Top 100 Proverbs & Idiomatic Expressions with Meanings

Published On: 07/01/2026

Top 100 Proverbs & Idiomatic Expressions with Meanings : English proverbs and idioms are a favourite area for RPSC Senior Teacher, SSC CGL, CHSL, Banking, Railway and State Exams. They test language awareness, vocabulary and the ability to understand hidden meanings. This article brings the top 100 proverbs and idiomatic expressions with meanings.

Table of Contents

Top 50 Proverbs with Meanings

A stitch in time saves nine – Solve a problem early.
Actions speak louder than words – Deeds matter more than talk.
All that glitters is not gold – Appearances can be false.
As you sow, so shall you reap – Your actions decide your results.
Birds of a feather flock together – Similar people stay close.
Better late than never – Late is better than never.
Beggars can’t be choosers – Dependents cannot demand conditions.
Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – Don’t expect success too soon.
Empty vessels make the most noise – Ignorant people make loud claims.
Every cloud has a silver lining – Every difficulty brings hope.
Failure is the stepping stone to success – Failure prepares the way for success.
Fortune favours the brave – Courage leads to success.
Honesty is the best policy – Truth is the right path.
Knowledge is power – Learning gives strength.
Look before you leap – Think before acting.
Practice makes a man perfect – Regular practice brings mastery.
Rome was not built in a day – Big achievements take time.
The pen is mightier than the sword – Words have more power than weapons.
Time and tide wait for none – Time never stops for anyone.
United we stand, divided we fall – Unity gives strength.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire – Rumours usually have truth behind them.
Necessity is the mother of invention – Need inspires creation.
Too many cooks spoil the broth – Too many helpers spoil work.
A friend in need is a friend indeed – True friend helps in trouble.
Prevention is better than cure – Avoid problems before they arise.
Make hay while the sun shines – Use opportunities at the right time.
God helps those who help themselves – Self-effort brings support.
The early bird catches the worm – Early movers get advantage.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – Work needs recreation.
No pain, no gain – Success requires effort.
You cannot have your cake and eat it too – Cannot enjoy opposite benefits.
The grass is greener on the other side – Others’ things seem better.
Silence is golden – Quietness has value.
A rolling stone gathers no moss – A restless person gains nothing.
Where there is a will, there is a way – Strong desire finds solution.
Old habits die hard – Habits are difficult to change.
Don’t cry over spilt milk – Don’t worry about past mistakes.
Haste makes waste – Hurry causes errors.
Little drops make the mighty ocean – Small efforts create big results.
Appearances are deceptive – Reality is often different from looks.
One good turn deserves another – Kindness should be repaid.
Slow and steady wins the race – Consistency leads to victory.
Small leaks sink great ships – Minor problems can destroy big work.
Example is better than precept – Actions teach better than advice.
Money makes the mare go – Money drives action.
Cut your coat according to your cloth – Spend according to your means.
Great minds think alike – Intelligent people reach similar ideas.
All’s well that ends well – A good end makes everything fine.
Don’t bite the hand that feeds you – Don’t harm your supporter.
Every dog has his day – Everyone gets a chance for success.

Top 50 Idioms with Meanings

Break the ice – Start a conversation.
Once in a blue moon – Very rarely.
A piece of cake – Very simple or easy.
Burn the midnight oil – Work late into the night.
Hit the nail on the head – Say exactly the correct thing.
Break a leg – Wish someone good luck.
Spill the beans – Reveal a secret.
A blessing in disguise – Something good hidden inside a bad situation.
Under the weather – Feeling unwell.
The ball is in your court – The decision now depends on you.
Hit the books – Start studying seriously.
Pull someone’s leg – Joke or tease someone.
In a nutshell – Tell something briefly.
Cost an arm and a leg – Very costly.
Bite off more than you can chew – Take more responsibility than you can manage.
Let the cat out of the bag – Expose a secret by mistake.
On cloud nine – Extremely happy.
Between the devil and the deep sea – Stuck between two dangers.
Call it a day – Stop working.
Face the music – Accept the consequences.
Add fuel to the fire – Make a bad situation worse.
Beat around the bush – Avoid the main topic.
Out of the blue – Suddenly and unexpectedly.
Sit on the fence – Avoid taking a side in an argument.
Make ends meet – Manage on limited income.
Jump the gun – Act before the proper time.
Blow hot and cold – Keep changing opinions.
Put all eggs in one basket – Depend only on one plan.
Snowed under – Very busy or loaded with work.
A hot potato – A difficult or risky issue.
Tie the knot – Get married.
Take with a pinch of salt – Doubt something slightly.
A storm in a teacup – Make a small issue big.
In black and white – Clearly written or printed.
Zip your lip – Stop talking.
In full swing – Operating at highest activity.
Keep an eye on – Watch carefully.
Touch wood – Hope for good luck.
Devil’s advocate – Argue against an idea to test it.
By hook or by crook – Achieve something by any means.
A tall order – A challenging task.
Run out of steam – Lose energy or enthusiasm.
Hit the road – Start travelling.
Out of the woods – Out of trouble or danger.
Rule of thumb – General practice based on experience.
In deep water – In serious trouble.
Get cold feet – Lose courage at the last moment.
Go the extra mile – Make extra effort.
In the pink of health – Very healthy.
Walk on air – Feel extremely delighted.