States’ to the category of those favoured or in need of special protection.
1861 T. HUGHES Tom Brown at Oxford I. xii. Heaven, they say, protects children,
sailors, and drunken men; and whatever answers to Heaven in the academical system
protects freshmen. 1865 G. MACDONALD Alec Forbes III. xi. I canna think hoo he cam’
to fa’ sae sair; for they say there’s a special Providence watches over drunk men and
bairns. 1980 S. KING Firestarter 57 She didn’t even have a bruise—God watches over
drunks and small children. 1997 Washington Times 18 Nov. A15 As we become once
more the fool, we can only pray the old epigram is still true: ‘God protects fools,
drunkards and the United States.’ 2001 Washington Times 15 Nov. A16 We’ve all likely
heard at some time or other the stale, snide European-ism: ‘The Lord looks after fools,
drunks, and the United States.’ Sometimes you have to wonder: Does He really?
providenceheaven see also CROSSES are ladders that lead to heaven; GOD’S in his heaven, all’s
right with the world; MARRIAGES are made in heaven; also GOD.
hedge see one man may STEAL a horse, while another may not look over a hedge.heir see WALNUTS and pears you plant for your heirs.HELL hath no fury like a woman scornedIn classical mythology the Furies were avenging deities, fearful goddesses from Tartarus
who avenged wrong and punished crime. Fury in the sense of ‘frenzied rage’ may also be
intended, esp. in more modern quots. Cf. EURIPIDES Medea 1. 263
in other circumstances a woman is
full of fear and shuns to confront force and iron; but when she has been wronged in a matter of
sex, there is no other heart more bloodthirsty. The idea was a commonplace in the
Renaissance; e.g. a 1625 BEAUMONT & FLETCHER Knight of Malta I i. The wages of
scorn’d Love is baneful hate.
1696 C. CIBBER Love’s Last Shift IV. 71 No Fiend in Hell can match the fury of a
disappointed Woman!—Scorned! slighted; dismissed without a parting Pang! 1697
CONGREVE Mourning Bride III. 39 Heav’n has no Rage, like Love to Hatred turn’d, Nor
Hell a Fury, like a Woman scorn’d. 1886 M. HOLMES Chamber over Gate xxvi. You
know ‘Hell hath no fury,’ etc. If your wife should ever wake up to the true state of the
case.. I’m afraid she’d be an ugly customer. 2002 Washington Post 15 Jan. B4 ‘Hell hath