Proverbs, idioms and other well-known phrases
Created | Updated Feb 5, 2008
All the phrases in this entry were answers on the ?lipograms? thread of Anagrammitis at A2180512
More can be found in the same thread starting at F1716566?thread=603841&skip=260&show=20
Charity begins at home.
A stitch in time saves nine.
It's better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
To sup with the devil you need a long spoon.
If the cap fits wear it.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Accidents will happen
To let the cat out of the bag.
One swallow does not a summer make.
Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.
If wishes were horses beggars would ride.
If you can't beat 'em join 'em.
A month of Sundays
As easy as falling off a log.
To reckon without one's host.
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
Still waters run deep.
Water under the bridge.
He who laughs last laughs longest.
When the cat's away the mice will play.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Easier said than done.
No sooner said than done.
To lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Your guess is as good as mine.
He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
To the pure all things are pure.
His bark is worse than his bite.
A fool and his money are soon parted
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
We're all in the same boat.
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.
You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
The devil makes work for idle hands.
The exception proves the rule.
Birds of a feather flock together.
The fault is in ourselves not in our stars.
Many hands make light work.
Easy come easy go!
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
East, west home's best.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
A miss is as good as a mile.
A watched pot never boils.
To look as if butter wouldn't melt (in his mouth).
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
The early bird catches the worm.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Don't let the grass grow under your feet.
It is the last straw which breaks the camel's back.
To call a spade a spade.
Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.
To carry coals to Newcastle.
For all the tea in China
To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but harsh words never hurt me.
Meanwhile back at the ranch
Six of one and half dozen of the other
God moves in a mysterious way,
No use crying over spilt milk.
I'm just going outside and I may be some time.
Lock, stock and barrel
The show's not over until the fat lady sings.
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Out of sight out of mind
Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
Into every life a little rain must fall.
Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise.
There will be tears before bedtime.
I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat
Handsome is as handsome does.
Do as I say, not as I do.
It will all end in tears.
All work and no play make a Jack a dull boy.
The early bird catches the worm.
Never a dull moment.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Shallow brooks are noisy - deep rivers flow with silent majesty.
Is this a dagger I see before me?
Great talkers are not great doers.
To be between the devil and the deep blue sea.
To be between a rock and a hard place.
Second thoughts are often best.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
it's a dogs life.
Living the life of Riley
The grass is always greener on the other side.
It takes two to tango.
Two's company, three's crowd.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
To see a man about a dog.
The boots on the other foot..
Good fences make good neighbours.
The sweetest rose possesses the sharpest thorn.
His bark is worse than his bite.
People who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.
To wear one's heart on one's sleeve.
Look before you leap.
like a bolt from the blue
April showers bring May flowers.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
beggars can't be choosers
To put the cart before the horse.
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them.
Faint heart never won a fair lady.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
When the tree's fallen every man rushes to it with a hatchet.
All roads lead to Rome.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.
once in a blue moon
Red sky in the morning shepherds warning
Like looking for a needle in a haystack.
As poor as a church mouse
He who laughs last laughs longest.
Laughing on the other side of one's face.
Seeing is believing.
To cut a long story short.
Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
As happy as a lark.
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
It never rains but it pours.
Raining cats and dogs.
Like a bull in a china shop.
Catch as catch can.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
There's one born every minute.
Take the good with the bad.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
The first cut's the deepest.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Running around like a headless chicken.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
You can't burn the candle at both ends.
As drunk as a skunk
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
As flat as a pancake
My old man says follow the van and don't dilly-dally on the way.
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away Now it looks as though they're here to stay Oh I believe in yesterday.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
That's close enough for jazz.
Once more folks...
Jump out of the frying pan into the fire.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Pillar of the establishment
a rolling stone gathers no moss
Possession is nine points of the law(I'm sure we say tenths here! )
When the fox preaches beware of your geese.
An evil conscience is the greatest plague.
A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on
Tell that to the Marines!
Good beginning makes good ending
Add fuel to the fire.
A man may work from sun to sun, but women's work is never done.
The cure is worse than the disease.
Where there is no trust, there is no love.
The mountain labours and brings forth a mouse.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
As bald as a coot
More than meets the eye
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone
As mad as a hatter
You can take Mohammed to the mountain but you cannot take the mountain to Mohammed.
as mad as a brush
Let the dead bury the dead.
as cool as a cucumber
As cold as ice
As happy as Larry
Oak before the ash, there'll be a splash. Ash before the oak, there'll be a soak.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper.
Come through with flying colours.
Home is where the heart is.
The black sheep of the family
There's safety in numbers.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
Keep a civil tongue in one's head.
If you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
Truth is a rock large enough for us all to stand upon.
February fill dyke..
Summerish January, winterish spring.
In my neck of the woods
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
It's a good horse that never stumbles.
Save your money for a rainy day.
More can be found in the same thread starting at F1716566?thread=603841&skip=260&show=20
Charity begins at home.
A stitch in time saves nine.
It's better the devil you know than the devil you don't know.
To sup with the devil you need a long spoon.
If the cap fits wear it.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Two out of three ain't bad.
Accidents will happen
To let the cat out of the bag.
One swallow does not a summer make.
Take care of the pennies and the pounds will take care of themselves.
If wishes were horses beggars would ride.
