1. Be content with what you have, rather than risking everything to get more.
   Hold on tight to your birds, or else they will fly away.
2. Bushes are bad places to store birds.
   Don't squeeze your birds too tightly, or they might suffocate.

This common saying refers to being happy with what you have, rather than attempting to get more and losing it all. The birds in the bush are not really yours, only the ones in your hands are.

1. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.
   The buck stops here.
2. The writing is on the wall.
   A camera doesn't lie.

When someone says that the writing is on the wall, they're referring to something unpleasant that can't be avoided. Usually, this means that something was put into effect long ago, and it's too late to change now.

1. You have a filthy mind.
   You are a disgrace.
2. You have a terrible family name.
   You are down to earth.

The phrase, "your name is mud" is used to refer to someone who has disgraced, embarrassed or ostracized themselves. It is a derogatory common phrase that has been used for centuries.

1. He's a tempest in a teapot.
   He's a wolf in sheep's clothing.
2. He takes the mickey.
   He is the tail wagging the dog.

Wolves in sheep's clothing are dangerous people who appear innocent. This phrase is a warning, acknowledging that the person looks harmless but indicating that they really are not.

1. Someone can't change their character.
   Big cats are not to be messed with.
2. Leopards shouldn't be mistaken for housecats.
   Humans should try to be more like leopards.

Leopards can't change their spots, just like people can't change their characters. This common phrase is often used to warn that when someone shows you who they really are, you should believe them.

1. Smiles
   Pants
2. Charms
   Bells

If you are super excited about an event or party, you'll be attending with "bells on." This simple statement goes back centuries and is still used to indicate excitement and enthusiasm.

1. Kiss
   Wing
2. Wish
   Thought

When something doesn't have a very good chance of succeeding, it's said that it's operating on a wing and a prayer. This common phrase calls on luck to be able to pull a feat off.

1. A day at the races
   A run of the mill
2. A wild goose chase
   A summer picnic

A wild goose chase refers to a pointless endeavor. Anyone who has ever encountered wild geese knows that it's pointless to chase them, so this common phrase actually makes a lot of sense.

1. True friends never really need you.
   Someone who helps out in a tough time is a reliable friend.
2. All friends will be in need at least once a year.
   Some friends need you more than others do.

You've probably heard the phrase "fair-weather friend." This common quote actually refers to the opposite; friends who stick with you when the going gets tough and when you need them most.

1. Cows
   Sheep
2. Pigs
   Fish

"When pigs fly" refers to something that will never happen. This common quote is also a delightful visual gag, with movies often pairing the phrase alongside a graphic of a flying pig.

1. A fly in the ointment
   A reading of the riot act
2. A sandwich short of a picnic
   A pound of flesh

Flies in the ointment put a sour spin on a celebration. This common phrase is generally used when something irritating or bittersweet happens during an otherwise exceptional occasion.

1. He's an expert swimmer.
   He's a manipulative person.
2. He's lacking experience.
   He's a treasured advisor.

This common phrase actually has its roots in human birth. When babies are born, they are wet, so if someone is wet behind the ears they are totally inexperienced — just like a baby!

1. Drop
   Fish
2. Wave
   Bouy

The phrase "a drop in the ocean" refers to a small amount that really won't make much of a difference. It's usually used to convey exasperation and frustration with what needs to be done.

1. She's one sandwich short of a picnic.
   He's up the creek without a paddle.
2. She's the pot calling the kettle black.
   He's a pretty kettle of fish.

If you're up the creek without a paddle, you are in serious trouble and you have no way of getting yourself out of the situation. It's used as a cautionary phrase about what can happen.

1. He's much ado about nothing.
   He's moving the goalposts.
2. He's a diamond in the rough.
   He makes a virtue of necessity.

Diamonds in the rough might not appear to be all that great at first, but their incredible character always shines through, even if their exterior happens to be exceptionally rough.

1. You can eat faster with two heads.
   When you use more of your brain, you can be smarter.
2. Always get advice from people who think like you.
   It's helpful to have a second opinion when working out a problem.

When you have a particularly stubborn problem, it is a good idea to ask for the help or advice of a trusted friend. You'll have a better chance to solve the issue because two heads are better than one!

1. You're telling the truth.
   You're keeping your eyes open and your mouth shut.
2. You're pretending not to notice.
   You're trying not to be vain.

Turning a blind eye means pretending not to notice something. Often this common phrase is used to indicate negligence or calloused indifference to a real problem that needs our attention.

1. Truth is stranger than fiction.
   You can't handle the truth.
2. Your unicorns aren't really all that impressive.
   It's a big fish tale.

We can thank Mark Twain for the common phrase "truth is stranger than fiction," which refers to situations where our actual reality is much more bizarre than anything we can cook up in our imagination.

