Learn proverbs and idioms through stories. http://riverofpuzzles.blogspot.my/2017/08/upsr-proverbs-and-idioms.html

1. Mercury & the Woodman
By AESOP
A poor Woodman was cutting down a tree on the bank of a
river, when his axe, glancing off the trunk, flew out of his hands and
fell into the water.
As he stood by the water's edge lamenting his loss, Mercury
appeared and asked him the reason for his grief. On learning what
had happened, out of pity for his distress, Mercury dived into the
river and, bringing up a golden axe, asked him if that was the one
he had lost.
The Woodman replied that it was not, and Mercury then dived a second
time, and, bringing up a silver axe, asked if that was his.
“No, that is not mine either," said the Woodman.
Once more Mercury dived into the river, and brought up the missing axe. The
Woodman was overjoyed at recovering his property, and thanked his benefactor
warmly; and the latter was so pleased with his honesty that he made him a present of
the other two axes.
When the Woodman told the story to his companions, one of these was filled with
envy of his good fortune and determined to try his luck for himself. So he went and
began to fell a tree at the edge of the river, and presently contrived to let his axe drop into
the water.
Mercury appeared as before, and, on learning that his axe had fallen in, he dived
and brought up a golden axe, as he had done on the previous occasion.
Without waiting to be asked whether it was his or not, the fellow cried, "That's
mine! that's mine!” and stretched out his hand eagerly for the prize: but Mercury was so
disgusted at his dishonesty that he not only declined to give him the golden axe, but also
refused to recover for him the one he had let fall into the stream.
Honesty is the best policy.
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2. Proverb : honesty is the best policy
Definition:
• You should always tell the truth, even when it seems as if it would be useful to tell a
lie.
Example 1:
Jill: I borrowed Jane's white blouse without asking her, and then I spilled tomato
sauce on it. Should I tell her what happened, or should I just put the blouse back
in her closet and hope she won't notice?
Jane: Honesty is the best policy.
Example 2:
He realized honesty is the best policy and told them what really happened to their car.
Example 3:
As students, we should be honest in our studies and be true to our friends, teachers and
parents. If we come across any of our friends who are ignorant, we should insist them on
the importance of honesty and make them realize that honesty is the best policy.
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3. The Milkmaid & Her Pail
By AESOP
A Milkmaid had been out to milk the cows and was returning from the field with
the shining milk pail balanced nicely on her head. As she walked along, her pretty head
was busy with plans for the days to come.
"This good, rich milk," she mused, "will give me plenty of cream to churn. The
butter I make I will take to market, and with the money I get for it I will buy a lot of eggs
for hatching. How nice it will be when they are all hatched and the yard is full of fine
young chicks. Then when May day comes I will sell them, and with the money I'll buy a
lovely new dress to wear to the fair. All the young men will look at me. They will come
and try to make love to me,—but I shall very quickly send them about their business!"
As she thought of how she would settle that matter, she tossed her head
scornfully, and down fell the pail of milk to the ground. And all the milk flowed out, and
with it vanished butter and eggs and chicks and new dress and all the milkmaid's pride.
Do not count your chickens before they are hatched.
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4. Proverb : don’t count your chickens before they hatch
Definition:
- You should not make plans that depend on something good happening before you
know that it has actually happened.
Example 1:
Mary : “I’m sure my boss will give me a raise next month, so I’ve decided to treat
myself to an romantic holiday.”
Dennis: “If I were you I wouldn’t book the holiday until you actually get the raise…
don’t count your chickens…”
Example 2:
You might be able to get a loan from the bank, but don't count your chickens before they
are hatched.
Example 3:
Harry: “When Liverpool wins the FA Cup, I’m going to have a huge party!”
Beth: “Don’t count your chickens before they hatch! They haven’t even played the semi-
finals yet!”
Example 4:
She wanted to buy a dress in case someone asked her to the dance, but I told her not
to count her chickens before they hatched.
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5. The Boy Who Cried Wolf
By Aesop
Once there was a shepherd boy, who had to
look after a flock of sheep. One day, he felt bored and
decided to play a trick on the villagers. He shouted,
“Help! Wolf! Wolf!”
The villagers heard his cries and rushed out of
the village to help the shepherd boy. When they
reached him, they asked, “Where is the wolf?”
The shepherd boy laughed loudly, “Ha, Ha, Ha! I fooled you all. I was only playing a
trick on you.”
A few days later, the shepherd boy played the trick again.
He cried, “Help! Help! Wolf! Wolf!” Again, the villagers rushed up the hill to help him
and again they found that the boy had tricked them. They were very angry with him for being
so naughty.
Then, sometime later, a wolf really went into the field. The wolf attacked one sheep,
and then another and another. The shepherd boy ran towards the village shouting, “Help! Help!
Wolf! Help! Somebody!”
The villagers heard his cries but they laughed because they thought it was just another
trick.
The boy ran to the nearest villager and said, “A wolf is attacking the sheep. I lied before,
but this time it is true!”
