It never rains but it pours
In modern English this would read, 'It never rains without pouring.' The meaning is that events, especially misfortunes, always come... Read more →
It needs more skill than I can tell to play the second fiddle well
This couplet was composed by Charles H. Spurgeon, the famous Baptist minister and orator. The leading performer in an orchestra is the first... Read more →
It is useless to flog a dead horse
It is a waste of time to try to revive interest in a worn-out or forgotten subject, or to argue about something that was settled long since. 'I... Read more →
It is too late to lock the stable when the horse has been stolen
It is useless to take precautions after something has happened that could have been foreseen and guarded against. The French version is, 'After... Read more →
It is the unexpected that always happens
Another version of this is Nothing is so certain as the unexpected. A similar French proverb is: 'Nothing is certain but uncertainty.' The state... Read more →
It is no use spoiling the ship for a ha’p’orth of tar
This teaches the folly of false economy; of failing to achieve one's purpose by trying to save in a small detail; of marring an effect in order... Read more →
It is no use crying over spilt milk
It was a great pity that it happened, but there's nothing we can do about it now. Don't bewail the past. What's done cannot be undone.
It is never too late to mend
Here 'to mend' means 'to reform, to mend one's ways'. It is never too late to turn over a new leaf and lead a better life.
It is love that makes the world go round
Love brings children into the world and so keeps human life from becoming extinct.
It is ill waiting for dead men’s shoes
To wait for dead men's shoes is to wait for the death of a person with the expectancy of succeeding to his possessions or office. This sometimes... Read more →