Weather idioms
Feelings through idioms
Odd man out idiom
Decisiveness idiom
Happiness
Feeling in blue idiom
Hard nut to crack idiom
Fear idioms
Head idioms
Eye idioms
Arm idioms
Foot idioms
Hair idioms
Blue idioms
Green idioms
Red idioms
White idioms
Gold idioms
Silver idioms
Pig Idioms
Horse Idioms
Insect idioms
Fish Idioms

Пословицы – Proverbs

· Баба с возу – кобыле легче. One less problem.

· Без кота мышам раздолье. When the cat is away, the mice will play.

· Береженого Бог бережет. The Lord helps those who help themselves.

· Большому кораблю – большое плавание. A great ship asks deep waters.

· Была не была. Sink or swim.
· В гостях хорошо, а дома лучше. There is no place like home. East or West, home is best.

· Век живи – век учись. Live and learn.

· Волков бояться – в лес не ходить. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. It takes courage to start.

· Вот где собака зарыта. (вот в чем загвоздка). That’s where the shoe pinches. That’s the crux (the rub).

· В семье не без урода. Many a good father has but a bad son.

· Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается. All is well that ends well.

· Всяк кулик свое болото хвалит. Every cook praises his own broth.

· Всякому овощу свое время. Everything is good in its season.

· В тихом омуте черти водятся. Still waters run deep.

· В Тулу со своим самоваром (не ездят). Don’t carry coals to Newcastle.

· В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

· Где тонко – там и рвется. The chain is no stronger than its weakest link.

· Голодный, как волк. Hungry as a hunter.

· Голь на выдумку хитра. Necessity is the mother of invention.

· Горбатого могила исправит. The leopard cannot change his spots.

· Дареному коню в зубы не смотрят. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.

· Делить шкуру не убитого медведя. To cook a hare before catching him.

· Долг платежом красен. One good turn deserves another.

· До свадьбы заживет. You will manage.

· Дружба дружбой, а служба службой. Friendship is one thing, work another.

· Друзья познаются в беде. A friend in need is a friend indeed.

· Дуракам закон не писан. There is no law for fools.

· Если бы да кабы во рту росли грибы. If ifs and ans were pots and pans.

· If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.

· Жизнь коротка. Life is but a span.

· За одного битого двух не битых дают. Experience is worth it.

· Занятой (трудолюбивый), как пчела. As busy as a bee.

· И на старуху бывает проруха. Even an experienced person can make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes.

· И хочется и колется. The cat would eat fish and would not wet her feet.

· Ищи ветра в поле. The wind cannot be caught in a net.

· Как аукнется – так и откликнется. People get what they deserve.

· Как дважды два – четыре. As sure as eggs is eggs.

· Как две капли воды. As like as two peas in a pood.

· Как нажито, так и прожито. Easy come, easy go.

· Капля в море. A drop in the bucket.

· Кашу маслом не испортишь. You can’t spoil a good thing.

· Клин клином вышибают. Fight fire with fire. One nail drives out another.

· Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживет. A rolling stone gathers no moss.

· Кто рано встает, тому бог подает. The early bird catches the worm.

· Куй железо, пока горячо. Strike while the iron is hot. Make hay while the sun shines.

· Курам на смех. It is enough to make a cat laugh.

· Лес рубят – щепки летят. You can’t make an om elet without breaking eggs.

· Лиха беда начало. A good beginning makes a good ending. The first step is the hardest.

· Ложка дегтя в бочке меда. A fly in the ointment. The rotten apple spoils the barrel.

· Лучшее враг хорошего. The best is oftentimes the enemy of the good.

· Лучше поздно, чем никогда. Better late than never.

· Лучше синица в руках, чем журавль в небе. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. Better an egg today than a hen tomorrow.

· Любишь кататься, люби и саночки возить. He that would eat the fruit must climb the tree. No pains, no gains. After dinner comes the reckoning.

· Маслом каши не испортишь. Plenty is no plague.

· Много будешь знать, скоро состаришься. Too much knowledge makes the head bald.

· Много шума из ничего. Much ado about nothing.

