"You scratch my back and I'll scratch yours."
💬 Meaning
If you do a favor for me, I will do a favor for you in return.
✏️ Usage Example
If you help me move this weekend, I'll help you fix your car; you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours.
Proverbs
"You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
💬 Meaning
You cannot create something high-quality or elegant from inferior or coarse starting materials.
✏️ Usage Example
No matter how much paint you put on this old shack, you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear.
"When the cat's away, the mice will play."
💬 Meaning
When authority figures are absent, those under them will take advantage of the lack of supervision.
✏️ Usage Example
As soon as the teacher left the room, the students started throwing paper airplanes; when the cat's away, the mice will play.
"Time and tide wait for no man."
💬 Meaning
Events will continue to happen and time will pass regardless of whether people are ready or not.
✏️ Usage Example
We need to make a decision on the contract today, for time and tide wait for no man.
"The proof of the pudding is in the eating."
💬 Meaning
The real value or quality of something can only be determined by testing or experiencing it.
✏️ Usage Example
The car looks beautiful, but we need to take it for a test drive; the proof of the pudding is in the eating.
"Seeing is believing."
💬 Meaning
One must see something with their own eyes before they can be certain it is true or real.
✏️ Usage Example
I didn't think the new bridge could be so huge, but seeing is believing.
"Physician, heal thyself."
💬 Meaning
A person should fix their own faults before criticizing others for the same problems.
✏️ Usage Example
The counselor was giving marriage advice while going through his third divorce; physician, heal thyself.
"Penny wise and pound foolish."
💬 Meaning
Careful about small amounts of money but wasteful or careless with large amounts.
✏️ Usage Example
He drives across town to save five cents on gas but spends thousands on luxury watches; he's penny wise and pound foolish.
"Opportunity knocks but once."
💬 Meaning
Favorable chances do not come often, so one must take them when they appear.
✏️ Usage Example
I decided to take the job offer in Japan; after all, opportunity knocks but once.
"One law for the rich and another for the poor."
💬 Meaning
The legal system or society often treats wealthy people more leniently than poor people.
✏️ Usage Example
The executive got a fine while the shoplifter went to jail; it's one law for the rich and another for the poor.
"Nothing succeeds like success."
💬 Meaning
Achieving success makes it easier to achieve further success, as it brings confidence and opportunities.
✏️ Usage Example
After her first book became a bestseller, publishers were fighting over her next one; nothing succeeds like success.
"Money is a good servant but a bad master."
💬 Meaning
Wealth is useful if you control it, but it can ruin your life if you let the pursuit of it control you.
✏️ Usage Example
He spent his life chasing riches and lost his family; money is a good servant but a bad master.