Share 100 proverbs and 100 idioms that every CBSE student must know.

In one line

The rule

A proverb is a short, well-known saying that gives advice or shares a truth. An idiom is a group of words whose meaning is different from the literal meaning of the words.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are playing cricket. Your coach says, "Practice makes perfect." He means if you keep practicing, you will get better. This is a proverb—a wise saying with advice.

Now, suppose your friend says, "Don't spill the beans!" He doesn't mean real beans. He means, "Don't tell the secret." This is an idiom—the words together mean something special, not the direct meaning.

How it works

1. Proverbs are simple sentences. They give advice or teach a lesson.
2. Idioms are phrases. Their meaning is not clear from the words themselves.
3. Learning them helps you understand stories, poems, and conversations.
4. Using them makes your English sound natural and smart.
5. You remember them by using them in your own sentences.

The story behind it

Proverbs and idioms come from old stories, cultures, and daily life. People made them up to share wisdom or describe things in a fun way. For example, "A stitch in time saves nine" comes from tailoring. It means fix a small problem now to avoid a big one later. Idioms like "kick the bucket" (to die) or "hit the books" (to study) have been used for hundreds of years. They make language colourful and interesting.

Where you see it in real life

• In textbooks: Many stories and poems use proverbs and idioms.
• In movies: Characters use them to sound real and lively.
• At home: Parents say things like "Early to bed, early to rise" to give advice.
• In exams: Comprehension passages and essays often include them.
• In the market: Shopkeepers might say "Don't judge a book by its cover" about their goods.
• In sports: Coaches use "No pain, no gain" to motivate players.

Why it matters

• Makes your English writing and speaking more impressive.
• Helps you understand what others mean, even if they use tricky phrases.
• Useful in exams for comprehension, essays, and letters.
• Shows you know the culture behind the language.

