What is a proverb? A proverb is a succinct phrase that is used to express a meaning or a shade of meaning. It can be used to convey an idea: "A friend in need is a friend indeed." Or, a proverb might express a caution: "Don't put the cart before the horse." Through the use of lighthearted illustrations and humorous prose, the husband and wife team of John and Ching Yee Smithback demonstrate proverbs that have developed in the English language over hundreds of years. FUN WITH PROVERBS is an entertaining and an educational guide to the proverbs that have long enriched our language.