· Мягко стелет – жестко спать. Iron fist in a velvet glove.

· На безрыбье и рак – рыба. Something is better than nothing.

· На воре шапка горит. A guilty mind betrays it self.

· На всех не угодишь. He who pleased every body died before he was born.

· На всякого мудреца довольно простоты. Every man has a fool in his sleeve.

· Назвался груздем – полезай в кузов. If you undertook some thing, do it (see it through).

· Нашла коса на камень. You have met your match.

· Не буди лиха, пока лихо спит. Don’t trouble trouble till trouble trobules you. Let sleeping dogs lie.

· Не было у бабы хлопот, так купила порося. You are asking for trouble.

· Не все золото, что блестит. All that glitters is not gold.

· Не клади все яйца в одну корзину. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

· Не мытьем, так катаньем. By hook or by crook.

· Нем, как рыба. Silent as a grave.

· Не ошибается тот, кто ничего не делает. He that never climbed, never fell.

· Не плюй в колодец – пригодится воды напиться. Actions can boomerang. Never cast dirt into that fountain of which you have sometime drunk.

· Не пойман – не вор. Innocent till proven guilty.

· Не рой другому яму, сам в нее попадешь. Curses like chickens come home to roost.

· Не так страшен черт, как его малюют. The devil is not so black as he is painted.

· Нет дыма без огня. There is no smoke with out fire.

· Нет худа без добра. Every cloud has a silver lining.

· Ни к селу, ни к городу. Neither here nor there.

· Ни рыба, ни мясо. Neither fish nor flesh.

· Ни складу ни ладу. Neither rhyme nor rea son.

· Новая метла метет по-новому. A new broom sweeps clean

· О вкусах не спорят. Tastes differ.

· Овчинка выделки не стоит. The game isn’t worth the candle.

· Один в поле не воин. One man, no man.

· Орешек не по зубам. A hard nut to crack.

· От добра добра не ищут. Leave well enough alone. Enough is as good as a feast.

· От любопытства кошка сдохла. Curiosity killed the cat.

· Отсутствие новостей – хорошая новость. No news is good news.

· Пан или пропал. Neck or nothing.

· Первый блин комом. Things don’t work the first time.

· Плохая молва на крыльях летит. Bad news has wings.

· Погонишься за двумя зайцами, ни одного не поймаешь. If you run after two hairs, you will catch neither. Grasp all, lose all.

· Последний, но не менее важный. Last, but not least.

· После драки кулаками не машут. What’s done is done.

· Поспешишь, людей насмешишь. Hasty climbers have sudden falls. The more haste, the less speed.

· Привычка – вторая натура. Custom is a second nature.

· При царе Горохе. Since Adam was a boy.

· Пришла беда, отворяй ворота. Misfortunes never come alone.

· Пуганая ворона куста боится. Once bitten, twice shy.

· Раз на раз не приходится. You can’t expect perfection every time.

· Рука руку моет. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.

· Рыбак рыбака видит издалека. Birds of a feather flock together.

· Само собой разумеется. It goes without saying.

· Сам заварил кашу, сам и расхлебывай. As you brew, so must you drink.

· Свет клином (не) сошелся. There are other possibilities.

· С волками жить – по-волчьи выть. Who keeps company with the wolf – will learn to howl. You should run with the pack.

· Своя рубашка ближе к телу. Charity begins at home. Everyone is out for himself.

· С глаз долой – из сердца вон. Out of sight, out of mind.

· Сделанного не воротишь. What’s done cannot be undone.

· Семь раз отмерь, один раз отрежь. Look before you leap.

· С иголочки. Neat as a new pin.

· Сказать легче, чем сделать. Easier said than done.

· Сколько людей, столько идей (умов). Many men, many minds.

· Слезами горю не поможешь. (Что с возу упало, то пропало.) There’s no use crying over spilt milk.

· Словно иголка в стоге сена. Like a needle in a haystack.

· Слово – не воробей, вылетит – не поймаешь. Better the foot slip than the tongue.

· Слово – серебро, молчание – золото. Speech is silver but silence is golden.

