Can You Finish These English Proverbs?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Can You Finish These English Proverbs?
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About This Quiz

Think you know your proverbs? The English language is full of them. Proverbs are short and snappy sayings that state some kind of broad advice or general truth. They often relate to things like handling money, love, work, loss, friendship, status, health and other things that all people are concerned with on a regular basis. Proverbs often come from religious or spiritual teachings, as well. When this is the case, they tend to be nuggets of religious text that are meant to be applied in secular settings.

They are also often referred to as maxims or adages. Famous English language proverbs include sayings like "Haste makes waste" and "The early bird catches the worm." 

People often use them (or variations of them) in everyday conversation without thinking. They are so ingrained in the English language that many of them have also become cliches. This is because some have been around for centuries.

If you are an English language lover who has a handle on proverbs, put your knowledge to the test with the world's most proverbial quiz!

If it ain't broke, don't ______ it.
Sell
Fix
Weigh
Keep
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that if something is working, don't try to change it. It is thought to have come from the early 20th century American South.

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The pen is _________ than the sword.
Mightier
Weaker
Bluer
Longer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that using words to solve problems can be more powerful than violence. It was coined by playwright Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839.

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Give the ______ his due.
Warden
Angel
Devil
Grocer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that eventually everyone will have to make good on what they owe, whether it's in money or favors. This proverb was referenced as an already existing phrase in Shakespeare's "Henry V Part 1."

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An eye for an ________.
Image
Everything
Answer
Eye
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb means that for every misdeed, there should be an equal punishment. This comes from the Code of Hammurabi, the first written code of law.

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If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must ______ to the mountain.
Go
Bow
Fall
Dance
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that if sheer will cannot get you the results you want, you will have to adapt. This phrase comes from the story of Muhammad, the founder of Islam.

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________ starts at home.
Calamity
Love
Learning
Charity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This old proverb means that it is important to take care of your family and those close to you before you start taking care of others. Similar ideas were expressed in the King James Bible and by various authors as early as the 14th century.

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Necessity is the ________ of invention.
Mother
Judge
Keeper
Bellwether
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This saying means that tricky situations often inspire people to create clever solutions. Some credit it to Plato.

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Know which way the wind _________.
Sinks
Colors
Blows
Goes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that one should always be aware of the shifting circumstances around them so they can plan for the future. Variations of this were in common use in the 19th century.

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For every _______, there is a season.
Love
Song
Thing
Dime
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that everything happens on its own time. This proverb comes from Ecclesiastes 3 in the King James version of the Bible.

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Let not the sun go down on your _________.
Love
Misery
Wrath
Wealth
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is essentially the old form of "Don't go to bed angry." The earliest form of this in English can be found in the 1535 Coverdale's Bible.

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A good man is _______ to find.
Easy
Hard
Expensive
Slippery
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that it is hard to find a suitable partner. It was first coined in 1918 by Eddie Green, as a title of a song he wrote.

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The early _______ catches the worm.
Child
Bird
Clock
Doctor
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb means that success will come to those who prepare well and work hard. It was included in a 17th-century book of English proverbs, meaning that even in those days, it was already a well-known saying.

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The ______ makes work for idle hands to do.
Master
Mother
Devil
Keeper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that people who are not kept busy will often get into trouble. It appeared in writing for the first time in a fourth-century letter by the theologian, Jerome.

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Keep your hands _______.
Green
Young
Clean
Dusty
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To keep your hands clean means to stay out of trouble. This is an 18th-century English saying.

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No man is an _________.
Onion
Island
Ice cube
Orange
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that everyone needs help from others to survive. It comes from a quotation of the 16th and 17th century English poet, John Donne.

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Take it with a grain of ________.
Sand
Flour
Magic
Salt
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means to listen to what is being said, but maintain a healthy skepticism about it. This phrase dates back to Pliny's "Naturalis Historia," written in 77 CE.

