Proverbs in English for students with meanings
Hello friends!
I hope you're all doing well and preparing hard for your competitive exams.
Today, I’m going to share some Commonly Used Proverbs / 50 Common Proverbs in English which are important. Proverb-based MCQ questions that are highly useful for a variety of exams like SSC, Railway, WBCS, TET, and many more.
Make sure to go through each question carefully—these can boost your English score significantly!
Top 30 Important Proverbs: English Proverbs with meaning and Examples
1. Still waters run deep.
Meaning : - Quiet people often have deep thoughts or emotions.
2. To err is human, to forgive divine.
Meaning : - Everyone makes mistakes; forgiving is a noble quality.
3. Practice makes a man perfect.
Meaning : - Repetition leads to improvement and mastery.
4. Prevention is better than cure.
Meaning : - It's wiser to stop something bad from happening than to deal with it after it happens.
5. All is well that ends well.
Meaning : - A good ending makes everything okay, even if there were problems earlier.
6. All that glitters is not gold.
Meaning : - Not everything that looks valuable truly is.
7. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
Meaning : - Without fun or relaxation, life becomes boring and unbalanced.
8. Too many cooks spoil the broth.
Meaning : - Too many people trying to control one thing can ruin it.
9. No news is good news.
Meaning : - If there's no bad news, everything is probably fine.
10. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
Meaning : - What you already have is better than what you might get.
11. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Meaning : - True friends help in difficult times.
12. A man is known by the company he keeps.
Meaning : - You can judge a person by their friends or associates.
13. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.
Meaning : - Having limited knowledge can lead to risky decisions.
14. A penny saved is a penny earned.
Meaning : - Saving money is just as valuable as earning it.
15. A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Meaning : - Someone who doesn’t settle down avoids responsibilities but also lacks stability.
16. A stitch in time saves nine.
Meaning : - Taking quick action can prevent bigger problems later.
17. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
Meaning : - Beautiful things bring lasting happiness.
18. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
Meaning : - Being apart increases affection.
19. Silence precedes the storm.
Meaning : - Calm often comes before trouble.
20. Familiarity breeds contempt.
Meaning : - Too much closeness can reduce respect.
21. All is fair in love and war.
Meaning : - Anything is acceptable in love and conflict.
22. An eye for an eye.
Meaning : - Revenge in the same measure.
23. As you sow, so shall you reap.
Meaning : - You get what you deserve based on your actions.
24. Barking dogs seldom bite.
Meaning : - Those who threaten often do no harm.
25. Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder.
Meaning : - Different people perceive beauty differently.
26. Beauty is only skin deep.
Meaning : - Physical beauty is superficial.
27. Better late than never.
Meaning : - It’s better to do something late than not at all.
28. Better safe than sorry.
Meaning : - It’s wiser to be cautious than regretful.
29. Birds of a feather flock together.
Meaning : - People with similar interests stick together.
30. Brevity is the soul of wit.
Meaning : - Being brief is the essence of intelligence or humor.
