A proverb is a short saying/phrase about life that comes from way back in ancient times. They are usually based on some sort of truth with the purpose giving advice or imparting wisdom.

Whether you’re having a casual chat with friends or in a business meeting, you will probably hear proverbs being quoted.

proverbs list D, E and F

Flick through this page to learn some common proverbs beginning with D, E and F.

 

I’ve included pictures to help you understand the meaning.

Proverbs beginning with D

English proverbs list - do unto others as you would have them do unto you
English proverbs list - don’t air your dirty laundry in public
proverbs - don’t burn bridges
proverbs - don’t cross that bridge until you come to it
proverbs - don’t cry over spilt milk
English proverbs list - don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes
proverbs - don’t look a gift horse in the mouth
proverbs - don’t make a mountain out of a molehill
English proverbs list - don’t put all your eggs in one basket
proverbs - don’t put the cart before the horse
English proverbs list - don’t put too many irons in the fire
English proverbs list - don’t rock the boat
English proverbs list - don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk
proverbs - don't bite the hand that feeds you
proverbs - don't count the days, make the days count
proverbs - don't count your chickens
proverbs - don't get mad get even
  • do unto others as you would have them do unto you – treat people the way you would like to be treated
  • don’t air your dirty laundry in public – don’t discuss/argue about private things in front of an audience
  • don’t bite the hand that feeds you – don’t turn against or treat those who try to help you badly
  • don’t burn bridges – don’t be nasty and fall out with people, one day you may need them
  • don’t count the days, make the days count – use your time wisely, don’t wish your life away
  • don’t count your chickens before they hatch – don’t rely on the results of your plan before it has happened
  • don’t cross that bridge until you come to it – don’t worry about something until it actually happens
  • don’t cry over spilt milk – what’s happened has happened, you can’t change the past
  • don’t get mad, get even – don’t get angry and scream and shout, get revenge instead
  • don’t judge a man until you’ve walked a mile in his shoes – don’t be judgemental, you don’t know what difficulties people have been through
  • don’t look a gift horse in the mouth – don’t be ungrateful, graciously accept gifts
  • don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – don’t exaggerate a minor issue and make it seem like a major issue
  • don’t put all your eggs in one basket – don’t risk everything on one thing, have a back-up plan.
  • don’t put the cart before the horse – don’t do things in the wrong order
  • don’t put too many irons in the fire – don’t do too many things at once
  • don’t rock the boat – don’t disturb the tranquillity

don’t talk the talk if you can’t walk the walk – don’t say things if your actions don’t match

Proverbs beginning with E

Proverbs - early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise
Proverbs - easy come, easy go
English proverbs list - eat well, stay fit, die anyway
Proverbs - eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die
Proverbs - every cloud has a silver lining
Proverbs - every dog has its day
Proverbs - every man has his price
  • early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise – you will have a successful life if you get enough sleep
  • easy come, easy go – things can be easy to acquire but they are just as easy to lose
  • eat well, stay fit, die anyway – do whatever you enjoy in life as we all end up dead
  • eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die – you only get one life, live it
  • every cloud has a silver lining – an unpleasant experience always has a positive aspect
  • every dog has its day – everyone is happy/successful/lucky at some point in their lives
  • every man has his price – you can persuade anyone if you offer enough money

Proverbs beginning with F

proverbs - faint heart never won fair lady
proverbs - faith will move mountains
proverbs - familiarity breeds contempt
proverbs - fight fire with fire
proverbs - finders keepers
English proverbs list - first things first
English proverbs list - fools rush in where angels fear to tread
proverbs - fools seldom differ
proverbs - fortune favours the brave
  • faint heart never won fair lady – you won’t reach your goals if you are timid
  • faith will move mountains – believing in oneself will help you achieve anything
  • familiarity breeds contempt you get annoyed by people if you are around them too often
  • fight fire with fire – play your opponent at their own game
  • finders keepers, losers weepers – if you find something, you can keep it
  • first things first – prioritise, do the most important things first
  • fools rush in where angels fear to tread – inexperienced people get involved in situations wiser people would avoid.
  • fools seldom differ – stupid people always have the same ideas
  • fortune favours the brave – if you want to be successful, you have to take risks