Sayings & Phrases

6th Grade

All for one and one for all.

All members of a group must work for the good of each member and each member must work for the good of the group.

All’s well that ends well.

This saying is from Shakespeare means that if something turns out okay in the end,, the difficulties or mistakes along the way can be forgotten.

Bee in your bonnet

If a bee flew into your hat wouldn’t you be intent on getting it out? People say that when a person has a bee in his or her bonnet, then that person is obsessed with something.

The best-laid plans of mice and men go oft awry.

Even when you put a great deal of careful planning and effort into something, you may not end up with the result you want.

A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

When people say this, they mean it is much better to be content with what you have than to go chasing after something that may be out of your reach. You might end up with nothing.

Bite the dust

When someone is defeated, we use this saying. It originated from physical combat, when people fell facedown in the dust.

Catch-as-catch-can

This phrase means that a person must make do with whatever you have available at the time.

Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.

Sometimes out of anger or for revenge we do things that actually end up hurting us rather than making us feel better.

Don’t lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.

We use this saying to remind each other that it is silly to take precaution measures after the damage has already been done.

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

This saying means that you shouldn’t fault something that is given to you, or criticize the giver.

Eat humble pie

“Humble” mean modest. Humble pie, which originally has no relation to being humble, was a meat pie made of animal intestines. The expression “eat humble pie” came to stand for the unpleasant situation in which you are forced to admit your mistakes and weaknesses.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

This saying means that a person who is foolish with his money won’t hold on to it for very long. People use it as a warning.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

Some people are you friends when you are happy but avoid you during hard times. A true friend sticks by you no matter what the circumstance.

Give the devil his due.

This proverb means that even if you don’t like someone, you can still give that person credit for his or her good qualities.

Good fences make good neighbors.

This saying suggests that by clearly making the boundaries between yourself and other people you can stay on better terms with them.

He who hesitates is lost.

If you wait before you do something, you may be too late.

He who laughs last laughs best.

People often ridicule new projects or ideas, but in the end, when something works the person who took it seriously gets the best laugh of all - - one that proves him right.

Hitch your wagon to a star.

This saying means you should set your goals as high as you can.

This proverb is from past times when horses were a primary means of transportation and many people were too poor to own them. It means that if wishes were easy to achieve, then everyone would have everything they want.

If wishes were horses, beggars would ride.

The leopard can’t change its spots.

When people say this, they mean that it’s impossible to change or hide a particular trait, because that trait is part of what makes that someone or something what it is.

Little strokes fell great oaks.

A task may seem overwhelming, but if you break it into manageable smaller tasks and persevere, you can complete it.

Money is the root of all evil.

This proverb means that greed for money can sometimes motivate people to do things that they wouldn’t otherwise do.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

People often come up with new ideas, new ways of doing things, or new things because they need to solve a problem.

It’s never over till it’s over.

This saying means that you can never be sure what the outcome of something will be until the very end.

Nose out of joint

Someone’s nose is out of joint, or not in its normal position, if he or she is annoyed.

Nothing will come of nothing.

The saying tells us that without effort, you can’t accomplish anything.

Once bitten, twice shy

If a dog bites you, you will probably be very careful to stay clear of dogs after that. This saying means that people tend to protect themselves from being hurt, especially if they have been hurt before.

On tenterhooks

People use this idiom to mean “nervously waiting for something to happen.”

Pot calling the kettle black

Since most pots and kettles were once made of the same black metal, this phrase is used when you criticize someone for having a fault that you yourself possess.

Procrastination is the thief of time.

Procrastination means putting things off. If you put off doing something, then you may not have enough time left to do it once you finally get started.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

This saying means that you cannot judge something until you try it.

R.I.P.

This abbreviation for “Rest in Peace” is commonly used on gravestones.

The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Sometimes people have good intentions, but their ideas have bad consequences.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

It took many decades for Rome to be built. People use this expression to mean that it takes a long time to achieve great things. It also refers to “Patience is a Virtue.”

Rule of thumb

In contrast to an official rule or an exact measurement, a rule of thumb is general principle or a rough estimate that has been shown by experience to work.

A stitch in time saves nine.

By taking a little care early, you may save yourself a lot of trouble later.

Strike while the iron is hot.To work on metal, a blacksmith heats up the metal and then strikes it with a huge mallet. Cold metal isn’t easily shaped. So people use this saying to mean that you should do something while the circumstances are in your favor.

Tempest in a teapot

A tempest is a very large storm, and a teapot is very small. We use this expression when a big deal is made out of something pretty little.

Tenderfoot

A tenderfoot is a person who doesn’t have very much experience at something.

There’s more than one way to skin a cat.

There are many ways to accomplish something or take care of a difficult situation. If one way doesn’t work, you can always try another.

Touché!

Fencers use this word from the French language when they hit their opponents, so we say touché when we accomplish something difficult or make a clever counter-response in an argument.

Truth is stranger than fiction.

Things that happen in real life can be more unusual or surprising than things that people make up in stories.