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PROVERBS

A lender nor borrower be. Do not lend or borrow money.

A leopard cannot change its

spots.

It is impossible for a bad or unpleasant person to become

good or pleasant.

A lie begets a lie. Telling one lie will lead you to tell another one.

A little fire is quickly

trodden out.

If you deal with a minor problem quickly, it will not

become a major issue.

A little of what you fancy

does you good.

It's ok to give into a little temptation occasionally.

A loaded wagon makes no

noise.

Really wealthy people do not talk about money.

A loveless life is living death. Without affection, life is difficult.A man can die but once. If death comes now, you will not have to experience it

later.

A man is as old as he feels

himself to be.

Your age doesn't matter as long as you are fit and healthy.

A man is judged by his

deeds, not by his words.

A person is judged on what he/she actually does, not on

what they saythey will do.

A man is known by the

company he keeps.

A person's character is judged by the type of people with

whom they spend their time.

A monkey in silk is a

monkey no less.

No matter how someone dresses, it's the same person

underneath.

A new broom sweeps

clean(but the old brush

knows all the corners...)

A newly-appointed person often makes changes quickly .

A nod is as good as a wink

(to a blind horse/man).

A hint or a subtle signal is enough to convey meaning to

someone who is ready to understand.

A picture paints a thousand

words.

A picture is better than a long description.

A problem shared is a

problem halved.

(Also : A worry shared is a

worry halved.)

It is easier to deal with a problem when you discuss it with

someone.

A rising tide lifts all boats. Refers to something that will be helpful to all.

A rolling stone gathers no

moss

If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain

neither friends nor possessions.

Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids

being tied down!

A rotten apple spoils the A dishonest or immoral person can have a bad influence

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barrel. on a group.

A smooth sea never made a

skilled mariner.

Overcoming adversity leads to competence.

A soft answer turneth away

wrath.

If your reply is polite and tactful you will avoid anger.

A stitch in time saves nine. If you deal with a problem at an early stage you will save

time and prevent it from getting worse.

A stumble may prevent a

fall.

Correcting a small mistake may help you to avoid making

a bigger one.

A swallow does not make the

summer.

One good event does not mean that everything is alright.

A tidy house holds a bored

woman

If a house is always tidy, the owner (woman) has nothing

but housework to occupy her time.A watched pot never boils. If you wait anxiously for something to happen, it seems to

take a long time.

A wise head keeps a still

tongueAn intelligent person knows when to stay silent.

A wonder lasts but nine days The effects of an amazing or stirring event last only nine

days; after that, life goes on as before.

A young idler, an old

beggar.

If you don't work, you won't have any money when you're

old.

Absence makes the heart

grow fonder

When you are away from someone you love, you love

them even more.

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IDIOMS

far-fetched:difficult to accept; difficult to believe.

"That story's pretty far-fetched. Nobody's going to believe it."

feel blue:feel sad and depressed.

"I'm feeling bluebecause I haven't had any mail except bills for a long, long time."

fire someone:dismiss someone from a job because of poor performance.

"If you continue to be late for work, the company will fire you."

feel puny:feel unwell, ill.

"Ted was feeling punyyesterday, so he decided not to go to work."

fender-bender:automobile accident.

"Traffic was really slow on the freeway this morning

because of a fender-benderin one of the westbound lanes."

for ages:for a very long time.

"Where's Marie? I haven't seen her for ages."

jump all over someone:severely criticize / find fault with someone.

A: "What's wrong with Joe?"

B: "He's feeling bad because his bossjumped all over himthis morning."

jump the gun:do something before it's time to do it.

A: "How did Marsha know about the party? It was supposed to be a surprise."

B: "Chuckjumped the gun. Without thinking, he said, 'I'm bringing the cake at your party;

I hope you like it!"

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jump to conclusions:decide something too quickly and without thinking about it or

considering all the facts.

A: "Angela just doesn't like me. She won't even say hello."B: "You'rejumping to conclusions. Actually, she's very shy."

junk mail:unsolicited mail (usually advertisements for something you're not interested in).

"I didn't have any letters today--onlyjunk mail."

lend someone a hand:help someone.

