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A drowning man will catch at a straw.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
Unit 2
Тask 1. Read and translate the meaning of the proverbs using the vocabulary.
Explanatory notes:
1. All's well that ends well: fears and anxieties are forgotten as soon as one's aim is reached.
Example: When the books were signed the vicar congratulated the husband and wife on having performed a noble, and righteous, and mutually forgiving act. "All's well that ends well," he said smiling. (Th. Hardy)
2. A rolling stone gathers no moss: a person who frequently changes his occupation does not attain a position of security, prosperity, success (just as a stone that never stays long in one place gives no chance for moss to grow on it). A person who moves around, never staying in one job, is called a rolling stone.
Example: "I want to see Dan settled somewhere. 'A rolling stone gathers no moss', and at twenty-five he is still roaming about the world without a tie to hold him. (L. Alcott)"
3. Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies: one should not ask inappropriate questions that may lead to deceitful answers.
Example: "What made you part from him?"
"Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies." (Т.А. Hardy)
4. A stitch in time saves nine: a little effort at the right time saves much work later.
Examples:
A Stitch in Time, or Pride Prevents a Fall. (J. Laver)
We take a stitch in time that may save nine. (B. Stevenson)
5. As you make your bed, so you must lie on it: a person must take the responsibility for, and suffer from the results of his own unwise actions, just as a man who makes his bed badly will certainly sleep uncomfortably.
Example: "Stop crying," she says, harshly, "you have made your bed, and you must lie on it." (R. Broughton)
Тask 2. Complete the following proverbs.
1) A rolling stone ...............
2) ............... saves nine.
3) Ask ................ no lies.
4) .................. that ends well.
5) As you make your bed, .........................
Тask 3. Find English equivalents to the Russian proverbs below.
Все хорошо, что хорошо кончается.
Что посеешь, то и пожнешь.
Кому на месте не сидится, тот добра не наживет.
Хороша ложка к обеду.
Не лезь в душу.
Тask 4. In the following passages find proverbs or parts of proverbs, explain their meaning in English and translate the passages into Russian.
1) One can almost hear the formula, "She has made her bed, now let her lie on it." (S. H. Adams)
2) If you do your rolling up-hill you will gather some moss. (B. Stevenson)
3) No one must know ? certainly not her father, who had warned her so desperately! She had made her bed, and would have to lie on it. (J. Galsworthy)
4) I've been here twenty years myself. I always was one for sticking to a job. I always say when you get a good place, then stick there. A rolling stone gathers no moss, and it's true. (R. Wright)
Тask 5. Translate the passage into Russian. Retell it, and explain the use of proverbs.
Montanelli came slowly down the steps, the people crowding about him to kiss his hands.
"Peace be with you, my children!"
At the sound of the clear, silvery voice, the Gadfly bent his head, so that the white hair fell across his face. If only he could shrink into some corner and stop his ears to shut out, the sound! Indeed, it was more that any man should have to bear ? to be so close, so close that he could have put out his arm and touched the dear hand.
"Will you not come under shelter, my friend?" the soft voice said. "I am afraid you are chilled."
The Gadfly's heart stood still. For a moment he was conscious of nothing but the sickening pressure of the blood that seemed as if it would tear his breast asunder; then it rushed back, tingling and burning through all his body, and he looked up. The grave, deep eyes above him grew suddenly tender with divine compassion at the sight of his face.
"Stand back a little, friends," Montanelli said, turning to the crowd; "I want to speak to him."
The people fell slowly back, whispering to each other, and the Gadfly, sitting motionless, with teeth clenched and eyes on the ground, felt the gentle touch of Montanеlli’s hand upon his shoulder.
"You have had some great trouble. Can I do anything to help you?"
The Gadfly shook his head in silence.
"Are you a pilgrim?"
"I am a miserable sinner."
The accidental similarity of Montanelli's question to the password came like a chance straw, that the Gadfly, in his desperation, caught at, answering automatically. He had begun to tremble under the soft pressure of the hand that seemed to burn upon his shoulder. (E. L. Voynich, The Gadfly)
Тask 6. Choose the best variant from those given below to complete the proverb.
1) A ............. stone gathers no moss.
a) rolling
b) nice
c) big
2) As you make you bed, so you ............. lie on it.
a) can
b) try
c) must
3) A stitch in time ............. nine.
a) saves
b) brings
c) makes
Тask 7. Complete the beginning or the end of the following proverbs.
1) A bird in hand .............
2) A rolling stone .............
3) Actions speak louder .............
4) All's well .............
5) A stitch in time .............
6) ............. and you'll be told no lies
7) ............. dreads the fire
8) ............. will catch at a straw
9) ............. a friend indeed
10) ............. so you must lie on it
Тask 8. Illustrate the proverbs using your body language/ gestures.
The appetite comes with eating. (Аппетит приходит во время еды.)
As you make your bed, so must you lie in it. (Как постелешь, так и поспишь.)
Тask 9. Make up a joke using one or more of the given proverbs in the end.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
A burnt child dreads the fire.
A drowning man will catch at a straw.
A friend in need is a friend indeed.
As you make your bed, so you must lie on it.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Ask no questions and you'll be told no lies.
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
All's well that ends well.
Unit 3
Тask 1. Read and translate the meaning of the proverbs using the vocabulary.
Explanatory notes:
1. A watched pot never boils (or: a watched pot is long in boiling): time hangs heavy on one's hands during the period of waiting or expectation.
Example: I said to myself, "A watched pot never boils"; if I don't look for her she will come. (J. Galsworthy)
2. Better late than never: it is better to arrive late than never to arrive at all, or be late in the performance of something necessary or advisable rather than never do it. Compare: Лучше поздно, чем никогда.
3. Don't cross the bridges before you come to them (or: don't cross the bridge till you get to it): do not trouble yourself about future problems and difficulties, but wait till they have to be faced.
Example: "You know I get desperately frightened, sometimes," said Aileen. "Father might be watching us, you know. I've often wondered what I'd do if he caught us. I couldn't lie out of this, could I?"
"You certainly couldn't," said Cowper wood, "but you might as well not cross that bridge until you come to it," he continued. (Th. Dreiser)
4. Every cloud has a silver lining: nothing is wholly dark or full of unmixed sorrow or gloom; there is some good in every evil; a misfortune may turn into a benefit.
Example: "O, society!" said Kate, "society, in the sense you mean, and I have only a bowing acquaintance. Every cloud has a silver lining; and that is one advantage of being insignificant, ? that you're not in much terror of Mrs. Qrundy." (R. Broughton)
5. Half a loaf is better than no bread: if it is impossible to have (receive, gain) exactly what one wants, it is better to have a substitute, however poor it may be, than nothing at all.
Example: We must live somehow, and half a loaf is better than no bread. (Ch. Kingsley)
6. In for a penny, in for a pound: as soon as one has entered into the engagement, one must go through with it at all costs.
Example: "She has not been here since Monday?"
