Proverbs

[ss]

Which is the most appropriate in the context ?


1. The traffic is very heavy tonight and we’re going to be late for our party, still, _________________.
(better safe than sorry; absence makes the heart grow fonder; better late than never)

2. We have had a very enjoyable trip to the islands, but we have to go home tomorrow, ______________.
(travel broadens the mind; all good things come to an end; something is better than nothing)

3. Grandfather still gets up at 6am every morning, although he’s retired and no longer has to catch an early train into town, ______________.
(old habits die hard; the early bird catches the worm; you are never too old to learn)

4. You should try to do a little studying every evening throughout the term, rather than study all night during the week before the exam, ______________.
(delays are dangerous; practice makes perfect; slow but sure wins the race.)

5. This is a very difficult situation, but we can survive it, if we cooperate with each other and help each other out, ___________________.
(you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours; fair exchange is no robbery; one good turn to deserves another)

6. The boss did not appreciate how much his secretary helped him until she resigned, __________________.
(it is easy to be wise after the event; you never miss the water till the well runs dry; Rome wasn’t built in a day)

7. The offer is a very generous one and you should accept it right away, ______________.
(strike while the iron is hot; one door closes, another opens; look before you leap)


---------------------
Tanuki-san wrote this the other day : Tomorrow is another day
This optimistic proverb indicates that things might improve in the future and that you should put aside the problems of the present.

Examples:
* The team may not have played very well today, but at least they got through to the next round and tomorrow is another day.

* It’s too bad that Jane didn’t get the job, but tomorrow is another day and she still has several other interviews to attend.

Did you know?
The original form of this proverb is tomorrow is a new day, which may have been translated from Spanish. ((I guess Tanuki-san can tell us more ))


Spanish ....... Mañana será otro día (Tanuki)
中國語 ......... 明天會更好 míng tīan huì gèng hao (SS)
日本語 ......... 明日は明日の風が吹く (Coco)
Italian ......... Domani è un altro giorno (Txkun)

-------
Arigatou Rich-san ^_^

Edit: Rich-san won ! - better safe than sorry

[richvh]

There's a typo in question 1. better safe than sorry.

[MegaMangaMan]

1. absence makes the heart grow fonder

2.all good things come to an end

3.old habits die hard

4.slow but sure wins the race

5.one good deserves another

6.you never miss the water 'til the well runs dry.

7.look before you leap

what exactly is this for any way?

[tanuki]

SS wrote:
Did you know?
The original form of this proverb is tomorrow is a new day, which may have been translated from Spanish. ((I guess Tanuki-san can tell us more ))

The correct English version is "Tomorrow is a new day"? I didn't know!

I translated directly from Spanish. The proverb is "Mañana será otro día", which literally means "tomorrow will be another day".

[tanuki]

I guess I'll put my guesses:

1. better late than never
2. all good things come to an end
3. old habits die hard
4. delays are dangerous
5. you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
6. you never miss the water till the well runs dry
7. strike while the iron is hot

[anikaliki]

1. better late than never
2. all good things come to an end
3. old habits die hard
4. delays are dangerous
5. you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
6. you never miss the water till the well runs dry
7. strike while the iron is hot


That's what I think.

[ss]

what exactly is this for any way?

Good question.
I agreed with the writer, she said:" Proverbs are an important part of the English language. They add interest and colour to the English Language and a knowledge of them will enrich learner's comprehension and use of English."

((I really wish to see more non-English speakers, or native Japanese participate here. See if we can link both English and Japanese through the practice here.))

--------------
Edit

[coco]

SS wrote:
Spanish ....... Mañana será otro día
中國語 ......... 明天會更好 míng tīan huì gèng hao
日本語 ......... ??

「明日は明日の風が吹く」(あしたは あしたの かぜが ふく) じゃないかな。

映画 『Gone with the wind』(邦題:『風と共に去りぬ』)の台詞(せりふ)として
この言葉が知られるようになったと記憶していますが
違ったかな?

他の方、よろしく。

[richvh]

The first proverb still isn't right; "better safe than sorry", no be in it.

[mamba]

Another saying for #7 is opportunity knocks once.

[Txkun]

SSsan,
This is what in the italian translation of the movie "Via col vento" Rossella O'Hara says: "Domani è un altro giorno". One of the most famous lines from a movie I think.

[ss]

Better late than never
It is better to arrive somewhere later than arranged or expected than never to arrive at all, or to do something later than planned than never to do it at all.

Examples:
* The parcel was delayed in the post and has only just arrived, I was beginning to get worried about it, but better late than never.

* We thought the technicians were not going to turn up, but they finally arrived and started work late, I suppose it was a case of better late than never.


Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Feelings of affection for someone or something become stronger when they are not with you.

Examples:
* Sue never pays attention to her little sister, but she has been away from home for a month and she’s really looking forward to her return, clearly, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

* When Kim was working in this office, she said that it was a very boring place to work, but now she says she misses it very much, absence makes the heart grow fonder.


Delays are dangerous
This proverb warns against putting things off instead of doing them right away.

Examples:
* The president was right to send in troops right away, delays are dangerous.

* His condition is really critical that we have to send him immediately to the hospital, delays are dangerous.


Slow but sure wins the race
Patience and perseverance are likely to result in achievement and success. This is a warning that steady progress is better than rash haste when it comes to achieving things.

Examples:
* Jimmy was not a brilliant student, but he studied hard and regularly throughout the school year and he did extremely well in the exams, slow but sure wins the race.

* Slow sure wins the race, since you have just recovered and haven’t exercised for some time, you should start off with some light exercise and gradually work up to something more energetic.

Did you know?
This proverb relates to the story of The Hare and The Tortoise from Aesop’s fable.


[spoiler]1. better late than never
2. all good things come to an end
3. old habits die hard
4. slow but sure wins the race
5. you scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours
6. you never miss the water till the well runs dry
7. strike while the iron is hot[/spoiler]

[TrilinguisT]

my favorite : "pot calling the kettle black" .. not so much a proverb, but i love this idiom

[chchan45]

Interesting discussion. I would like to add my observations:

1. Delays are dangerous
To be honest I have never heard this. However, I am aware of a similar proverb "strike the iron while it is hot".

2. Slow but sure wins the race
In the UK, I believe it is "slowly but surely does it".

3. I think number 1 in the original post is a trick question. Many people may fall for the third option.

1. The traffic is very heavy tonight and we’re going to be late for our party, still, _________________.
(better safe than sorry; absence makes the heart grow fonder; better late than never)

"Better safe than sorry" is the correct choice. You are effectively saying that it is better to drive safely to the party (and arrive late) rather than risking an accident.

"Better late than never" has a different meaning. You are effectively saying that it is better to turn up late at the party than not go at all. Therefore, the following sentence would also make sense:

We are going to be late for our party, but better late than never.

[ss]

Tri wrote
my favorite : "pot calling the kettle black" .. not so much a proverb, but i love this idiom

Pot calling the kettle black
五?#27493;笑百步 wu shí bù xiào bài bù
五助熾S歩（ごじゅっぽひゃっぽ） (日本語 ??)
目くそ鼻くそを笑う（めくそはなくそをわらう） (from my sensei ^^)