and Lucy are chatting after dinner.

John: Do you remember I told you about a man at the garage who had been criticising my work to others behind my back?
Lucy: Yes, I do. Has he done it again?
John: No, just the opposite! Today he apologised for his behaviour!
Lucy: He could have done that before, but I suppose … Anyway, what did he say?
John: He said he had been jealous of me because lots of customers come into the garage and want me as opposed to him to look at their car.
Lucy: What did you say?
John: I said we should … and forget all about it.

6. Jane is talking to Lucy about her mother.

Jane: Lucy, from time to time my mother suffers from chest pains.
Lucy: Well, you’d better take her to a doctor. She’s quite elderly and chest pains can mean different things; sometimes serious, sometimes not. Remember …
Jane: You’re right - I’ll take her to the doctor as soon as I get back from holiday.
Lucy: You should take her before you go on holiday. You know …

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• it’s the last straw
• washing his dirty linen in public
• look on the bright side
• no news is good news

7. John is talking to Bill, a colleague at the garage. They are complaining about their boss, Mr Watson.

John: Mr Watson spoke to me yesterday about being polite to all our customers.
Bill: Even if they’re rude to us or shout about the bill, we have to be polite to them. It’s ridiculous!
John: If he worked more in the garage, he’d soon realise that it’s not always so easy.
Bill: Hey, John – look who’s just driven into the garage in a Rolls Royce!
John: That’s the man who was involved in a big financial scandal last year!
Bill: I remember he was in all the newspapers and on television, …
John: Well, if Mr Watson thinks we’re going to be polite to a criminal he can think again!
Bill: Yes, … I’m going to call the boss and he can serve this man politely, but I’m not!

8. Lucy and John are talking about Lucy’s nephew.

Lucy: I’m really worried about my nephew.
John: The one who’s travelling around Africa?
Lucy: Yes. Nobody’s heard from him for over 2 weeks now!
John: Well, you now what they say - …
Lucy: Yes, but he’s usually very good at writing letters.
John: But Lucy - he’s probably having a wonderful time! …He will be climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro and won’t be anywhere near a post office!
Lucy: I hope you’re right.

Better to be safe than sorry
- it’s better to take precautions to prevent something dangerous or unpleasant from happening than not to take them and regret it afterwards

Beggars can’t be choosers - people who have not got much money are not in the position to be able to choose

It never rains but it pours - an unfortunate or unhappy event has been or will probably be followed by another unfortunate or unhappy event

You can’t have your cake and eat it - you must choose between two things as it is impossible to have both at the same time

To put all your eggs in one basket - to rely on one particular action or decision, instead of trying several things at once and leaving yourself an alternative if one of them fails

When the cat’s away, the mice will play - people behave differently when the person in charge of them is not there, for example by enjoying themselves more or behaving badly

Where there’s will there’s a way- if you are determined enough to do something, you will find a way of doing it

Make hay while the sun shines - if you say this to someone you are advising them to do what they want to do while they have the chance to do it

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• better to be safe than sorry
• you can’t have your cake and eat it
• beggars can’t be choosers
• it never rains but it pours

9. Lucy and John are talking about Lucy’s cousin.

Lucy: Do you remember I told you about cousin Kevin, the one who got a new job with a high salary and was complaining about the long hours he had to work?
John: Oh, well …
Lucy: Because of the long hours he has to work, he has been seeing less and less of his family and now his wife has left him and has taken the children with her.
John: Oh, I am sorry.
Lucy: And that’s not all - he’s suffering from stress and is doing badly at work and might lose his job.
John: Oh dear! …

10. John and Lucy are talking about heir summer holiday.

John: I must get the brakes of the car checked before we go on our caravan holiday.
Lucy: Yes, you must - it’s …but you know, I wish we could afford a different kind of holiday – a Mediterranean cruise would be lovely.
John: Lucy we’re lucky to be going on holiday at all! This is all we can manage this year … you know.
Lucy: Oh, I know, it was just wishful thinking that’s all.

