English proverbs (N)

English proverbs (N)

Proverbs are popularly defined as short expressions of popular wisdom. Efforts to improve on the popular definition have not led to a more precise definition. The wisdom is in the form of a general observation about the world or a bit of advice, sometimes more nearly an attitude toward a situation.

N

• The nail that sticks up will be hammered down.
• Nature never did betray the heart. that loved her.
• Nature, time, and patience are three great physicians.
• Necessity is the mother of all invention.
• Necessity is the mother of all invention, but Laziness is the father. -[Benjamin Franklin]
• Ne'er cast a clout till May be out. (Not known if 'May' relates to the month of May or may blossom).
  • Don't remove winter vests (undergarments) until summer arrives.
• Never change, for the sake of others. There will be no one like you if you change. (GPL)
• Never judge the book by its cover.
  • meaning: Do not let a quick/superficial evaluation pass for a deep/quality one. Be willing to recheck. Measure twice, cut once.
• Never leave a woman to do a man's work.
  • alternate version, Never let a monkey to do a man's job, Never send a woman to do a man's job
  • Meaning: Leaving\employing someone less qualified to do your work will produce undesired results.
• Never let a man do a woman's job.
  • Feminist phrase; Men are poorer than women, skill-wise.
• Never let the right hand know what the left hand is doing.
  • Possible interpretation: Do not boast in giving to the poor- anonymous is best.
  • Possible interpretation: Secrecy insures security
• Never lie to your doctor.
• Never lie to your lawyer.
• Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
• Never put off till (until) tomorrow what you can do today.
• Never say die.
  • interpretation: Never give up.
• Never say never.
• Never smash a glass over a brick donkey.
• Never trouble trouble 'til trouble troubles you.
• A new broom sweeps clean.
• A night with Venus and a life with mercury.
  • Anti-promiscuity adage, alluding to a 18th-century mercury-based folk treatment for syphilis
  • Cited in Bartz, Diane, "Har, me hearties! Excavating Blackbeard's ship", Reuters (via Yahoo! News), 30 October 2006. URL accessed on 2006-11-01.
• No man can serve two masters.
  • Christian New Testament
• No man is an island
  • interpretation: Everybody needs other people.
• No man is content with his lot.
• No money, no justice.
• No need to cry over spilled milk.
• No news is good news.
• No pain, no gain.
• No time like the present.
• Noblesse oblige.
  • French expression: To be a member of the nobility carries obligations to care for the lower classes.
• Nobody leaves us, we only leave others.
• Not enough room to swing a cat
• Nothing exceeds like excess.
• Nothing to be feared in life, but understood.
• Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
  • Variant: Nothing ventured, nothing have. - Divers Proverbs, Nathan Bailey, 1721
• Now the shit has really hit the fan.
• Now we have doors so we can hide.