English Proverbs

Life is a series of ups and downs. Rosy, peachy, and margaritaceous days seem like short and soon drown out by unexpected contretemps. When things are going tough and knocking you for a loop, you would shiver and scream in that eldritch circumstance with your head hanging down in despair. Some other days full of love and happiness would make you feel bubbly and buoyed up in high hopes. I am not talking about schizophrenia or morbid bipolar disorder that requires some serious therapy. It is very natural for you to understand that life is no picnic all the time, but still can feel like red-letter days from time to time. Old sayings or proverbs originate from these very pictures of human life. They describe human nature, duties, dark sides, bright corners, awkward feelings, madness, …….to name a few. Reading the proverbs might help you get the meaning of life. No matter how challenging it is, you don’t have to keep yourself on a short leash. Tomorrow will be another golden day for you all.

Here’s some interesting English proverbs.

If you can’t beat them, join them.: If you can hardly ever defeat them, join forces with them.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.: Do not hurt the hand that rocks the cradle. / Do not hurt someone who supports and takes good care of you.

A miss is as good as a mile.: Losing by a narrow margin is no different than losing by a wide margin. (*Thus, a stitch in nine saves nine!)

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.: If you do not try, you can’t make anything come true or achieve anything.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.: Most elderly people cannot change their thoughts or behavior or learn anything new.

The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.: Children take after their parents. They mostly tend to follow in their parents’ footsteps.

Barking dogs seldom bite.: People who threaten others usually do not hurt them.

One man’s gravy is another man’s poison.: What is pleasing one person may not be pleasing to another.

Charity begins at home.: One should pay attention to one’s own family first before taking care of others.

After the feast comes the reckoning.: People should always pay the price of their excesses.

e.g., You have spent too much money. What happens if you get laid off?  After the feast comes a reckoning.

Hindsight is better than foresight.: Hindsight is the ability to understand and realize something about an event after it has happened, although you did not understand or realize it at the time. 

Expressions

peachy: (adjective) pleasant, fine, excellent

margaritaceous: (adjective) pearly, resembling mother-of-pearl

contretemps: (noun) pronounced "CON-tre-tahn," is French word (*contre means "against," and temps means "time." ) a mishap, perhaps caused by bad timing. Another meaning is an argument or conflict, especially an awkward one which can be caused by misunderstandings or miscommunication. It also means a blunder in both ballet and fencing.

to knock somebody for a loop: (verb) to upset or confuse somebody because they do not expect it

e.g., John knocked me for a loop when he said he’d leave me for good.

eldritch: (adjective) weird, spooky, ghostly

bubbly: (adjective) full of energy, high spirit, and enthusiasm

buoy up: (verb) to feel cheered up/ lifted up

schizophrenia: (noun) mental disorder characterized by some, but not necessarily all, of the following features: emotional blunting, intellectual deterioration, social isolation, disorganized speech and behavior, delusions, and hallucinations

no picnic: (adjective) something difficult/ unpleasant at all

red-letter days: (noun) a day that is pleasantly noteworthy or memorable

to keep someone on a short leash: (verb) to have a lot of control of someone’s behavior giving them little freedom