Monday, July 20, 2015

SOME COMMON EXPRESSIONS (Part One) (Intermediate) (EXERCISE I64E198)










A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

This proverb refers back to mediaeval falconry where a bird in the hand (the falcon) was a valuable asset and certainly worth more than two in the bush (the prey).
Today the expression means that it is better to have an advantage or opportunity that is certain than having one that is worth more but is not so certain.
In essence, don't be greedy and stick with what good things you already have, instead of going after something you'll probably never get.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

The lack of something increases the desire for it.

Actions speak louder than words.

What one does is more important than what one says.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

This phrase is typically used to describe someone who loses their money quickly, either by being tricked or spending it wastefully.

A friend in need is a friend in deed.

Someone who gives you help when you need it is a really good friend

All that glitters is not gold.

Not everything that looks precious or true turns out to be so. This can apply to people, places, or things that promise to be more than they really are.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Apples are rich in a variety of phytonutrients, including vitamins A and E and beta carotene. These compounds fight damage from free radicals and can have a profound effect on health, including reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes and asthma.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

This proverb refers to what is well known about mosses and lichens - that they are slow-growing organisms that don't thrive on disturbance. A sure way to prevent a colony of moss from growing on a stone is to move it about. As with all proverbs, it isn't the literal meaning that conveys the sense but the metaphor. A 'rolling stone' refers to a wanderer, unable to settle to any job or lifestyle and therefore characterized as unreliable and unproductive.

A watched jug never boils.

Something you are waiting for will not happen while you are concentrating on it.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Different people have different ideas about what is beautiful.

Beggars cannot be choosers.

Those in dire need must be content with what they get.

Better late than never.

To arrive or do something later than expected isn't good, but it is better than not at all.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

Always be well aware of your source of income and treat it with respect. Remember that without the "hand that feeds you", you would go hungry.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

You should not count on something before it happens.
You should not expect all of your hopes to be fulfilled.

Don’t cry over spilt milk.

You should not get upset over things that have already happened and cannot be changed.

Never judge a book by its cover.

One should not form an opinion on someone or something based purely on what is seen on the surface, because after taking a deeper look, the person or thing may be very different than what was expected.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

'Eggs' are delicate, and if all of your eggs were in one container, and that container was damaged, you might lose all of your eggs in one quick and painful moment.

Having all of your resources in one place; putting your money or hopes or future into one thing.

Give someone an inch and he'll take a mile.

Be generous to someone and the person will demand even more. (Describes someone who will take advantage of you if you are even a little kind to him or her.)

          
TO PRINT
                                                                        

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