· С мертвого и с голого ничего не возьмешь. Death pays all debts.

· С милым рай и в шалаше. Love in a cottage.

· С миру по нитке – голому рубашка. Many a little make a mickle.

· Снявши голову, по волосам не плачут. Big things count, not little ones.

· Соловья баснями не кормят. Talk is cheap – time to eat.

· С паршивой овцы хоть шерсти клок. Everything is good for something.

· Старо как мир. As old as the hills.

· Тише едешь – дальше будешь. Slow and steady wins the race.

· У семи нянек дитя без глазу. Many commanders sink the ship. Everyone’s business is nobody’s business.

· У всякой собаки есть свой день (радости). Every dog has his day.

· Ум хорошо, а два лучше. Two heads are better than one. Four eyes see more than two.

· У семи нянек дитя без глазу. Too many cooks spoil the broth.

· Услуга за услугу или Долг платежом красен. One good turn deserves another. Roll my log and I will roll yours.

· Утро вечера мудренее. An hour in the morning is worth two in the evening. Take counsel of your pillow. Sleep on it.

· Учиться никогда не поздно. It is never late to learn.

· Хорошо смеется тот, кто смеется последним. He laughs best who laughs last.

· Хрен редьки не слаще. Between two evils this not worth choosing. One is just as bad as the other.

· Цыплят по осени считают. Don’t count your chickens before they
are hatched.

· Человек человеку – волк. Dog eat dog.

· Чем дальше в лес – тем больше дров. The deeper one gets into something, the more involved it becomes.

· Чем черт не шутит. Play it safe. Anything is possible.

· Черным по белому. In black and white.

· Что в лоб, что по лбу. Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

· Что прошло, то прошло. Let bygones be bygones.

· Чья бы корова мычала, а твоя бы молчала. The pot shouldn’t call the kettle black.

· Шила в мешке не утаишь. You can’t hide the obvious. Murder will out.

· Яблоко от яблони недалеко падает. As the tree, so the fruit.

· Я ему про Фому, а он мне про Ерему. Apples and oranges.

Идиомы – Idioms

· “больное место” a sore spot; a touchy subject

· без году неделя for a short time

· бить баклуши to twiddle one’s thumbs; to waste time

· биться как рыба об лед to struggle to keep body and soul together; to try desperately

· биться об заклад (держать пари) to bet; to wager

· бросать деньги на ветер to throw money away

· бросать жребий to cast lots; to decide something by chance

· бросить камень в чей-либо огород to make a dig at someone

· бросать тень, чернить to cast slurs on someone’s reputation

· будь он семи пядей во лбу even if he were a genius (the smartest man in the world)

· быть не в своей тарелке (как на иголках) to be like a cat on a hot tin roof

· валить с больной головы на здоровую to shift the blame (unfairly)

· взять быка за рога to take the bull by the horns

· вилами по воде писано unclear; undecided; still up in the air

· Васька слушает да ест to listen to advice but then go ahead and do one’s own thing; to blithely ignore advice (criticism)

· валять дурака to play the fool; to fool around

· висеть на волоске. to hang by a thread

· встать с левой ноги to get up on the wrong side of the bed

· в ус не дуть not to give a damn

· выводить на чистую воду to show someone’s true colors; to expose, to unmask

· выносить сор из избы to tell tales out of school

· выходить сухим из воды to come out dry; to emerge unscathed (from difficulty)

· глядеть как баран на новые ворота to stare as though seeing for the first time

· “головная боль” a pain in the neck

· “греть руки” to make something off someone (something)

