Adages and Proverbs: Short Sayings With Big Lessons

Understand adages and proverbs, short sayings that share common advice or wisdom.

An adage or proverb is a short, well-known saying that gives advice or shares a general truth. Unlike an idiom, it often makes sense in a literal way too, but its real job is to teach a lesson. 'Practice makes perfect' means doing something again and again helps you improve. 'Don't count your chickens before they hatch' means don't depend on something good before it actually happens.

'Actions speak louder than words' means what you do shows more than what you say. Read: 'Ray promised to help clean up but then went to play. His sister shook her head and said, "Actions speak louder than words." ' She means Ray's leaving matters more than his promise.

• 1Adages and proverbs are short sayings with advice.
• 2They teach a general lesson about life.
• 3Use the situation to see what lesson is meant.