Hi there everyone,

This time I would like to introduce some old English proverbs to you and also their meanings.  Some of  them you may also heard before inn your own language.

Lets see if you can figure out their meanings…

A stitch in time saves nine…

This is an old one, first recorded in 1732 CE(CE means common era by the way, so this year is 2019 CE).  Basically this one means if you sort out a problem immediately it may save a lot of extra work later.

When in Rome, do as the Romans do…

This one is even older and dates back to the fourth century CE. It means when you are visiting another place, you should follow the customs of the people in that place.

It’s no use crying over spilt milk…

This one comes from 1659 CE and means it does no good to get upset over a bad decision or unfortunate event that has already come to pass and cannot be changed.

People who live in glass houses should not throw stones…

This one comes from 1651 CE, and it means that people who are not perfect themselves should not criticize others for bad qualities in their character. Or we should not complain about others if we have bad qualities, too.

Never look a gift horse in the mouth…

This one is also very old, originating  around 400 CE. It means don’t question the value of a gift. The proverb refers to the practice of evaluating the age of a horse by looking at its teeth.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence…

This one is one of the oldest ones of all from around 43 BCE(before common era).

A bad penny always turns up…

This one comes from around 1750 CE, and means a person or thing which is unpleasant, dishonorable, or unwanted tends to appear (or reappear), especially at inopportune times. This proverb has lived long in the language. It derives from the notion that some coins were ‘bad’, that is, they were debased or counterfeit.

A miss is as good as a mile…

This originates from about 1784 CE and means a narrow miss is as bad as a wide miss – they are both misses. For example, if the lottery number is only one digit different from your lottery ticket, it is the same as if it was 99 digits different –  you still lose.

With that said, don’t forget to buy your lottery tickets for the new year and may you all have a happy and prosperous 2020! It sounds like the future doesn’t it?

フルーツフルイングリッシュで英語表現の楽しさ感じてください 。初めての方には英作文添削チケット2回分をプレゼント。
「無料英語テスト800問（解説付）」メルマガも大人気。今すぐチェック！

Rodd

長く日英翻訳に携わっており、どうすれば英語として自然かをうまく説明できる人気の講師！間違うことを恐れず、まずは書くことが大切であるというのをポリシーにしています。
座右の銘は「Never be afraid to always try new things and places, and enjoy life to its fullest.」