Don’t take your harp to the party
Don't keep on talking about the same thing or bringing up the same subject. Literally 'to harp' is to play the harp; figuratively 'to harp on'... Read more →
Don’t speak to the man at the wheel
The driver of a car must give all his attention to his driving. If you are a passenger don't take his mind off what he is doing by talking about... Read more →
Don’t ride the high horse
Don't give yourself airs. Don't be arrogant. Literally, a high horse is a war-horse or charger.
Don’t quarrel with your bread and butter
To quarrel with your bread and butter is the give up your job without sufficient reason, which is foolish. 'Our new manager's perfect pig!' said... Read more →
Don’t put the cart before the horse
The horse pulls the cart, not the cart the horse. The proverb means that we should not get things back to front, but should deal with them in... Read more →
Do not put new wine into old bottles
At first sight this would seem to imply that it is false economy to use wine bottles more than once, and that the saying means the same as, for... Read more →
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket
'Spread the risk' is the lesson this proverb teaches. Accidents will happen, so use two baskets and thereby reduce the chance of losing all your... Read more →
Don’t pour out the dirty water before you have clean
In countries where water is in short supply it has to be carefully and sparingly used. By extension the proverb means that you should not... Read more →
Don’t outrun the constable
Another version is: 'Don't overrun the constable.' This has nothing to do with not running faster than a policeman, or shooting past him when he... Read more →
Don’t meet trouble half-way
Don't worry about something before it has happened. Your fears may be groundless, for it may never happen.