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• when the cat’s away, the mice will play
• put all their eggs in one basket
• make hay while the sun shines
• where there’s a will, there’s a way

11. John and Lucy are chatting about John’s boss, Mr Watson.

John: Mr Watson is going to America for two weeks and he wants me to be in charge while he’s away.
Lucy: That’s good news, isn’t it?
John: Well, it is and it isn’t. You see, when he’s not there, people don’t come to work on time or they leave early.
Lucy: Well, you now what they say, …However, it’s a good opportunity for you to develop your managerial skills – you always said you wanted to do that.
John: He’s only going to be away for two weeks though.
Lucy: In that case, you should …

12. John and Lucy are driving past the local school.

Lucy: Did you know that the local school hasn’t managed to raise enough money to build the swimming pool they wanted?
John: No, I didn’t know that. How were they trying to raise the money?
Lucy: Well, they organised a sponsored cycle run from Brighton to London.
John: Is that all?
Lucy: Yes.
John: It sounds as if they …
Surely they could try to raise money in other ways?
Lucy: Well, as far as I know they’ve given up on the idea now.
John: They’re obviously not very determined, …

The more, the merrier- the more people there are, the more fun it is

He who laughs last, laughs longest - the most successful person in a situation is the one who finally ends up in control, even if it takes them a long time to achieve this

Seeing is believing - you will not believe something is true until you see it with your own eyes

Familiarity breeds contempt - if you now someone very well, or if you are often in a particular situation, you can easily lose respect for that person or become careless in that situation

A friend in need is a friend indeed - when someone comes to your aid when you really need them, they area true friend

Once bitten, twice shy - someone who has done something which resulted in an unpleasant experience for them will not wish to do it again

Third time lucky - if you do something once and it does not work and you do it again and it still does not work, then you can use this expression to show that you hope that it will work on the third attempt (or to show that you are pleased that it worked)

Every cloud has a silver lining- out of a bad situation can come something good

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• familiarity breeds contempt
• he who laughs last, laughs longest
• seeing is believing
• the more, the merrier

13. Lucy has just come home with some good news.

Lucy: Guess what! My sister, Judy’s going to have another baby!
John: That’s her sixth child, isn’t it?
Lucy: Yes, that’s right.
John: What does your mother say about it?
Lucy: You know she loves having lots of grandchildren, so as far as she’s concerned, …
John: Your sister surprises me. I remember when she didn’t even want to get married to Tom because she thought they’d get fed up with each other.
Lucy: Yes, I remember her favourite saying was …
John: Well, that certainly hasn’t been the case, has it?

14. John is at a football match with his friend, Peter.

Peter: Great! 2-0! My team will easily win today’s match!
John: But it’s only the end of the first half, Peter. Let’s wait and see.
Peter: Look, your team doesn’t have a chance!
John: Hang on a minute. Don’t you remember the match when your team was winning 3-0 at the end of the first half, but in the end my team won 4-3? Watch out, Peter …
Peter: Yeah, but that was last season when your team was much stronger.
John: I still think there’s a chance my team could win today.
Peter: Well, …

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• every cloud has a silver lining
• third time lucky
• a friend in need is a friend indeed
• once bitten, twice shy

15. John and Lucy are celebrating their wedding anniversary.

Lucy: I still remember the first time we went out together as if it were yesterday.
John: So do I Lucy, although I also remember you didn’t want to go out with me the first two times I asked you!
Lucy: Yes, but …
John: You had a good reason though if I remember correctly.
Lucy: Well, I’d had a bad experience with my previous boyfriend and I was afraid of getting hurt again … as they say.
John: Well, I’m glad you weren’t too shy in the end!
Lucy: So am I. Happy anniversary!

16. John and Lucy’s car has broken down.

Lucy: On no! What shall we do now? How can we contact my mother to tell her we’ll be late for lunch?
John: Look Lucy - it’s your friend Jane!
Lucy: Jane! Stop! Stop!
John: Hello there. Can I help?
Lucy: Oh, Jane, yes. Can you give me a lift to the nearest telephone?
Jane: Here, use my portable phone and would you like me to tow you to a garage?
John: That would be great, …
Jane: Let me just get that big rope from the back of the car. But wait a moment, there’s a news flash on the radio.
John: Oh my goodness! There’s been a terrible accident just further on up this road!
Jane: It’s just as well your car broke down. If it hadn’t, you could have been involved in that accident!
Lucy: You’re right …

