Proverbs, Sayings, Idioms and Phrases

Origin of the proverb. The proverb 'love is blind' was first found in written form in the medieval English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's work 'The Canterbury Tales', which was composed in the late 14th century. In one of the Tales, known as 'The Merchant's Tale', the narrator states 'love is blind'. … [Read more...] about ‘Love is blind’ - Origin, Meaning, and Significance of the Proverb

Origin of the phrase. The proverb 'all's well that ends well' is perhaps most famous for being the title of a play by the English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616). In the above mentioned play (which was probably written 1604-5), a young woman called Helena has to undergo various trials … [Read more...] about ‘All’s Well That Ends Well’ - Origin, Meaning, Expansion, and Significance

Origin of the phrase. This phrase derives from a medieval Latin phrase which is attributed to St Ambrose. The original Latin is, 'si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more' which means, 'if you are in Rome, then live in the Roman manner'. St Ambrose was the bishop of Milan and he lived in the fourth … [Read more...] about ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ - Origin, Meaning, Expansion and Significance

Origin This proverb most likely dates back to at least the late medieval period. In 1575, it was cited by the writer George Gascoigne, who noted that 'too many cooks spoil the broth' was a common proverb. Since, Gascoigne stated that this proverb was already common, it is safe to say that it had … [Read more...] about ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’ - Origin, Meaning, Expansion, and Significance.

Origin of this proverb This English proverb probably derives from a French proverb from the early sixteenth century. This proverb states 'les mariages se font au ciel': 'marriages are made in heaven'. Meaning and explanation This proverb, 'marriages are made in heaven', means that 'good marriages … [Read more...] about ‘Marriages are Made in Heaven’ - Origin, Meaning, Explanation, Importance