a burnt child dreads the fire. 一朝被蛇咬，十年怕井绳。
a candle lights others and consumes itself. 蜡烛焚自身，光亮照别人。
a cat may look at a king. 猫也有权晋见国王。
a cat has nine lives. 猫有九条命。
accidents will happen. 天有不测风云。
a chain is no stronger than its weakest link. 链条的坚固程度取决于它最薄弱的环节。
a change of work is as good as a rest. 调换一下工作是很好的休息。
a cheerful wife is the joy of life. 快乐的妻子是生活的乐事。
a clean hand wants no washing. 身正不怕影子斜。
a clear conscience is a soft pillow. 问心无愧，高枕无忧。
a clear conscience is a sure card. 光明磊落，胜券在握。
a clear conscience laughs at false accusations. 白日不做亏心事，夜半敲门心不惊。
a clear fast is better than a dirty breakfast. 宁为清贫，不为浊富。
a close mouth catches no flies. 病从口入，祸从口出。
a cock is valiant on his own dunghill. 夜郎自大。
a common danger causes common action. 同仇敌忾。
a constant guest is never welcome. 久住非佳宾，常来不欢迎。
a contented mind is perpetual feast. 知足常乐。
a covetous man is good to none but worse to himself. 贪婪的人对别人毫无好处，对自己却坏处更大。
a crafty knave needs no broker. 狡猾的流氓，不需居间人。
a creaking door hangs long on its hinges. 户枢不蠹。

a bad beginning makes a bad ending. 恶其始者必恶其终。
a bad bush is better than the open field. 有胜于无。
a bad compromise is better than a good lawsuit. 吃亏的和解也比胜诉强。
a bad conscience is a snake in one's heart. 做贼心虚。
a bad custom is like a good cake, better broken than kept. 坏习惯像鲜馅饼，分食要比保存好。
a bad padlock invites a picklock. 开门揖盗。
a bad penny always turns up.
a bad thing never dies. 坏事传千年。
a bad workman quarrels with his tools. 拙匠常怨工具差(人笨怨刀钝)。
a bargain is a bargain. 达成的协议不可撕毁。
a beggar's purse is bottomless. 乞丐的钱袋是无底洞。
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. 双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。
a bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 闻其歌知其鸟，听其言知其人。
a bird may be known by its song. 什么鸟唱什么歌。
a bit in the morning is better than nothing all day. 略有胜于全无。
a blind man who leans against a wall imagines that it's the boundary of the world. 坐井观天。
a blind man will not thank you for a looking-glass. 秋波送盲，白费痴情。
a book is the same today as it always was and it will never change. 一本好书今天如此，将来也如此，永不改变。
a book that remains shut is but a block. 有书闭卷不阅读，无异是一块木头。
a borrowed cloak does not keep one warm. 借来的斗篷不暖身。
absence sharpens love, presence strengthens it. 相聚爱益切，离别情更深。
a burden of one's choice is not felt. 自己选的担子不嫌重。