100 Proverbs Every CBSE Student Must Know

1. Actions speak louder than words – What you do is more important than what you say.
2. A stitch in time saves nine – Fix a problem early to avoid bigger trouble.
3. All that glitters is not gold – Not everything that looks good is valuable.
4. Better late than never – It’s better to do something late than not at all.
5. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch – Don’t assume you’ll get something before it happens.
6. Honesty is the best policy – Always tell the truth.
7. Practice makes perfect – The more you practice, the better you become.
8. Where there’s a will, there’s a way – If you are determined, you can find a solution.
9. Rome was not built in a day – Big things take time.
10. The early bird catches the worm – People who act quickly get the best results.
11. Look before you leap – Think before you act.
12. A friend in need is a friend indeed – True friends help in difficult times.
13. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – Don’t risk everything on one plan.
14. Time and tide wait for none – Time doesn’t stop for anyone.
15. Too many cooks spoil the broth – Too many people working on something can ruin it.
16. Make hay while the sun shines – Do your work when you have the chance.
17. An apple a day keeps the doctor away – Eating healthy keeps you fit.
18. You can’t judge a book by its cover – Don’t judge by appearance.
19. A penny saved is a penny earned – Saving money is as good as earning it.
20. Necessity is the mother of invention – We invent things when we need them.
21. Birds of a feather flock together – Similar people stick together.
22. Every cloud has a silver lining – There’s something good in every bad situation.
23. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you – Don’t harm those who help you.
24. A rolling stone gathers no moss – A person who keeps moving doesn’t settle down.
25. The grass is always greener on the other side – Others’ situations always seem better.
26. Haste makes waste – Doing things too quickly can cause mistakes.
27. Jack of all trades, master of none – Someone who knows many things, but not deeply.
28. Laughter is the best medicine – Being happy is good for health.
29. Let sleeping dogs lie – Don’t start trouble if there’s none.
30. Out of sight, out of mind – We forget things we don’t see.
31. Strike while the iron is hot – Act at the right moment.
32. The pen is mightier than the sword – Words are more powerful than violence.
33. Two heads are better than one – Teamwork is better.
34. When in Rome, do as the Romans do – Follow local customs.
35. A watched pot never boils – Time feels slow when you wait.
36. Beggars can’t be choosers – Take what you get if you have no choice.
37. Blood is thicker than water – Family comes first.
38. Curiosity killed the cat – Being too curious can be dangerous.
39. Don’t cry over spilt milk – Don’t worry about what’s done.
40. Don’t judge a book by its cover – Don’t judge by looks.
41. Don’t put off till tomorrow what you can do today – Don’t delay work.
42. Every dog has its day – Everyone gets a chance.
43. Familiarity breeds contempt – We respect less what we know too well.
44. Fortune favours the brave – Brave people get good luck.
45. God helps those who help themselves – Work hard to get help.
46. Great minds think alike – Smart people have similar ideas.
47. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it – Don’t change what works.
48. If you can’t beat them, join them – If you can’t win, join the winner.
49. It takes two to tango – Both sides are responsible.
50. Let bygones be bygones – Forget past arguments.
51. Look before you leap – Think before acting.
52. Money doesn’t grow on trees – Money is hard to earn.
53. No pain, no gain – Hard work brings results.
54. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure – People value things differently.
55. Prevention is better than cure – It’s better to stop problems before they start.
56. Slow and steady wins the race – Consistency brings success.
57. Still waters run deep – Quiet people may have deep thoughts.
58. The best things in life are free – Love, friendship, and nature cost nothing.
59. The squeaky wheel gets the grease – People who complain get attention.
60. There’s no smoke without fire – Rumours often have some truth.
61. To err is human, to forgive divine – Everyone makes mistakes, forgiving is great.
62. Variety is the spice of life – Change makes life interesting.
63. When the going gets tough, the tough get going – Strong people work harder in trouble.
64. You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink – You can give help, but not force someone to use it.
65. You reap what you sow – Your actions decide your results.
66. Absence makes the heart grow fonder – We love people more when they’re away.
67. All’s well that ends well – If the ending is good, all is good.
68. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder – Different people see beauty differently.
69. Don’t bite off more than you can chew – Don’t take on too much work.
70. Don’t make a mountain out of a molehill – Don’t exaggerate small problems.
71. Easy come, easy go – Things gained easily are lost easily.
72. Every rose has its thorn – Good things have problems too.
73. First come, first served – The first person gets the best.
74. Good things come to those who wait – Patience brings rewards.
75. If you want something done right, do it yourself – Do your own work for best results.
76. It’s no use crying over spilt milk – Don’t regret what’s done.
77. Knowledge is power – Learning gives strength.
78. Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret.
79. Lightning never strikes twice in the same place – Unlikely things don’t happen again.
80. Many hands make light work – Teamwork makes work easier.
81. Necessity knows no law – Needs can make people break rules.
82. No news is good news – If you hear nothing, things are fine.
83. Old is gold – Old things or people are valuable.
84. One step at a time – Take things slowly.
85. Practice what you preach – Do what you tell others to do.
86. Silence is golden – Sometimes it’s best to say nothing.
87. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – Children are like their parents.
88. The more, the merrier – More people make things better.
89. There’s no place like home – Home is the best place.
90. To kill two birds with one stone – Solve two problems with one action.
91. Too many irons in the fire – Doing too many things at once.
92. Truth is stranger than fiction – Real life can be more surprising than stories.
93. Two wrongs don’t make a right – Don’t do bad things to get back at someone.
94. United we stand, divided we fall – Teamwork is strength.
95. When it rains, it pours – Problems come together.
96. You can’t have your cake and eat it too – You can’t have everything.
97. You can’t please everyone – Not everyone will be happy with you.
98. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours – Help me and I’ll help you.
99. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link – One weak part can break the whole.
100. Don’t judge a man until you’ve walked in his shoes – Don’t judge others without understanding them.

