H, I Sayings

(English Idioms & Sayings) Sayings start with H, I

half a loaf is better than none

- having part of something is better than having nothing
Half a loaf is better than none and you should be happy to get part of the refund back rather than nothing at all.

haste makes waste

- time gained in doing something rapidly will be lost if you must do it again to correct your mistakes
Haste makes waste I thought as the carpenter had to repair the work that had not been done correctly the first time.

he who laughs last, laughs longest

- the person who is successful in doing something last will have the most enjoyment or success
Everybody thought that the boy would not get the job because he was too young. However, he who laughs last laughs longest and in fact he got the job easily.

he who lives by the sword dies by the sword

- people who commit violent acts will encounter violence themselves
The young man was involved in selling illegal drugs and he was found murdered. Sadly, he who lives by the sword dies by the sword.

he who pays the piper calls the tune

- the person who pays for something should control how it is spent or used
The oil company was paying the expenses for the theater group. However, because he who pays the piper calls the tune they wanted to help decide which plays would be performed.

honesty is the best policy

- it is always best to be honest in everything that you do
Honesty is the best policy and when the man found the purse on the street he gave it to a policeman.

if at first you don't succeed try, try again

- if you are patient and persevere you will achieve your goal even if you do not succeed at first
The father taught his son to be patient and keep trying. "If at first you don't succeed try, try again," he said often.

if the cap fits wear it

- if you criticize another person and you also deserve criticism then you should accept the criticism and try and change
The girl criticized her friend for borrowing money. However, she herself always borrowed money so she should remember that if the cap fits wear it.

if the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain

- if someone will not come to you then you must go to them
The grandchildren would never visit their grandparents. But if the mountain won't come to Mohammed, Mohammed must go to the mountain. So the grandparents went to visit their grandchildren.

if the shoe fits wear it

- if something that is said describes you then it is probably meant for you
You should not criticize someone for something that you do yourself. Remember that if the shoe fits wear it.

in for a penny, in for a pound

- after spending some money or time for something you should spend more time or money to finish the job completely
In for a penny, in for a pound and because we had already spent so much money repairing the car we decided to continue to pay more money until it was completely finished.

it is an ill wind that blows nobody good

- no matter how bad something is you can usually gain something from it
The economic news was very bad but it is an ill wind that blows nobody good. Many people began to get more training in order to prepare for new jobs.

it is darkest before the dawn

- the worst or more dangerous situation will occur just before a problem is resolved
The economic situation was terrible and just as it is darkest before the dawn things became worse before they began to improve.

it never rains but it pours

- problems often appear together in large numbers or quickly one after the other
It never rains but it pours and we have recently had many problems with our house.

it takes all kinds (to make a world)

- different people like different things
The woman was wearing very strange clothes. It seems that it takes all kinds to make a world.

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