you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar

idiom

Meaning

You'll get what you want by being nice

Origin

first recorded 17th c.

An old proverb recorded in English in Giovanni Torriano's collection of Italian proverbs (1666).

Examples

SIMPLE

You can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar, so be kind.

CONTEXTUAL

Try asking the manager for a refund politely, because you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar.

COMPLEX

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.

Last updated June 7, 2026