100 Idioms Every CBSE Student Must Know

1. Break the ice – Start a conversation.
2. Hit the books – Study hard.
3. Let the cat out of the bag – Reveal a secret.
4. Once in a blue moon – Very rarely.
5. Piece of cake – Very easy.
6. Under the weather – Feeling sick.
7. The ball is in your court – It’s your turn to act.
8. Spill the beans – Tell a secret.
9. A blessing in disguise – Something good that seemed bad at first.
10. Beat around the bush – Avoid saying something directly.
11. Burn the midnight oil – Study or work late into the night.
12. Cry over spilt milk – Worry about something that cannot be changed.
13. Cut corners – Do something badly to save time or money.
14. Devil’s advocate – Argue the opposite side for the sake of argument.
15. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – Don’t risk everything on one plan.
16. Every cloud has a silver lining – There’s something good in every bad situation.
17. Give someone the cold shoulder – Ignore someone.
18. Go the extra mile – Do more than expected.
19. Hit the nail on the head – Say exactly the right thing.
20. In hot water – In trouble.
21. Jump the gun – Start too soon.
22. Kill two birds with one stone – Solve two problems with one action.
23. Let sleeping dogs lie – Don’t start trouble.
24. Miss the boat – Miss an opportunity.
25. On cloud nine – Very happy.
26. Pull someone’s leg – Joke with someone.
27. Put all your eggs in one basket – Risk everything on one plan.
28. Put your best foot forward – Try your best.
29. Read between the lines – Find the hidden meaning.
30. Sit on the fence – Not make a decision.
31. Speak of the devil – The person you were talking about appears.
32. Steal someone’s thunder – Take credit for someone else’s idea.
33. Take it with a pinch of salt – Don’t believe it completely.
34. The best of both worlds – All the advantages.
35. The early bird catches the worm – Act quickly to get the best.
36. Throw in the towel – Give up.
37. Turn a blind eye – Ignore something.
38. Up in the air – Uncertain.
39. Burn the candle at both ends – Work too hard without rest.
40. Bite off more than you can chew – Take on too much work.
41. Barking up the wrong tree – Blaming the wrong person.
42. Blessing in disguise – Good thing that seemed bad.
43. By the skin of your teeth – Just barely.
44. Cold feet – Get nervous.
45. Cut to the chase – Get to the point.
46. Down to earth – Practical and realistic.
47. Face the music – Accept the results of your actions.
48. Get a taste of your own medicine – Experience what you did to others.
49. Give someone a hand – Help someone.
50. Go back to the drawing board – Start again.
51. Hit the sack – Go to bed.
52. In the same boat – In the same situation.
53. It takes two to tango – Both sides are responsible.
54. Jump on the bandwagon – Join a popular activity.
55. Keep your fingers crossed – Hope for good luck.
56. Leave no stone unturned – Try everything to achieve something.
57. Make a long story short – Tell something briefly.
58. On the ball – Alert and quick to respond.
59. Out of the blue – Unexpectedly.
60. Pull yourself together – Calm down.
61. Rain cats and dogs – Rain heavily.
62. See eye to eye – Agree fully.
63. Smell a rat – Suspect something is wrong.
64. Take a rain check – Postpone a plan.
65. The last straw – The final problem.
66. Throw caution to the wind – Take a risk.
67. Touch wood – Hope for good luck.
68. Under your nose – Very close but unnoticed.
69. Walk on air – Feel very happy.
70. Water under the bridge – Past events forgotten.
71. Bite the bullet – Face a difficult situation bravely.
72. Call it a day – Stop working.
73. Cross your fingers – Hope for the best.
74. Don’t judge a book by its cover – Don’t judge by appearance.
75. Fish out of water – Feel uncomfortable.
76. Get cold feet – Become nervous.
77. Go the extra mile – Do more than needed.
78. Have a sweet tooth – Like sweets.
79. In black and white – In writing.
80. Keep an eye on – Watch carefully.
81. Let your hair down – Relax.
82. Make ends meet – Manage with what you have.
83. On thin ice – In a risky situation.
84. Out of the frying pan into the fire – From one problem to a worse one.
85. Put your foot in your mouth – Say something embarrassing.
86. Read between the lines – Understand the hidden meaning.
87. Run out of steam – Lose energy.
88. See the light – Understand something suddenly.
89. Take the bull by the horns – Face a problem directly.
90. The tip of the iceberg – Only a small part of the problem.
91. Throw light on – Explain.
92. Turn over a new leaf – Start fresh.
93. Walk a mile in someone’s shoes – Understand someone’s situation.
94. Wear your heart on your sleeve – Show your feelings openly.
95. A hot potato – A difficult topic.
96. All in the same boat – In the same situation.
97. At the drop of a hat – Immediately.
98. Back to square one – Start again.
99. Ballpark figure – An estimate.
100. Bark is worse than bite – Someone seems mean but is not.

Common mistakes

• Mixing up proverbs and idioms. Remember: proverbs give advice, idioms are special phrases.
• Taking idioms literally. For example, "raining cats and dogs" means heavy rain, not real animals!
• Using them in the wrong context. "Hit the books" means study, not hitting real books.
• Forgetting the exact words. Idioms and proverbs lose meaning if you change them.

Remember it

Proverbs = advice or truth. Idioms = phrases with hidden meanings. Use them to make your English shine!