50 Popular English Proverbs for All Competitive Exams

Proverbs are short, wise sayings that convey practical truths and lessons. In competitive exams like SSC, UPSC, Banking, Railway, and State PSC, English proverbs often appear in the English language, reasoning, and general awareness sections. Understanding these proverbs helps in enhancing comprehension skills, essay writing, and overall language proficiency.

In this blog, we present 50 essential proverbs that you should know for competitive exams.

1-10: Wisdom & Life Lessons

1. A stitch in time saves nine. – Fixing a small problem early prevents bigger issues.
2. Actions speak louder than words. – What you do matters more than what you say.
3. All that glitters is not gold. – Appearances can be misleading.
4. Where there is a will, there is a way. – Determination leads to success.
5. An apple a day keeps the doctor away. – Healthy habits prevent illnesses.
6. Honesty is the best policy. – Being truthful is always beneficial.
7. Better late than never. – It’s better to do something late than never.
8. Don’t count your chickens before they hatch. – Don’t assume success before it happens.
9. The pen is mightier than the sword. – Words have more power than violence.
10. Rome wasn’t built in a day. – Great things take time.

11-20: Success & Hard Work

11. No pain, no gain. – Hard work leads to success.
12. Fortune favors the brave. – Taking risks can bring success.
13. Slow and steady wins the race. – Consistency leads to victory.
14. The early bird catches the worm. – Being early provides an advantage.
15. Practice makes perfect. – Repeating an action improves skills.
16. Hard work never goes unrewarded. – Effort leads to results.
17. Well begun is half done. – A good start makes things easier.
18. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. – Start small to achieve big things.
19. Failure is the stepping stone to success. – Learn from mistakes.
20. Great minds think alike. – Intelligent people often have similar thoughts.

21-30: Relationships & Society

21. Blood is thicker than water. – Family bonds are stronger than others.
22. Birds of a feather flock together. – Similar people stick together.
23. Charity begins at home. – Help starts with family.
24. A friend in need is a friend indeed. – A true friend helps in difficult times.
25. Look before you leap. – Think before acting.
26. Jack of all trades, master of none. – Someone who knows many skills but lacks expertise.
27. Love all, trust a few. – Be kind but careful about whom you trust.
28. United we stand, divided we fall. – Teamwork brings strength.
29. Two wrongs don’t make a right. – A bad action doesn’t justify another.
30. Misery loves company. – Unhappy people like sharing their sadness.

31-40: Money & Wealth

31. A fool and his money are soon parted. – Careless people lose money easily.
32. Money doesn’t grow on trees. – Wealth requires effort.
33. Penny wise, pound foolish. – Saving small amounts while wasting big ones.
34. Time is money. – Time is valuable like money.
35. A rolling stone gathers no moss. – Constant movement prevents stability.
36. Make hay while the sun shines. – Use opportunities when available.
37. Cut your coat according to your cloth. – Live within your means.
38. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. – Don’t risk everything in one place.
39. Easy come, easy go. – Money earned easily is lost easily.
40. Necessity is the mother of invention. – Needs inspire new ideas.

41-50: Nature & Miscellaneous

41. You can’t judge a book by its cover. – Appearances can be deceptive.
42. When in Rome, do as the Romans do. – Adapt to your surroundings.
43. A leopard cannot change its spots. – People don’t change easily.
44. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you. – Don’t hurt those who help you.
45. The grass is always greener on the other side. – Others’ lives seem better than ours.
46. Every cloud has a silver lining. – There is hope in difficulties.
47. Haste makes waste. – Rushing leads to mistakes.
48. Old is gold. – Old things have great value.
49. It takes two to tango. – Both sides are responsible for a situation.
50. You reap what you sow. – Your actions determine your results.

Conclusion

Proverbs play a crucial role in competitive exams by improving vocabulary, comprehension, and reasoning skills. Memorizing and understanding these 50 popular English proverbs will not only help you score better in exams but also improve your communication skills. Keep practicing, and good luck with your exams!