Help & Support Vocabulary Set in Human Relationships: Full and Detailed List

The 'Help & Support' vocabulary set in 'Human Relationships' is carefully selected from standard international textbook sources, helping you master vocabulary in a short time. Comprehensive compilation of definitions, illustrative examples, and standard pronunciation...

Learn this vocabulary set on Lingoland

Learn Now

a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle

/ə ˈkændəl ˈluzəz ˈnʌθɪŋ baɪ ˈlaɪtɪŋ əˈnʌðər ˈkændəl/

Example:

I'm happy to mentor you; after all, a candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

the sun loses nothing by shining into a puddle

/ðə sʌn ˈluzəz ˈnʌθɪŋ baɪ ˈʃaɪnɪŋ ˈɪntu ə ˈpʌdəl/

Example:

She spent her weekend volunteering at the shelter, believing that the sun loses nothing by shining into a puddle.

when you help someone, you help everyone

/wen ju help ˈsʌm.wʌn, ju help ˈev.ri.wʌn/

Example:

The charity's motto is 'when you help someone, you help everyone' because they believe in the power of community.

you scratch my back and I will scratch yours

/juː skræʧ maɪ bæk ænd aɪ wɪl skræʧ jɔːrz/

Example:

I'll help you with your homework if you do my chores; you scratch my back and I will scratch yours.

claw me, and I'll claw thee

/klɔː miː ænd aɪl klɔː ðiː/

Example:

He supported my proposal because I backed his last week; it's a case of claw me, and I'll claw thee.

two in distress makes sorrow less

/tuː ɪn dɪˈstres meɪks ˈsɔːr.oʊ les/

Example:

They both lost their jobs, but they comforted each other, knowing that two in distress makes sorrow less.

company in misery makes it light

/ˈkʌm.pə.ni ɪn ˈmɪz.ər.i meɪks ɪt laɪt/

Example:

I was glad to find others who had failed the exam; company in misery makes it light.

grief divided is made lighter

/ɡriːf dɪˈvaɪdɪd ɪz meɪd ˈlaɪtər/

Example:

I'm glad you told me about your loss; remember that grief divided is made lighter.

company in distress makes trouble less

/ˈkʌm.pə.ni ɪn dɪˈstres meɪks ˈtrʌb.əl les/

Example:

We were all stuck in the rain together, but company in distress makes trouble less.

a trouble shared is a trouble halved

/ə ˈtrʌb.əl ʃerd ɪz ə ˈtrʌb.əl ˈhævd/

Example:

I know you're stressed, but tell me what's wrong; a trouble shared is a trouble halved.

behind every great man there stands a woman

/bɪˈhaɪnd ˈevri ɡreɪt mæn ðer stændz ə ˈwʊmən/

Example:

He credited his wife for his career, proving that behind every great man there stands a woman.

the best helping hand is at the end of your sleeve

/ðə bɛst ˈhɛlpɪŋ hænd ɪz æt ði ɛnd ʌv jɔːr sliːv/

Example:

I waited for hours for someone to fix the leak, but then I realized that the best helping hand is at the end of your sleeve.

bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble

/brɪŋ nɑt ə ˈbæɡ.paɪp tu ə mæn ɪn ˈtrʌb.əl/

Example:

I know you want to cheer him up with music, but bring not a bagpipe to a man in trouble; he needs quiet right now.

he gives twice who gives quickly

/hi ɡɪvz twaɪs huː ɡɪvz ˈkwɪkli/

Example:

When the disaster struck, the neighbors provided immediate aid, proving that he gives twice who gives quickly.

one good turn deserves another

/wʌn ɡʊd tɜːrn dɪˈzɜːrvz əˈnʌðər/

Example:

He helped me fix my car, so I offered to paint his fence; after all, one good turn deserves another.

it's far better to give than to receive

/ɪts fɑːr ˈbetər tuː ɡɪv ðæn tuː rɪˈsiːv/

Example:

She spent her whole weekend volunteering, believing that it's far better to give than to receive.

give a man fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime

/ɡɪv ə mæn fɪʃ ænd juː fiːd hɪm fɔːr ə deɪ, tiːtʃ ə mæn tuː fɪʃ ænd juː fiːd hɪm fɔːr ə ˈlaɪftaɪm/

Example:

Instead of just doing his homework, explain the concepts; give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.