Tag: English proverb

A watched pot never boils – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

a watched pot never boils meaning - English proverb- Free English Materials For You - femfy.jpg

Image source

Example sentences from the web:

  •  Whoever said “a watched pot never boils” obviously didn’t own a microwave.
  • Jane was nine months pregnant and Tom hovered over her anxiously. She said, “You might as well go away and play some golf. A watched pot never boils, you know!”
  • There’s no point sitting by the phone waiting for it to ring. A watched pot never boils.

a watched pot never boils example sentence.jpg

Image source

“A good husband makes a good wife” – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

a good husband makes a good wife - English proverb meaning - Free English Materials For You - femfy.jpg

Image source

Example sentence:

  • Don’t blame your wife for being quick-tempered with you; you haven’t been kind to her lately. A good husband makes a good wife!
    QUICK-TEMPERED => becoming angry quickly and easily.

“To steal someone’s thunder” – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

To steal someone's thunder meaning - Englishvocabulary - English Proverb - Free English Materials For You.jpg
Example sentences from the web:

– Mike stole my thunder when he said he had done all the work. That isn’t  true. In fact, I did most of it!
– What do you mean by coming in here and stealing my thunder? I’m in charge here!
– She stole my thunder, just like she stole last week’s pantsuit design from Versace.

to steal someone's thunder meaning.jpg

Image source

Pixton_Comic_Steal_someone_s_thunder_by_bloomsbury.png

Image source

stealsomeonesthunder.gif

Image source

Post & articles on the web with his saying (click on the images to read the whole post/article):

steal someone's thunder learning Enlgish

06-05-2016-10-49-18

 

06-05-2016-10-46-44

“You snooze, you lose.” – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

If you snooze, you lose. - English Proverb - Free English Materials For You.jpg

Image source

Example sentences from the web:

  • John: Hey! I wanted a glass of milk too!
    Sarah: It’s too late. You snooze, you lose.
  • Isabel: Mark is so selfish, he knew I wanted to go to the show, but yesterday he bought the last ticket for himself.
    Cristina: If it was so important, why didn’t you buy the ticket before? You snooze, you lose.

you-snooze-you-lose- Learning English Proverbs.png

Image source

“Every cloud has a silver lining” – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

Every cloud has a silver lining

This phrase is often said to people who are feeling down or depressed in an attempt to try and cheer them up.
Here you can read some information on this proverb: Origin of this proverb.

 
Example sentences from the web:
  • Well, I suppose it’s nice to know that every cloud has a silver lining.

  • Interview With Mexican Quake Witness (CNN, 2003):

    HARRIS: Well, actually, then, if that’s the case, this toll of only 23 deaths can — I should say — shouldn’t say only 23 deaths — but 23 deaths is actually quite a low number, considering the fact this could be a lot worse, then.
    PETERS: In fact, Mexican authorities are saying they’re quite amazed that the casualties appear to be so low at this point. They do expect them to rise, but they say — well, I guess every cloud has a silver lining. This may be that for this earthquake because previous earthquakes of this magnitude in Mexico have killed hundreds.
    HARRIS: Well, here’s hoping that silver lining gets even bigger and more pronounced there. Thank you, Gretchen Peters, thank you very much. We appreciate it. Take care. Gretchen Peters of the ” Christian Science Monitor ” talking to us from Mexico City.

  • Don’t forget that every cloud has a silver lining. The sun will shine again.

Words from the example sentences you may not know:

  • TOLL: the extent of loss, damage, suffering, etc., resulting from some action or calamity: The toll was 200 persons dead or missing.
  • CASUALTIES: loss in numerical strength through any cause, as death, wounds, sickness, capture, or desertion.
  • EARTHQUAKE: a shaking of a part of the earth’s surface that often causes great damage

“You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink.” – English proverb

Published on by AnnaLeave a comment

ENGLISH PROVERB 31-08

English Proverb 31-08

Example from the web:

  • You can go to all the therapy in the world and as I — as the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, you can’t make them drink. Unless you decide you want to change and go through the work of changing yourself, it ain’t going to happen.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” – English proverb

Published on by Anna1 Comment

Don't give up

Proverb 29-07

In times of crisis, those who are most resilient and determined take action and prove they’re worth.

Example sentences from the web:

  • I realize we’re lost. But always remember, – “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
  • The football team was losing the game, so at half time the coach reminded them that when the going gets tough, the tough get going.
  • Anna lost her job and her boyfriend dumped her for her best friend. She carried on. When the going gets tough the tough gets going. Three months later she was in a better job and going out with a really nice guy.

If you still don’t get the meaning of this proverb …

“The going” => the situation
“Gets tough” => becomes difficult
“The tough” => people who are strong and enduring
“Get going”  => become fully engaged

There is a song named after this proverb: When the going gets tough, the tough get going by Billy Ocean.
If you like the 80s, listen to it! 😉

 

Lyrics:

When the going gets tough
The tough get going, tough, tough, huh, huh, huh
When the going gets tough, the tough get ready

Yeah, ooooh, du da do da

I got something to tell you
I got something to say
I’m gonna put this dream in motion
Never let nothing stand in my way
When the going gets touch
The tough get going

I’m gonna get myself ‘cross the river
That’s the price I’m willing to pay
I’m gonna make you stand and deliver
And give me love in the old-fashion way

Woooh

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll do anything

Ooh, can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooh, wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you, oooh

When the going gets tough
The tough get going
When the going gets rough
The tough get rough
Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey
Ooooh baby

I’m gonna buy me a one-way ticket
Nothin’s gonna hold me back
Your love’s like a slow train coming (slow train coming)
And I feel it coming down the track (woh)

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll do anything
Ooh (ooh) can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do
Ooh, (ooh) wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you (ooh)
‘Cause when the going gets tough
The tough get going
When the going gets rough
The tough get rough

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Wooh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Darlin’, I’ll climb any mountain
Darlin’, I’ll swim any sea
Darlin’, I’ll reach for the heaven
Darlin’, with you lovin’ me
Oooh (oooh)

Oooh, can I touch you (can I touch you)
And do the things that lovers do (can I touch you)
Oooh, wanna hold you (wanna hold you)
I gotta get it through to you

When the going gets tough
Going gets tough
Going gets rough
Going gets rough…