"A chain is no stronger than its weakest link."
- This means that processes, organisations, teams, etc, are vulnerable because the weakest person or part can always damage or break them and cause the failure of the whole system.
- The strength of a group depends on each individual member.
Example: The football team was great at scoring goals, but its goalkeeper was terrible and the team lost every match they played, prooving that a chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
"A little bird told me."
If one doesn't want to say where they got some information from, they can say that a little bird told them.
Example: His wife told her husband that she heard that he was a terrible cook. When he asked his wife who had siad that, she said "a little bird told me."
"A little learning is a dangerous thing."
A small amount of knowledge can cause people to think they are more expert than they really are.
Example: He said he read abook and now knew how to do electrcial work. But when he tried to fix my table lamp, the electical cord short-circuited, sparked and caused a fire.
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Comments or questions are welcome.
@ Leyla
I think "a little bird told me" is common in many countries.
Thank you for your comment.
@ Wafa
Leyla said "a little bird told me" is used in her country, Azerbaijan, and now we know that it is also common in Tunisia.
Thank you for your comment.
@ Jonathan
You've asked a good question Jonathan.
Most native English speakers do not know the difference between an idiom, expression, saying, proverb, adage or maxim.
Actually, in many ways, they are all similar because they all refer to to common expressions/phrases that people use in their daily speech or writing.
They are usually said as a complete sentence, and rarely said as part of a longer sentence.
In most cases, they are words of wisdom.
Many of them originated 2,000 years ago in Latin,then became part of early French and English starting in the 1300s.
I've done a little research to find the defintions of these terms, and I will post my results in a day or two.
Thank you for your comment.
This is quite interesting.
Actually we use the second idiom in Tunisia too, literally the same.
"A little bird told me." = " قالتلي العصفورة "
Thank you for this new piece of information Richard :)
Thank YOU, for idioms.
The third idiom is actual. And it belongs to everybody. Because the man can not be perfect in everybody. Of course, before talking about something everyone needs to think may be others know more than me.
I liked the second about little bird. Because we use it too:)
CLICHÉ
1. A word or expression that has lost much of its force through overexposure and overuse.
2. An expression lacking in freshness or effectiveness because of constant use or excessive repetition.
Clichés are often idioms. Idioms are figurative phrases with an implied meaning; the phrase is not to be taken literally.
Examples:
- Time will tell… This means that something will revealed or become clear over time
- In the nick of time… This means something happened just in time/at the last moment
- Opposites attract… This means that people who like different things and have different views are likely to fall in love or to become friends.
- Scared out of my wits… This describes being very frightened
- All is fair in love and war… This cliché stands for the premise that you can do whatever you have to in order to capture the heart of your lover
- Cat got your tongue?
- Fall head over heels
- Read between the lines
- Laughter is the best medicine
- Waking up on the wrong side of the bed
- Sent a shiver down my spine
- Heart-stopping fear
- I love you more than life itself
- And they all lived happily ever after
- We're not laughing at you, we’re laughing with you
- The quiet before the storm
MAXIM
1. An expression of a general truth, principle, or rule of conduct.
2. A brief, well-known statement of a general and practical truth, especially one that serves as a rule of conduct or a precept.
Examples:
- Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
- It is wise to risk no more than one can afford to lose
ADAGE
1. A traditional saying expressing a common experience or observation;
2. A traditional saying that is accepted by many as true or partially true.
3. A saying that has become popular after long use, similar to a proverb
Examples:
- An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
- Eat to live, and not live to eat.
- Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.
- Where there's smoke, there's fire.
