Alphabetical list of English proverbs, with an explanation where necessary :
  Proverb
 Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
A more.
 An apple a day keeps the doctor away.
 
   An Englishman's home is his castle.
   An empty purse frightens away friends.
   A friend in need is a friend indeed.
   A good beginning makes a good end.
   A leopard cannot change its spots.
   A man is as old as he feels himself to be.
 A man is known by the company he
  keeps.
   A rolling stone gathers no moss.
 A smooth sea never made a skilled
  mariner.
   A stitch in time saves nine.
   A stumble may prevent a fall.
   Action speaks better than words.
 Advice is least heeded when most
  needed.
 All work and no play makes Jack a dull
  boy.
 B  Better be alone than in bad company.
   Better late than never.
   Better lose the saddle than the horse.
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Explanation / Meaning
  When you are away from someone you love, you love them even
  Eating an apple every day can help to keep you healthy.
  Other interpretation: A small preventive treatment wards off
serious problems.
  An Englishman's home is a place where he feels safe, enjoys
privacy and can do as he wishes.
  When one's financial situation deteriorates, “friends” tend to
disappear.
 Someone who helps you when you are in trouble.
-------
  It is not possible for a bad or unpleasant person to become good
or pleasant.
-------
  A person's character is judged by the type of people with whom
they spend their time.
  If a person keeps moving from place to place, they gain neither
friends nor possessions.                                
  Another interpretation is that, by moving often, one avoids being
tied down!
  Overcoming adversity leads to competence.
  It's better to deal with a problem at an early stage, to prevent it
from getting worse.
 
  People show what they are really like by what they do, rather
than by what
  they say.
  When a problem is serious, people often do not follow the advice
given.
  Everybody needs a certain amount of relaxation.  It is not good to
work all
  the time.
  Be careful in the choice of the people you associate with.
----------
  It's better to stop and accept a small loss, rather than continue
 and risk losing
  everything.

   Birds of a feather flock together.

  People of the same sort are usually found together.

   Blood is thicker than water  

 Family relationships are stronger than relationships with other
people.
     
 C  Charity begins at home.   A person's first duty is to help and care for his own family.
     
 Diseases of the soul are more dangerous
 D than those of the body.
----------

   Dogs of the same street bark alike.

 People from the same background have the same behaviour.
 Don't count your chickens before they're
  hatched.
 You must not be too confident that something will be successful.

 Don't dig your grave with your own knife

  and fork.
 Do something yourself which causes your own downfall.

   Don't judge a book by its cover.  Don't judge by appearances.

     

 E  Experience is the father of wisdom.

 Experience and knowledge result in better judgement.
     

 People show what they are really like by what they do, rather than
 F  Facts speak louder than words.
by what
 they say.
 Knowing somebody very well may lead to a lack of respect for
   Familiarity breeds contempt
them.
   A friend in need is a friend indeed.  
     

 G  God helps those who help themselves.

----------

   Great minds think alike.

----------
     

 H  Half a loaf is better than none.  You should be grateful for something, even if it's not as much as
you wanted.

   He who plays with fire gets burnt.

 If you behave in a risky way, you are likely to have problems.
   He laughs best who laughs last.  Don't express your joy, or your triumph, too soon!

   Health is better than wealth.

----------
     

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  If a camel gets his nose in a tent, his body
 I will follow.
   In for a penny, in for a pound.
   It never rains but it pours.
   It's no use crying over spilt milk.
   It takes all sorts to make a world.
 K  Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age.
   Kindness begets kindness.
 L  Let bygones be bygones.
   Like father, like son.
   Love is blind.
 M  Many hands make light work.
   Marry in haste, repent at leisure.
   Men make houses, women make homes.
 Never put off till tomorrow what can be
N done today
 Necessity is the mother of invention.
 
