[Idiom] Idiom or Proverb

[Saipuwanard]

Hi,
I'm creating content about Thai and English idioms to be published on my work website.
But I am not sure about the differences between idiom and proverb. Are this following sayings idioms or proverbs?

- Kill two birds with one stone- When the cat’s away the mice will play.
- Let a sleeping dog lie
- A bad workman always blames his tools.
- Make hay while the sun shines
- Like two peas in a pod

Thanks.

 

[Tarheel]

I wouldn't call them proverbs but sayings.

 

[emsr2d2]

Hi.

I'm creating content about Thai and English idioms to be published on my work website no full stop here but I am not sure about the differences between idioms and proverbs. Are [STRIKE]this[/STRIKE] the following/these sayings idioms or proverbs?

- Kill two birds with one stone.
- When the cat’s away, the mice will play.
- Let a sleeping dog lie.
- A bad workman always blames his tools.
- Make hay while the sun shines.
- Like two peas in a pod.

[STRIKE]Thanks.[/STRIKE] Unnecessary. Thank us after we help you, by clicking on the "Thank" button.

Note my corrections and comments above.

 

[TheParser]

But I am not sure about the differences between idiom and proverb.

NOT A TEACHER


There are many explanations on the Internet.

I suggest that you start by googling the following: Merriam-Webster Learner's Dictionary idioms and proverbs.

(I do not know how to link. Sorry!)

Link added on behalf of TheParser: https://learnersdictionary.com/qa/the-difference-between-idioms-proverbs-2nd


I very much thank emsr2d2 for the link.

 

[Tarheel]

I noticed after I posted my post that sayings is in the OP.


Most of those sayings seem to me to be obsolete. (I think most people--especially most young people--would have trouble explaining most of them.)

Ron: Let sleeping dogs lie.
Don: What did you say?
Ron: Let sleeping dogs lie.
Don: What does that mean? Sleeping dogs can't lie. They can't talk in the first place.
Ron: No, not that kind of lie. Don't bother a sleeping dog. It might become aggressive.
Don: Oh.

I think the ones most likely to be current are:

(He (or she)) killed two birds with one stone.

And:

(They are like) two peas in a pod.

Frankly, I am not sure if either is current. One, it's hard to kill one bird with one stone, much less two. Two, almost nobody knows what a pod of peas looks like anymore.

For better or worse, a lot of sayings that used to be popular are fading away.