| 301. The robe/cowl does not make the monk. |
| One's appearance should not be used to judge one's character. |
|
| 302. The early bird catches the worm. |
| People who are late to arrive tend to miss opportunities already seized by others who come earlier. |
|
| 303. The end justifies the means. |
| A worthy objective can never be justified by employing evil means to achieve it. |
|
| 304. The exception proves the rule. |
| The existence of an exception to a rule shows that the rule itself exists and is applicable in other cases |
|
| 305. The face is the index of the mind. / The eyes are the mirrors of the soul. |
| A person's face/eyes often reveal his or her thoughts, feelings, or character. |
|
| 306. The grapes are sour. |
| This refers to someone's behavior or opinion when they are angry because something they want is unattainable. |
|
| 307. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. |
| Anything such as situation, place, job, lifestyle, etc that is not our own always seems to be better. |
|
| 308. The greater the truth, the greater the libel. |
| Some people are hurt more by a true accusation than a false one. |
|
| 309. The jury is still out. |
| This means to say people do not yet know the answer or have a definite opinion about something. |
|
| 310. The king can do no wrong. |
| This means the king above the law as the king is not bound by the rules and regulations that apply to others. |
|
| 311. The last straw that breaks the camel's back. |
| The last one in a series of problems, provocations, etc. that finally causes a person to react such as giving up, getting angry, retaliating, etc. |
|
| 312. The love of money is the root of all evil. |
| Greed is the main cause of much of the evil in this world. |
|
| 313. The more the merrier. |
| There is usually more fun when there are more people participating in an activity. |
|
| 314. The pen is mightier than the sword. |
| Thinking and writing have more influence on people and events than the use of force or violence. |
|
| 315. The pot calling the kettle black. |
| Someone criticizes another person for a fault that they have themselves. |
|
| 316. The proof of the pudding is in the eating. |
| One cannot be certain of the quality of something until one has tasted, felt or used it. |
|
| 317. The remedy is worse than the disease. |
| The means used to solve a problem is more damaging than the original problem. |
|
| 318. The sky's the limit. |
| There is almost no limit to what one can do such as indulging, spending, earning, achieving, etc. |
|
| 319. The stream cannot rise above its source. |
| Nothing can be better than the source from which it originates. |
|
| 320. The unexpected always happens. |
| Something not anticipated or predicted will happen for which we are not prepared and this is always a certainty. |
|
| 321. There are more ways to kill a cat than by choking it with cream. |
| If we fail in one way to accomplish something, there are other ways we can choose from. |
|
| 322. There are two sides to every question. |
| One should view an issue from two different angles, both of which are worthy of careful thought. |
|
| 323. There's no smoke without fire / Where there is smoke there is fire. |
| If unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably a good reason for it. |
|
| 324. There's safety in numbers. |
| Being a member of a group makes one feel protected or not exposed to danger. |
|
| 325. Throw the baby out with the bath water. |
| Get rid of the whole thing when only part of it is no longer useful or desirable and as a result, lose valuable ideas. |
|
| 326. Tied to one's mother's/wife's apron strings. |
| Being strongly influenced and controlled by someone. |
|
| 327. Time and tide waits for no man. |
| We should not delay doing things as we cannot stop the passing of time. |
|
| 328. To cut off your nose to spite your face. |
| To do something to hurt others but it causes more harm to you. |
|
| 329. To kill two birds with one stone. |
| Everybody makes mistakes and it is necessary to forgive them for their mistakes. |
|
| 330. To look for a needle in a haystack. |
| Something that is virtually impossible to look for. |
|
| 331. To put the cart before the horse. |
| Not following the proper order when doing something. |
|
| 332. To turn over a new leaf. |
| To start becoming better than before. |
|
| 333. Tomorrow is another day. |
| Don't worry or even if you worry, just think that tomorrow things may become better. |
|
| 334. Tomorrow never comes. |
| Things will never get done if we keep putting them off until tomorrow. |
|
| 335. Too many cooks spoil the broth. |
| Too many people involved in doing something will destroy the quality of the outcome. |
