Adages, Idioms, and Proverbs
Put one up per day and challenge your students to use it in their speech and writing. Celebrate when they do use them!
An adage is an old, short saying that is generally accepted to have some truth to it (although there are many contradictory adages).
Some common adages are:
· Birds of a feather flock together.· Opposites attract.
· Don't judge a book by its cover.
· The clothes make the man.
· The early bird gets the worm.
· Better late than never.
· Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
· Better safe than sorry.
· Curiosity killed the cat.
· What you don't know can't hurt you.
· Seek and ye shall find.
· Beware of Greeks bearing gifts.
· Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
· There's no such thing as a free lunch.
· The best things in life are free.
· Two wrongs don't make a right.
· Practice makes perfect. / · You are never too old to learn.
· You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
· A rolling stone gathers no moss.
· Stop and smell the roses.
· He who hesitates is lost.
· Strike while the iron is hot.
· Look before you leap.
· Many hands make light work.
· Two heads are better than one.
· Too many cooks spoil the broth.
· Measure twice, cut once.
· You can't have your cake and eat it too.
· A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
· Pride cometh before a fall.
· Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
Proverbs (Similar to adages)
You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.
Never put off until tomorrow what you can do today.
Beauty is only skin deep.
Actions speak louder than words.
If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
Don't air your dirty laundry in public.
You're caught between a rock and a hard place.
That is food for thought.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
One rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.
The early bird catches the worm.
You must have gotten up on the wrong side of the bed.
It's time to face the music.
Two heads are better than one.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Idioms
An arm & a leg = Very expensive, a large amount of money.
All in the same boat. = When everyone is facing the same challenges/in the same situation.
All bark and no bite. = When someone is threatening/aggressive (all talk), but not willing to engage in a fight (or act on their words).
A toss-up = A result that is unclear and can go either way.
A taste of your own medicine. = When you are mistreated the same way that you mistreat others.
A slap on the wrist = A very mild punishment.
A piece of cake: A task that can be accomplished very easily.
Don't let the cat out of the bag. = Don't tell the secret. OR Don't spoil the surprise.
Fly off the handle. = To become very angry/to lose one's temper.
Let sleeping dogs lie. = Forget about it./ Leave the subject alone.
The early bird catches the worm. = The first person get the best choice/opportunity.
I saw the light. = I understood./I saw your point.
It's apples and oranges. = It's two different things.
To steal someone's thunder = To take credit for something someone else did.
Lend me you ear. = To politely ask for someone else's attention.
Scaredy-cat - Someone who's afraid.
Hanging out = Relaxing/spending time with someone.
Chill out. = Relax.
Pipe down. = Be quiet.
Shake a leg. = Hurry up.
Butt out. = Mind your own business.
Buzz off. = Leave me alone.
Reach for the stars. = Try very hard./Expect the best.
He/She is growing like a weed. = He/She is growing quickly.
Keep an eye out. = Watch carefully for someone/something.
He/She is dancing around the questions = He/She is not answering the question.
You can't tell a book by its cover. = You can't tell what a person is like from how he/she looks.
I'm like a fish out of water. = I'm uncomfortable/don't fit in.
His/Her eyes were popping out of her head. = He/She was surprised.
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse = I'm very hungry.
Break a leg = Good luck/Do a good job.
Running around like a chicken with its head cut off = Running around with many things to do and not enough time to do it.
Laughing his/her head off = Laughing very hard/for a long time.
To have ants in your pants = To be restless, not able to sit still.
You're pulling my leg. = You're teasing me.