越是接近于民间智慧，越能感受到人类文化的相通。短语和谚语是一个民族文化和智慧的结晶，也是长期以来民族共同的价值观和人生观的最好体现。它们来自人们日常生活的经验，采用大白话的表达方式。世界上有不同的民族，不同的语言，不同的文化，但全世界人热爱生活，崇尚真善美的心是一样的。汉语和英语所代表的东西方文化在部分谚语和短语中找到了结合点。从下面中英文短语和谚语的对比中我们不难看出两种文化的相似之处。

1.wolf in sheep’s clothing披着羊皮的狼; 伪君子; 外貌忠厚心地险恶的小人.(a person who pretends to be good but really is bad).

2.Walls have ears 隔墙有耳 ( things uttered in secret get rumored abroad)

3.Waste one’s breath 白费口舌 (to speak or argue with no result; do nothing by talking)

4. number one 最好的; 第一流的; 头号的;自身利益 ( 1. of first rank or importance 2. oneself; one’s own interest; one’s private or selfish advantage)

5. Eat like a bird 胃口小(eat very little )

6.eat like a horse  狼吞虎咽 (eat a lot; eat hungrily)

7. Catch (grasp) at straws 抓（救命）稻草 

8. Try one’s hand  尝试; 试身手 (to test one’s ability)

9. Swim against the current (stream) 

逆潮流行事; 背道而驰; 背水一战 (to do the opposite of what most people want to do; go against the way things are happening; struggle upstream)

10. Strike while the iron is hot

趁热打铁( to engage in an enterprise with promptness when circumstances favor)

11．In the bag 探囊取物；十拿九稳的 (sure;  definite; certain of success)

12. Make one’s mouth water  （指美食美味）令人馋涎欲滴( to look or smell very good; make you want very much to eat or drink something you see or smell)

13.kill two birds with one stone  一举两得； 一箭双雕 ( to succeed in doing two things by only one action; get two results from one effort)

14. Hot under the collar  (气得)面红脖子粗 ( angry )

15. Have one’s hand full  很忙; 应接不暇; (to be very busy; have as much work as one can do)

16. Blow one’s own horn 自吹自擂 ( to praise oneself; to call attention to one’s kill, intelligence, or success; to boast)

17．Cry over spilled milk作无意义的后悔；于事无补的埋怨( to cry or complain about something that has already happened; be unhappy about something that has no remedy)

18. Go down in history永垂史册 ( be remembered or recorded always)

19.drown one’s sorrows/troubles借酒浇愁 ( drink liquor to try to forget something unhappy )

20. Rob Peter to pay Paul借东还西；拆东墙补西墙 ( to change one duty or need for another; take from one person or thing to pay another)

21．A live dog is better than a dead lion. 活着的狗比死了的狮子强----好死不如赖活着。

22. There is truth in wine. 酒后吐真言

23. He laughs best who laughs last。笑到最后笑得最甜。

24. Speech is silver，silence is golden. 中国人只强调“沉默是金”。