Idiom idiom
you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar
Meaning
You'll get what you want by being nice
Examples
“You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, so be kind.”
“Try asking the manager for a refund politely, because you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.”
“The diplomat believed that you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, choosing soft words over threats to reach a peaceful agreement.”
Origin
first recorded 17th c.
first recorded 17th c.
An old proverb recorded in English in Giovanni Torriano's collection of Italian proverbs (1666).
Last updated June 7, 2026