K
Why KEEP a dog and bark yourself?
1583 B. MELBANCKE Philotimus 119 It is smal reason you should kepe a dog, and
barke your selfe. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 81 What? keep a dog and bark my self.
That is, must I keep servants, and do my work my self. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation
i. 17 ‘Good Miss, stir the Fire’... ‘Indeed your Ladyship could have stirr’d it much
better.’.. ‘I won’t keep a Dog and bark myself.’ 1933 A. CHRISTIE Thirteen at Dinner
xviii. Why keep a dog and bark yourself? 1999 S. PAWSON Some by Fire vii. 153 ‘I
think you want me to start all over again at Edinburgh University and the Sorbonne, but
you want me to volunteer because you daren’t ask me yourself.’ ‘That’s about it,’ I
admitted. ‘Man with dog never has to bark.’ employers and employees; work
KEEP a thing seven years and you’ll always find a use for it
1623 W. PAINTER Palace of Pleasure C5 Things of small value the old proverb say,
Wise men seuen yeares will carefully vp lay. 1663 T. KILLIGREW Parson’s Wedding in
Comedies & Tragedies (1664) 100 According to the Proverb; Keep a thing seven years,
and then if thou hast no use on’t throw’t away. 1816 SCOTT Antiquary II. vi. They say,
keep a thing seven year, an’ ye’ll aye find a use for’t. 1945 F. THOMPSON Lark Rise xx.
‘I don’t know that I’ve any use for it.’ ‘Use! Use!.. Keep a thing seven years and you’ll
always find a use for it!’ thrift
KEEP no more cats than will catch mice
1673 J. DARE Counsellor Manners lxii. If thou hast a regard to Thrift, keep no more
Cats than will kill Mice. 1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 350 I will keep no more
cats then will catch mice (i.e. no more in family then will earn their living). Somerset.
1710 S. PALMER Proverbs 358 Keep no more Cats than will Catch Mice. Ecquipage and
Attendance.. must be agreeable to Character, Dignity and Fortune. 1910 R. KIPLING
Rewards & Fairies 73 The King keeps no cats that don’t catch mice. She must sail the
seas, Master Dawe. efficiency and inefficiency; work
KEEP your own fish-guts for your own sea-maws
1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 118 Give your own Sea Maws [gulls] your own
