B sayings

(English Idioms & Sayings)

Sayings start with B

bad news travels fast

- people are quicker to pass on bad news than good news
Bad news travels fast and the man heard about the job layoffs a week before the official announcement.

a bad workman blames his tools

- someone blames his tools or the material that he is working with for his own bad work
The carpenter was angry that his saw did not cut well. As often happens, a bad workman blames his tools.

bark is worse than one's bite

- someone is not as bad-tempered as they appear
The supervisor was always threatening to fire anyone who was late but he never did anything. His bark was worse than his bite.

beauty is only skin deep

- looks are superficial and sometimes a beautiful person may have unpleasant characteristics
The woman is not beautiful but beauty is only skin deep and her personality is wonderful.

beggars can't be choosers

- one should not criticize something that one gets for free
Beggars can't be choosers and the girl should not complain about the free furniture that she got from a friend.

better late than never

- it is better to do something late than to never do it at all
The boy finally got a job after not working for three years but at least it was better late than never.

better safe than sorry

- it is better to be careful than to take a chance and risk an accident or illness or a failure which you may regret
It is better to be safe than sorry and I always bring my umbrella to work when it is a cloudy day.

better the devil you know than the devil you don't

- it may be better to endure a situation that you are accustomed to than to risk a change for something that may be worse
My friend wanted to change banks but he felt that it was better the devil he knew than the devil he didn't so he stayed with his old bank.

between the devil and the deep blue sea

- you have two choices or alternatives and both of them are unpleasant
We are between the devil and the deep blue sea. If we increase our prices we won't sell our products. If we lower our prices we will lose money.

bird in hand is worth two in the bush

- do not risk losing something that you have by trying to get something that is not certain
"You should accept the job offer with the lower salary now rather than waiting for a better job. Remember that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush."

birds of a feather flock together

- people who are similar often become friends or spend time together
The four boys were similar in every way and a good example that birds of a feather flock together.

blind leading the blind

- someone who has little ability or knowledge but is trying to help or teach someone else
It was the blind leading the blind when the teacher who could not cook was asked to teach the cooking class.

blood is thicker than water

- family ties are stronger than other relationships
Blood is thicker than water and the man chose to help his family rather than his friends.

boys will be boys

- you should not criticize boys or men for being adventurous or mischievous or noisy because that is how you should expect them to behave
Boys will be boys and the two brothers always come home very dirty.

Posted by Learning English through Idioms, Proverbs and Sayings