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Proverbs: people and choices

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Understand each item before testing yourself. Choose honestly whether it already feels familiar or needs practice.

1 of 10Expression

two heads are better than one

Some tasks may be accomplished more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.

Example

Mr. Francis Osbaldistone is an innocent man, Rashleigh, said Miss Vernon, and he demands an investigation of the charge against him, and I intend to support him in it. You do, my pretty cousin?—I should think, now, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone was likely to be as effectually, and rather more delicately, supported by my presence than by yours. Oh, certainly; but two heads are better than one, you know.

View all items (10)

Vocabulary in this set

Use ten familiar proverbs to discuss cooperation, relationships, caution, and everyday decisions.

two heads are better than one
Expression
Some tasks may be accomplished more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.
Mr. Francis Osbaldistone is an innocent man, Rashleigh, said Miss Vernon, and he demands an investigation of the charge against him, and I intend to support him in it. You do, my pretty cousin?—I should think, now, Mr. Francis Osbaldistone was likely to be as effectually, and rather more delicately, supported by my presence than by yours. Oh, certainly; but two heads are better than one, you know.
a friend in need is a friend indeed
Expression
If a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend.
A friend in need is a friend indeed, Een vrient in noot / is een vrient in der daet.
it takes two to tango
Expression
Some things need the active cooperation of two parties; blame is to be laid on both parties in a conflict.
I can't do it by myself, and neither can you – it takes two to tango.
honesty is the best policy
Expression
Honesty is preferable as a course of action because it tends to work out best in the end.
All theſe things conſidered, it hath made me to mitigate my former imagination, and to deem it not unpoſſible, that this over-politick and too wiſe Order may reach a note higher than our groſs conceits, who think honeſty the beſt policy, and truth the onely durable armor of proof; […]
better safe than sorry
Expression
It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to act recklessly and suffer afterwards.
Moreover, apart from official restrictions, drivers do not a little easing of their engines on their own account, where they consider that the feel of the track makes this desirable; and they can hardly be blamed in consequence. It is better to be safe than sorry.
two wrongs don't make a right
Expression
A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.
But when it comes to taking what belongs to another—well, a thief is a thief. . . . After all, two wrongs don't make a right, do they?
when in Rome, do as the Romans do
Expression
When in a foreign place, suit behavior or appearance to the local culture.
 […]  but, as I seated myself at table, I thought how my friends in Scotland would stare to see stewed monkey, roasted mermaid, and a pepper-pot of macaws, set down on table for their repast. But my plan always has been when in Rome to do as Rome does; and we found our food both delicate and cooked in such a manner, with every savoury spice, that it would have tickled the palate of the most fastidious gastronome.
every cloud has a silver lining
Expression
There is something good in any bad situation.
Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation  […] 
it's the thought that counts
Expression
When giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness behind the act is more important than any other consideration.
I know the gift he gave you for your wedding is not worth much, but I hope you'll understand it's the thought that counts.
variety is the spice of life
Expression
Variety is what makes life interesting.
Besides the usual run of machines, planers, millers, automatics, centre lathes, cranes, etc., there were several power stations, the rolling mills for strip material and for 60 ft. rails, and all the steel furnaces with their complicated systems of flues. If variety is the spice of life, then there was plenty here.

Proverbs

Vocabulary in this set

Use ten familiar proverbs to discuss cooperation, relationships, caution, and everyday decisions.

two heads are better than one

Expression

Some tasks may be accomplished more easily by two (or more) people working together than by one working alone.

a friend in need is a friend indeed

Expression

If a friend helps you when you are in need, they are a true friend.

A friend in need is a friend indeed, Een vrient in noot / is een vrient in der daet.

it takes two to tango

Expression

Some things need the active cooperation of two parties; blame is to be laid on both parties in a conflict.

I can't do it by myself, and neither can you – it takes two to tango.

honesty is the best policy

Expression

Honesty is preferable as a course of action because it tends to work out best in the end.

All theſe things conſidered, it hath made me to mitigate my former imagination, and to deem it not unpoſſible, that this over-politick and too wiſe Order may reach a note higher than our groſs conceits, who think honeſty the beſt policy, and truth the onely durable armor of proof; […]

better safe than sorry

Expression

It is preferable to be cautious in one's choices and actions than to act recklessly and suffer afterwards.

Moreover, apart from official restrictions, drivers do not a little easing of their engines on their own account, where they consider that the feel of the track makes this desirable; and they can hardly be blamed in consequence. It is better to be safe than sorry.

two wrongs don't make a right

Expression

A wrongful action is not a morally appropriate way to correct or cancel a previous wrongful action.

But when it comes to taking what belongs to another—well, a thief is a thief. . . . After all, two wrongs don't make a right, do they?

when in Rome, do as the Romans do

Expression

When in a foreign place, suit behavior or appearance to the local culture.

 […]  but, as I seated myself at table, I thought how my friends in Scotland would stare to see stewed monkey, roasted mermaid, and a pepper-pot of macaws, set down on table for their repast. But my plan always has been when in Rome to do as Rome does; and we found our food both delicate and cooked in such a manner, with every savoury spice, that it would have tickled the palate of the most fastidious gastronome.

every cloud has a silver lining

Expression

There is something good in any bad situation.

Every cloud has a silver lining; but in the old-fashioned meeting-houses every cloud of hymnal melody generally had a nasal lining before the congregation  […] 

it's the thought that counts

Expression

When giving someone a present or doing a favour for someone, the kindness behind the act is more important than any other consideration.

I know the gift he gave you for your wedding is not worth much, but I hope you'll understand it's the thought that counts.

variety is the spice of life

Expression

Variety is what makes life interesting.

Besides the usual run of machines, planers, millers, automatics, centre lathes, cranes, etc., there were several power stations, the rolling mills for strip material and for 60 ft. rails, and all the steel furnaces with their complicated systems of flues. If variety is the spice of life, then there was plenty here.

Proverbs