Do You Know the True Meanings of These English Proverbs?

A popular English proverb, there are many theories to when this first came to existence. A written record of a very similar saying has been found from 1768 in a piece of writing by Sir James Porter.

Believe it or not, this is a fairly modern proverb and first appeared in a 1918 song by Eddie Green.

This phrase is found in the Bible, Jeremiah 13:23 to be exact.

Did you know that the original form of this phrase was 'All that glisters is not gold'. And who used it first? Shakespeare in his play, the "Merchant of Venice."

This popular English proverb was first seen in the Bible, Galatians 7 to be exact.

Although the first written example of this was found in 1828 in the English paper, the Morning Chronicle, it is thought it was used in society for at least 100 years before that.

This phrase first appeared in a piece of writing by Sir Thomas Overbury in 1613. He wrote 'All the carnal beauty of my wife, Is but skin deep.'

This proverb is very similar to another, 'Don't look a gift horse in the mouth'. It first appeared in 1652, later than the gift horse ...

Early indications of this phrase could be traced by to the 1300s in Old English.

This phrase is found in the Bible, Matthew 7:6 to be exact

This phrase was first used in a book by John Selden called Table Talk which first appeared in 1654.

Interestingly, many theories abound as to when and where this phrase started. Some even say that it is to do with letting a cat-o-nine-tails (a whip) out of a bag meant a lashing for sailors on a ship. All we know if that today it has to do with keeping a secret.

Another option of this English proverb is 'Empty vessels make the most sound'.

Rumor has it that this phrase was first coined by Queen Elizabeth I, although many historians believe that the phrase was used before 1550.

Records show that this saying, well an Old English version of it, was first documented in around 1546.

A phrase used much in modern society, essentially 'horses for courses' is broken down like this. People have certain talents and it is essential to choose the right person for the job if you want it done properly.

This phrase was first found in a play by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. It was called Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy.

This phrase first appeared in print in 1546 in a book by John Heywood about English proverbs. It was called 'A dialogue conteinyng the nomber in effect of all the prouerbes in the Englishe tongue'. Is that old English or is someone missing a spellchecker?

Interestingly, unlike many other proverbs, this one is not that old and was first seen in print in 1832.

Acclaimed English author Geoffrey Chaucer first used this phrase in 1390 in A Cook's Tale.

No one knows when this phrase was first used, but it was seen in print from the 18th century onward. Political writer Edmund Burke was credited with using it in print first.

This is a Biblical phrase, found in Timothy 6:10.

This phrase was first used by poet John Donne in 1624 in his poem Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions and Seuerall Steps in my Sicknes - Meditation XVII.

Found in Isaiah 57 in the Bible, this phrase is literal and describes the eternal torment that awaits evil doers and sinners.

An old phrase, this was first found in a French poem from 1190. It was first seen in English in 1545.

Some believe this proverb originated in ancient Egypt. Its first use in English is seen in 1831, translated from German by Thomas Carlyle.

With its reference to blacksmithing, you would guess this is a fairly old phrase. And it is. It first appeared in print in 1566 in a written piece by Richard Edwards.

Although probably used well before then, the first example in print of this proverb were seen in 1650 in the book, Pisgah-Sight Of Palestine And The Confines Thereof by Thomas Fuller.

This phrase was first seen in print in 1570 in 'New Sonnets and pretty Pamphlets' by Thomas Howell. No doubt it had been used before that.

This proverb was found in the writings of Sir Edwin Sandys in around 1599. He wrote 'Our grosse conceipts, who think honestie the best policie'

Many ancient cultures have similar sayings but this phrase is found in the Bible in Matthew 7:12. This was commonly called the golden rule in the 17th century.

John Heywood first recorded this phrase in print in 1546.

The notion of this proverb is basically to ensure that you have a backup plan. The eggs in one basket could be destroyed with a simple trip and fall. Two baskets carried by separate people mean that at least half survive should this occur.

Think of a restaurant that looks terrible on the inside and out but serves Michelin star quality food. That's an example of what the proverb is referring to.

This proverb is so true. People have so many varied tastes, that what we might find horrible in the form of decor for example, another person might love. This can be applied to anything, really.