Face it, if you’re here, it’s because you’re a bit of a language freak. That’s okay. So are we… But before getting into the nitty-gritty, let’s see what a saying is and how it differs from a proverb or an idiom. A saying is any concisely written or spoken expression that is especially memorable because of its meaning or style. Sayings are categorized as follows: Aphorism: a general, observational truth; “a pithy expression of wisdom or truth “. Some examples of popular sayings in English include “slow and steady wins the race,”” you can’t judge a book by its cover,” and “actions speak louder than words.”
What is the difference between a proverb, a saying, and an idiom?
A proverb is a short, traditional saying that offers advice or expresses a universal truth. A saying is a simple, often colloquial expression that memorably conveys a message. An idiom is a phrase or expression with a symbolic meaning that differs from the words’ literal meaning. While all three can be used to convey wisdom or insight, they each have their distinct characteristics and uses.
10 most common sayings in English
Having made the previous clarifications, let’s get down to business. Here are the 10 most used sayings in the English language along with their meaning:
Better late than never. – It’s better to do something late than not at all
Two wrongs don’t make a right – If someone does something bad to you, it doesn’t make it right for you to do something bad back
Birds of a feather flock together – Similar People tend to spend time together. A picture is worth a thousand words – A picture can convey more information than words alone.
There’s no such thing as a free lunch – Nothing is truly free; everything has a cost.
Beggars can’t be choosers – If you’re in a difficult situation and someone offers you help, you can’t be picky about what kind of help you receive.
A penny for your thoughts
Actions speak louder than words – What people do is more important than what they say.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – Don’t assume that something will happen before it actually does.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too – You can’t have everything you want; sometimes you must make choices
Other famous English sayings
Some of the most commonly used English sayings are also:
You can’t judge a book by its cover
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. – When things become difficult, strong people take action.
An apple a day keeps the doctor away
Add insult to injury; All good things must come to an end; All in good time; Curiosity killed the cat or Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.
About this blog…
And this is the end of our publication. If you liked it, visit Most Common English Idioms, Most Common English Idioms II, Scottish Proverbs, Most Important Catalan Sayings and Proverbs Translated to English, Common British English expressions translated to Catalan II, and Common British English expressions translated to Catalan. You will find them all in this blog (take a look at the recent posts column on the left). So, if you like typical expressions, idioms, proverbs and sayings, see you here. You know what they say: birds of a feather flock together.
We have no doubt that you will find surprising things on this blog. If you want to share more proverbs with us, please send them to us in the comments section below. Thanks for visiting our blog, and see you soon!
