Unpacking Common Trite Sayings: Their Origins and Meanings

Love is blind.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

When one door closes, another opens.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.

Actions speak louder than words.

The grass is always greener on the other side.

No pain, no gain.

You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Better safe than sorry.

Birds of a feather flock together.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Don’t count your chickens before they hatch.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

Out of sight, out of mind.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

All’s well that ends well.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

Once bitten, twice shy.

Still waters run deep.

Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Like father, like son.

Easier said than done.

Practice makes perfect.

The early bird catches the worm.

A penny saved is a penny earned.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Barking up the wrong tree

Bite off more than you can chew

Break a leg

Burst your bubble

Couch potato

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Unpacking Common Trite Sayings: Their Origins and Meanings part 2

Every cloud has a silver lining

Feeling under the weather

Hit the nail on the head

Kick the bucket

Kill two birds with one stone

Make a long story short

Once in a blue moon

Piece of cake

Spill the beans

The ball is in your court

The best of both worlds

The cat’s out of the bag

There’s no such thing as a free lunch

When pigs fly

You can’t judge a book by its cover

You can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs

Your guess is as good as mine

Better late than never

Let sleeping dogs lie

You can’t have your cake and eat it too

Truth is stranger than fiction

Not my circus, not my monkeys

Cry over spilt milk.

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket.

The early bird catches the worm.

Better late than never.

Birds of a feather flock together.

Every cloud has a silver lining.

Actions speak louder than words.

Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.

Good things come to those who wait.

Great minds think alike.

Slow and steady wins the race.

There’s no smoke without fire.

When it rains, it pours.

You can’t make an omelette without breaking some eggs.

Curiosity killed the cat.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Beggars can’t be choosers.

Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

All that glitters is not gold.

Don’t judge a book by its cover.