   No news is good news.
   Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
 O  Once bitten, twice shy.
   One today is worth two tomorrow.
   Out of sight, out of mind.
 P  Penny wise, pound foolish.
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----------
 If you start something, it's better to spend the time or money
necessary to complete it.
 Misfortunes usually come in large numbers.
 Don't express regret for something that has happened and cannot
be remedied.
----------
----------
 If you are kind to people, they willl be kind to you.
 Let's forgive and forget past quarrels.
 A son's character can be expected to resemble his father's.
 A person in love does not see the faults of the person he/she
loves.
 Sharing work makes work easier.
----------
----------
                                               ----------
 The need for something forces people to find a way of
obtaining it.
  If the news was bad, we would hear of it.  Since we have heard
nothing,
  we can assume that all is  well.
 You cannot expect to achieve anything if you don't take risks.
  After an unpleasant experience, people are careful to avoid
something similar.
----------
----------
  Refers to a person who is careful about spending small amounts
of money, but
  not careful about spending large amounts of money.
   Practice makes perfect.
  Doing something repeatedly is the only way to become good at it.
   Practise what you preach   Do yourself what you advise others to do.

   Prevention is better than cure

----------
     
  It takes a long time to do a job properly.  You should not expect
 R  Rome was not built in a day.
to do it quickly.
     
 Sickness in the body brings
 S
sadness to the mind.  ----------
 Sticks and stones will break my bones but
  names
 will never hurt me -------
 It's better to deal with a problem in its early stages, because if you
   A stitch in time saves nine don't, it will get worse.
     
 The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.   Children resemble their parents.
T

 The devil looks after his own.   Success comes to those who deserve it least  .
 
  People who have no work, or are idle, often get into or make
 The devil makes work for idle hands
  trouble.
  If you want to do something successfully, you should do it as
   The early bird catches the worm.
soon as you can.
   The more haste, the less speed.   A person makes more progress if they do things less quickly.

   The more you have, the more you want.

----------
  Words and communication have greater effect than war and
   The pen is mightier than the sword
fighting.
  The real value of something can be judged only after it has been
   The proof of the pudding is in the eating.
tried or tested.

   The wish is father to the thought.

  You think that something is true because you want it to be so.
   Time is money.  Time is valuable and should not be wasted.

   Too many cooks spoil the broth.   If too many people are involved in something, it will not be done
properly.
   Two wrongs don't make a right   It is wrong to harm someone because they have harmed you.
     
  Variety is the spice of life.
V   ----------
     
     
 W  Walls have ears.   Be careful.  People could be listening.

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   Waste not, want not.   If you never waste anything, you will have it when you need it.

   What a man says drunk, he thinks sober.

----------
  People misbehave when their boss, or the person in authority, is
   When the cat's away, the mice play.
absent.
  You should adopt the customs of the people or country you are
   When in Rome, do as the Romans do. visiting,
  and behave in the same way.

   Where there's life there's hope.

----------
   Where there's a will, there's a way.  A person with determination will find a way of doing something.
     
 You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's
 You can't make something good out of inferior materials.
Y ear.
 You can't make old people change their ideas or ways of doing
 You can't teach an old dog new tricks.
  things.
  What you receive, or whatever happens, is a result of your own
   You reap what you sow.
actions.

P
r
o
v
e
r
b
s
  Between the devil and the To choose between two equally bad
deep sea alternatives in a serious dilemma.
Where there's a will When a person really wants to do something,
there's a way he will find a way of doing it.

A burnt child dreads fire A bad experience or a horrifying incident

may scar one's attitude or thinking for a
lifetime.

First come, first served The first in line will be attended to first.

A friend in need is a A friend who helps when one is in trouble is

friend indeed a real friend.

Discretion is the better If you say discretion is the better part of

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 part of valor valor, you mean that avoiding a dangerous or
  unpleasant situation is sometimes the most
  sensible thing to do.

A hungry man is an angry A person who does not get what he wants or
man needs is a frustrated person and will be easily
  provoked to rage.

Empty vessels make the Those people who have a little knowledge
most noise usually talk the most and make the greatest
fuss.