"I can't do this alone. Can you lend me a hand?"

leave well enough alone:do nothing (because doing something would make things worse).

"Don't tell Jim how to discipline his children. Leave well enough alone."

a let-down:a disappointment; something that's very disappointing.

"It must've been quite a let-downnot to be chosen for that job.

I know you really hoped you would get it."

Let sleeping dogs lie.:Don't cause problems by doing something when it isn't necessary.

"I know that what Julie said made you angry, but let sleeping dogs lie.If you say or do anything, you'll only make things worse."

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SIMILES

simile meaning comment

as alike as two peas in a pod identical or nearly so

as bald as a coot completely baldas big as a bus very big

as big as an elephant very big

as black as a sweep completely black sweep = chimney sweep

as black as coal completely black

as black as pitch completely black

as blind as a bat completely blind may be exaggeration

as blind as a mole completely blind may be exaggeration

as bold as brass very bold usually in a negative

senseas brave as a lion very brave

as bright as a button very bright

as bright as a new pin very bright and shiny

as busy as a beaver very busy

as busy as a bee very busy

as busy as a cat on a hot tin

roof

very busy

as calm as a millpond very calm and still usually said of water

as clear as a bell very clear of a soundas clean as a whistle very clean

as clear as crystal very clear

as clear as mud not at all clear irony/sarcasm

as cold as ice very cold

as common as dirt very common, rude, vulgar usually said of a person

as cool as a cucumber cool

as cunning as a fox cunning

as dead as a doornail dead

as dead as the dodo dead, extinct the dodo is an extinctbird

as deaf as a post completely deaf may be exaggeration

as different as chalk from

cheese

very different

as drunk as a lord completely drunk

as dry as a bone very dry

as dry as dust very dry

as dull as dishwater dull, boring usually said of a person

as easy as A.B.C. very easyas easy as apple-pie very easy

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as flat as a pancake completely flat

as free as a bird very free to go anywhere

as fresh as a daisy very fresh

as gentle as a lamb very gentle usually said of a person

as good as gold very good and obedient usually said of a personas happy as a lark very happy usually said of a person

as hard as nails very tough in character of a person

as hot as hell very hot

as hungry as a bear very hungry

as hungry as a wolf very hungry

as innocent as a lamb innocent, not worldly-wise usually said of a person

as large as life conspicuously present

as light as a feather very light

as light as air very light

as mad as a hatter completely crazy

as mad as a hornet very angry

as nutty as a fruitcake completely crazy

as obstinate as a mule very obstinate, stubborn

as old as the hills very, very old

as pale as death very pale or white in the face of a person

as plain as day very clear

as poor as a church mouse poverty-stricken

as white as a ghost very pale or white in theface

of a person

as white as a sheet pure white

as white as snow pure white

as wise as Solomon very wise King

Solomon

as wise as an owl very wise

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METAPHORS

Broken heart - Your heart is not literally broken into pieces; you just feel hurt and sad. The light of my life - The person described by this metaphor isn't really providing

physical light. He or she is just someone who brings happiness or joy.

It's raining men - Men do not literally pour from the sky; there are simply an abundanceof male suitors around at the time. Time is a thief - Time isn't really stealing anything, this metaphor just indicates that time

passes quickly and our lives pass us by.

He is the apple of my eye - There is, of course, no real apple in a person's eye. The"apple" is someone beloved and held dear.

Bubbly personality - A bubbly personality doesn't mean a person is bubbling over withanything, just that the person is cheerful.

Feel blue - No one actually ever feels like the color blue, although many people say theyare "feeling blue" to mean they are feeling sad.

Fade off to sleep - You don't actually fade, you simply go to sleep. Inflamed your temper - The news inflamed your temper is not a situation where there is

any actual fire or flames, it is just a situation where someone gets mad.

Reeks of infidelty - When said about a cheating partner, this doesn't actually mean thatthere is a literal smell. Instead, it is just apparent that the person is cheating.

Rollercoaster of emotions - A rollercoaster of emotions doesn't exist anywhere, so whenpeople are on a rollercoaster of emotions, they are simply experiencing lots of ups and

downs.

Stench of failure - The stench of failure is strong, according to the common metaphor,but of course failing doesn't really smell.