Strike while the iron is hot - you must act quickly in order to benefit from a situation that is advantageous to you, because it may change soon

A rolling stone gathers no moss- a person who keeps wandering casually from place to place will never enjoy the benefits of a settled life, such as a family, a home, a career or close friends, but will also avoid the difficult things such as responsibilities, lack of freedom, boredom etc. (a person can be described as a rolling stone)

You live and learn - you say this when you are surprised at a fact that you have just become aware of

Practice what you preach - if you are going to encourage other people to do something, then you should do it yourself

Two’s company, three’s crowd- you can use this expression when a couple prefer to spend time alone rather than with a third person

Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone - when you are happy, you will be popular and people will enjoy your company but when you are sad, people will not want to spend time with you and they will leave you to be sad on your own

Waste not, want not - you say this if something useful such as food is going to be left and you think it is a shame because it will be of no use later

To bite the hand that feeds you - to be ungrateful or unkind to the person who pays your wages or who has been generous to you

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• a rolling stone
• strike while the iron is hot
• you live and learn
• practice what you preach

17. Tom has just come back from work.

Tom: You know I was late for school today.
Kate: Why? What happened?
Tom: Well, I decided to try out that new bus route, but it went such a roundabout way that it took much longer that the one I usually take.
Kate: That’s typical of you to try out something without asking someone’s advice first!
Tom: Well, … don’t you?
Kate: And did your pupils say anything?
Tom: You know I’m always criticising them for being late.
Kate: Yes.
Tom: Well, I heard one of them mumble, "You should … !"

18. Tom and Kate are chatting about Kate’s younger brother.

Tom: How’s your brother Kate? I haven’t seen him for a while.
Kate: Oh, I forgot to tell you. He’s going to get married!
Tom: To Julie?
Kate: Why of course! Who else?
Tom: Well, it’s just that I always thought of Julie as a bit of …
You know how much she enjoys her freedom - she’s always on the move.
Kate: Apparently she’s changed. She told John she wanted to settle down and start a family, so he decided to … and ask her to marry him and she accepted!

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• bit the hand that fed him
• two’s company, three’s a crowd
• laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone
• waste not, want not

19. Tom and Kate are having a romantic, candle lit dinner in a restaurant, when suddenly an old friend called Harold appears.

Harold: Hello Tom! Hello Kate!
Tom: Fancy seeing you here! How are you?
Harold: I’m fine.
Kate: Why don’t you join us?
Harold: Are you sure? You two look like you’re celebrating something special and you know what they say …
Tom: Oh, come on – we haven’t seen you for ages, and anyway we’ve finished our meal.
Kate: Let’s order some more coffee.
Tom: That’s a good idea. Have a chocolate, Harold. They’re delicious, but the meal was so rich that we just can’t manage these.
Harold: Well, it certainly seems a shame if neither of you are going to eat them -

20. Tom has just come home to find Kate looking rather sad.

Tom: What’s the matter, Kate? You look upset.
Kate: I’ve just watched a very sad programme on TV about that famous comedian who died last week.
Tom: But I thought he lived a rich, full life.
Kate: Well, he did for a long time, but apparently at the end he had very little money.
Tom: Oh, why was that?
Kate: After all those years of working in television, he left after a big argument with the director, who had always treated him very well.
Tom: So he …
Kate: That’s right and things went steadily downhill after that; he couldn’t find any work, he turned to drink and in the end his wife and family left him. He died a lonely old man.
Tom: So that saying is true, …

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth - don’t be ungrateful for an unexpected opportunity or present

You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink- you can show someone the advantages of doing something, but you can not make them decide to do it if they do not want to

All that glitters is not gold - something which seems attractive or exciting at first may not be as good as you think

Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t - it is better to deal with someone you already know, even though you do not like them, than with someone you know nothing about

Look before you leap- before you take any action, you should think about what problems our actions might create or what consequences there might be

More haste, less speed - when you do something in a hurry, you can end up doing it badly and maybe even having to do it again thus taking more time than if you had done it slowly and carefully the first time

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder - when someone finds a person or an object attractive even though others may not

