11 Sayings beginning with D


Dead men tell no tales

Possible interpretation: People who are no longer living cannot give evidence.

Note: tell tales (verb) = talk or gossip about something secret

Quick Quiz:

"Dead men tell no tales" might be used by a criminal as a reason to
  1. talk to someone
  2. kill someone
  3. frighten someone

Answer:  b


Death is a remedy for all ills

Possible interpretation: When we die, all our problems are solved.

Note: death (noun) = the act of dying; the end of life | remedy (noun) = cure; solution | ills (noun) = problems; misfortunes

Quick Quiz:

If "Death is a remedy for all ills", when we die we will have
  1. many more ills
  2. no more problems
  3. no more solutions

Answer:  b


Death keeps no calendar

Possible interpretation: In this saying, "Death" is personified as a spiritual being who may call upon us at any time - he has no appointment book. We never know when we will die.

Note: Death (noun) = personification of the force that destroys life | death (noun) = the act of dying; the end of life | calendar (noun) = chart showing the days, weeks and months of each year; diary; datebook

Quick Quiz:

It could be argued that the saying "Death keeps no calendar" is not true in the case of
  1. accidental death
  2. murder
  3. suicide

Answer:  c


Death pays all debts

Possible interpretation: Dying cancels everything, including anything that we owe to other people.

Note: death (noun) = the act of dying; the end of life | Death (noun) = personification of the force that destroys life | debt (noun) = something (for example, money) that is owed or due

Quick Quiz:

If "Death pays all debts" is true, when we die all our bills are
  1. cancelled for eternity
  2. transferred to Death's account
  3. paid to the people we owe

Answer:  a


Discretion is the better part of valor

Possible interpretation: It may sometimes be better to avoid a dangerous situation than to confront it.

Note: discretion (noun) = 1 the quality of behaving in such a way as to avoid causing offence; 2 the freedom to decide what should be done in a particular situation | valour (noun) = great courage in the face of danger

Quick Quiz:

If John says he felt that "discretion was the better part of valour", we understand that
  1. he made a loud complaint
  2. he said or did nothing
  3. he never likes to make a fuss

Answer:  b


Don't bite the hand that feeds you

Possible interpretation: It is not be a good idea to hurt the person (or company) that pays you or takes care of you.

Quick Quiz:

"Don't bite the hand that feeds you"
  1. is a saying that led to the development of cutlery
  2. is advice not to harm your employer
  3. is a humorous exchange between horses

Answer:  b


Don't cross your bridges before you come to them

Possible interpretation: Don't worry about problems before they arrive.

Quick Quiz:

If you "don't cross your bridges before you come to them", you
  1. never prepare enough in advance
  2. mark all bridges on a roadmap when going on a journey
  3. wait for issues to arise before dealing with them

Answer:  c


Don't put all your eggs in one basket

Possible interpretation: If all your eggs are in one basket and you drop the basket, you lose everything. Don't put all your money in one bank. Don't put all your faith in one person.

Quick Quiz:

People who "don't put all their eggs in one basket", have more than one
  1. egg
  2. option
  3. basket

Answer:  b


Don't rock the boat

Possible interpretation: This saying advises people not to upset the status quo (or try to change a comfortable, existing situation).

Note: rock (verb) = sway; move gently from side to side (if you rock a boat, eventually water will come in and it will sink, with you and everyone in it)

Quick Quiz:

Mary said "just be careful that you don't rock the boat" to John when he
  1. suggested going to the seaside
  2. loaded his boat with rocks
  3. wanted to complain about his teacher

Answer:  c


Dumb dogs are dangerous

Possible interpretation: People who say little or nothing are more dangerous than people who speak a lot.

Note: dumb (adj.): unable to speak; unspeaking, silent | Compare this proverb to: "Barking dogs seldom bite."

Quick Quiz:

If it's true that "dumb dogs are dangerous", you should be most careful of a person who is
  1. eager to chat at any time
  2. difficult to engage in conversation
  3. kind to animals

Answer:  b


Dying men speak true

Possible interpretation: When people are about to die, they usually tell the truth.

Note: A quotation from English poet Matthew Arnold (1822-1888) is similar in meaning: "Truth sits upon the lips of dying men."

Quick Quiz:

The saying "Dying men speak true" suggests that when somebody is near death you should
  1. believe what they say
  2. not believe what they say
  3. ignore what they say

Answer:  a