There are many ways to get people to do what you want . You can boss them around . You can also threaten them . “You had better do what I say or else …” But these methods might not get the best results and you probably will lose a few friends . Perhaps being nice to other people is the best and easiest way to get what you want . In fact , we have a saying that describes this way of thinking . You get more flies with honey than with vinegar . We should first thank bees for making something as sweet and tasty as honey . Vinegar can be tasty too . But on its own , it is sour and has a bitter taste . When you mix vinegar with other things , such as oil , it can taste much better . But on its own , vinegar is hard to swallow . So , the expression “you get more flies with honey than with vinegar ” means it is a good idea to be nice to others . You can win over people more easily by being polite and kind . Being mean or unpleasant is like being full of vinegar . You will push more people away by acting sour or bitter . Nice , polite requests often work better . And in the end , you actually get what you want . Like many English expressions , you do not need to say the full sentence . Simply saying , “you get more flies with honey ” is good enough . Now , let's hear how to use this idiom in a dialogue . We are way behind on painting this house . If the volunteers don't speed up , we will be painting in the dark ! They will be painting in the dark . I will be at home watching television . After all , the volunteers aren't getting paid . Well , that is the definition of a volunteer . But you're right . They should work faster . I'll yell at them some more . You have been yelling at them ?! I put you in charge of the volunteers and you've been shouting at them !?! Have you lost your mind ?! Who's the one yelling now . Anyway … it's the only way to get them to work hard . No , it's not ! You catch more flies with honey than with vinegar . Well , that may be true . But yelling works too . Not on my project ! Now go apologize . And help them paint ! And do not be rude or mean . You don't have to yell or call me names . Didn't you ever hear you catch more flies with … Don't you even finish that sentence . But join us again next week when we will explore another idiom or expression in American English .