Now, the VOA Special English program Words
and Their Stories.
Today we explain1 more popular proverbs. A proverb2 is a short3, well known saying4
that expresses a common truth5
or belief6.
Proverbs are popular around the world.
Many listeners7
have sent us8
their favorite proverbs. They give
advice9 about how
to live10.
We begin with two popular proverbs about staying healthy by eating good food11: One is “an apple a day keeps the doctor away12”. Another is “you are what you eat”.
We begin with two popular proverbs about staying healthy by eating good food11: One is “an apple a day keeps the doctor away12”. Another is “you are what you eat”.
Several13 proverbs about birds14 also give advice. You may have heard this one: “The early bird catches the worm”. This means17 a person who gets up early18, or acts quickly19, has the best chance of success.
Another famous proverb is “a bird in the hand is worth two in the
bush20”. This means you should
not risk losing21 something you have by seeking something that is not guaranteed22.
Here is another piece of advice23: “Do not count your chickens before they are hatched24”.
In other words, you should not think
too much about25 some future event before it really happens.
Another proverb warns26 do not put all your eggs in one basket27. This means
you should not put all of your resources28
together in one place29
because you could risk losing
everything at one time30. Many Americans learned this the hard way31
by investing all their money in stock
shares32, which then lost value.
Another proverb says a fool33 and his money are soon parted34. This means someone who acts unwisely35 with money will lose it.
Another proverb says a fool33 and his money are soon parted34. This means someone who acts unwisely35 with money will lose it.
Here is more advice: If at first36 you don’t succeed37, try, try again38. Also,
never put off39 until tomorrow40 what
you can do today.
You might learn that haste41 makes
waste42 if you do something so fast, resulting in mistakes43. Most
people would agree44 with this proverb: honesty is the best policy45 .
Yet46 another proverb advises us not to be concerned47 about
something bad that you cannot change48.
It says there is no use49
crying over spilled milk50.
Do you agree with the proverb that children should be seen and not heard51?
Maybe52 you have told your children53 that hard work never hurt anyone54. But other people say that all work and no play55 makes Jack a dull boy56.
Do you agree with the proverb that children should be seen and not heard51?
Maybe52 you have told your children53 that hard work never hurt anyone54. But other people say that all work and no play55 makes Jack a dull boy56.
They believe it is not wise57 to spend all your time working
and never having fun58.
Finally59, here is one of our favorite proverbs:
People who live in glass houses60
should not throw stones61.
This means you should not criticize62
other people unless63
you are perfect yourself.
This VOA Special English program was
written by Shelley Gollust. I'm
Faith Lapidus.
1. Explain = explicar
2. Proverb = provérbio
3. Short = curto
4. well known saying = ditado bem conhecido
5. expresses a common truth = expressa uma verdade universal
6. belief = crença
7. listeners = ouvintes
8. sent us = nos enviaram
9. give advice = dão conselhos
10. how to live = como viver
11. staying healthy by eating good food = ficar saudável comendo boa comida
12. an apple a day keeps the doctor away = uma maçã por dia mantém o medico longe
13. Several = varios
14. Birds = pássaros
15. You may have heard this one = voce pode ter ouvido este aqui
16. The early bird catches the worm = “Deus ajuda quem cedo madruga”
17. Means = significa
18. gets up early = levanta cedo
19. acts quickly = age rapidamente
20. a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush = mais vale um pássaro na mão do que dois voando
21. should not risk losing = não deveria arriscar perder
22. seeking something that is not guaranteed = buscar alguma coisa que não é garantida
23. aonother piece of advice = um outro conselho
24. Do not count your chickens before they are hatched = Não conte com a galinha antes do ovo
25. Should not think too much about = não deveria pensar demais sobre
26. Warns = alerta
27. Basket = cesto(a)
28. Resources = recursos
29. together in one place = juntos em um lugar
30. risk losing everything at one time = arriscar perder tudo de uma vez
31. learned this the hard way = aprenderam isso da forma dificil
32. stock shares = cotas de ações
33. fool = tolo
34. are soon parted = são logo separados
35. unwisely = não sabiamente
36. at first = no início
37. succeed = ser bem sucedido
38. try again = tentar novamente
39. put off = adiar
40. until tomorrow = até amanhã
41. haste = pressa
42. makes waste = prejudica , “deixa residues”
43. resulting in mistakes = resultando em erros
44. Most people would agree = a maioria das pessoas concordaria
45. honesty is the best policy = honestidade é a melhor política
46. Yet = Porém
47. not to be concerned = não ficar preocupado
48. cannot change = não pode mudar
49. there is no use = não faz sentido
50. crying over spilled milk= chorar sobre o leite derramado
51. should be seen and not heard = deveriam ser vistas e não ouvidas
52. Maybe = talvez
53. Have told your children = tem dito aos seus filhos
54. hard work never hurt anyone = trabalho duro não machuca ninguém
55. all work and no play = todo trabalho sem diversão
56. dull boy = rapaz maçante, enjoativo
57. it is not wise = não é sábio
58. never having fun = nunca se divertindo
59. Finally = finalmente
60. glass houses = casas de vidro
61. should not throw stones = não deveriam arremessar pedras
62. criticize = criticar
63. unless = a menos que
