13 Sayings beginning with B


Bad news travels fast

Possible interpretation: "Bad news" means news about "bad" things like accidents, death, illness etc. People tend to tell this type of news quickly. But "good news" (passing an exam, winning some money, getting a job etc) travels more slowly.

Note: This reminds us of the proverb "No news is good news."

Quick Quiz:

If friends tells you that "bad news travels fast" they
  1. are trying to comfort you
  2. want to make you cry
  3. want you to go faster

Answer:  a


Barking dogs seldom bite

Possible interpretation: Don't be afraid of dogs that bark or people that threaten you (say they will do something bad to you) - in both cases they rarely take action.

Note: bark (verb): (of a dog) make a sharp, loud, explosive sound | seldom (adverb): rarely, almost never | bite (verb): (of an animal) use the teeth to attack and cut | This proverb is also found as: "Barking dogs never bite."

Quick Quiz:

The proverb "Barking dogs seldom bite" suggests that people who say they are going to do something bad to us usually
  1. sound like a dog barking
  2. bite us
  3. do nothing

Answer:  c


Beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Possible interpretation: Different people see beauty in different ways. What one person finds beautiful may not appeal to another person.

Note: beholder (noun) = person who beholds | behold (verb) = look at; observe

Quick Quiz:

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" usually means that
  1. people who behold tend to be more beautiful
  2. what one person thinks is beautiful, another may think is ugly
  3. the eye is beautiful

Answer:  b


Beauty is only skin deep

Possible interpretation: Physical beauty is superficial. A pleasing exterior is no guide to a person's interior or character.

Note: skin (noun) = the layer of tissue covering the body of a person or animal | deep (adj.) = going far down from the surface | skin deep (adj.) = superficial; not deep; on the surface

Quick Quiz:

Someone who says that "beauty is only skin deep" probably
  1. believes that a beautiful interior makes for a beautiful exterior
  2. feels that good skin is essential for beauty
  3. considers beauty to be unimportant

Answer:  c


Behind every successful man is a woman

Possible interpretation: Many men owe their achievements in life to women.

Note: successful (adj): having gained money, fame or some other distinction

Quick Quiz:

The saying "Behind every successful man is a woman" suggests that women often
  1. cost a lot
  2. discourage men
  3. encourage men

Answer:  c


Better safe than sorry

Possible interpretation: We should be careful in a dangerous situation. It is better to stay safe than to have an accident (and be sorry about it). The full "grammatical" sentence would be: "It is better to be safe than to be sorry."

Quick Quiz:

John added the words "Better safe than sorry" when he told Mary to drive
  1. more slowly in the snow
  2. faster in the snow
  3. fast in the snow

Answer:  a


Better the foot slip than the tongue

Possible interpretation: It is better to take a bad step in walking than to say the wrong thing in talking. We can do a lot of damage when we say something by mistake. The elliptical nature of this saying may make it difficult to understand. The full version might be something like: "It is better that your foot should slip than that your tongue should slip."

Note: foot (noun): the end part of the leg on which we stand or walk | slip (verb): slide by accident | tongue (noun): large, movable fleshy part in the mouth that we use for talking and tasting

Quick Quiz:

If you believe the proverb "Better the foot slip than the tongue", you will probably be most careful when
  1. walking
  2. talking
  3. eating

Answer:  b


Better untaught than ill taught

Possible interpretation: This proverb drops the verb "to be" (It is better to be untaught than ill taught). We understand: "It is better not to be taught at all than to be taught badly." It's better not to learn something than to learn it badly.

Note: taught = past participle of verb "teach" (here used in passive voice) | ill taught = badly taught

Quick Quiz:

"Better untaught than ill taught" can be interpreted as
  1. bad teachers can't teach sick students
  2. a bad teacher is better than no teacher at all
  3. it's better to have no teacher than a bad teacher

Answer:  c


Beware of a silent man and still water

Possible interpretation: A large expanse of water that is still and does not move is often deep and dangerous. We should be careful of it. In the same way, we should be careful with a person who does not talk much.

Note: beware (verb): be cautious; be careful | still (adj.): not moving

Quick Quiz:

The proverb "Beware of a silent man and still water" is really a warning about
  1. running water
  2. deep water
  3. people who don't say much

Answer:  c


Beware the fury of a patient man

Possible interpretation: The implication is that the anger of people who are normally slow to anger is, when it eventually comes, terrible.

Note: beware (verb) = be careful about; be cautious; be aware of the dangers | fury (noun) = violent anger | patient (adj.) = able to wait without getting angry | Compare: "Patience provoked turns to fury."

Origin: Quotation from Publilius Syrus, a Latin writer of maxims in the 1st century BC. In the 17th century, British poet and dramatist John Dryden used it in "Absalom and Achitophel", generally considered to be the greatest political poem in the English language:
Must I at length the Sword of Justice draw?
Oh curst Effects of necessary Law!
How ill my Fear they by my Mercy scan,
Beware the Fury of a Patient Man.

Quick Quiz:

The saying "Beware the fury of a patient man" warns us
  1. not to be impatient
  2. not to push impatient people too far
  3. not to push patient people too far

Answer:  c


Birds of a feather flock together

Possible interpretation: "Birds of a feather" means "birds of the same type". The whole proverb means that people of the same type or sort stay together. They don't mix with people of another type.

Note: feather (noun) = part of the soft, light covering of a bird's body | flock (verb) = gather in a crowd

Quick Quiz:

"birds of a feather flock together"
  1. crowds of people are like birds
  2. like-minded people associate with one other
  3. all birds have feathers

Answer:  b


Boys will be boys

Possible interpretation: This somewhat humorous saying is often used to excuse male behaviour (of both boys and adult men).

Quick Quiz:

"Boys will be boys" might be said to justify
  1. children failing exams
  2. men having a fight
  3. boys doing their homework

Answer:  b


Brevity is the soul of wit

Possible interpretation: The real art of speaking (especially when speaking humorously) is to use as few words as possible.

Note: brevity (noun): shortness of time; use of few but exact words | soul (noun): the spiritual part of something; the essence of something | wit (noun): lively, keen intelligence; ability to use words creatively and for humour

Origin: This proverb is based on the words of Polonius in "Hamlet" by William Shakespeare (1564-1616):
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief...

Quick Quiz:

If you agree that "brevity is the soul of wit", you probably enjoy
  1. long jokes
  2. short jokes
  3. spiritual jokes

Answer:  b