How Many Of These English Proverbs Do You Know?

“Laughter is the best medicine!” It releases endorphins, reduces stress, improves relationships, and may even reduce inflammation in your heart. What more could you want? Here’s a small dose of laughter medicine for you: How did the hipster burn his mouth? He ate his pizza before it was cool.

“Don’t bury your head in the sand,” or you’ll be seen as someone who refuses to acknowledge a problem or deal with it. This proverb comes from the notion that ostriches conceal their heads in bushes or sand to hide from predators. They don’t actually do this—ostriches are reasonably intelligent creatures.

“One man’s trash is another man’s treasure” reminds us that different people value different things. Someone talented could take your rickety old dining room table, for example, and turn it into a charming bookshelf.

According to a 1932 issue of Harper’s Monthly Magazine, this proverb was first spoken by Thomas Edison: “Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.” (We won’t talk about the many scientists Edison hired to tinker in his Menlo Park laboratory, whose inventions he patented under his own name.)

“Too many cooks spoil the broth.” Consider, for example, if several chefs in a kitchen all decided to add just a pinch of salt or a few drops of Sriracha to the soup—the result could be disastrous.

Benjamin Franklin gave us this proverb in the 1736 issue of Poor Richard’s Almanack. His exact words were “Don’t throw stones at your neighbors, if your own windows are glass.” In a nutshell, don’t criticize other people if you are less than perfect.

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.” In other words, when you visit another place, respect and abide by their local customs. Let’s see, then: In Rome, we should try some suppli, take advantage of the water taps all over the city, and never order coffee with milk after 12:00 p.m.

At the height of his fame, Elvis Presley was so insanely popular with young fans that they would not leave when his concerts were over. In 1956, at a concert in Detroit, Elvis’ press agent took a microphone and yelled to the crowd that “Elvis has left the building.” The strategy caught on in other venues, and now the phrase is used to indicate that something is finished and completely over with.

The proverb “A penny saved is a penny earned” means that every time you save a penny rather than waste it, it’s like earning an extra penny. The original expression, written by George Herbert in the 17th century, is “A penny spar’d is twice got.”

“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.” In other words, the person who complains loudest will have their problem fixed—maybe. If that person gets too loud or boisterous, they’re just as likely to be ejected or arrested. Find a balance!

If you’ve ever made spaghetti, you know that “A watched pot never boils.” Don’t hover over things; they’ll progress in their own time. Benjamin Franklin’s version was “A watched pot is slow to boil.”

Abraham Lincoln spoke these words in Springfield, Illinois, on June 16, 1858, a few years before he became president of the United States. He was running for the Senate at the time. His words, “A house divided against itself cannot stand,” were a paraphrase of Jesus’ words in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

The phrase “time is money” is especially applicable to entrepreneurs and independent contractors. Any moment spent with family, playing with a cell phone, making dinner, or simply chilling is a moment that brings in no revenue. Of course, no one can work all the time, so balance is key.

As the saying goes, “Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.” In other words, be grateful to those who provide for you. In the same vein, “Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.” This one comes from the idea that you can gauge a horse’s age by examining his teeth. So much dentistry in these proverbs!

In the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3:1 states that “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” In other words, there is a proper time to do each and every thing. Singer Pete Seeger turned eight verses of Ecclesiastes into a song, Turn! Turn! Turn!, which was popularized in 1965 by the Byrds.

In his 1596 play The Merchant of Venice, Shakespeare wrote “All that glisters is not gold.” But wait—Chaucer wrote “Hit is not al gold, that glareth” back in 1380, and other versions of this proverb have been found. Just know that glittery things may or may not be the most valuable or worthwhile. Take your time, look around, and don’t be distracted by shiny things!

“Birds of a feather flock together,” and that’s been a problem for humans since we first started congregating in groups. Unfortunately, people tend to unite with others who have the same skin color, religious beliefs, country of origin, and so on, and we often fear or dismiss those who seem different. William Turner may not be the originator of the phrase, but in 1545 he wrote, “Byrdes of on kynde and color flok and flye allwayes together.”

Just think about describing the Grand Canyon (or an elephant or a fractal) to someone who has never seen such a thing. How would you begin? Now you understand the meaning of “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Despite popular belief, this saying originates in the U.S., not China or Japan.

In the 1745 Poor Richard’s Almanack, Benjamin Franklin wrote, “No gains without pains.” When you push your muscles, you produce lactic acid, which causes a burning sensation. In moderation, this is a good thing and helps you build strength over time. However, Franklin’s proverb was probably meant to be more general, meaning that it takes effort to achieve something.

In the play Hamlet, Shakespeare’s character Polonius advises his son Laertes, saying, “Neither a borrower nor a lender be.” After all, borrowing or lending money risks both the money and the friendship. If you doubt the wisdom of this advice, watch a few episodes of Judge Judy.