Out of sight, out of mind - people quickly forget someone if they go away

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t
• don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
• all that glitters is not gold
• you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink

21. Kate has just come home after being out with her mother.

Kate: Do you remember I told you my mother and I had seen a beautiful antique Chinese vase for sale?
Tom: The one you thought was Ming Dynasty?
Kate: Yes, well, we went back to the shop today and discovered it isn’t antique at all, it’s a reproduction!
Tom: Oh well, you now what they say, …
Kate: The things is, my mother wants to buy it for my birthday, but I don’t know if I want now.
Tom: I think you should accept it - …

22. Tom has just come home from work and he looks fed up.

Kate: What’s the matter, Tom?
Tom: I just heard today that the headmaster has decided not to accept my idea of having the "Travelling Teaching Theatre" perform at the school.
Kate: Oh, that’s a shame! After all the work you did to organise it too.
Tom: There’s no pint in insisting though …What I am going to do however is look for another job.
Kate: Don’t be so impulsive, Tom. Think about it. Remember, …

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• out of sight, out of mind
• look before you leap
• more haste, less speed
• beauty is in the eye of the beholder

23. It’s late and Kate has just come home from the library.

Tom: Where have you been, Kate. I was getting worried.
Kate: Miss Johnson is coming back to work tomorrow.
Tom: I thought she was off until next week.
Kate: So did we, but she’s recovered from her operation much more quickly than anyone expected.
Tom: So was there a lot of tidying up to do?
Kate: Yes. You see while she’s been away we’ve let things slip quite a lot.
Tom: I see …
Kate: And we only heard this afternoon that she was coming back tomorrow.
Tom: So you didn’t have much time to tidy up.
Kate: Everyone was rushing around but you know what it’s like when you’re in a hurry - …

24. Kate is preparing dinner when Tom walks in.

Tom: Hello darling – how are you?
Kate: I’m fine but listen to this bit of gossip!
Tom: What is it?
Kate: You know that new girl at work I told you about – the one who had her 21st birthday last week.
Tom: Yes.
Kate: Well, she wants to get married to a 60 year old man!
Tom: That doesn’t mean anything … after all. What did you say to her?
Kate: I told her: "… Marriage is a big commitment."

Finders keepers, losers weepers -since you have found something you have the right to keep it rather than give it back to the person who lost it

Variety is the spice of life- if you do many different things in your life, it becomes more exciting and interesting

Great minds think alike - you say this when two people have the same idea and the idea is a good one

Two heads are better than one- it is better if two people work on something together rather than doing it alone

There’s a time and place for everything - you should behave appropriately according to where you are

Actions speak louder than words - you are not convinced that when someone says they will do something they will do it

A change is as good as a rest - you say this when someone needs to take a break from their routine or needs a holiday but instead of a rest they do something different which does them just as much good

Curiosity killed the cat- this is a warning about the dangers of being too inquisitive

Excercises

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• finders keepers, losers weepers
• variety is the spice of life
• great minds think alike
• two heads are better than one

25. Tom is waiting for Kate outside their house when suddenly he sees something on the pavement.

Tom: Kate! Look what I’ve just found! An envelope full of money!
Kate: Oh my goodness! What shall we do with it?
Tom: Well, I found it, didn’t I? You know what children say, "… !"
Kate: Look, I wouldn’t feel comfortable keeping the money.
Tom: Why don’t we give it to charity then?
Kate: That’s just what I was thinking!
Tom: … !

26. Tom and Kate are having lunch in the library canteen.

Kate: You know Sue, the girl I work with who loves boats and sailing.
Tom: Yes.
Kate: Well you know what she’s just told me?
Tom: What?
Kate: That she’s leaving the library for ever!
Tom: What’s she going to do?
Kate: Well, first she’s going to write a book about sailing.
Tom: On her own?
Kate: No, with her husband; she says that …
And then they’re going to sail round the world!
Tom: Good for them … after all!