1. You need to walk in someone else's shoes.
   All journeys must come to an end sometime.
2. You need to start your journey by taking a single step.
   Going by land will keep you more grounded than traveling by boat.

This common phrase, "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step" actually comes from a Chinese proverb that indicates that if you want to accomplish a feat, you have to make that first move.

1. I wouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth.
   I wouldn’t touch that with a 10-foot pole.
2. I wouldn't let him pull the wool over your eyes.
   I wouldn't put that past her.

The phrase "I wouldn't touch that with a 10-foot pole" means that someone is planning on avoiding something altogether. It's used to refer to tricky social situations and toxic people.

1. The bad things that you have done in the past will come back to haunt you.
   If you save your money, you'll see more of it in the future.
2. Always follow animals on the trail.
   Teach a man to cook a chicken and he'll eat for his whole life.

When the bad things that you've done in the past come back to haunt you, your chickens are coming home to roost. It's often used when the unpleasant past springs up out of nowhere.

1. Spacemen
   Blossoms
2. Peas
   Humans

The phrase "two peas in a pod" refers to two things that are so similar that it's tough to distinguish between them. It generally refers to people who are a lot alike or enjoy the same things.

1. Store it in the ocean
   Keep it under your hat
2. Leave it by the side of the road
   Whisper it only to those you must

Keeping something under your hat is keeping it secret. The origins of the phrase are a little murky, it most likely comes from a trick that medieval archers used to keep things safe during rainstorms.

1. Fish that look delicious but are deadly.
   Someone that has plenty of fish to share
2. We need to take care of endangered oceanic animals.
   Someone or something that is not like the rest.

When we say "a different kettle of fish," we are using a folksy phrase to refer to someone or something that isn't like the rest. It's usually used as a cautionary phrase to tread lightly.

1. You're upsetting the apple cart.
   You're polishing the peach.
2. You're stomping around the blackberry patch.
   You're peeling the orange.

"Upsetting the apple cart" refers to disturbing the status quo, or ushering in a new era of doing things. It can be used in both a negative and positive fashion depending on the context.

1. Plus their peg leg
   Monsters included
2. Warts and all
   Snores and sores

Everyone has some unattractive qualities or attributes — nobody is exempt! If you're able to tolerate or love certain people despite their many flaws, you love them "warts and all."

1. When you're waiting for something to happen it can seem to take forever.
   Cooking is a difficult and sometimes tedious task.
2. Always use stainless steel pots so that your water boils properly.
   Water only boils at a specific temperature.

This saying is often misinterpreted as one that means to watch your temper, but that's not the original meaning. Back in the 1700s, this phrase was coined as a way to express how long things will take if you're anticipating them!

1. Sludge rolls downhill.
   A true leader understands their role.
2. A fish rots from the head down.
   Find time to smell the flowers and your company will grow.

The saying "a fish rots from the head down" is a colorful way to express that often dysfunction starts at the leadership level. It's often used to describe dysfunctional or toxic businesses.

1. If you eat your cake, you need to exercise.
   You can't have it both ways.
2. You need to share the cake with other people.
   If you bake the cake you can eat it.

It might seem totally counter-intuitive to use the phrase "you can’t have your cake and eat it too," as of course, you'd want to both have and eat the delicious cake. It refers to not having something both ways.

1. Mimicry is the sincerest form of flattery.
   Swim with the fishes to warmer waters.
2. Travel makes the heart sing.
   When in Rome, do as the Romans do.

We can credit Saint Ambrose for this phrase, which means to go with the flow and follow the customs and traditions of the place that you're visiting. Generally, it's shortened to "when in Rome."

1. Smarter
   Going
2. Tougher
   Packing

"When the going gets tough, the tough get going" refers to the tendency of mentally strong people to become more determined in the face of adversity. It's usually used for encouragement.

1. Everything
   A win in football
2. A yard of cloth
   To go bowling

This common phrase actually goes back to the early days of the United States and it refers to something that is all-encompassing, or everything all included together in one package.

1. Swim across the English Channel
   Get blood out of a stone
2. Travel to the moon and back
   Wrestle an octopus in the deep

Sometimes this common phrase goes "you can't get water out of a stone." It is used to refer to someone or something that is unwilling to give up information or perform a specific task.

1. Dogs are not as bright as people.
   When people are set in their ways, you can't get them to change.
2. Only puppies can learn new tricks, so don't even try!
   If you want to teach someone a trick, you need to give them a treat.

This common phrase is often used to refer to someone who is very set in their ways or reluctant to change. It's sometimes used to write off very unpleasant or out-of-date behavior.

1. Barrel
   Fence
2. Person
   Chain

This phrase refers to teamwork. The chain represents the team or group, and each individual person is a link. Since the chain is only as strong as its weakest link, the team is only as powerful as its weakest person.