Finally, the villagers went to look. It was true. They could see the wolf running away and
many dead sheep lying on the grass.
A liar will not be believed, even when he speaks the truth.
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6. Idiom : cry wolf
Definition:
• to cry or complain about something when nothing is really wrong.
• to ask for help when you do not need it
Example 1:
Is she really sick or is she just crying wolf?
Example 2:
We heard someone screaming for help nearby and decided to investigate what was
wrong, but we soon learned everything was okay and that it was just some woman crying
wolf.
Example 3:
This is the third time my wife has complained of a mouse running around our home and
I thought she was crying wolf, but when I ran into the small rodent in the kitchen I
realized I was wrong.
Example 4:
Two parents are talking ...
Father: Is that our son Don yelling and screaming in his room again? How did he get
into trouble this time?
Mother: He was throwing a ball in the house and broke my favorite lamp.
Father: He's been screaming for a long time.
Mother: He always cries wolf when he is in trouble.
Father: I better go check on him.
Later ...
Father: He wasn't crying wolf this time. The mattress from the top bunk fell on him
and he was trapped.
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7. Hound & The Hunter
Once upon a time, a hunter had a beautiful hound. It was very faithful. It
loved the hunter's only son. The son also liked to play with it. The hunter had no
one else in the house.
One day the hunter went for hunting but forgot to
take the hound with him. His son was still sleeping.
He decided to go back home and bring the hound.
When he entered the house he saw his hound all
blood stained standing at the gate. He thought the
the hound had killed his son.
He hastily brought out his sword and killed the hound. Then he quickly
walked into the house. He saw blood pools here and there. He was surprised
when he saw his son coming out of his room. His son told him that the hound
had saved him form a wolf who had come into the house. The wolf was about to
kill him when the hound attacked it and tore it into pieces. The hunter cried at
his haste in killing the faithful animal but his regret was of no use.
There is no use crying over spilt milk.
Haste makes waste.
Look before you leap.
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8. Proverb : cry over spilt milk
Definition:
- To regret about something that has already happened or
cannot be changed
Example:
My kids were upset because they had burnt their toast, but I told them that it's no use
crying over spilt milk and to just make some more.
Proverb : Haste makes waste
Definition:
- Doing things too quickly will result in bad finishing.
Example:
You need to check your answers carefully. Do not try to finish them too quickly –
remember, haste makes waste.
Proverb : Look before you leap
Definition:
- Think carefully about what you are about to do before you do it.
Example:
If you're thinking of buying a house, my advice is, look before you leap.
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9. The Poor Sculptor
There was a poor sculptor Zuan in a county called Zhouzhi. He resented his hard
life, sitting in the sun and doing grunt work for the royals. He prayed everyday.
After a long hard prayer, one day a fairy came. Zuan asked to become the ultimate
master who couldn’t have anyone dictating terms to him. The fairy gave him a magic
wand that will make him whomever he imagines to be.
Zuan got the magic wand and imagined to be the emperor of Xi’an. He has now
become the emperor of Xian and starts having a happy life.
One day, he went on a hunting trip to a distant forest. There he was captured by a
group of cannibals who captured him and took him to the tribal chieftain. Before the
chieftain could order to kill him, he used the magic wand to become the chieftain as he
felt the chieftain was more powerful than even a king. He had a good life as a chieftain,
until a regional warlord started harassing him. The warlord kept demanding more and
more taxes. Zuan used his magic wand again and became the warlord.
His life as a warlord looked good until a day he was struck in massive storm. The
rain ransacked his troops and he was left stuck in the devastating storm with nowhere to
hide.
Zuan imagined to become the cloud that caused the storm (as that was more
powerful than the warlord). Zuan now transformed into a cloud and started wandering
around free. Then hit up on a big mountain and couldn’t move further. He then desired
to be the rock that could stop even the clouds. Zuan now felt really strong as he was the
rock that made the big mountain.
On a hot sunny day, there were a big group of sculptors who came
searching for nice rocks to carve. They started using the tools
against the big rock of Zuan. As the rock started crumbling, Zuan
imagined himself to be a sculptor. He became the sculptor once
again.
The grass is always greener on the other side.
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10. Proverb : The grass is always greener on the other side
Definition:
- People are never satisfied with their own situation and always think they would be
happier in a different set of circumstances.
Example:
Friend 1: You’re so lucky, you went to a great college, have money and you’re so smart
and will probably accomplish more by the time you’re 30 then I will in my entire
life.
Friend 2: Are you serious? I’ve always envied you. People expect so much out of me. I’ve
never been able to have a life because of studying and other schoolwork. If I get
less then an A, people freak out like I got an F. I may accomplish that much, but
with all the pressure on me I’ll probably be insane by the time I’m 35. In so many
ways, I wish I could just be a regular guy with normal expectations and a normal
life.
Friend 1: Wow, I honestly never looked at it that way. I guess it's true that the grass is
always greener on the other side of the fence.
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