Request help from native speakers of English!

[gavrjuha]

Hallo!
My name is Lyudmila Prima, and I am a BA student working on my research at the Narva College of Tartu University. The research concerns proverbs connected with various traits of human character in different cultures.
I would really appreciate if you could take your time filling out the questionnaire below. My e-mail is EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead.
Thank you very much for your participation!

Dear respondent!

I’m conducting a survey about proverbs connected with various traits of human character in different cultures. The idea of the research is to clarify and analyze relevant human qualities among English and Russian native speakers. I would really appreciate if you could take your time filling out the questionnaire below.

Please write down 2-3 proverbs in English that in your opinion reflect the indicated traits of human character. It’s important that you write proverbs “off the top of your head”, without thinking too hard or using any literature. It’s OK if for some of the qualities you won’t be able to come up with an appropriate example. Thank you!

1) Honesty / Dishonesty

2) Diligence / Laziness

3) Courage / Cowardice

4) Intelligence / Foolishness

5) Economy / Wastefulness

6) Altruism / Pragmatism

7) Collectivism / Individualism

8) Greediness / Generosity

9) Belief in own strength / Submission to destiny

10) Kindness / Anger

Thank you for your participation in the research!

[linsuman]

Here are some things that came to mind:
1. Honesty is the best policy.
Ask me no questions, I'll tell you no lies.
2. If at first you don't succeed, try, try again.
No pain. No gain.
Idle hands are the devil's play things.
3. Cowards die many times before their deaths.
4. A fool and his money are soon parted.
There's no fool like an old fool.
The way of a fool is right in his own eyes.
5. A penny saved is a penny earned.
Waste not, want not.
A stitch in time saves nine.
Don't cry over spilt milk.
6. That's the way the cookie crumbles.
What's done is done.
7. Your rights end where my nose begins.
8. It is more blessed to give than to receive.
God loves a cheerful giver.
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
9. The best defense is a good offense.
He is full of himself.
10. Never go to bed angry.
Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.
Hope these help.

[ParaVoz]

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
I need your help!!!!! I am writing an essay about the origin of English idioms. I have already found some information but i still have a lot of questions.
1. origin of an idiom: looks like something a cat dragged in
2. origin of an idom: as much use as a chocolate fireguard
I walso would like to know your opinion about English idioms in general.
Please answer as quick as possible. The conference that i am getting prepared starts in 2 weeks!!!!

[Stilo]

Originally Posted by gavrjuha

Hallo!
My name is Lyudmila Prima, and I am a BA student working on my research at the Narva College of Tartu University. The research concerns proverbs connected with various traits of human character in different cultures.
I would really appreciate if you could take your time filling out the questionnaire below. My e-mail is EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead.
Thank you very much for your participation!

Dear respondent!

I’m conducting a survey about proverbs connected with various traits of human character in different cultures. The idea of the research is to clarify and analyze relevant human qualities among English and Russian native speakers. I would really appreciate if you could take your time filling out the questionnaire below.

Please write down 2-3 proverbs? in English that in your opinion reflect the indicated traits of human character. It’s important that you write proverbs “off the top of your head”, without thinking too hard or using any literature. It’s OK if for some of the qualities you won’t be able to come up with an appropriate example. Thank you!

1) Honesty / Dishonesty He is honest as the day is long...I would not trust him as far as I could throw him.
2) Diligence / Laziness

3) Courage / Cowardice He has the heart of a lion...He's yelow through and through

4) Intelligence / Foolishness

5) Economy / Wastefulness

6) Altruism / Pragmatism

7) Collectivism / Individualism

8) Greediness / Generosity He would take your last penny/He is a greedy guts... He would give you his last penny
9) Belief in own strength / Submission to destiny

10) Kindness / Anger

Thank you for your participation in the research!

Hope this starts you off Good luck
Stilo

[Tdol]

Originally Posted by ParaVoz

PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!
I need your help!!!!! I am writing an essay about the origin of English idioms. I have already found some information but i still have a lot of questions.
1. origin of an idiom: looks like something a cat dragged in

Think what a mouse or bird looks like after a cat has played with, tormented and killed, then brought home. Think what someone looks like after getting caught in the rain. That's the origin.

[banderas]

Originally Posted by gavrjuha

Hallo!
My name is Lyudmila Prima, and I am a BA student working on my research at the Narva College of Tartu University. The research concerns proverbs connected with various traits of human character in different cultures.
I would really appreciate if you could take your time filling out the questionnaire below. My e-mail is EMAIL REMOVED - Send PM to This User Instead.
Thank you very much for your participation!

1) Honesty / Dishonesty: Let's put our cards on the table

2) Diligence / Laziness: an eager beaver

3) Courage / Cowardice: nerves of steel

4) Intelligence / Foolishness: muddy the waters

5) Economy / Wastefulness: false economy

6) Altruism / Pragmatism:

7) Collectivism / Individualism

8) Greediness / Generosity

9) Belief in own strength / Submission to destiny

10) Kindness / Anger: like a red flag to a bull

Thank you for your participation in the research!

[ParaVoz]

Thank you? Tdol but I knew it befroe. I thought that it could be a story connected to these idioms. If there is no such story then I won' include them into my report. But I also want to know some general things about the idioms and their origin/ Maybe groups that they are devided to by their origin.

[Anglika]

There are rarely "stories" connected to idioms. They generally arise from common usage. Stories may become attached to them in order to provide explanation.