A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

See also the preceding proverb. Cf. PLAUTUS Trinummus 1.63 habeas ut nanctu’s, he may
keep that finds. The principle was current in England before the present formulation; 1595 A.
COOKE Country Errors in Harley MS 5247 108V That a man finds is his own, and he may
keep it.

1863 J. H. SPEKE Discovery of Source of Nile v. The scoundrels said, ‘Findings are

keepings, by the laws of our country; and as we found your cows, so we will keep them.’

1904 Daily Chronicle 27 Sept. 1 Harsh sentences of imprisonment for ‘findings-

keepings’ offences. 1963 G. GREENE Sense of Reality 38 ‘I found them in the passage.’..

‘Finding’s [i.e. the action or fact of finding, rather than the objects found, as in earlier

examples] not keeping here,’ he said, ‘whatever it may be up there. gains and losses

FINE feathers make fine birds

Beautiful clothes confer beauty or status on the wearer. Cf. early 16th-cent. Fr. les belles
plumes font les beaux oiseaux. Identified as a Basque saying by 1583 J. SPONDANUS in tr.
Odyssey VI. 81 apud meos Vascones.. hac parœmia.. : speciosae plumae avem speciosam
constituunt, this is a proverb amongst my fellow Basques: beautiful feathers make a beautiful
bird.

1592 G. DELAMOTHE French Alphabet II. 29 The faire feathers, makes a faire

foule. 1658 E. PHILLIPS Mysteries of Love & Eloquence 162 Fine feathers make fine

birds. As you may see in Hide Park. 1858 SURTEES Ask Mamma X. Mrs. Joe.. essayed to

pick her to pieces, intimating that she was much indebted to her dress—that fine feathers

made fine birds. 1968 I. PETITE Life on Tiger Mountain xiv. I feel,.. if, indeed, ‘fine

feathers make a fine bird,’ then I would just as soon not be that peculiar kind of fine bird.

appearance, significant; dress

FINE words butter no parsnips

Nothing is ever achieved by fine words alone. Parsnips are traditionally garnished with
butter before serving.

1639 J. CLARKE Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina 169 Faire words butter no parsnips.

1692 R. L’ESTRANGE Fables of Aesop cccxl. Relations, Friendships, are but Empty

Names of Things, and Words Butter No Parsnips. 1763 A. MURPHY Citizen I. ii. What

becomes of his Greek and Latin now? Fine words butter no parsnips. 1848 THACKERAY

Vanity Fair xix. Who.. said that ‘fine words butter no parsnips’? Half the parsnips of

society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce. 1997 C. M. SCHULZ