· даром не пройдет won’t get away with it

· дать маху to make a blunder; let slip

· делать из мухи слона to make a mountain out of a molehill

· делить шкуру неубитого медведя to cook a hare before catching him

· дело в шляпе it’s in the bag

· денег куры не клюют to roll in money

· дешево отделаться to come off cheap

· ждать у моря погоды to sit around and wait indefinitely

· за здорово живешь for nothing

· закинуть удочку to put out a feeler; to test the waters

· идти в ногу со временем to be in tune with the times

· “испортить музыку” to upset the applecart

· как гром среди ясного неба like a bolt from the blue

· как попало helter-skelter

· кататься как сыр в масле to be in clover

· китайская грамота it’s a Greek to me

· кривить душой to pretend

· купить кота в мешке to buy a pig in a poke

· легок на помине speak of the devil

· лезть в бутылку fly off the handle

· лезть в голову (of thoughts) to pop into one’s head

· лезть в душу (втираться) to worm one’s way into someone’s confidence

· лезть в петлю to risk one’s neck

· лезть из кожи вон to try in every way; to go out of one’s way

· лезть на стену to hit the ceiling

· льет как из ведра it rains cats and dogs

· не лезть в карман за словом never to be at a loss for words

· мартышкин труд futile work

· медвежья услуга to render someone a disservice

· меж двух огней between the devil and the deep blue sea

· молочные реки, кисельные берега the land of milk and honey

· (наводить) тень на плетень to confuse; to mess up an issue

· называть вещи своими именами to call a spade a spade

· на худой конец if worst comes to worst

· не в службу, а в дружбу do me a favor, as a friend

· не в своей тарелке ill at ease; out of sorts; out of place

PROVERBAL PROBLEMS

There is a word missing from each of these proverbs. Choose the correct one from the three possibilities.

1. A bird in the hand is worth two in the ______ .

bush, tree, sky

2. Let sleeping dogs ______ .

sleep, dream, lie

3. Many ______ make light work.

servants, hands, cooks

4. Curiosity killed a ______ .

mouse, kitten, cat

5. Prevention is better than ______ .

cure, punishment, medicine

8. ______ is thicker than water.

Coffee, Blood, Soup

7. An Englishman’s home is his ______ .

security, castle, palace

8. Birds of a ______ flock together.

family, cage, feather

9. It’s no use crying over ______ milk.

sour, spilt, tinned

10. ______ begins at home.

Charity, Learning, Love

11. Every ______ has its day.

flower, event, dog

PROVERBS AND SAYINGS

I. Many proverbs tell you what NOT TO DO. Complete these well-known ones.

1. Don’t count your chickens _________________ .
2. Don’t cry over _________________________ .
3. Don’t change horses _____________________ .
4. Don’t make a mountain ___________________ .
5. Don’t throw pearls ______________________ .
6. Don’t cross your bridges __________________ .
7. Don’t put all your eggs ___________________ .
8. Don’t put the cart _______________________ .

J. Match the meaning of the proverb with the actual proverb listed below.

a) Live not to eat, but eat to live.
b) Make the best of a bad situation.
c) Cross the stream where it is shallowest.
d) Practice what you preach.
e) Give credit where credit is due.
f) Learn to walk before you run.
g) Strike while the iron is hot.
h) Never spur a willing horse.

1. You should behave the same way you advise others to behave.
2. Accept your present position without complaint, learn to tolerate difficulties that can’t be helped.
3. Choose the right moment to act; take advantage of a sudden opportunity.
4. Don’t urge a person who works well to work harder and faster.
5. Filling the stomach is not the purpose of life.
6. We should recognize the good points of others, even if we don’t like them.
7. Knowledge cannot be acquired all at once, but only step by step.
8. Don’t make difficulties for yourself by doing things the hard way.

K. Select a proverb for these exercises.

Spare the rod and spoil the child.
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
A stitch in time, saves nine.
The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
Time and tide wait for no man.
Example: Eat the grape, not the vine.
1. Media transfer

a) Write a newspaper headline based on a proverb.

New Agricultural Policy – Grapes not Vines
Save our Vines, Eat Grapes Say Farmers

b) Write an advertising slogan based on the proverb.

Vines are our business. Grapes are yours.
You eat the grapes. We’ll take care of the vines.

2. Creating text

Write a parallel proverb with the same or a similar meaning.

Cut the rose but leave the bush.
This year’s corn is next year’s seed.
3. Analysis

a) What is the grammatical form of the proverb? (Interrogative? Imperative? Indicative?) What other characteristic forms do proverbs have? Why?
b) Why does the proverb use “the” (the grape, the vine) rather than “a” or the plural? Look at special vocabulary and usage of your proverb. What can you understand about it?

