A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

‘I should like.. to give you one kiss, Insie.’.. Before he could give reason in favour of a

privilege which goes proverbially by favour, the young maid was gone. 1929 ‘L.

THAYER’ Dead Man’s Shoes i. Kissing goes by favour all along the line. 1976 K.

BONFIGLIOLI Something Nasty in Woodshed xii. Tell you what, Jock; you forget to

mention hot buttered crumpets to Mrs Mortdecai and I’ll forget to mention about you

pinching her caviare. Kissing goes by favour, you know. bribery and corruption

kissing see also when the GORSE is out of bloom, kissing’s out of fashion.

kitchen see if you don’t like the HEAT, get out of the kitchen.

kitten see WANTON kittens make sober cats.

knees see BETTER to die on your feet than live on your knees.

knew see if YOUTH knew, if age could.

knock see OPPORTUNITY never knocks twice at any man’s door.

To KNOW all is to forgive all

Cf. 1807 MME DE STAÉL Corinne III. XVIII.v. tout comprendre rend tres-indulgent; also
1908 E. TERRY Story of my Life 116 I had taken a course for which all blamed me, perhaps
because they did not know enough to pardon enough—savoir tout c’est tout pardonner.

1864 R. H. HORNE Prometheus the Fire-Bringer 48 To know all, is to forgive. 1952

K. FULLER Silken Cord xv. After all, to know all is to forgive all, as my poor dear father

used to say. 1974 ‘H. CARMICHAEL’ Most Deadly Hate xviii. ‘They say to know all is

to forgive all,’ Piper said. ‘Except the killing of Arthur Harlow.’ forgiveness; tolerance

You should KNOW a man seven years before you stir his fire

1803 C. DIBDIN Professional Life I. p. xi. It is a well-meant saying, that you should

know a man seven years before you stir his fire; or, in other words, before you venture at

too much familiarity. 1904 V. S. LEAN Collectanea IV. 204 You may poke a man’s fire

after you’ve known him seven years, but not before. 1942 A. THIRKELL Marling Hall