使えたらかっこいい！Old English Proverbs〜英語のことわざを覚えよう！Part2

Hello there everyone,

It is time to introduce some more 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 of these ones…

“The pen is mightier than the sword…”

This one means that trying to convince people with ideas and words is more effective than trying to force people to do what you want.

Example: After the mass violence at the city hall, there is a protest happening in the city declaring support to the mayor which proves that the pen is mightier than sword.

“A journey of thousand miles begins with a single step”.

Howsoever big a task is, it starts with a small step.

Example: I’m feeling like I will never be able to finish this assignment by next week, but I guess I’ll start by writing 500 words every day. After all, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.

“Strike while the iron is hot.”

Take advantage of an opportunity as soon as it comes along.

Example: I thought over the plan for far too long. Now it has been offered to someone else. I should have struck while the iron was hot.

While the cat’s away, the mice will play.

Without supervision, people will do as they please, especially in disregarding or breaking rules.

Example: As soon as their parents left, the children invited all their friends over – when the cat’s away…

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

When too many people work together on a project, the result is inferior.

Example: This one means that a plan or project fails because there are too many people working on it at the same time.

There are more ways than one to skin a cat.

There is more than one way to reach the same goal.

Example: We can get around that by renting instead of buying the delivery van – there’s more than one way to skin a cat.

One shouldn’t miss forest for the trees.

Sometimes you get so focused on small details that you may miss the larger context.

Example: To not understand or appreciate a larger situation, problem, etc., because one is considering only a few parts of it

Once bitten twice shy.

Use this proverb when someone won’t do something a second time because they had bad experience the first time.

Example: I won’t try this fish again, because last time I got quite sick. Once bitten twice shy, I guess.

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.」