A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

H

habit see OLD habits die hard.

What you’ve never HAD you never miss

1912 J. WEBSTER’ Daddy-Long-Legs (1913) 232 You mustn’t get me used to too

many luxuries. One doesn’t miss what one has never had. 1939 T. BURKE Living in

Bloomsbury ii. It has been said that what you’ve never had you never miss, and from all

one can gather, those people were not aware of suffering from lack of holiday. 1969 R.

BLYTHE Akenfield xiv. I castrate the male lambs .. about an hour after they have been

born. They say what you’ve never had, you never miss. 1987 S. STEWART Lifting the

Latch 1891 ent never fled in an aeroplane. Don’t want to. Too far to drop. What you’ve

never had you never miss. content and discontent; gains and losses

hair see BEAUTY draws with a single hair; with a SWEET tongue and kindness, you can
drag an elephant by a hair.

HALF a loaf is better than no bread

Similar in sense to SOMETHING is better than nothing.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. xi. D4V Throwe no gyft agayne at the

giuers head, For better is halfe a lofe then no bread. 1636 W. CAMDEN Remains

concerning Britain (ed. 5) 297 Halfe a loafe is better than no bread at all. 1681 A. BEHN

Rover II. II. ii. You know the Proverb of the half Loaf, Ariadne, a Husband that will deal

thee some Love is better than one who can give thee none. 1841 DICKENS Old Curiosity

Shop I. xxxiii. ‘Mr. Swiveller,’ said Quilp, ‘being pretty well accustomed to the

agricultural pursuits of sowing wild oats, Miss Sally, prudently considers that half a loaf

is better than no bread.’ 1979 Guardian 6 Aug. 10 Half a loaf is better than no bread at

all. The ending of half a war is immensely better than no truce at all. 2002 A.

MCNEILLIE ‘Half a Loaf’ in Times Literary Supplement 12 Apr. 4 Half a loafs better

than no bread. A crumb of wisdom finds a world, in a grain of wheat. content and

discontent

The HALF is better than the whole