proverb

Everyday

1. A proverb is a short, well-known saying that gives advice or states a truth about life, like "Look before you leap". tree →
2. (Bible) Proverbs is a book of the Old Testament full of wise sayings, many linked with King Solomon. tree →

In the lessons

In English lessons pupils learn proverbs and explain what they mean, because their meaning is not literal. In everyday life, grandparents and teachers use proverbs to give advice. In church, readings from the book of Proverbs teach about wisdom, honesty and hard work. Phrases: "as the proverb says", "an old proverb", "the Book of Proverbs".

Examples

• "Don't count your chickens before they hatch" is a proverb. tree →
• My nan has a proverb for everything. tree →
• "Many hands make light work" means that a job is easier when people help. tree →
• We wrote our own proverbs in class. tree →
• (Bible) The book of Proverbs says that a gentle answer turns away anger. tree →
• Every language has its own proverbs. tree →
• The proverb "Actions speak louder than words" means what you do matters more than what you say. tree →
• Remember the old proverb which says: ‘Bad wheat always makes poor bread!’” tree →

Note

Countable: a proverb, proverbs. Adjective: proverbial ("the proverbial needle in a haystack" means "as in the saying"). A proverb is different from an idiom: a proverb is a complete sentence with advice, an idiom is a phrase with a special meaning ("under the weather"). The Bible book is "Proverbs" with a capital P.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah it means a saying people use to mock someone, and Israel becomes a "proverb" when it is punished. In the Prophets and Writings a proverb is also a wise saying: Solomon spoke three thousand of them, and the book of Proverbs collects them.

Interpretation. Tradition reads the Torah verse as a warning that other nations will point to Israel's fate as an example. It also holds that Solomon wrote Proverbs, and that Hezekiah's men copied more of his sayings.

Examples

• And thou shalt become an astonishment, a proverb, and a byword, among all the peoples whither the LORD shall lead thee away. (Torah DEU.28.37, JPS 1917) tree →
• And he spoke three thousand proverbs; and his songs were a thousand and five. (Prophets 1KI.5.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• To understand a proverb, and a figure; the words of the wise, and their dark sayings. (Writings PRO.1.6, JPS 1917) tree →
• These also are proverbs of Solomon, which the men of Hezekiah king of Judah copied out. (Writings PRO.25.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a proverb, proverbs. Adjective: proverbial ("the proverbial needle in a haystack" means "as in the saying"). A proverb is different from an idiom: a proverb is a complete sentence with advice, an idiom is a phrase with a special meaning ("under the weather"). The Bible book is "Proverbs" with a capital P.