40 Common English Proverbs To Remember For GMAT Analytical Essay Writing

The use of proverbs in essays helps to augment the power of your arguments and also contributes a lot in making them more convincing to the readers.

It is for this reason we would recommend that you know and learn about a few of the most basic and classic English proverbs for your GMAT essay writing purpose. This post can help.

1. Actions speak louder than words.

Meaning:

What you do is substantially more important than what you say.

2. A good enemy is better than a false friend.

Meaning:

A clever enemy is better than a fake (or stupid) friend.

3. A watched pot never boils.

Meaning:

If something takes time to do, it doesn’t help to constantly check on it. You just have to give it time.

4. A bad workman always blames his tools.

Meaning:

When we cannot do something, we blame it on others.

5. Beggars cannot be choosers.

Meaning:

If you are in a bad situation and someone offers to help you, you have to take whatever they give you and should not ask for more.

6. Do not bite the hand that feeds you.

Meaning:

Do not make someone angry or hurt someone who is helping you or paying for you.

7. Bad news travel fast.

Meaning:

If the news is sad or bad, it spread as fast as rumor.

8. The pen is mightier than the sword.

Meaning:

If you are trying to convince someone of something, words and ideas are stronger than using physical force (very common in politics).

9. There is no place like home.

Meaning:

Your home is the most comfortable place in the world.

10. There’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Meaning:

Nothing is free. Even things that are free have a hidden cost.

11. There is no time like the present.

Meaning:

Don’t wait to do something. Do it now.

12. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Meaning:

The person who complains in a situation is more likely to get something.

13. Time is money.

Meaning:

Don’t waste your time or other people’s time; also, if you can use your time to make money in some way, you should do that.

14. Two heads are better than one.

Meaning:

It’s easier to do something as a team than by yourself.

15. Two wrongs don’t make a right.

Meaning:

Trying to get revenge on someone who has hurt you will only make things worse.

16. When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

Meaning:

When you are in a new place or a situation, try to act like the majority of people in that place or situation.

17. When the going gets tough, the tough get going.

Meaning:

When a situation becomes difficult, strong people do not give up; they work harder.

18. Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

If something seems wrong, it probably is; also, there’s usually some truth to a rumor

19. You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink it

Meaning:

You can try to help someone by giving good advice, but you can’t force them to accept it or follow it.

20. Blood is thicker than water.

Meaning:

Bonds between family members are stronger than other relationships.

21. Money cannot buy everything, but everything we buy needs money.

Meaning:

We cannot buy everything with money, but whatever we buy, we buy with money.

22. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

Meaning:

If something is already working well, don’t try to change it or improve it

23. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em

Meaning:

If you can’t change someone’s behavior or opinion, sometimes it is better or easier to do what they want.

24. If you play with fire, you will get burned

Meaning:

If you get involved in something dangerous or beyond your abilities, you may experience negative consequences.

25. All that glitters are not gold.

Meaning:

Never judge something (or someone) by its (his/her) outward appearance.

26. A journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step.

Meaning:

You may walk long or get a big success but you start with a single and simple step.

27. A bad penny always turns up.

Meaning:

Your mistakes will certainly come back to haunt you. / Bad people always return.

28. A big tree attracts the woodman’s axe.

Meaning:

Great people will attract great criticism.

29. A bad workman blames his tools.

Meaning:

When we can’t do something, we blame it on the others.

30. Barking dogs seldom bite.

Meaning:

They, who shout, work less.

31. Before criticizing a man, walk a mile in his shoes.

Meaning:

One should not criticize a person without understanding their situation.

32. Beggars can’t be choosers.

Meaning:

Those who are in need of help can’t afford to be too demanding

33. Born with a silver spoon in his/her mouth.

Meaning:

Born in a rich family.

34. Empty vessels make more noise.

Meaning:

Those who lack intelligence speak the loudest.

35. Every rose has its thorn.

Meaning:

Every good thing has its downside.

36. Fine feathers can make fine birds.

Meaning:

Beautiful outside appearance can make a person beautiful. / If your presentation is good, the work becomes beautiful. / Quality material produces quality products.

37. Forgive, but don’t forget.

Meaning:

Let things/issues go or pass but don’t forget what they were or why they happened.

38. Give him an inch and he will take a yard.

Meaning:

Once concessions have been made to someone they will demand a great deal more.

39. He who laughs last, laughs the best.

Meaning:

Be sure by all means before you get satisfied about anything.

40. If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Meaning:

If you speak, then speak only well.

So this is where we will bring the list to an end for now. We will try to come up with more in the coming weeks but till then, goodbye!