Question

Proverbs are quite common in spoken English. We do not normally put them in a composition or letter. Sometimes it is helpful if you know what common proverbs mean. Here are a few examples:

1) "Once bitten, twice shy." If a dog bites me, I shall be twice as careful in future when I see it. This proverb is also used to apply(應用) to many things and not only to dogs. If you have been cheated at a shop, you will not go to the same shop again.

2) "A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush." If I am a hunter, trying to catch birds, it is better to catch one bird than to see two birds in a bush but not be able to catch them. Thus this means that what you have already got is better than the chance of being able to get something bigger in future.

3) "Too many cooks spoil the broth." When too many people do something, they get in each other's way.

4) "To pour oil on troubled waters."is to try to calm things down. Oil is lighter than water. If a ship is in trouble at sea, another ship may come to help it. The second ship can send small boats to rescue people. However, it may first pour oil on the sea to make the sea less rough.

5) "Don't be a dog in the manger(馬槽)" means "Don't be selfish." In a stable(馬房), the manger is the place where the horse's food is put. Sometimes a dog will sleep in the manger and bark when a horse comes to get its food. The dog does not want to eat the hay in the manger but it will not let the horse eat it.

6)"You can't get blood out of a stone." means that you cannot get, something from a person who has not got any of the things you want. For example, you cannot get a million dollars from a poor man.

60. Peter had a bicycle which was much too small for him but he did not want to let his younger brother ride on it. His mother was angry and said to him,"________."

A. You can't get blood out of a stone

B. Don't be a dog in the manger

C. The early bird gets the worm

D. Once bitten, twice shy

61. Mr and Mrs Smith had a quarrel. Their friend, Mr Brown, went to talk to them. When he came back, he told his wife that he had been trying to help the Smiths by ________.

A. pouring oil on troubled waters

B. getting blood out of a stone

C. being a dog in the manger

D. saying the early bird gets the worm

62. Mrs Chen wanted to buy a new dress. Her husband suggested that she buy it from a shop near their home. Mrs Chen disagreed because she had been cheated by that shop. Then she said, " ________."

A. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush

B. I don't want to be a dog in the manger

C. Once bitten, twice shy

D. Too many cooks spoil the broth

63. Mr Brown had quite a good job in Hong Kong but he thought that if he went to Singapore he might get a much better job with more money and a large house. His wife did not want him to leave his job in Hong Kong and she reminded him that ________.

A. a bird in the hand was worth two in the bush

B. too many cooks spoiled the broth

C. he couldn't get blood out of a stone

D. he shouldn't pour oil on troubled waters

Answer 1

BACA