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A friend in need is a friend ________.
Indeed
For life
In chains
On the hill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The true origins of this proverb are debated, but versions of it were in writing by the third century B.C. Its meaning is also debated, but usually it indicates that someone who needs something from you will definitely appear to be your friend.

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Beauty is only _______ deep.
Dollar
Smile
Skin
Lipstick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb was first found in a 17th-century work, by a man describing his wife. It means that outer beauty is superficial and does not necessarily indicate someone is a good person.

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A ______ rots from the head down.
Ladder
Fish
Turkey
Man
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb means that when a large organization or state fails, it is because of poor leadership. Variants of this proverb exist around the world, and sources have placed its origins from China to Greece.

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Half a _________ is better than no bread.
Card
Cup
Child
Loaf
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This axiom means that even if you didn't get exactly what you wanted, something is better than nothing. It is found in writing for the fist time in a 16th-century collection of proverbs.

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All that glitters is not ________.
Rich
Gold
Diamond
Tall
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb means that things that look attractive from the outside are not necessarily valuable. Shakespeare is the best known user of this proverb. It appears in his play, "The Merchant of Venice."

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In for a penny, in for a _______.
Salad
Doubloon
Mouse
Pound
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This saying means that if you start something, you should see it through to completion wholeheartedly. No one knows where it came from, but it's seen in several writings from the 17th century.

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Know on which side your bread is _________.
Stale
Buttered
Rich
Purple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that you should know on which side of a conflict your interests lie. It dates back to a 16th-century glossary of proverbs, meaning that it probably existed for a long time before then.

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A _______ cannot change its spots.
Dog
Fish
Camel
Leopard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This saying means that things cannot change their innate nature. This saying has its roots in the King James version of the Bible.

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Let bygones _______ bygones.
Eat
Marry
Be
Take
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means to let unpleasant past events be forgotten. It was used in Shakespeare's 1611 play, "The Winter's Tale."

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A man who is his own lawyer has a _______ for a client.
Lover
Fool
Victor
Prisoner
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The meaning of this phrase is literal, as self-representation in a court of law famously ends badly most of the time. It first began appearing in print in the early 19th century.

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No rest for the _______.
Poor
Famous
Beautiful
Wicked
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While people often use this phrase jokingly to mean that there is no down time for them, its literal original meaning is that sinners will be tormented in hell. It was initially printed in Coverdale's 1535 Bible.

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Physician, _______ thyself.
Love
Heal
Stop
Prove
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means that one should work on their own flaws before they point out other people's. It comes from the King James version of the Bible.

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Back ________ square one.
On
In
On top of
To
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means to go back to the beginning of something. No one is sure of its exact origin, but some say it was inspired by the old board game, Snakes and Ladders (also known as Chutes and Ladders.)

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The _______ hour is just before the dawn.
Last
Sweetest
Largest
Darkest
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This axiom means that there is hope even in the bleakest of circumstances. The source of this proverb is not known, but it has been found in writings dating back to the 17th century.

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Let ________ dogs lie.
Old
Sleeping
Hungry
Red
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This phrase means to not interfere with a favorable and stable situation. A version of this was expressed by Chaucer in the 14th century, but it is thought to be a much older idea.

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Hell has no fury like a _______ scorned.
Woman
Demon
Father
Cat
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb means that a woman who has been betrayed is more terrifying than anything in hell. This phrase is usually credited to the English poet and playwright William Congreve.

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Great _______ think alike.
Hearts
Dogs
Minds
Winds
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This proverb is literal. It dates back to at least the early 17th century. It's also used when two people happen to have the same idea without discussing it.

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Keep your nose to the __________.
Sky
Wind
Grindstone
Yard
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This means to apply yourself to your work. A variation was first seen in writing in the 16th century. A grindstone is used to sharpen certain types of metal tools.

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A house divided against itself cannot ________.
Fall
Gift
Stand
Believe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This expression is literal. By house, it means household. This comes from the King James version of the Bible.

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You Got:
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