|
| 336. Trifles make perfection, and perfection is no trifle. |
| Striving for perfection requires focusing on things which are of little value or importance and is no small matter. |
|
| 337. Truth is stranger than fiction. |
| Real events are more unusual than imaginary ones. |
|
| 338. Two wrongs don't make a right. |
| Wrongful acts can never be justifiable, even if another person does the same. |
|
| 339. Two's company, three's none. |
| Two people who take pleasure in each other's company will regard another person as an unwelcome intruder. |
|
| 340. Upset the apple cart. |
| Cause trouble, especially by spoiling another person's plans. |
|
| 341. Virtue is its own reward. |
| The feeling of satisfaction of having done something right is itself a reward. |
|
| 342. Walls have ears. |
| What we say may be overheard. |
|
| 343. Water seeks its own level. |
| People tend to be drawn toward, or end up with, others of the same background. |
|
| 344. Waste not, want not. |
| Don't waste anything and you will never be in need of it. |
|
| 345. Well begun is half done. |
| A good start to a task ensures its quick completion. |
|
| 346. What can't be cured must be endured. |
| We must learn to put up with things that cannot be endured. |
|
| 347. What/whatever man has done, man can do. |
| If someone has done something, it is not impossible for others to do it. |
|
| 348. What the eye doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over. |
| We are not bothered by or feel concern about what we are not aware of. |
|
| 349. Whatever's worth doing at all is worth doing well. |
| Completing a task is not enough, one must put in one's best effort. |
|
| 350. When in doubt, leave out / When in doubt, do nothing. |
| If one is not sure what to do, it's best to do nothing at all. |
|
| 351. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. |
| When visiting or living another country, one should behave like the people in that country. |
|
| 352. When the cat's away, the mice will play. |
| When the person in charge is away, the people there do as they please. |
|
| 353. Where there is smoke there is fire / There's no smoke without fire. |
| If unpleasant things are said about someone or something, there is probably a good reason for it. |
|
| 354. Where there's a will there's a way. |
| If you are determined enough, you will find a way to achieve it, even if it is very difficult. |
|
| 355. Where there's life there's hope. |
| As long as we are alive, there's within us a feeling of expectation. |
|
| 356. While the grass grows the steed starves. |
| Something that we have been waiting for a long time may arrive too late to be of use. |
|
| 357. Who goes a-borrowing goes a-sorrowing. |
| Borrowing usually leads to trouble as one is unable to repay what is owed. |
|
| 358. Who knows most says least. |
| People who are knowledgeable say little. |
|
| 359. With friends like that, who need enemies. |
| Friends who are disloyal, betray and deceive you are your actual enemies. |
|
| 360. Why keep a dog and bark yourself? |
| If you employ somebody to do something for you, there is no point in doing it yourself. |
|
| 361. You can't eat your cake and have it. |
| You can't have two good things at the same time that are impossible to have at the same time. |
|
| 362. You can't get blood out of a stone. |
| You can't make someone give you something when he refuses to do so for some reason. |
|
| 363. You can't lose what you never had. |
| Failure to get what you never have is not a real loss. |
|
| 364. You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs. |
| One has to give up something in order to get something else. |
|
| 365. You can't teach an old dog new trick. |
| It is very difficult to teach old people a new skill or method, or change their habits. |
|
| 366. You may take a horse to the water, but you can't make him drink. |
| You can provide someone with an opportunity to do something, but you cannot force them to do it. |
|
| 367. You never know what you can do till you try. |
| People often don't realize what they are capable of until they try new things. |
|
| 368. Young men may die, but old men must die. |
| This is to say that anyone can die at any age, but it is definitely going to happen in old age. |
|
| 369. You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. |
| Return favour to someone who receives your favour which applies specifically to corruption or an action of conspiring. |
|
| 370. Young saint, old devil. |
| Bad to be virtuous too early which, in other words, means those who behave best when they are young are often those who behave worst when they are old. |