Proverbs

Matching
Match the different sentence halves to form English proverbs.
1. Where theres a will
2. Dont look a gift horse
3. If it aint broke,
4. Beggars cant
5. Too many cooks
6. Theres no such thing
7. People who live in glass houses
8. Two wrongs
9. The squeaky wheel
10.Dont put all your eggs
11.Two heads
12.Dont count your chickens

a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
k.
l.

Be choosers
Before they hatch
Spoil the broth
Theres a way
Are better than one
As a free lunch
In the mouth
In one basket
Shouldnt throw stones
Gets the grease
Dont fix it
Dont make a right

Meaning
Now match the proverb to its definition:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Getting revenge will only make things worse.

Dont criticise people if youve got imperfections too.
If something is working well, why change it?
If youre desperate youre not in a position to be picky.
If you complain about a situation youre more likely to get better service.
Have a backup plan. Dont risk all of your money and time on one plan.
If there are too many people involved in making a decision, it wont turn
out well.
8. If someone gives you a present, dont question it.
9. Two people will probably solve a problem faster than one.
10.Your plan might not work out. Dont assume they are going to work out
and start celebrating or planning the next step too early.
11.If something is free, theres normally a catch or hidden cost.
12.If you really want something, youll find a way to achieve it.

Processing
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Which proverbs are the same in your language?

In which ones is the meaning obvious?
Which ones will you remember?
Which ones will you forget?
Which one is your favourite?
What image do you associate with each proverb?

Picture Match
Match the picture to the proverb

Scenarios
Match the scenario to proverb.
1. Just because he cheated on you doesnt mean you should cheat on him.
2. The Christmas play is going to be awful because there are 5 different
directors!
3. I gave him my old bike for free and now hes complaining about the tyres.
4. I know they said we only have to go to the timeshare presentation to get
the free camera but I smell a rat.
5. Ill ask Julia for what she thinks; well work on it together.
6. Hes desperate to go travelling in the summer but hell have to save up a
lot of money first.
7. Is your soup cold too? We should say something.
8. You can talk Martin! You drink just as much as Tony does!
9. I just think we should have something else up our sleeve if they dont like
the first idea.
10.Hold your horses, we havent won the competition yet so stop planning
how youre going to spend the prize money.
11.Its the only room you can afford, so its take it or leave it Im afraid.
12.The new accounts system is working really well but I hear theyre thinking
of changing it again.

Test
In pairs, take it in turns to read out the first half of a proverb to your partner,
they must complete it.
A: Too many cooks
B: Spoil the broth.

Personalise
Choose 3 proverbs and try to relate them to a time in your life. Write three
sentences.

Key
Matching
1. D
2. G
3. K
4. A
5. C
6. F
7. I
8. L
9. J
10.H
11.E
12.B
Picture Match
1. Too many cooks
2. Dont put all your eggs
3. Dont count your chickens
4. Dont look a gift horse in
5. People who live in
6. 2 wrongs dont make a right
7. 2 heads are better than 1
8. Theres no such thing as a free
lunch

Meaning
1. Two wrongs dont make a right
2. People who live in glass
houses
3. If it aint broke
4. Beggars cant be choosers
5. The squeaky wheel
6. Dont put all your eggs in
7. Too many cooks
8. Dont look a gift horse
9. Two heads are better than one
10.Dont count your chickens
11.Theres no such thing as a
12.Where theres a will
Scenarios
1. 2 wrongs dont make a right
2. Too many cooks
3. Dont look a gift horse
4. Theres no such thing as
5. 2 heads are better than one
6. Where theres a will theres a
way
7. The squeaky wheel
8. People in glass houses
9. Dont put all your eggs in one
10.Dont count your chickens
11.Beggars cant be choosers
12.If it aint broke