Proverbs are sayings that are so well-known that when we use then in conversation, we often use just a few words of the proverb and our listeners will understand the rest. The words on the left are those that are often all we say and the words on the right are those that the listener understands.
1.
Match the opening words with the correct ending.
(A)
|
It’s the last straw …..
|
___
|
the mice will play.
|
(B)
|
A bird in the hand….
|
___
|
before they have hatched.
|
(C)
|
When the cat’s away….
|
___
|
that breaks the camel’s
back.
|
(D)
|
Don’t cross your
bridges….
|
___
|
before you come to them.
|
(E)
|
You can lead a horse to
water….
|
___
|
make light work.
|
(F)
|
Too many cooks ….
|
___
|
spoil the broth.
|
(G)
|
Many hands….
|
___
|
is worth two in the bush.
|
(H)
|
Don’t count your chickens
….
|
___
|
but you cannot make it
drink.
|
(I)
|
People who live in glass
houses .
|
___
|
should not throw stones.
|
2.
Answer the following questions.
(i) What is the literal meaning
of each of the above proverbs?
(ii) Can you imagine a situation
where each one might be used?
(iii) Is there a similar proverb
in your language?
3.
Write a few sentences which lead up to the use of two of the above
proverbs.
ANSWERS
1.
Match the opening words with the correct ending.
(A)
|
It’s the last straw …..
|
(c)
|
the mice will play.
|
(B)
|
A bird in the hand….
|
(h)
|
before they have hatched.
|
(C)
|
When the cat’s away….
|
(a)
|
that breaks the camel’s
back.
|
(D)
|
Don’t cross your
bridges….
|
(d)
|
before you come to them.
|
(E)
|
You can lead a horse to
water….
|
(g)
|
make light work.
|
(F)
|
Too many cooks ….
|
(f)
|
spoil the broth.
|
(G)
|
Many hands….
|
(b)
|
is worth two in the bush.
|
(H)
|
Don’t count your chickens
….
|
(e)
|
but you cannot make it
drink.
|
(I)
|
People who live in glass
houses .
|
(i)
|
should not throw stones.
|
2. Answer the following questions.
(i)
What is the literal meaning of each of the above proverbs?
A) It’s the last straw that broke the camel’s back. (The
last of a series of annoyances or
disappointments that leads one
to a final loss of patience, temper, trust, or hope).
(B) A bird
in hand is worth two in a bush. (It is better to keep what you have rather
than
to risk losing it by searching for
something better).
(C) When
the cat's away, the mice play. (People sometimes misbehave when
the person
in authority, is absent).
(D) Don’t
cross your bridges before you come to them. (This is another way of saying
with a problem when it occurs.
Don’t worry about it before hand).
(E) You
can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink. (You can offer
somebody
an opportunity to do something but
you can't force them to do it).
(F) Too
many cooks spoil the broth. (If too many people are involved in something,
it will
not be done properly).
(G) Many hands
make light work. (Sharing work makes the task easier).
(H) Don't
count your chickens before they're hatched. (You must not be too confident
that something will be successful).
(I) People
who live in glass houses should not throw stones. (One should not criticize
others for faults similar to one's
own and risk retaliation).
(ii) Can you imagine a situation where each one might be
used?
(iii) Is there a similar proverb
in your language?
3. Write a few sentences which lead up to the
use of two of the above
proverbs.
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