Top 25 Proverbs quiz questions with answers PDF
1. Which proverb means "do not assume success before it actually happens"?
a) Make hay while the sun shines
b) Don’t count your chickens before they hatch
c) A rolling stone gathers no moss
d) Look before you leap
2. Which proverb advises that being truthful is always the best approach?
a) Honesty is the best policy
b) Curiosity killed the cat
c) Practice makes perfect
d) Let sleeping dogs lie
3. Which proverb means "people who do things too quickly may make mistakes"?
a) Haste makes waste
b) Time and tide wait for none
c) The pen is mightier than the sword
d) When the cat's away, the mice will play
4. Which proverb means "don’t try to fix something that is not broken"?
a) The early bird catches the worm
b) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
c) If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
d) Actions speak louder than words
5. Which proverb means "you should act early to have an advantage"?
a) A stitch in time saves nine
b) The early bird catches the worm
c) Better late than never
d) Slow and steady wins the race
6. Which proverb suggests that appearances can be deceptive?
a) All that glitters is not gold
b) Easy come, easy go
c) Look before you leap
d) Birds of a feather flock together
7. Which proverb means "prevention is better than cure"?
a) Make hay while the sun shines
b) A stitch in time saves nine
c) Jack of all trades, master of none
d) Strike while the iron is hot
8. Which proverb means "you become like the people you associate with"?
a) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
b) Birds of a feather flock together
c) Don’t judge a book by its cover
d) Out of sight, out of mind
9. Which proverb means "a person who moves around a lot doesn’t gain much"?
a) Look before you leap
b) A rolling stone gathers no moss
c) The grass is always greener on the other side
d) Time heals all wounds
10. Which proverb means "avoid restarting old quarrels or issues"?
a) Let sleeping dogs lie
b) Curiosity killed the cat
c) You can’t judge a book by its cover
d) Practice what you preach
11. Which proverb teaches that words are less important than actions?
a) The squeaky wheel gets the grease
b) Actions speak louder than words
c) A picture is worth a thousand words
d) The early bird catches the worm
12. Which proverb means "it's better to be cautious before taking risks"?
a) Look before you leap
b) When in Rome, do as the Romans do
c) Strike while the iron is hot
d) You can’t teach an old dog new tricks
13. Which proverb suggests "you reap what you sow"?
a) What goes around comes around
b) Curiosity killed the cat
c) Let bygones be bygones
d) Practice makes perfect
14. Which proverb means "opportunities don’t wait forever"?
a) A penny saved is a penny earned
b) Time and tide wait for no man
c) Every cloud has a silver lining
d) Slow and steady wins the race
15. Which proverb means "don’t rely completely on one thing"?
a) Too many cooks spoil the broth
b) Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
c) You can't have your cake and eat it too
d) Money doesn’t grow on trees
16. Which proverb suggests "don't be ungrateful to your supporters"?
a) Don't bite the hand that feeds you
b) Every dog has its day
c) You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs
d) Still waters run deep
17. Which proverb means "be careful when you're unfamiliar with a situation"?
a) The pen is mightier than the sword
b) Look before you leap
c) Let sleeping dogs lie
d) Don’t cry over spilled milk
18. Which proverb means "you can’t change someone's nature"?
a) Old habits die hard
b) Practice makes perfect
c) You reap what you sow
d) Curiosity killed the cat
19. Which proverb means "after you get something easily, it is easy to lose"?
a) Easy come, easy go
b) Better safe than sorry
c) Out of sight, out of mind
d) Beggars can’t be choosers
20. Which proverb advises "not to feel regret for what’s already happened"?
a) Don’t cry over spilled milk
b) Let sleeping dogs lie
c) One man’s loss is another man’s gain
d) Strike while the iron is hot
21. Which proverb encourages "using time wisely when it's available"?
a) Make hay while the sun shines
b) Time heals all wounds
c) All that glitters is not gold
d) A friend in need is a friend indeed
22. Which proverb means "perseverance leads to success"?
a) Curiosity killed the cat
b) Slow and steady wins the race
c) You can’t judge a book by its cover
d) The grass is always greener on the other side
23. Which proverb means "a good friend helps during difficult times"?
a) Every dog has its day
b) A friend in need is a friend indeed
c) Practice what you preach
d) All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy
24. Which proverb means "you cannot do two opposite things at the same time"?
a) You can’t have your cake and eat it too
b) Let sleeping dogs lie
c) The early bird catches the worm
d) A watched pot never boils
25. Which proverb warns against greed and losing what you have?
a) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
b) Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
c) Easy come, easy go
d) Jack of all trades, master of none
Answers : -
1. b 2. a 3. a 4. c 5. b 6. a 7. b 8. b 9. b 10. a 11. b 12. a 13. a 14. b 15. b 16. a 17. b 18. a 19. a 20. a 21. a 22. b 23. b 24. a 25. a
Top 30 Multiple choice questions on Proverbs // Multiple choice questions on proverbs with answers pdf