A man is as old as he feels A person's age is immaterial - it is only when

he thinks and feels that he is ageing that he
actually becomes old.

Great talkers are little Those people who talk a lot and are always
doers teaching others usually do not do much work.

An idle brain is the devil's One who has nothing to do will be tempted to
workshop do many mischievous acts.

An ounce of discretion is It is better to be careful and discrete than to

worth a pound of wit be clever.

Faint heart never won To succeed in life one must have the courage
fair lady to pursue what he wants.

A penny saved is a penny By being thrifty one will be able to save up.
gained

A rolling stone gathers no A person who never settles in one place or

moss who often changes his job will not succeed in
  life ; one who is always changing his mind
will never get anything done.

As you sow, so you shall One will either enjoy or suffer the
reap consequences of his earlier actions or
inactions.

Barking dogs seldom bite Those who make loud threats seldom carry
them out.

Better late than never To do something that is right, profitable, or

  good a little late is still better than not doing
it at all. 

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 A bird in hand is worth Something that one already has is better than
two in the bush going after something seemingly more
  worthwhile that one may not be able to get.

Birds of a feather flock People of the same sort of character or belief

together always go together.

Call a spade a spade If you say that someone calls a spade a spade,
  you mean that they speak frankly and
directly, often about embarrassing or
unpleasant subjects; an informal expression.

Charity begins at home A person's first obligation should be to help

the member of his own family before he can
begin thinking of talking about helping
others.

Dead men tell no lies ( often used as an argument for killing

  someone whose knowledge of a secret may
cause one loss or get into serious trouble.)

A great talker is a great A smooth and persuasive talker may be a

liar good liar.

Every cloud has a silver If you say that every cloud has a silver lining,
lining you mean that every sad or unpleasant
  situation has a positive side to it. If you talk
about silver lining you are talking about
something positive that comes out of a sad or
unpleasant situation.

All that glitters is not gold Do not be deceived by things or offers that
appear to be attractive.

Eat to live, but do not live Man was created for a divine purpose and he
to eat has a destiny with his Creator - he was not
  born just to enjoy food.

Don't put all your eggs in One should not risk everything he has in a
one basket single venture.

Every dog has its day Everyone will get a period of success or
satisfaction during his lifetime.

Every one can find fault, It is easier to find fault in other people's
few can do better actions or methods than to do it properly or
correctly.

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 Any time means no time When an event is not decided on or planned
earlier it will never take place.

Fair exchange is no A contract is fair as long as both the parties

robbery understand and agree to the conditions
  willingly; after a deal is closed neither side
can turn around and say that he was unfairly
treated.

Fire is a good servant but Fire, like any other manmade tool or device,
a bad master will serve man well only when it is controlled
  and used wisely.

  Actions speak louder than Children usually learn more from the examples
words set by their elders than from what they are
  told ; a person's character is judged by the thing
she does and not by what he says; actions give
evidence or proof of.

Fortune knocks once at Everyone gets at least one good opportunity in

every man's door his lifetime; everyone has the opportunity to be
successful in life.

Give the devil his due Be just and fair-minded , even to the one who
  does not deserve much or who is unfriendly or
unfair; we should punish a person according to
his wrongdoings.

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 God helps those who help God only helps those people who work hard
themselves and make an honest effort.

It's an ill wind that blows A bad or evil occurrence.

nobody any good

Great minds think alike Wise people will normally think and behave
  alike in certain situations.

Habit is second nature An act done repeatedly and often enough will
  sooner or later become a habit or second
nature.

He laughs best who A person who does his best is the one who will
laughs last get the greatest satisfaction in the end.

Never do things by halves One should not do an incomplete or imperfect

  job - certain tasks must not be left half done;
they must be done away with immediately.

Great haste makes great If one does things hastily he will make a lot of
waste mistakes - he will need to spend a lot of time
correcting those mistakes later.

