Intermediate Level English Proverbs

Learning proverbs - or sayings - are a great way to get insight and improve your English. Unfortunately, some proverbs are easy to understand and others more difficult. This article provides twenty intermediate level proverbs that are right for your level. Each proverb has a definition for you to learn the proverb. Once you have learned these twenty proverbs, match the situations to the appropriate proverb at the end of the article. Teachers can use these activities with proverbs in the classroom to help your learners.

• After a storm comes a calm. When life is difficult, remember that things get better and calm down sooner or later.
• Beauty is only skin-deep. Physical beauty is not the only important thing.
• Blood is thicker than water. People who are in your family are more important than people you meet in life.
• Never send a boy to do a man's job. It's important to give important tasks to people with experience.
• Clothes make the man. The clothing you wear change how you appear to yourself and others.
• What's done cannot be undone. Don't worry about a mistake, you can't change it.
• Half the truth is often a whole lie. Providing only certain details, and hiding others indicate that something is false.
• Great minds think alike. Used with friends to say that we are both smart.
• One hand washes the other. If I do something for you, you will do something for me.
• Every Jack has his Jill. Everyone can find the right person in life.
• Love makes the word go round. The most important thing in life is love.
• Never is a long time. Similar to 'never say never.' Don't so 'no' to things in life. Things may change.
• Money talks. Money can be used to convince people that something is right or needs to be done.
• Old habits die hard. Things that you do often are difficult to stop doing.
• Practice what you preach. You should act like you say others should act.
• One step at a time. Go slowly, be careful.
• Truth is stranger than fiction. Life is very surprising.
• Variety is the spice of life. It's important to do many different types of things in life to make it interesting.
• Practice makes perfect. If you want to be good at something, you need to do it often.
• When in Rome do as the Romans do. It's important to follow the local customs when in a different location than your home.

Matching Proverbs Exercise

Match the proverbs below with the appropriate situations for the proverb.

Proverbs

• After a storm comes a calm.
• Beauty is only skin-deep.
• Blood is thicker than water.
• Never send a boy to do a man's job.
• Clothes make the man.
• What's done cannot be undone.
• Half the truth is often a whole lie.
• Great minds think alike.
• One hand washes the other.
• Every Jack has his Jill.
• Love makes the word go round.
• Never is a long time.
• Money talks.
• Old habits die hard.
• Practice what you preach.
• One step at a time.
• Truth is stranger than fiction.
• Variety is the spice of life.
• Practice makes perfect.
• When in Rome do as the Romans do.

Situations

• I know things are difficult now, but soon things will get better and easier.
• Don't worry too much about your looks, you've got a great personality.
• Remember he's your brother. That relationship will always remain.
• We need to choose someone with more experience for this contract.
• It's amazing how I feel when I put on a suit.
• Stop worrying about the past and your choices.
• Even though it seemed like a good idea, the fact that he left out some details should have been a clue to the problems.
• You and I are thinking the same thing!
• If Tom helps Peter a little, Peter will help Tom at some time in the future.
• You will find a partner some day. It's going to happen!
• The best way to success is to treat people with respect.
• You might say you don't want to do that job today, but tomorrow might be a different story.
• I know he shouldn't have won the election, but he had a lot of rich donors.
• I've tried to quit smoking many times. I just can't do it!
• If you say that everyone needs to arrive on time, make sure that you also arrive on time.
• Things take a long time to accomplish. Take your time and do each thing well.
• Sometimes I read the news and am very surprised and amused by what people do.
• Make sure to try all sorts of things in your life. Otherwise, you'll get bored.
• It took years to become a good piano player.
• Watch how the people act and do the same. That way you'll fit in no matter where you are.