A "proverb" is a short, traditional saying
in general use. It usually expresses some obvious truth or
familiar experience. There are proverbs in all languages. Here are 7
proverbs that are well known in English.
--
"You can't tell a book by its cover."
We need to
read a book to know if it's good or bad. We cannot know what it's like just
by looking at the front or back cover. This proverb is applied to everything,
not only books.
--
"Where there's a will there's a
way."
If we have the determination (the will) to do something, we can
always find the path or method to do it.
--
"Don't cross your
bridges before you come to them."
Don't worry about problems before they
arrive.
--
"It was the last straw that broke the camel's
back."
There is a limit to everything. We can load the camel with lots
of straw, but finally it will be too much and the camel's back will break.
And it is only a single straw that breaks its back - the last straw. This can
be applied to many things in life. People often say "That's the
last straw!" when they will not accept any more of
something.
--
"Bad news travels fast."
"Bad news" means
news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to
tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning
some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.
--
"You
can't take it with you when you die."
When we die we leave everything on
earth. We don't take anything with us. Even the richest people cannot take
their money with them after death. This proverb reminds us that some
material things are not really so valuable as we think.
--
"Still
waters run deep."
Some rivers have rough surfaces with waves. That's
usually because the water is shallow and there are rocks near the surface.
But deep rivers have no rocks near the surface and the water is smooth and
still. This proverb means that people who are calm and quiet on the outside,
often have a strong, "deep" personality inside.
bravenet.com