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• there’s a time and a place for everything
• actions speak louder than words
• a change is as good as a rest
• curiosity killed the cat

27. Tom and Kate are chatting over dinner.

Tom: I had to send Gabriel home from school today.
Kate: Why?
Tom: Because he came to school with purple hair!
Kate: What did you say to him?
Tom: … and school is not the place for purple hair.
Kate: What did he say?
Tom: He promised he would wash the dye out tonight.
Kate: Do you believe him?
Tom: I’ll have to wait and see. With Gabriel …

28. It’s Saturday morning and Tom is worried about Kate’s health.

Tom: You’ve been looking very tired lately. I think you should take a couple of days off work next week and just do nothing.
Kate: I’d prefer to go away somewhere.
Tom: Well, I suppose …
Kate: I don’t want to go alone though. Why don’t you take some time off too?
Tom: Okay.
Kate: Where shall we go?
Tom: I’ve got a great idea.
Kate: What is it?
Tom: I’m not telling you!
Kate: Oh go on – give me a clue.
Tom: No! I want it to be a secret and … !

To turn over a new leaf- to start to behave in a better and more acceptable way

To kill two birds with one stone- one action will have two beneficial effects

To throw the baby out with the bath water- to lose the good thins as well as the bad things in something because you reject it completely instead of just removing the bad parts

All’s well that ends well- you say this when a situation, which was going badly, works out okay in the end

Excercise

Fill in the gaps with the most appropriate idiom

• to turn over a new leaf
• to kill two birds with one stone
• throwing the baby out with the bath water
• all’s well that ends well

29. Kate is carrying an iron and a big bundle of clothes.

Kate: Tom, could you take the ironing board through to the sitting room
Tom: Why?
Kate: I’m going … and do the ironing while I’m watching TV.
Tom: But you must be tired. Why don’t you leave it till tomorrow and I’ll help you?
Kate: You?
Tom: I know I’m usually not very good at doing the housework, but starting from tomorrow, I’m going … and I’ll start by doing the ironing.
Kate: Is that a promise?
Tom: Yes, it is.
Kate: Well, in that case, let’s go and watch TV together!

30. Tom is telling Kate about the meeting at work.

Tom: Today at the staff meeting the education inspector proposed some radical changes.
Kate: What did he suggest?
Tom: Well, he said that the teaching of grammar is old-fashioned now so there’s no need to do it any more! He also said that half the English teachers would lose their jobs over the next few years!
Kate: I suppose methods have to change sometime, but it sounds like he’s … What was the response?
Tom: Fortunately everyone disagreed with him, including the headmaster.
Kate: What happened in the end?
Tom: He had to take back everything he said.
Kate: So …
Tom: Yes, we’ve all still got our jobs and we’re all going to carry on teaching good old-fashioned grammar!

A N S W E R S
in the correct order

1-2
- birds of a feather flock together
- too many cooks spoil the broth
- the early bird catches the worm
- don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched

3-4
- don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
- many hands make light work
- it’s no use crying over spilt milk
- practice makes perfect

5-6
- better late than never
- let bygones be bygones
- there’s no smoke without fire
- a stitch in time saves nine

7-8
- washing his dirty linen in public
- it’s the last straw
- no news is good news
- look on the bright side

9-10
- you can’t have your cake and eat it
- it never rains but it pours
- better to be safe than sorry
- beggars can’t be choosers

11-12
- when the cat’s away, the mice will play
- make hay while the sun shines
- put all their eggs in one basket
- where there’s a will, there’s a way

13-14
- the more, the merrier
- familiarity breeds contempt
- he who laughs last, laughs longest
- seeing is believing

15-16
- third time lucky
- once bitten, twice shy
- a friend in need is a friend indeed
- every cloud has a silver lining

17-18
- you live and learn
- practice what you preach
- a rolling stone
- strike while the iron is hot

19-20
- two’s company, three’s a crowd
- waste not, want not
- bit the hand that fed him
- laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone

21-22
- all that glitters is not gold
- don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
- you can take a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink
- better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t

23-24
- out of sight, out of mind
- more haste, less speed
- beauty is in the eye of the beholder
- look before you leap

25-26
- finders keepers, losers weepers
- great minds think alike
- two heads are better that one
- variety is a spice of life

27-28
- there’s a time and a place for everything
- actions speak louder than words
- a change is a good as a rest
- curiosity killed the cat

29-30
- to kill two birds with one stone
- to turn over a new leaf
- throwing the baby out with the bath water
- all’s well that ends well