It's never too late to mend It is never too late to correct one's mistakes or
faults.

It's no use crying over It is pointless to feel remorseful over a thing

spilt milk lost that can never be found or a mistake done
  that can never be corrected or rectified.

Still waters run deep One who is usually silent and goes about his
  business quietly may be a very wise person.

Jack of all trades and Is a person who can do almost anything, but he
master of none rarely excels in any of them.

Let bygones by bygones One should consider forgiving one's and forget
all the bad deeds done by others.

Let not the pot call the A person who has a fault should not point out
kettle black the same fault in another; do not criticize
  another person as you may have the same
weakness.

Let sleeping dogs lie One should preferably avoid discussing issues
  that are likely to create trouble.

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 No news is good news When there is no news, it is likely that
everything is all right.

Look before you leap Avoid acting hastily, without considering the
possible consequences.

Necessity is the mother of When a person is in great need of something,

invention he will find a way of getting it.

Honesty is the best policy Being honest is believed to be the best route to
take.

One man's meat is No two persons are alike - every one has his
another man's poison own preferences, likes and dislikes.

Once bitten twice shy If a person has been tricked once he will more
  be careful and alert the next time.

Like father, like son, like ( used to describe a child's behavior when he or
mother, like daughter she acts like the father or mother )

Practice makes perfect It is believed that if one practices a certain skill

  often, he will excel in it

Prevention is better than It is better to be careful beforehand than to try

cure to solve a problem after it has arisen.
     
Rome was not built in a Any great plan or big dream cannot be
day achieved overnight or easily.

Robbing Peter to pay ( this is quoted when one takes another loan to
Paul pay off an earlier loan ) taking from one to give
  another.

Spare the rod and spoil A child who is not punished and showed the
the child error of his ways will become unruly.

Speech is silver, silence is Talk may be beneficial, but sometimes

golden acquiescence may be the best option to take.

It takes two to make a Both parties in a quarrel should share the blame
quarrel or take responsibility for it; no one can start a
  quarrel all by himself.

Strike while the iron is Seize a good opportunity as quickly as

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 hot possible.

There's no smoke without Rumors do not spread unless there is some

fire element of truth in them.

Time and tide wait for no Time is precious, once it is past no one can go
one back and claim it thus everyone should be
  mindful of how his time is spent.

To err is human, to It is only normal for man to make mistakes and

forgive divine do wrong, but for one to forgive another for his
  wrong is indeed  great and gracious act.

What's done can't be In life there are some things once done or
undone decisions once made cannot be changed;
  malicious words once uttered or harmful
actions once done cannot be taken back.

Two heads are better It is always better to get the view of another
than one than to rely entirely on one's own judgment.

When in Rome do as the When one is in a new place, country or

Romans do situation he must adapt himself to the new
manners and customs.

When the cat is away the When law enforcers are not present, certain
mice will play public members will take the opportunity to
  break the law

Absence makes the heart One usually desires another more when he or
grow fonder she is far away.

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 English proverbs

A change is as good as a rest.

A constant guest is never welcome.

A creaking door hangs longest.

A few germs never hurt anyone.

A fool and his money are soon parted.

A friend in need is a friend indeed.

A good payer will not object to leaving a deposit.

A little thing in hand is worth more than a great thing in prospect.

A man may learn wit every day.

A miss is as good as a mile.

A moneyless man goes fast through the market.

A pound of care will not pay a pound of debt.

A rolling stone gathers no moss.

A rule isn't unfair if it applies to everyone.

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 A soft answer turneth away wrath.

A woman's place is in the home.

Absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Abundance of things engenders disdainfulness.

Actions speak louder than words / voice.

After dinner rest a while, after supper walk a mile.

All griefs with bread are less.

All mouth and no trousers.

All talk and no action.

All things are easy that are done willingly.

All work and no play make Jack a dull boy.

An apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Anger and hate hinder good counsel.

Anger is a short madeness.

