100 Important English Proverbs with Meaning for Students Exams

Here are 100 English proverbs along with their meanings:-

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. (It’s better to have a small, certain advantage than the possibility of a greater one that may come to nothing.)
2. Actions speak louder than words. (What people do is more important than what they say.)
3. All that glitters is not gold. (Not everything that looks valuable or true turns out to be so.)
4. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. (Eating healthy food promotes good health.)
5. As you sow, so shall you reap. (Your actions and choices have consequences.)
6. Better late than never. (It’s better to do something late than not at all.)
7. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. (Don’t harm someone who helps or supports you.)
8. Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched. (Don’t make plans based on something that hasn’t happened yet.)
9. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (Don’t risk everything on the success of one venture.)
10. Every cloud has a silver lining. (Even in difficult situations, there is something positive to be found.)
11. Every dog has its day. (Everyone will have success or good fortune at some point.)
12. Every rose has its thorn. (Every good thing has its drawback or difficulty.)
13. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread. (Inexperienced or rash people often go where more cautious people would avoid.)
14. Haste makes waste. (Doing things too quickly can result in mistakes that take more time to fix.)
15. Honesty is the best policy. (It’s always better to tell the truth.)
16. If the cap fits, wear it. (If something said applies to you, accept it.)
17. If the shoe fits, wear it. (If something said applies to you, accept it.)
18. It’s a piece of cake. (It’s very easy.)
19. It’s raining cats and dogs. (It’s raining heavily.)
20. Rome wasn’t built in a day. (Big achievements take time.)
21. Kill two birds with one stone. (Accomplish two things with a single action.)
22. Let sleeping dogs lie. (Avoid interfering in a situation that is currently stable.)
23. Look before you leap. (Think carefully before making a decision or taking action.)
24. Make hay while the sun shines. (Take advantage of opportunities when they arise.)
25. Money doesn’t grow on trees. (Money is not easily obtained.)
26. Necessity is the mother of invention. (Challenges prompt creative solutions.)
27. No pain, no gain. (You have to work hard to achieve results.)
28. Out of the frying pan and into the fire. (From one bad situation to an even worse one.)
29. People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. (Don’t criticize others if you have flaws yourself.)
30. Practice makes perfect. (Repeated efforts lead to improvement.)
31. Put all your eggs in one basket. (Risk everything on one venture.)
32. Rome wasn’t built in a day. (Big achievements take time.)
33. Silence is golden. (It’s often better to remain silent than to speak.)
34. The early bird catches the worm. (Success comes to those who start early.)
35. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. (People tend to covet what they don’t have.)
36. The more, the merrier. (The larger the group, the more enjoyable the occasion.)
37. The pen is mightier than the sword. (Writing can be more influential than fighting.)
38. There’s no smoke without fire. (Rumors or accusations often have a basis in truth.)
39. Too many cooks spoil the broth. (Too many people involved can ruin something.)
40. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (If something seems suspicious, there’s probably a reason.)
41. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. (You can’t have everything the way you want it.)
42. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. (Achieving something requires taking risks or making sacrifices.)
43. You can’t judge a book by its cover. (You can’t know someone or something by appearances alone.)
44. A watched pot never boils. (Time seems to pass slowly when you’re waiting for something.)
45. Absence makes the heart grow fonder. (Being apart from someone makes you appreciate them more.)
46. All’s fair in love and war. (In difficult or challenging situations, anything goes.)
47. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. (Perceptions of beauty vary from person to person.)
48. Better safe than sorry. (It’s better to be cautious and avoid risks.)
49. Blood is thicker than water. (Family relationships are more important than friendships.)
50. Don’t cry over spilled milk. (Don’t waste time worrying about things that have already happened.)
51. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. (Don’t risk everything on the success of one venture.)
52. Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater. (Don’t discard the good along with the bad.)
53. Every man for himself, and the devil takes the hindmost. (People should take care of their own interests.)
54. Fortune favors the bold. (Those who take risks are more likely to succeed.)
55. Good things come to those who wait. (Patience is rewarded.)
56. Great minds think alike. (Intelligent people often have similar ideas or opinions.)
57. Half a loaf is better than none. (Having something is better than having nothing.)
58. Home is where the heart is. (Your true home is where you are loved and comfortable.)
59. If the shoe fits, wear it. (If something said applies to you, accept it.)
60. If the cap fits, wear it. (If something said applies to you, accept it.)
61. In for a penny, in for a pound. (If you’re committed, go all the way.)
62. It takes two to tango. (Both parties in a situation are responsible for it.)
63. Jack of all trades, master of none. (Being skilled in many areas may mean not excelling in any.)
64. Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone. (People are more likely to share joy than sorrow.)
65. Let bygones be bygones. (Forget about past conflicts and forgive.)
66. Look before you leap. (Think carefully before making a decision or taking action.)
67. Make hay while the sun shines. (Take advantage of opportunities when they arise.)
68. Misery loves company. (People who are unhappy may seek out others who are also unhappy.)
69. Money doesn’t grow on trees. (Money is not easily obtained.)
70. Never count your chickens before they hatch. (Don’t make plans based on something that hasn’t happened yet.)
71. Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. (Don’t procrastinate; take action now.)
72. No news is good news. (Lack of information is often a positive sign.)
73. No pain, no gain. (You have to work hard to achieve results.)
74. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (To achieve something, you must take risks.)
75. Once bitten, twice shy. (After a bad experience, people tend to be cautious in similar situations.)
76. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. (What one person considers worthless may be valuable to someone else.)
77. Out of sight, out of mind. (If you don’t see or hear about something, you’ll forget it.)
78. Penny wise, pound foolish. (Being frugal with small amounts of money can lead to wastefulness with larger amounts.)
79. Practice makes perfect. (Repetition and experience lead to improvement.)
80. Rome wasn’t built in a day. (Big achievements take time.)
81. Silence is golden. (It’s often better to remain silent than to speak.)
82. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. (Children often resemble their parents in behavior or appearance.)
83. The best things in life are free. (The most valuable things cannot be bought.)
84. The early bird catches the worm. (Success comes to those who start early.)
85. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. (People tend to covet what they don’t have.)
86. The more, the merrier. (The larger the group, the more enjoyable the occasion.)
87. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. (The true value or success of something is only known when it is put to use.)
88. The road to hell is paved with good intentions. (Having good intentions doesn’t guarantee positive outcomes.)
89. There’s no smoke without fire. (Rumors or accusations often have a basis in truth.)
90. There’s no such thing as a free lunch. (Everything comes with a cost or consequence.)
91. Time heals all wounds. (Over time, emotional pain lessens.)
92. Too many cooks spoil the broth. (Too many people involved can ruin something.)
93. Two heads are better than one. (Collaboration and teamwork lead to better results.)
94. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. (Adapt your behavior to fit in with the customs of the place you are in.)
95. When the cat’s away, the mice will play. (People will misbehave or take advantage of freedom when there’s no authority figure present.)
96. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. (If something seems suspicious, there’s probably a reason.)
97. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. (You can’t have everything the way you want it.)
98. You can’t make an omelet without breaking eggs. (Achieving something requires taking risks or making sacrifices.)
99. You can’t judge a book by its cover. (You can’t know someone or something by appearances alone.)
100. You reap what you sow. (Your actions have consequences; if you do good, you will receive good, and if you do harm, you will receive harm.