Proverb and Idiom Meaning Questions
How do you explain what a proverb means in an English assessment?
Underline the parts of the proverb that work as metaphor rather than literal meaning, translate each part into plain language, then combine those translated parts into a single reworded statement before looking at the answer options. The correct option restates that meaning in full — it never substitutes another equally mysterious saying, and it never adds an emotional reaction the original proverb didn't specify.
Why literal reading fails here
Proverbs and idioms aren't frequent in a reading comprehension section, but they're consistently misjudged because the correct answer requires translating figurative language, not just recognising it. A question about "an idle brain is the devil's workshop" isn't really about brains or devils — it's about boredom and behaviour. Missing the translation step and reasoning from the literal words is the most common error.
Worked example
What does "an idle brain is the devil's workshop" suggest?
A. When one has nothing to do, they are more likely to get in trouble B. Bad thoughts confront those who wait C. Not doing anything is the start of doing something bad D. The devil is in the details E. None
Translate each half separately. "Idle brain" broadly means someone not occupied — boredom, not busyness. "Devil's workshop" broadly means a place where bad things are made or done. Combined: someone unoccupied is more likely to end up somewhere bad.
Option D swaps in a different, equally figurative saying rather than translating the original — a common trap for students who recognise a familiar-sounding phrase and select it without checking it answers the actual question. Option B adds "confront," a hostile, active idea not implied by the original at all. Option C states its premise oddly — "not doing anything" doesn't map cleanly onto "idle brain."
Option A most precisely captures both halves: idleness increases the likelihood of trouble. Option A is correct.
The two traps to watch for
First, an option that substitutes a different idiom for the one in the question, hoping a familiar-sounding phrase gets picked without being checked against the actual meaning. Second, an option that adds a feeling — fear, hostility, urgency — the original proverb never stated. Both traps rely on the same thing: not fully translating the proverb before reading the options.
Steps
- Identify and underline the metaphorical parts of the proverb
- Translate each part into plain, literal language separately
- Combine the translated parts into one full restated meaning
- Reject options that substitute another idiom rather than translating the original
- Reject options that add feelings or reactions the proverb didn't specify
This is one chapter of the Scholarship & Entrance English Assessment Guide. The complete guide — every technique, collected in one document — is available as a free PDF from the guide's main page.