Any port in a storm.

Appetite comes with eating.

As soon as one goes out the window, another comes in the door.

As sure as eggs is eggs / (God made) little green apples / night follows day / the day is
long.

At the game's end we shall see who gains.

Beauty draws more than oxen.

Beggars' bags are bottomless.

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 Beggars can't be choosers.

Better keep now than seek anon.

Better late / later than never.

Better to ask the way than to go astray.

Birth is much, but breeding is more.

Brain is better than brawn.

Cowards die many times.

Dead men have no friends.

Different strokes for different folks.

Discretion is the better part of courage / valor.

Do what is right, come what may.

Each of us must face our own responsibilities.

Each person knows where problems lie.

Each to his own and God watching over everyone.

Each to his own.

Eat, drink and be merry (for tomorrow we die).

Every dog has its day.

Every law has a / its loophole.

Everyone gets his comeuppance in the end / just deserts sooner or later.

Everyone sees things from his / her own point of view.

Evildoers always think the worst of others.

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 Faint heart never won fair lady.

Fine words butter no parsnips.

Fools rush / walk in where angels fear to tread.

For a good appetite there is no hard bread.

Friendless in life, friendless in death.

Give a dog a bad name (and hang it).

Give a thing and take a thing, to wear the devil's gold ring.

God sends cold after clothes.

Great minds think alike.

Half a loaf is better than no bread.

Half the truth is often a whole lie.

He that blames would buy.

He that chastens one chastens twenty.

He that eats till he is sick must fast till he is well.

He that fights and runs away, lives to fight another day.

He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.

He that would have the fruit must climb the tree.

He who excuses himself accuses himself.

He who pays the piper calls the tune.

Health is better than wealth.

Hell has / hath no fury like a woman scorned.

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 Her left hand doesn't know what her right hand is doing.

Home is where he hangs his hat.

Home is where the heart is.

Honesty is the best policy.

Honor buys no meat in the market.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick.

Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

Hope is a good breakfast but a bad supper.

Hunger drives the wolf out of the woods.

Hunger is good kitchen.

Hunger is the best sauce.

Hunger never saw bad bread / food.

I don't care what people say as long as I get what want.

If a job is worth doing, it's worth doing well.

If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.

If wishes were horses (, then beggars would ride).

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.

If you don't have what it takes you won't get on in the world.

If you go away, you can't expect people to keep your place for you.

If you leave your place, you lose it.

If you lie down with dogs, you'll get up with fleas.

If you live like that, you're bound to come to a bad end.

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 If you talk too much you're likely to give yourself away.

If you think the worst, you won't be far wrong.

If you want to watch, you'd better keep quiet.

If you wish good advice, consult an old man.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

In for a penny, in for a pound.

It just makes things worse.

It makes no difference.

It never rains, but it pours.

It's a question of swings and roundabouts.

It's a small world! ¡Que pequeno es el mundo! .

El mundo es un panuelo.

It's as broad as it is long.

It's better to be on your own than with people you don't like.

It's his / her own lookout / tough luck.

It's just a question of putting two and two together.

It's like talking to a brick wall.

It's like water off a duck's back.

It's more blessed to give than to receive.

It's no crime to steal from a thief.

It's not the end of the world.

It's six of one (and half a dozen of the other).

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 It's the pot calling the kettle black.

It's the same people under a different name.

Laughter is the best medicine.

Learning is better than house and land.

Least said, soonest mended.

Let bygones be bygones.

Let sleeping dogs lie.

Let's get things clear.

Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

Like breeds like.

Little strokes fell great oaks.

Live and let live.

Long absent, soon forgotten.

Look after the pennies, and the pounds will look after themselves.

Love does much, money does everything.

Love laughs at locksmiths.

Love will find a way.

Lovers quarrels are soon mended.

Make the best of a bad bargain / job / situation.

Make the best of it.

Man cannot live by bread alone.

Many hands make light work.

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 Married people need a home of their own.

