常州地区流传的民间谚语,多数具有常州地方特点。1985-1989年,是民间文学集成编辑委员会,征集到民间谚语37166条,其中:反映旧社会统治阶级本性的有:"十只黄狗九只凶,十个衙门九个凶","知县是扫帚,太守是畚斗,布政叉袋口,都去京里抖。","武官会杀,文官会刮","癞白干(蛤蟆)剥皮眼不闭,黑甲鱼剖腹心不死。","鱼是鱼,鳖是鳖,喇叭是铜锡是铁。","咀末蜜罐头,心末鸡子头。","日里文绉绉,夜里偷毛豆。","买咸鱼放生,假慈假悲。","鸭子打扮鹅,还是扁咀货。","赤练蛇变不成黄鳝。"等。反映世态的有:"当方土地当方灵。","说咀郎中呒好药。","有钱到处是杭州,呒钱杭州凉飕飕。","有格勿晓得勿格苦。","穷勿搭富,绸勿搭布。","人来求我三春雨,我去求人六月霜。","久住令人嫌,贫来亲也疏。","手里呒米,呵鸡鸡不理。"等。反映事理与是非的有:"煮饭要有米,说话要有理。","只有桶掉在井里,呒不井掉在桶里。","乱石压不住竹笋,高山挡不住竹云。","一行服一行,糯米服砂糖。","水大漫不过船底,火大烧不干湖水。","两山之间夹一谷,两波之间有一伏。","砻糖里碾不出米来。","打鱼的不离船边,打柴的不离山边。","亲深下河知深浅,亲口尝梨知酸甜。","龙眼识珠,凤眼识宝,水牛眼睛识稻草。"等。反映时令的有:"春不忙减衣,秋不忙加冠。","焐春三,冻八九。","二月二,葫芦茄子齐下地。","三月清明不用忙,二月清明早下秧。""秧过小满十日种,十日不种一场空。","处暑难得十日阴,白露难得十日晴。","小雪雪满天,来岁必丰年。"等。