A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

‘Blessed is he who expect nothing, for he shall never be disappointed.’ 1739 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (May) Blessed i ...

When the BLIND lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch Now more common in the metaphorical phrase, the blind leading the ...

c 1435 J. LYDGATE Minor Poems (EETS) 666 Harde to likke hony out of a marbil stoon, For ther is nouthir licour nor moisture. 166 ...

BLOOD will have blood Violence begets violence. Cf. GENESIS ix. 6 (AV) Who so sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be sh ...

1887 T. H. HALL CAINE Deemster I. v. ‘What’s it sayin’,’ they would mutter, ‘a green hill when far away from me; bare, bare, whe ...

cover. 1969 S. MAY et al. You can’t judge Book by its Cover (song) 1 I can’t let you know you’re getting to me.. ‘cause you can’ ...

borrowing see he that GOES a-borrowing, goes a-sorrowing. bottle see you can’t put NEW wine in old bottles. bottom see TRUTH lie ...

MCGIRR Hearse with Horses vi. He blushed. Piron thought that he shouldn’t have sent a boy to do a man’s job. 1987 Washington Pos ...

Tenacity and quietness of manner are preferable to ostentation. Cf. 1580 A. MUNDAY Zelauto 146 Brag is a good Dogge, whyle he wi ...

heroes need writers to commemorate them if they are to achieve eternal fame: HORACE Odes IV. ix. 25 vixere fortes ante Agamemnon ...

Lifelong habits or inherited characteristics cannot be concealed (cf. BLOOD will tell). The form and emphasis of the proverb hav ...

Cf. As you BAKE, so shall you brew. Medieval usage makes the connection between brewing and drinking rather than between brewing ...

(Superstitions) 61 It is reckoned a good omen, or a sign of future happiness, if the sun shines on a couple coming out of the ch ...

brighten see BLESSINGS brighten as they take their flight. bring see NIGHT brings counsel; the WORTH of a thing is what it will ...

1575 G. GASCOIGNE Fruits of War I. 155 Suffiseth this to proove my theame withall, That every bullet hath a lighting place. 1765 ...

fears the fire, and bitter experience had taught Pongo Twistleton to view with concern the presence in his midst of Ickenham’s f ...

BUSINESS is war Modern saying, sometimes said to be of Japanese origin. 1905 New York Times 9 Apr. (online) That business is war ...

buys flesh buys many bones; He that buys eggs buys many shells, But he that buys good ale buys nothing else. 1721 J. KELLY Scott ...

hundred eyes, the seller of but one.’ 1928 Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic News 7 Jan. 27 (caption) The buyer has need of a ...

C CAESAR’s wife must be above suspicion Julius Caesar replied thus (according to Plutarch) when asked why he had divorced his wi ...