英语谚语归类和使用

谚语是人们在长期使用语言的实践中提炼出来的语言精华，往往简单通俗，但反映出深刻的道理。学习英语谚语不仅可以学到真实地道的英语表现形式，提高言语技能，更能够学到其中丰富的文化内涵，增强使用英语的实际能力。

许多英语谚语的表达方式不只一种，可以把意思相同而说法不同的谚语进行归类，以便举一反三。谚语参考书或工具书大多按字母排列，一般不做归类。因而在学习中，应做有心人。

一、常见英语谚语归类举例

1.怎么谨慎都不过分。如：

One cannot be too careful./Caution is the parent of safety./Look before you leap./Discretion is the better part of valor.

2.金窝银窝，不如自家的草窝。如：

East or west, home is best./There is no place like home./Home is home though it never be so homely./Dry bread at home is better than roast meat abroad.

3.易得易失。如：

Easy come, easy go./Ill gotten, ill spent./What is got over the devils back is spent under his belly.

4.人孰无过。如：

To err is human./He is lifeless who is faultless./Every man has a fool in his sleeve./No one is wise at all times.

5.行动比语言更响亮。如：

Actions speak louder than words./Doing is better than saying./Easier said than done./Saying and doing are two things./Its better to do well than to say well.

6.外表是靠不住的。如：

Appearances are often deceptive./Judge not of men and things at first sight./A fair face may hide a foul heart.

7.厨师太多烧坏汤（助手太多帮倒忙）。如：

Too many cooks spoil the broth./Many physicians have killed the king./Many commanders sink the ship./Everybodys business is nobodys business.

8.患难见真情。如：

A friend in need is a friend indeed./Prosperity makes friend, and adversity tries them./Calamity is mans true touchstone.

9.天助自助者;皇天不负苦心人。如：

God helps those who help themselves./Every man is the architect of his own fortune./If you want a thing well done, do it yourself.

10.陈酒味醇，老友情深。如：

Old friends and old wine are best./The heart that once truly loves never forgets./Old love does not rust.

11.耳闻为虚，眼见为实。如：

Seeing is believing./What you see is real, what you hear is empty words./The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

12.木已成舟；覆水难收。如：

What is done cannot be undone./Things past cannot be recalled./Its no use crying over spilt milk.

13.有志者事竟成。如：

Where there is a will, there is a way./Nothing is impossible to a willing heart./With time and patience the leaf of the mulberry becomes stain.

14.诚实为上策。如：

Honesty is the best policy./Cheats never prosper./A clean hand wants no washing./A good name is better than riches.

15.不尝试就不知道你能做什么；实践出真知。如：

You never know what you can do till you try./Experience is the mother of wisdom./Practice is the best master.

16.两人智慧胜一人，人多智广。如：

Two heads are better than one. /Four eyes see more than two./The council of many is better.

17.趁热打铁。如：

Strike while the iron is hot./Make hay while the sun shines./Never put off till tomorrow what you can do today. /Time and tide wait for no man.

二、谚语的使用

在使用谚语时必须结合上下文来考虑，即使同一谚语在不同的语境中意义也有区别，得细心体会。如：

1.Accidents will happen in the best regulated families. 家规再严，丑事难免。

(1)Accidents will happen in the best regulated families, and…if you find youve got anything the matter with you,…go and see a doctor right away.(W.S. Maugham)

照顾得再周到也会出事……要是你有什么不舒服……马上去看医生。

(2)In short, the banquet was such a failure that I should have been quite unhappy―about the failure. I mean, for I was always unhappy about Dora―if I had not been relieved by the great goodhumour of my company, and a bright suggestion from Mr. Micawber, “Accidents will happen in the best regulated families.”(Dickens)

总之，这次宴会失败了。要不是米考伯先生用幽默的话语宽慰我并使我意识到“再有秩序的家庭也会有不顺心的时候”，我本来会对这次失败很恼火，我是说，我会对朵拉很生气的。

2.As you make your bed, you must lie on it. 自己铺的床自己躺；自食其果。如：

(1) My selfpity was at that time valuable, for it kept hope alive. Had I sturdily said to myself, “You have made your bed and you must lie on it, serve you right!” I should have accepted this and the last word on the subject and have sunk into despair.(Johnson)

我的自我怜悯在当时是很有作用的，因为它使我保持希望。如果我固执地对自己说：“这是咎由自取，活该！”那么我就会把这看成是结局而陷入失望之中。

(2) Ive nothing more to advise on the matter. You have made your bed and must lie on it.(B.L.K. Henderson: A Dictionary of English Idioms)

这件事我再也没什么可奉劝你了。你既然做了就应负责。

(3) Billy smoked one of his fathers cigars and now he is sick. He made his bed, now let him lie on it. (M.T. Boatner & J.E. Gates: A Dictionary of American Idioms)

比利抽了父亲的一根雪茄，感到很不舒服。他是自作自受。

以上就若干英语谚语归类及使用作了粗浅的探讨，目的是使学生对英语谚语有进一步的理解，并在语言实践中加以使用。如果使用得当，就能加强语言效果，提高语言水平，积极性也会随之提高。因而在教学中，应引导鼓励学生多使用谚语，让这朵文学百花园中的奇葩绽放得更加绚丽多彩。