Proverbs Starting with O: Meaning and Explanation

Proverbs Starting with O: In English grammar, proverbs are common sayings that show the truth of life. It is a piece of advice from wise people who through their experiences passed these motivational sayings to the generations to come. Take an example of a proverb from the letter O, “Oil and water do not mix” which means two people will not come together if they are not compatible with each other. In the blog, we will discuss many more such proverbs that start with O which will help you learn something new. 

Must Read: 100+ Common Proverbs with Meaning and Examples

Proverbs Starting with O and Their Meaning

Proverbs that start with O are unique and give an important lesson to people. These proverbial sayings always give a message that is unique and has a motivation in it. Here, are some of the proverbs beginning with O along with explanations that will help you learn something new.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

The proverb is mentioned in an ancient Greek story which means that the person who has an unpleasant experience with something tries to avoid doing that thing again. If somebody gets a negative experience then they try to be cautious doing it in the future. Similarly, if a person loses trust in somebody it’s harder for them they will trust anybody again.

One Good Turn Deserves Another

The English proverb gives an important lesson that if somebody helps you then you should take a chance to help them in the future. Moreover, if someone does a favor to you then you should return it in the future. Similarly, if someone shown kindness towards you once then you should also be kind towards them. 

One Man’s Trash is Another Man’s Treasure 

The phrase is attributed to Ferdinand August Bebel who was a 19th century writer. He explains that the thing useless for one person can be useful for another person. The thing that can be trash to someone can be a treasure to another person. Additionally, if a person considers an item worthless maybe it can be a valuable item for somebody else. 

One Swallow Doesn’t Make a Summer

The proverb attributed to Aristotle means that a team’s single match win does not mean that they will also win others. It conveys a deeper meaning that a single good happening cannot guarantee that everything will go well. Likewise, a positive outcome once cannot make a positive trend that will last longer. 

One Father is (worth) more than a Hundred Schoolmasters

George Herbert rightly said these words which tell us about the importance of a father. He explains that a father has huge importance in the lives of the children as he raises them. The teacher is also important in the lives of the people as they teach good things to the children. A father’s role cannot be replaced by a hundred teachers in a child’s life as he is the first teacher of the child. 

Opportunity seldom knocks twice

The commonly used proverb emphasizes seizing the opportunity when it comes for the first time in life. It is harder that you will get the best opportunity again so it is better to grab it quickly. Letting the opportunities slip by your hand can lead to regret and sadness. Additionally, the proverb tells us that to act fast whenever we get a golden chance. 

Of a dead Leopard, We Keep the Skin, of Man his Reputation.

The proverb tells the importance of reputation in a man’s life just as the skin of a dead leopard is considered to be prestigious. It explains that the reputation of the man remains the same even if he dies. A person’s reputation is its legacy which he left and how other people remember him. A good reputation helps you build relationships and trust among people. However, a bad reputation makes it difficult to build relationships and gain trust.

One Law for the Rich and another for the Poor

The proverbial saying questions the justice system and explains how the law is different for the poor and the rich. It explains that the poor person will get the punishment for the mistake which the rich person will not get. Just as a rich man is powerful and can buy anything with the use of his wealth which cannot be done by the poor person. 

Explore the Complete List of Proverbs from A to Z

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I

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O

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7 Famous Quotes Starting with O 

A Quote is a famous line said by a popular person to motivate others. They have meanings in them and are created by life experiences. It can be written by an author in his writing in the inverted commas. A quote is an exact representation of what someone has said. 

However, proverbs are the old sayings that take us to the historical times. In the table below there are some quotes that start with O that will help you find motivation.

1.	“O for a life of Sensations rather than of Thoughts.” – John Keats
2.	“O human race born to fly upward, wherefore at a little wind dost thou fall.” – Dante Alighieri
3.	“Obscurity is the realm of error.” – Luc de Clapiers
4.	“Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goal.” – Henry Ford

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This was all about the famous proverbs starting with ‘O’ along with an explanation. Hope you understand the concept and know how to proceed. You can also follow the Learn English page of Leverage Edu for more exciting and informative blogs related to grammar.