English proverbs you should know!

Hi there! Today I have another 10 popular English proverbs for you. For all of them I've prepared Polish equivalents so that you can compare how much they differ (if they do). The previous posts with proverbs you will find here and here. Beauty is only skin deep means that physical beauty has no relation to somebody's good nature or intelligence. Someone may look beautiful but have a nasty character. Inside is more important than outside. She may not be very pretty but you know, beauty is only skin deep. I love her sense of humour. Nie szata zdobi człowieka.

Curiosity killed the cat

means that being curious may put you into trouble. This is often used to warn a person not to ask too many questions and mind one's own business.

I told you not to ask me about my private life. Don't you know that curiosity killed the cat?

Ciekawość to pierwszy stopień do piekła.

Don't burn your bridges (behind you)

means that one shouldn't cut off the way back as you never know if you need to return. It's not good to act unpleasantly when ending with somebody, leaving company where you worked etc.

- Does Sam want to return to the company he worked for last year?
- I don't think it's possible as he burnt all his bridges.

Nie pal za sobą mostów.

It never rains but it pours

is used when something bad happened and then another accident occurred which even made the situation worse. Bad things happen in large numbers all at once.

I lost my purse on a bus and then I fell over while running back home. That's true that it never rains but it pours.

Nieszczęścia chodzą parami.

Let sleeping dogs lie

is used to warn somebody not to disturb situation by talking about something that may cause problems.

- And what about those ...?
- Shoosh, don't even mention it! Let sleeping dogs lie.

Nie wywołuj wilka z lasu.

Once bitten, twice shy

is said in situation when one is afraid to do something again because of bad experience gained doing it the first time.

I'm dating Dave but trying not to fall in love too fast. You know, once bitten, twice shy...

Kto sie na gorącym sparzył, ten dmucha na zimne.

When the cat's away, the mice will play

is used in situation when a person in charge is away and people who are without supervision behave badly enjoying their freedom.

- Let's have a party tomorrow. My parents are away for the whole weekend.
- That's a great idea. When the cat's away the mice will play ;)

Gdy kota nie ma, myszy harcują.

A bad workman blames his tools is about someone who blames objects they are using for their own mistakes rather than admit their own lack of skill. There's no excuse for his incompetence. A bad workman always blames his tools. Kiepskiej baletnicy przeszkadza rąbek u spódnicy. A lie has no legs means that the truth will always come out whatever you do to hide your lies. Sarah finally find out that Rob was cheating her. A lie has no legs. Kłamstwo ma krótkie nogi.                                                          Rome was not built in a day is used to say that it takes some time to do important things, you can't expect that something will happen immediately without any effort. Don't give up, do what you're doing and you'll get what you want. Rome wasn't built in a day.  Nie od razu Rzym zbudowano. At the end, Morcheeba and their song 'Rome wasn't built in a day' for you.  With lyrics, so try to sing it out!  Enjoy! :)