If you can't beat 'em join 'em.
A month of Sundays
As easy as falling off a log.
To reckon without one's host.
Many a true word is spoken in jest.
Still waters run deep.
Water under the bridge.
He who laughs last laughs longest.
When the cat's away the mice will play.
Don't put all your eggs in one basket.
Easier said than done.
No sooner said than done.
To lock the stable door after the horse has bolted.
Your guess is as good as mine.
He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Too many cooks spoil the broth.
To the pure all things are pure.
His bark is worse than his bite.
A fool and his money are soon parted
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
We're all in the same boat.
A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse.
You can't make a silk purse out of a pig's ear.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
The devil makes work for idle hands.
The exception proves the rule.
Birds of a feather flock together.
The fault is in ourselves not in our stars.
Many hands make light work.
Easy come easy go!
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
East, west home's best.
Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
A miss is as good as a mile.
A watched pot never boils.
To look as if butter wouldn't melt (in his mouth).
Out of the mouths of babes and sucklings
The early bird catches the worm.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Don't let the grass grow under your feet.
It is the last straw which breaks the camel's back.
To call a spade a spade.
Laugh and the world laughs with you, cry and you cry alone.
To carry coals to Newcastle.
For all the tea in China
To kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.
Sticks and stones may break my bones, but harsh words never hurt me.
Meanwhile back at the ranch
Six of one and half dozen of the other
God moves in a mysterious way,
No use crying over spilt milk.
I'm just going outside and I may be some time.
Lock, stock and barrel
The show's not over until the fat lady sings.
Yo ho ho and a bottle of rum
Out of sight out of mind
Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all.
There is no such thing as a free lunch.
Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
Into every life a little rain must fall.
Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise.
There will be tears before bedtime.
I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat
Handsome is as handsome does.
Do as I say, not as I do.
It will all end in tears.
All work and no play make a Jack a dull boy.
The early bird catches the worm.
Never a dull moment.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
Out with the old and in with the new.
Shallow brooks are noisy - deep rivers flow with silent majesty.
Is this a dagger I see before me?
Great talkers are not great doers.
To be between the devil and the deep blue sea.
To be between a rock and a hard place.
Second thoughts are often best.
Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?
it's a dogs life.
Living the life of Riley
The grass is always greener on the other side.
It takes two to tango.
Two's company, three's crowd.
Familiarity breeds contempt.
To see a man about a dog.
The boots on the other foot..
Good fences make good neighbours.
The sweetest rose possesses the sharpest thorn.
His bark is worse than his bite.
People who live in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.
To wear one's heart on one's sleeve.
Look before you leap.
like a bolt from the blue
April showers bring May flowers.
He who pays the piper calls the tune.
beggars can't be choosers
To put the cart before the horse.
Don't cross your bridges before you come to them.
Faint heart never won a fair lady.
The more things change the more they stay the same.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
When the tree's fallen every man rushes to it with a hatchet.
All roads lead to Rome.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Red sky at night, shepherd's delight.
once in a blue moon
Red sky in the morning shepherds warning
Like looking for a needle in a haystack.
As poor as a church mouse
He who laughs last laughs longest.
Laughing on the other side of one's face.
Seeing is believing.
To cut a long story short.
Caesar's wife must be above suspicion.
As happy as a lark.
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
It never rains but it pours.
Raining cats and dogs.
Like a bull in a china shop.
Catch as catch can.
Cleanliness is next to godliness.
There's one born every minute.
Take the good with the bad.
One man's meat is another man's poison.
The first cut's the deepest.
Don't judge a book by its cover.
Running around like a headless chicken.
Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
You can't burn the candle at both ends.
As drunk as a skunk
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
As flat as a pancake
My old man says follow the van and don't dilly-dally on the way.
Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away Now it looks as though they're here to stay Oh I believe in yesterday.
Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
The pen is mightier than the sword.
Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.
That's close enough for jazz.
Once more folks...
Jump out of the frying pan into the fire.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Pillar of the establishment
a rolling stone gathers no moss
Possession is nine points of the law(I'm sure we say tenths here! )
When the fox preaches beware of your geese.
An evil conscience is the greatest plague.
A lie can be halfway around the world before the truth gets its boots on
Tell that to the Marines!
Good beginning makes good ending
Add fuel to the fire.
A man may work from sun to sun, but women's work is never done.
The cure is worse than the disease.
Where there is no trust, there is no love.
The mountain labours and brings forth a mouse.
To be or not to be, that is the question.
As bald as a coot
More than meets the eye
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clear to the bone
As mad as a hatter
You can take Mohammed to the mountain but you cannot take the mountain to Mohammed.
as mad as a brush
Let the dead bury the dead.
as cool as a cucumber
As cold as ice
As happy as Larry
Oak before the ash, there'll be a splash. Ash before the oak, there'll be a soak.
Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper.
Come through with flying colours.
Home is where the heart is.
The black sheep of the family
There's safety in numbers.
You can lead a horse to water but you cannot make it drink.
Keep a civil tongue in one's head.
If you cant stand the heat get out of the kitchen.
Truth is a rock large enough for us all to stand upon.
February fill dyke..
Summerish January, winterish spring.
In my neck of the woods
It takes a thief to catch a thief.
It's a good horse that never stumbles.
Save your money for a rainy day.
