Proverbs and Sayings

Haste makes Waste

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Do you know the English proverb “Haste makes waste“?

Look at this conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

A: What score did the teacher give you for your essay?

B: She gave me 30%!

A: 30%!? That’s bad!

B: I know. I made so many mistakes.

A: Really? How long did it take you to write the essay?

B: I had no time. I wrote it in 15 minutes.

A: 15 minutes!? Haste makes waste!

B: You’re right…

 

Question: What does “haste makes waste” mean?

a) if we do something too quickly, we will make mistakes

b) if we type quickly, we will get a bad score

c) if we hurry, we can waste time

The answer is below! ↓

thumb-down-silhouette

 

 

Answer: a) if we do something too quickly, we will make mistakes

 

Where there’s a will….

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Can you complete this famous English saying?

Where there’s a will

a) there’s a way

b) there’s a dream

c) there’s a chance

The answer is below!

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Answer a) Where there’s a will there’s a way

Meaning: If you really want something, you will find a way to get it, even if it is very difficult. In this phrase, “will” means “desire/motivation/strong wish”.

Example conversation:

A: Dennis really wants to get a job teaching English at a top university in Japan, but it’s difficult these days. There aren’t many jobs.

B: I’m sure he’ll succeed. Where there’s a will there’s a way. 

It’s the thought that counts

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Do you know the English phrase “It’s the thought that counts“?

Read the following conversation. Can you guess the meaning? 🙂

A: What did your grandmother get you for Christmas?

B: She bought me red socks, but I don’t like red!

A: Well, it’s the thought that counts!

B: That’s true.

 

Question:

“It’s the thought that counts” means:

a) we must count our thoughts

b) a person’s kindness is more important than the gift

c) a person must think carefully before buying a present

The answer is below ↓

a-christmas-gift

 

Answer: b) a person’s kindness is more important than the gift

So, if someone gives you a present you don’t want, or don’t like, you should still be grateful. The person thought about you. That was very kind of them!

 

 

You are what you eat

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cornucopia

Do you know the phrase “you are what you eat“? This is quite easy to understand.

Here are some examples.

Eg 1

A: I don’t feel very well.

B: I’m not surprised! You’ve been eating fried food and cakes all day every day! You are what you eat!

A: Yes, you’re right. I really need to start eating healthy food.

Eg 2

A: Tessa is looking really good. Her hair is glossy and her skin is clear and smooth.

B: Yes. She is looking great since she started eating lots of fruit and vegetables.

A: We are what we eat I guess!

Answer:

If you eat healthy food, you will be healthy. If you eat unhealthy food, you will be unhealthy! Easy!

 

A trouble shared…

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Can you complete this famous English proverb?

A trouble shared…

a) is a trouble doubled

b) is a trouble halved

c) is a trouble for your friends

 

The answer is below! ↓

penguin-love

 

 

 

Answer: b)

A trouble shared is a trouble halved.

Meaning: If you have a problem, talking to a friend about it will make the trouble smaller.

 

Example:

A: What’s wrong Peter? You look sad.

B: Yes, I’m OK I guess…

A: Do you want to talk about it? A trouble shared is a trouble halved!

B: Yes, maybe I will feel better if we talk about it. Well….

If you can’t stand the heat…

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It is getting very hot and humid in Japan. It looks like it is going to be a long, hot summer…I wonder if I can stand* the heat…

(*In this example, ‘stand’ means ‘put up with’/’endure’.)

There is a very famous English saying about “standing the heat”. Can you complete it?

If you can’t stand the heat…

a) buy a fan

b) go swimming

c) get out of  the kitchen

d) don’t go out in summer

The answer is below! ↓

abstract-sunbeams

Answer: c) 

If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

Meaning: Don’t continue to do something that is too stressful for you, or if the pressure is too much for you.

Example: 

A: How is your new job? Are you enjoying it?

B: I hate it! It’s really tough.  There is a lot of pressure and I have to work seven days a week. I am so stressed, I can’t sleep at night!

A: If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen! You should look for a new job with less stress.

When life gives you lemons…

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Can you complete this famous English phrase?

When life gives you lemons…

a) eat them

b) make lemon pie

c) make lemonade

d) give them to someone else

The answer is below! ↓

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Answer: c) 

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

(Lemonade is a sweet lemon drink)

Meaning: If you have a bad experience, try to make something good out of it!

 

 

There’s no place…

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Can you complete this English saying?

There’s no place…

a) like the office

b) like one’s country

c) like home

d) like this place

The answer is below! ↓

house

 

 

 

 

Answer: c)

There’s no place like home.

Meaning: Home is the best place.

 

Example:

A: Are you going anywhere in the summer holidays?

B:  No I’m staying here. There’s no place like home!

 

What do you think? Do you agree with the phrase “There’s no place like home”? 🙂

 

Feed a cold…

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Can you complete this English saying?

Feed a cold, 

a) feed a fever

b) starve a fever

c) sleep off a fever

The answer is below! ↓

DSC05395

 

 

 

 

 

Answer: b)

Feed a cold, starve a fever.

This saying means if you have a cold, you should eat more. Eating more will help you get better. If you have a fever, you should eat very little. Eating very little will help you get better.

This is a very old English saying. It is around 500 years old. Some people say it is correct, but others say it is wrong. We think it is important to eat healthy food and drink a lot of water when we are sick.

What do you think?  Are there any similar phrases in your language?

We get on like a house on fire!

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We get on like a house on fire!

Do you know what this means?

Does it mean:

a) We like each other and get on very well

b) We don’t like each other and don’t get on very well.

c) We used to be friends, but we aren’t any more.

d) We are friends but we fight a lot.

The answer is below! ↓

ohen

 

 

 

Answer: a) We like each other and get on very well.

 

Examples

Eg 1:

A: How is your new colleague?

B: He’s really nice. I really like him. We get on like a house on fire.

Eg 2:

A: Does Dorothy get on with her mother-in-law?

B: Yes, they get on like a house on fire. They are always talking and laughing together.