1. Don't let the cat out of the ______.
a) cage
b) house
c) bag
d) box
Correct answer: c) bag
2. A bird in the ______ is worth two in the bush.
a) hand
b) nest
c) tree
d) cage
Correct answer: a) hand
3. That's like carrying coals to ______.
a) Virginia
b) Newcastle
c) London
d) Dover
Correct answer: b) Newcastle
4. Better late than ______.
a) early
b) later
c) never
d) sorry
Correct answer: c) never
5. A penny ______ is a penny earned.
a) saved
b) found
c) won
d) spent
Correct answer: a) saved
6. That's just a drop in the ______.
a) ocean
b) pail
c) bucket
d) sea
Correct answer: a) ocean
7. As slow as molasses in ______.
a) January
b) December
c) winter
d) snow
Correct answer: a) January
8. Quick as a ______.
a) horse
b) fish
c) wink
d) flash
Correct answer: c) wink
9. Don't count your chickens before they ______.
a) hatch
b) fly
c) chirp
d) grow
Correct answer: a) hatch
10. Too many cooks spoil the ______.
a) food
b) broth
c) kitchen
d) soup
Correct answer: b) broth
11. Make hay while the sun ______.
a) shines
b) sets
c) burns
d) rises
Correct answer: a) shines
12. Actions speak louder than ______.
a) promises
b) thoughts
c) dreams
d) words
Correct answer: d) words
13. Curiosity killed the ______.
a) dog
b) mouse
c) cat
d) bird
Correct answer: c) cat
14. You can't have your cake and ______ it too.
a) throw
b) bake
c) share
d) eat
Correct answer: d) eat
15. Where there's smoke, there's ______.
a) trouble
b) steam
c) fire
d) fog
Correct answer: c) fire
16. The early bird catches the ______.
a) fly
b) fish
c) worm
d) prize
Correct answer: c) worm
17. An Englishman's home is his _____
A) church
B) house
C) out doors
D) castle
E) bank
Correct answer: D) castle
18. "False friends are _____."
A) as clear as day
B) out of mind
C) better than riches
D) worse than open enemies
E) good to be true
Correct answer: D) worse than open enemies
19. A good name is better _____
A) than richness
B) than never
C) than in bad company
D) than promise long
E) than a friend
Correct answer: A) than richness
20. "She is as _____."
A) hungry as a wolf
B) busy as a bee
C) as happy as a lark
D) as slow as a tortoise
E) as clever as an owl
Correct answer: C) as happy as a lark
21. So _____ so done.
A) thought
B) done
C) had
D) saw
E) said
Correct answer: A) thought
22. "While there is _____ there is hope."
A) will
B) wish
C) love
D) life
E) water
Correct answer: D) life
23. "Better face a danger than be always in _____."
A) favor
B) moon
C) fear
D) fire
E) flight
Correct answer: C) fear
24. Moral of sister’s piano story:
A) Practice makes perfect.
B) As clear as a day
C) Everything is good in its season.
D) East or West, home's best.
E) There is no place like home.
Correct answer: A) Practice makes perfect.
25. Mr. Brown and the dentist:
A) While there is life, there is hope.
B) Where there is smoke, there is fire.
C) Where there is a will, there's a way.
D) An able sailor hails in stormy weather.
E) Better face a danger than be always in fear.
Correct answer: E) Better face a danger than be always in fear.
26. An hour in the morning _____
A) as near as today and tomorrow
B) is better than richness
C) has wings
D) is worth two in the evening
E) as clear as day
Correct answer: D) is worth two in the evening
27. John failed his exams:
A) A living dog is better than a dead man.
B) The rotten apple injures its neighbours.
C) The appetite comes with eating.
D) A good beginning makes a good ending.
E) You have made your bed and you must lie on it.
Correct answer: E) You have made your bed and you must lie on it.
28. Promise little _____
A) who laughs last
B) but do much
C) that ends well
D) while the sun shines
E) never found again
Correct answer: B) but do much
29. You are always as hungry as _____
A) a lark
B) a wolf
C) a bee
D) a horse
E) a mouse
Correct answer: B) a wolf
30. The last drop makes _____
A) both ends meet
B) the cat out of the bag
C) a horse laugh
D) the cup run over
E) a cat laugh
Correct answer: D) the cup run over
31. _____ makes the world go round.
A) love
B) hatred
C) gravity
D) money
E) poor mouse
Correct answer: A) love
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