Mischief comes by the pound and goes away by the ounce.

Misfortunes always come in threes.

Money goes where money is.

More than enough is too much.

Necessity is the mother of invention.

Never give advice unasked.

Never say die.

Never spend your money before you have it.

Never too late to do well.

No bees, no honey; no work, no money.

No offense taken when none is meant.

No one will notice (in the dark).

Nothing goes on for ever.

Nothing has really changed.

Nothing succeeds like success.

Of all pains, the greatest pain, is to love, but love in vain.

Old friends and old wine and old gold are best.

Once a thief, always / ever a thief.

One can never know too much.

One enemy is too many; and a hundred friends too few.

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 One good forewit is worth two afterwits.

One man's meat is another man's poison / another's poison.

Out of debt, out of danger.

Patience, time, and money accommodate all things.

Plenty breed pride.

Possession is nine parts / points / tenths of the law.

Poverty breeds discontent.

Problems don't seem so bad if you keep cheerful.

Servants make the worst masters.

Set a thief to catch a thief.

Six of one and half a dozen of the other.

Small choice in rotten apples.

Small world! ¡Que pequeno es el mundo! .

El mundo es un panuelo.

Sometimes the remedy is worse than the disease.

Spring is in the air.

Take no notice of the stupid things people say.

The best way to solve a problem is to attack its cause / root.

The buyer needs a hundred eyes, the seller but one.

The chickens have come home to roost.

The child is the father of the man.

The darkest hour comes / is past / is that before the dawn.

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 The devil looks after himself / his own.

The die is cast.

The early bird catches the worm.

The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.

The grass looks greener on the other side of the fence.

The greatest hate springs from the greatest love.

The more danger, the more honor.

The pen is mightier than the sword.

The pot calls the kettle black.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The sap rises in the spring.

The shoemaker's son always goes barefoot.

The truth will out.

The wages of sin is death.

There are plenty more fish in the sea.

There wasn't a sound to be heard.

There's always a catch.

There's honor among thieves.

There's no accounting / disputing for taste.

There's no smoke without fire.

There's no substitute for experience.

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 There's so queer as folk.

These things always come in threes.

They are / were all different.

Things have changed.

Things often happen when you least expect them to.

Time and tide wait for no man.

Time doesn't stand still.

Time heals all wounds.

Time is a great healer.

To err is human, to forgive divine.

Too many cooks spoil the broth.

Truth will out.

Try to strike a happy medium.

Two in distress makes sorrow less.

Walls have ears.

We are all equal in the eyes of the Lord.

We have been fools once in our lives.

We must live by the living, not by the dead.

We would be better off to have than to have coming.

We'll just have to make do.

We're all a little crazy in one way or another.

What can't be cured must be endured.

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 What the boss says goes.

What you lose in / on the swings, you gain in the roundabouts.

What you see is what you get.

When drums beat, laws are silent.

When good cheer is lacking, our friends will be packing.

When it rains, it pours.

When one is hungry everything tastes good.

Where there's muck, there's brass / money.

Where there's smoke, there's fire.

Where there's gossiping, there's lying.

Where there's whispering, there's lying.

Where we least think, there goes the hare away.

Who receives a gift, sells his liberty.

Who disturbs a sleeping dog sells peace and buys noise.

(Let sleeping dogs lie.)

Whom the gods love die young.

Worse things happened at sea.

You are what you own.

You can judge a man by the company he keeps.

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

You can't escape your destiny.

You can't have your cake and eat it too.

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 You can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.

You can't make bricks without straw.

You can't please everybody.

You can't serve God and Mammon.

You can't win them all.

You could have heard a pin drop.

You have to make the most of the chances that come your way.

You have to strike while the iron is hot.

You have to suffer in the name of fashion / to be fashionable.

You must face the consequences of your actions.

You're casting pearls before swine.

You're suffering the consequences now.

You've made bed, (and) now you'll have to / you must lie in it.

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