170 common and important proverbs in English

170 common and important proverbs in English

170 common and important proverbs in English: A proverb is a simple, concrete and traditional saying that expresses a perceived truth based on common sense or experience. 

Proverbs come from a variety of sources like poetry,old traditional song, movies,ballads,etc. Many of the eminent writers also created proverbs in thier literature. 

Proverbs are mostly use by adults than children. Adults use Proverbs to mean something in their saying, or to give an example and give moral lessons. 

Here you will get 170 important and common proverbs. By using these proverbs you can develope your English language and.

You can use it for various purposes ; like while talking to some one , writing some things or you can express the moral of the topic .Try to use some of these proverbs .At least practice it after all practice makes a man perfect.

Common and important proverbs for daily use

1. To err is human 
2. To forgive is divine 
3. Necessity knows no law 
4. Where there is a wall,there is a way
5. Out of sight out of mind 
6. All is well that ends well
7. Forgiveness is the noblest revenge
8. Let by gones, be by gones
9. To carry coal to Newcastle 
10. Honour is above life 
11. Oh the time, Oh the manners 
12. To build castles in the air 
13. A sleeping fox catches no poultry
14. Handsome is that handsome does 
15. The child is the father of the man
16. Morning shows the day
17. Hunger is the best sauce 
18. Spare the rod and spoil the thief 
19. Set a thief to catch a thief 
20. Diligence is the mother of good luck 
21. A tree is known by its fruits 
22. A man is known by the company ke keeps 
23. Many a little makes a mickle 
24. Give him an inch,he will take an ell 
25. Empty vessels sound much 
26. Pride goes before a fall
27. Too much of anything is bad
28. Cut your coat according to your cloth 
29. Money begets money 
30. Look before you leap 
31. To the pure all things are pure 
32. Friends are plenty when the purse is full 
33. Everybody's business is nobody's business 
34. Add insult to injury 
35. A bolt from the blue 
36. A bad workman quarrels with his tools 
37. Like father like son 
38. Between scylla and charyodis 
39. Change of fortune is the lot of life 
40. Man proposes; God disposes 
41. Misfortune never comes alone 
42. Penny wise, Pound foolish 
43. Strike the iron while is is hot 
44. Make the hay while the sun shines 
45. Rome was not built in a day 
46. Example is better than precept 
47. Delays are dangerous 
48. Necessity is the mother of invention 
49. No pain no gain 
50. No rose without a thron 
51. Murder will out 
52. Sad hours seem long 
53. Ill got ill spent 
54. All that glitters is not gold. 
55. A burnt child dreads the fire. 
56. Word gets word. 
57. To make a mountain of a mole - hill. 
58. Silence gives consent. 
59. As you sow, so will you reap. 
60. Measures for measure. 
61. Honesty is the best policy. 
62. Too much courtesy too much craft. 
63. Barking dogs seldom bite. 
64. The wearer knows where the shoes pinches. 
65. Time and tide wait for none. 
66. A little learning is a dangerous thing. 
67. It takes two to make a quarrel. 
68. A drop of water in the ocean. 
69. Fool rushes where angles fear to tread. 
70. While there is life there is hope. 
71. To cherish a serpent in one's bosom. 
72. Everyone is wiser after the event. 
73. One nails drives out another. 
74. Come by the pound , go away by the ounce. 
75. Harm seek harm find.
76. He is the wise man who speaks little. 
77. A friend in need is a friend indeed. 
78. A rolling stone gathers no moss. 
79. Constant dropping wears away stone. 
80. He that lacks most, longs most. 
81. To build castle in the air. 
82. Better death than dishonour. 
83. Don't wake a sleeping dog. 
84. While in Rome , do as the Romans do. 
85. Every dog is a lion at home. 
86. Black will take no other hue. 
87. It is no use crying over the spilt milk. 
88. Experience teaches better than wisdom. 
89. One swallow does not make a summer. 
90. Loss and gains are brothers twin. 
91. Too many cooks spoils the broth. 
92. Art lies in concealing art. 
93. Beauty will buy no beef. 
94. Beggars can not be choosers. 
95. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow. 
96. Better an open enemy thana false friends. 
97. Better late than never. 
98. Better untaught than ill taught. 
99. Birds of the same feather flock together. 
100. In the land of blind the one eyed is the king. 
101. To put the cart before the horse. 
102. Charity begins at home. 
103. Cleanliness is next to godliness. 
104. To count one's chicken before they are hacked. 
105. Discretion is better part of straw. 
106. Easier said than done. 
107. Donot put all your eggs in one basket. 
108. Familiarity breeds contempt. 
109. Example is better than precept. 
110. Out of flying pan into fire. 
111. One good turn deserves another. 
112. Half a loaf is better than no loaf. 
113. To kill two birds with one stone. 
114. Knowledge is power. 
115. He laughs best who laughs last. 
116. Money is a good servant but a bad master. 
117. To look for a needle in a haystack. 
118. Variety is the spices of life. 
119. What can not be cured must be endured. 
120. Truth is stranger than fiction. 
121. A stitch in time saves nine. 
122. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. 
123. The pot calls the kettle black. 
124. To pay a person in his own coin. 
125. No smoke without some fire. 
126. Always put your best foot forward.
127.  An apple a day keeps the doctor away. 
128. An idle brain is the devil’s workshop.  
129. An ounce of protection is worth a pound of cure.  
130. A picture is worth a thousand words. 
131.  A ship in the harbor is safe, but that is not what a ship is for. 
132.  A thing begun is half done.  
133. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. 
134.  Best things in life are free.  
135. Better to wear out than to rust out. 
136.  Blood is thicker than water.  
137. Clothes do not make the man.  
138. Cowards die many times before their deaths. 
139.  Curiosity killed the cat.  
140. Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.  
141. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. 
142.  Don’t cast pearls before swine.  
143. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.  
144. Don’t judge a book by its cover.  
145. Early bird catches the worm.  
146. Empty bags cannot stand upright.  
147. Every dog has his day. 
148.  Every man is the architect of his destiny.
149. Nothing succeed like success. 
150. A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step.  
151. Don’t cast pearls before swine.  
152. Don’t cross a bridge until you come to it. 
153.  Grief divided is made lighter.  
154.  Fortune favors the brave.  
155. Give them an inch and they’ll take a mile. 
156.  God helps those who help themselves.  
157. Hope for the best, prepare for the worst. 
158.  If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.  
159. If you can’t beat them, join them. 
160.  If you play with fire, you’ll get burned.  
161. It’s better to be safe than sorry.  
162. Keep your mouth shut and your eyes open. 
163.  Laughter is the best medicine.  
164. Learn to walk before you run. 
165. A cat has nine lives. 
166.  Absence makes the heart grow fonder.  
167. All’s fair in love and war.  
168. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.  
169. You show me the man and I’ll show you the rule.  
170. You can’t unscramble a scrambled egg.

Here I have given 170 common and important proverbs. Most of these we use daily. If you want to know about the meaning and uses of these proverbs then please feel free to mentioned in the comment section. I will give its meaning and example on it.