This document discusses proverbs and provides examples of proverbs organized by theme. It defines proverbs as short sayings that express traditionally held truths and notes that they are usually metaphorical. It then provides examples of proverbs and how they relate to themes like poetry, self-improvement, hope, teamwork, animals and more. Each proverb is accompanied by a brief example of its meaning or application.

1. PROVERBS

2. WHAT ARE PROVERBS?
 Proverbs are short sayings that express some
traditionally held truth.
 They are usually metaphorical.
 For instance,

3. MORE PROVERBS…
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
A leopard cannot change its spots.
A picture paints a thousand words.

4. THEME: POETRY
 Procrastination is the thief of time.
 As the end-of-year examinations drew near, Ms Tan
reminded her class that procrastination is the thief of
time and urged everyone to begin their revision as
soon as possible.
 Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
 The newly-opened art gallery in town was nearly sold
out on its opening day but none were serious art
collectors, it seemed too nearly like the act of fools
who rush in where angels fear to tread.
23 Sep 2013

5. THEME: SELF-IMPROVEMENT
 Empty vessels make the most noise.
 Christopher was often criticised by Ms Tan as an
empty vessel making noise for his irrelevant and
disruptive outbursts during English lessons.
 Great talkers are little doers.
 Bossy Betty was told that great talkers are little
doers when she was ordering her classmates to
clean up the dirty classroom.
24 Sep 2013

6. THEME: HOPE
 Every dark cloud has a silver lining.
 When Mary's friends visited her in the hospital
for her broken leg, they tried to cheer her up by
reminding her that every dark cloud has a silver
lining.
 The darkest hour is just before dawn.
 As the goal difference widened, the team captain
rallied his teammates by reminding them that the
darkest hour is just before dawn and that they
needed to persevere to see it.
25 Sep 2013

7. THEME: TEAMWORK
A chain is only as strong as its weakest link
 Before the volleyball team headed for
competition, members were reminded that a chain
is only as strong as its weakest link as the coach
urged everyone to continue their daily trainings.
A house divided against itself cannot stand.
 As the conflict in class dragged on and the date of
the class cheer competition drew near, Mr Ong told
his students that a house divided against itself
cannot stand and urged everyone to put their
differences aside.
26 Sep 2013

8. THEME: ANIMALS
A fish rots from the head.
 Despite the calls by government leaders to end
corruption, these leaders forget that a fish rots from
the head as bribery remains widespread among the
people because these leaders are guilty of the
same crime.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer.
 Xiao Ming jumped for joy when he received high
marks for his recent test and was immediately
reminded by Ms Tan that one swallow does not
make a summer and he should continue to work
hard.
27 Sep 2013