So you know those little quips, such as blood is thicker than water, curiosity killed the cat, and so forth? Those are proverbs, but they aren't the complete saying. A proverb is a short pithy stating a general truth or a piece of advice. Some people use these in arguments, but most of the time, they are saying it incorrectly in that it would not support their argument. So just in case someone tries to use this against you, you can turn the conversation back around on them.
Here are 5 proverbs that everyone seems to misuse:
1. Blood is thicker than water.
Blood is thicker than water is often used when a family member is involved. Your family is more important than your friends, yes, but the full saying is "the blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb." The ones who you chose to spend time with and those in your squad are often the ones impacting your life more than those who you share blood with. The water of womb is an indication of a sibling, but a covenant is a group of people who choose to stick together.
2. Curiosity killed the cat
"Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back." Most people say that you shouldn't be so curious about certain things due to possible consequences. My friends often tell me that I am too curious for my own good. So when you are being curious, you will run into trouble, but I hope it is worth the satisfaction.
3. Jack of all trades, master of none.
"A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one." We all know that one person who is involved in everything and that one person who is awesome at one thing. This would be them. Being a master at something can come in handy, but having experience in multiple things can allow more opportunities to arise.
4. Great minds think alike.
"Great minds think alike, but fools seldom differ." If two people come to the same conclusion, is it really that difficult to get to then? This saying is indicating that fools can come to the same conclusion as well. The first part of the saying starts off great for the both of you, but the last part is sarcastic.
5. When one door closes another opens.
The real saying is "when one door closes another door opens, but we so often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door, that we do not see the ones which open for us." The doors represent different opportunities. This indicates that when an opportunity ended, there are others, but some people are so focused on what has passed that they do not look to the future.