| Idiom | Meaning | Example |
| you can thank your lucky stars |
you were lucky, be thankful you are safe
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He can thank his lucky stars that a doctor was there. He nearly died.
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| you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear |
you cannot improve the quality of junk; cannot make gold from iron
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When Hal put a Mercedes star on his Ford, I said, "You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear."
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| you can't sell anybody if you don't love everybody |
you will be more successful if you have love in your heart
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"So you're going into sales?" "Yes. Do you have any advice?" "Well, a saying from Beverly Hills Cop may be helpful in sales - or any occupation:
You can't sell anybody if you don't love everybody!"
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| you can't teach an old dog new tricks |
old dogs and old people do not like to change or learn, die hard
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Our senior employees don't like computer training - you can't teach an old dog new tricks.
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| you can't tell a book by its cover |
the cover or surface does not reveal its contents, beauty is only skin deep
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If you buy a car because it looks nice, remember this: you can't tell a book by its cover.
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| you don't miss the water till the well runs dry |
you do not appreciate some things until they go away or become extinct
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Now we have only memories of our song birds. You don't miss the water till the well runs dry.
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| you don't say |
that is surprising, how about that
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"We have ten kids," the man said. "You don't say!" my mom replied.
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| you got it |
you have the answer, you are doing it right
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"You got it, kid!" the coach said. "That's the way to score!"
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| you had to be there |
to understand, you should have been there with me; it was funny then
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When I said, "Goo!" everybody laughed and clapped. I guess you had to be there.
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| you have to be good to be lucky |
people with ability cause their own good luck, prepare like crazy
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Athletes don't wait for good luck. They try to improve, knowing you have to be good to be lucky.
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