Hi, guys! In
today’s lesson we are going to learn some very common English proverbs that
will broaden your vocabulary. Let’s get to work!
When in Rome, do
as the Romans do
This proverb is
used to mean that somebody should behave similarly to the way people behave
around him or her. For example, if you are going to attend a conference and you
know that everybody is going to dress very elegantly, then you could say, ‘I
don’t like smart clothes, but when in Rome, do
as the Romans do.’
Example: I’m not used to
drinking alcohol, but when in Rome… (meaning that everybody around you is drinking alcohol
and you are going to do so too).
The squeaky
wheel gets the grease
This proverb
means that somebody who complains a lot is more likely to get what he or she
wants. For instance, a student who complains to the teacher about a grade that
she or he doesn’t agree with is no doubt more likely to get its grade increased
than other student who hasn’t talked to the teacher.
Example: I talked to my
mother and tell her I was hard up (=without any money). Finally, she gave me
twenty dollars. You know, the squeaky wheel gets the grease.
When the going
gets tough, the tough get going
This is one of
my favorite proverbs. As you may have guessed, it means that strong people don’t
give up when they face a difficulty; instead, they try even harder. For
example, if you fail an exam, you should keep this proverb in mind and not get
depressed.
Example: Algebra is so
difficult for me to understand… But I won’t give up! When the going gets tough,
the tough get going.
People who live
in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones
This is a
proverb I like a lot too. It’s used when somebody is criticizing people for a fault
that he or she also has.
Example: I won’t criticize
you for being too honest, because I’ve just told Anne she looks horrible in
that dress. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.
Birds of a
feather flock together
This proverb is
used to say that people enjoy hanging out with others who are similar to them.
Example: I’m not
surprised that they are going out together, for both of them like the same
things. Birds of a feather flock together.
To finish, I
would like to add that many times native speakers leave out the second part of
proverbs. It is very likely that you come across with sentences like When in Rome… or Birds of a
feather…. This is so because the speaker understands that the hearer knows
the ending of the proverb (and the meaning too, of course). So study hard and
you will master all these wise sayings!
That has been all! I hope this lesson has been interesting to you!
SEE YOU SOON!
