Comprehensive Guide to English and Bengali Proverbs
Proverbs on Competence and Work Ethics
Bomkroup Mnow what
English Proverb: A bad workman quarrels with his tools.
Definition: An inefficient man complains of circumstances.
Proverbs on Threats and Communication
English Proverb: A barking dog seldom bites.
Definition: Someone who talks much all the time seldom carries out the deeds.
Proverbs on Scarcity and Possession
Bengali Phrase: মাথা নেই তোর ম (Likely referring to: মাথা নেই তার মাথাব্যথা)
English Proverb: A beggar cannot be a bankrupt.
Bengali Phrase: হাতের জিনিস ফেলে দূরের জিনিস নিতে নেই।
English Proverb: A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Definition: Having something for certain is better than possibly getting something better; one today is worth two tomorrow.
Proverbs on Sudden Events and Individual Traits
Bengali Phrase: বিনা মেঘে বজ্রপাত।
English Proverb: A bolt from the blue.
Bengali Phrase: তর্জনকারী বা ষন্ডা সব সময়ই কাপুরুষ।
English Proverb: A bully is always a cow.
Definition: Bullies only intimidate people who are weaker than they are, because they are afraid of having to fight their equals.
Proverbs on Experience and Caution
Bengali Phrase: ঘর-পোড়া গরু সিন্দুরে মেঘ দেখলে ভয় পায়।
English Proverb: A burnt child dreads the fire or Once bitten, twice shy.
Definition: Experience teaches us caution; if something has hurt you once, you avoid it after that.
Proverbs on Tenacity and Tact
Bengali Phrase: কই মাছের প্রাণ বড়ই শক্ত।
English Proverb: A cat has nine lives.
Definition: A cat is more tenacious of life than any animal.
Bengali Phrase: সোজা আঙ্গুলে ঘি ওঠে না।
English Proverb: A cat in gloves catches no mice.
Definition: Sometimes you cannot get what you want by being careful and polite.
Proverbs on Desperation and Hope
Bengali Phrase: ততক্ষণ শ্বাস, ততক্ষণ আঁশ।
English Proverb: A drowning man catches or clutches at a straw.
Definition: While there is life, there is hope.
Proverbs on Friendship and Wealth
Bengali Phrase: অসময়ের বন্ধুই প্রকৃত বন্ধু।
English Proverb: A friend in need is a friend in deed.
Definition: A true friend is one to depend upon in trouble.
Bengali Phrase: ভাত ছড়ালে কাকের অভাব হয় না।
English Proverb: A full purse never lacks friends.
Definition: People crowd round a wealthy person.
Proverbs on Money and Success
Bengali Phrase: টাকায় বাঘের দুধ মেলে।
English Proverb: A golden key can open any door.
Definition: Sufficient money can accomplish anything.
Bengali Phrase: একটা সুন্দর শুরু কোন কাজের অর্ধেক সাফল্য এনে দেয় / যুদ্ধের শুরু ভালো মানে অর্ধেক বিজয়।
English Proverb: A good beginning is half the battle.
Definition: A good start of war; a clear sign of victory. This corresponds to the mathematical visual of .
Proverbs on Guilt and Conscience
Bengali Phrase: অশুভ হলে মি… (Reference to: অন্ধ হলে কি প্রলয় বন্ধ থাকে?)
English Proverb: A guilty conscience needs no accuser.
Definition: If you have done something wrong and feel guilty about it, you will be uncomfortable and want to confess even if no one accuses you of wrongdoing.
Bengali Phrase: ঠাকুর পরে কে, আমি তো কলা খাইনি।
English Proverb: A guilty mind is always suspicious.
Definition: A criminal is always weak in mind though he tries to conceal this weakness.
Proverbs on Personal Capability and Necessity
Bengali Phrase: একাই একশো।
English Proverb: A host in himself.
Definition: Having all qualities.
Bengali Phrase: খিদের জ্বালায় মাথা ঠিক থাকে না।
English Proverb: A hungry fox is an angry (man/fox).
Alternate English Proverb: Necessity knows no law.
Proverbs on Social Interaction and Learning
Bengali Phrase: নেবু কচলালে তেতো হয়।
English Proverb: A jest driven hard, loses its point.
Bengali Phrase: আজ বাদশা কাল ফকির।
English Proverb: A king today is a beggar tomorrow.
Bengali Phrase: অল্পবিদ্যা ভয়ংকরী।
English Proverb: A little learning is a dangerous thing.
Definition: Shallow knowledge turns one's head.
Proverbs on Association and Environment
Bengali Phrase: পাগলে কী না বলে, ছাগলে কী না খায়।
English Proverb: A mad man and a animal have no difference.
Definition: Do not think over a mad man's speech.
Bengali Phrase: সঙ্গ দেখে লোক চেনা যায়।
English Proverb: A man is known by the company he keeps.
Definition: One can know the character of a person from his friends.
Bengali Phrase: নিজ বাড়ি নিজ ভুবন।
English Proverb: A man's home is his castle.
Definition: A man can do whatever he wants to in his own home.
Proverbs on Results and Upbringing
Bengali Phrase: প্রায় শেষ করা আর একেবারেই শুরু না করা একই কথা।
English Proverb: A miss is as good as a mile.
Definition: Almost having done something is the same as not having done it at all, since in both cases the thing is done.
Bengali Phrase: কাঁচায় না নোয়ালে বাঁশ, পাকলে করে ট্যাঁশট্যাঁশ।
English Proverb: A pet lamb, makes a cross ram.
Definition: Too much indulgence (2) spoils a child.
Proverbs on Moral Character and Influence
Bengali Phrase: চোরে শোনে না ধর্মের কাহিনী।
English Proverb: A rogue is deaf to all good.
Definition: The devil would not listen to the scripture.
Bengali Phrase: অসৎ সঙ্গে সর্বনাশ।
English Proverb: A rotten sheep infects the flock.
Definition: A man is affected by the people he mixes with.