Out of habit or custom, we tend to pepper our conversations with a wide variety of adages or maxims, making simple points with widely-known expressions. Sometimes the expressions bear no apparent relationship to the point we are making, but we know the meaning and the use of the adage makes the point.
Here are some of those we most commonly use:
A stitch in time saves nine – Repair something before the damage gets worse.
A pig in a poke – Literally buying a pig in a bag without looking in the bag. Meaning is buying an unknown.
All hands make light work – People working together can better solve a problem or perform a task.
All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy – You need a life beyond your work.
All’s fair in love and war – No rules apply. The saying usually is used in a light hearted way to describe some action that is a little unusual for the circumstances in which it took place.
All’s well that ends well – Things may not have gone as planned, but the end result worked out.
Big fish, little sea – If you are a clerk in a multi-national company with thousands of employees you are a little fish in a big sea. If you are the accountant for a small local company you are then a big fish in a little sea.
By hook or by crook – A hook was a bent rod with a sharp point used to assist the user to hold and move a bag or bundle. A crook was the long (two metre) walking stick with a hook on the end traditionally used by shepherds. By hook or by crook meant that by the use of these two tools the job would be completed.
Don’t change horses in midstream – Stick with what or who you know.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket – Spread your risks. Don’t invest all of your money with one bank.
Don’t beat a dead horse – A project obviously will not succeed, so it is connsidered dead and not worth further work.
Fools rush in where Angels fear to tread – When considering an action be sure to consider all angles before making the final decision.
Good things come to those who wait – Don’t rush into anything, think it through and wait until the time is right before you act.
Great minds think alike – Thoughtful people tend to come up with similar answers.
He who hesitates is lost – If you are sure of something, go for it.
Lay low – Say little and hope others will forget the error of your ways.
Never look a gift horse in the mouth – Don’t accept,without question, something given to you.
Out of sight, out of mind – If someone leaves our immediate vicinity to live elsewhere they maybe forgotten.
Penney wise pound foolish – Refers to a person who worries about saving every small amount of money that they can, but may go and spend many pounds without thinking about the real cost.
Practice makes perfect – Applies in all training and learning.
Shake the hand before you plough the field – Arrange the payment conditions before doing the work.
There’s no use in flogging (beating)a dead horse.
Too many cooks spoil the broth – Stay out of the expert’s way.
Two heads are better than one – Two people can more easily find a solution to a problem than one person.
Variety is the spice of life – Life would be dull without a wide range of activities.