L. Match the meaning of the proverb with the actual proverb listed below.

a) Curiosity killed the cat.
b) A faint heart never won a fair lady.
c) A drowning man will clutch at a straw.
d) Who chatters to you will chatter of you.
e) What is bred in the bone will never come out of the flesh.
f) Who keeps company with the wolf will learn to howl.
g) You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours.
h) Give knaves an inch and they will take a mile.

1. We inherit certain characteristics from our ancestors and pass them on to our descendents.
2. If you mix with evil companions you will soon be as wicked as they.
3. A timid or easily discouraged person won’t be very successful in life.
4. A person in extreme difficulties will try every possible means of escape, however unlikely.
5. If you grant some people a small favor, it only encourages then to take more than you offered.
6. It is foolish or dangerous to be so inquisitive.
7. You help me and I’ll help you in return.
8. A gossip who tells you tales about others will tell others tales about you.

M. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb given.

1. There’s many a good tune __________ on an old fiddle. (PLAY)
2. The road to hell __________ with good intentions. (PAVE)
3. Poet’s are born, not __________. (MAKE)
4. Many __________, but few __________. (CALL, CHOOSE)

N. Write out the following sayings, pairing them with their meanings below.

1. To burn one’s bridges means _______________________________________
2. To keep others at arm’s length means _______________________________________
3. To take a leaf from someone else’s book means _______________________________________
4. To play with fire means __________________________________________
5. To have one’s feet on the ground means _______________________________________
6. To be in someone’s black books means ________________________________________
7. To keep one’s fingers crossed means _______________________________________
8. To add a feather to one’s cap means _______________________________________

a) to have incurred that person’s displeasure.
b) to decide to go forward, come what may.
c) to be practical and moderate in outlook.
d) to profit by another’s example.
e) to achieve a success which adds to one’s reputation.
f) to hope for a successful outcome.
g) to remain aloof.
h) to meddle in a potentially dangerous situation.

O. Compete these well-known proverbs

1. Out of the frying pan _____________________
2. Liars should have ________________________
3. Those who live in glass houses ___________________________________________________
4. Laughter is the best ______________________
5. Don’t trouble trouble until __________________
6. Rats desert ____________________________
7. A rotten apple __________________________
8. No living man ___________________________
9. United we stand, _________________________
10. Let sleeping dogs _______________________

P. Match each of the following common proverbs with the most appropriate situation from the list below.

a) There’s many a true word spoken in jest.
b) A burnt child dreads the fire.
c) Forewarned is forearmed.
d) A straw will show which way the wind blows.
e) Take the rough with the smooth.

1. It shouldn’t have caught you by surprise. I told you he was going to quit soon.
2. Until now my road through life has been pretty easy but there are bound to be some difficulties ahead.
3. Of course she was joking when she told you, but still there could be something to it.
4. I know the fact that he didn’t come was a small thing, but still it might be an indication of things to come.
5. Her heart was so broken when he broke off the engagement suddenly. I don’t know if she will ever be able to love again.

By Erin Bouma

ANSWER KEY:

PROVERBAIL PROBLEMS: 1. bush; 2. lie (a proverb means that one should not search for trouble or that one should leave well enough alone); 3. hands; 4. cat (it is dangerous to be curious); 5. cure; 6. Blood (one should have more loyalty to people who are related to one than to other people); 7. castle; 8. feather (such people are usually very friendly); 9. spilt; 10. Charity (one should be kind to one’s own family, friends before trying to help others); 11. dog (everyone will get a chance)

PROVERBS AND SAYINGS:

I.

1. … before they hatch.
2. … split milk.
3. … in mid-stream.
4. … out of a molehill.
5. … before swine.
6. … until you come to them.
7. … in one basket.
8. … before the horse.

J.

a – 5, b – 2, c – 8, d – 1, e – 6, f – 7, g – 3, h – 4

Одиннадцатиклассникам .....

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