A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

knowledge.

1711 POPE Essay on Criticism 1. 215 A little Learning is a dang’rous Thing; Drink

deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring. 1829 P. EGAN Boxiana 2nd Ser. II. 4 The sensible

idea, that ‘A little learning is a dangerous thing!’ 1881 T. H. HUXLEY Science & Culture

iv. If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of

danger? 1974 T. SHARPE Porterhouse Blue xviii. His had been an intellectual decision

founded on his conviction that if a little knowledge was a dangerous thing, a lot was

lethal. 2002 Washington Post 14 Jan. D9 If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then

extensive-but-incomplete knowledge is a constant torment. ignorance; learning

LITTLE leaks sink the ship

1616 T. ADAMS Taming of Tongue 28 in Sacrifice ofThankefulnesse It is a little

leake that drowneth a shippe. 1642 T. FULLER Holy State I. viii. If servants presume to

dispose small things without their masters allowance (besides that many little leaks may

sink a ship) this will widen their consciences to give away greater. 1745 B. FRANKLIN

Poor Richard’s Almanack (Jan.) Beware of little Expences; a small leak will sink a great

ship. 1809 L. DOW Chain of Lorenzo 60 Methinks none will make that reply, but those

who love and plead for a little sin; one leak will sink a ship. 1927 M. P. SHIEL How Old

Woman got Home II. xiii. ‘Don’t mind spending a few pounds for me: you won’t miss

it.’.. ‘Won’t miss it. .. I don’t know so much about that: it’s the little leaks sink the ship.’

2002 Washington Post 17 March H91 sweat the small stuff. Ben Franklin wrote: ‘Beware

of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.’ great and small

LITTLE pitchers have large ears

Children overhear much that is not meant for them. A pitcher’s ears are its handles.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. V. G4V Auoyd your children, small

pitchers haue wide eares. 1594 SHAKESPEARE Richard III II. iv. 37 Good madam, be

not angry with the child.—Pitchers have ears. 1699 B. E. New Dict. Canting Crew s.v.

Pitcher-bawd, Little Pitchers have large ears. 1840 R. H. BARHAM Ingoldsby Legends

1st Ser. 226 A truth Insisted on much in my earlier years, To wit, ‘Little pitchers have

very long ears!’ 1972 A. PRICE Colonel Butler’s Wolf i. He watched her shoo her sisters

safely away. .. He had been lamentably careless in forgetting that little pitchers had large

ears. 2002 Washington Times 10 Feb. D2 Are you familiar with the old saying, ‘Little

pitchers have big ears’? Conversations.. within your son’s hearing about your problems

or about the problems you’re having with him will affect his behavior negatively.

eavesdroppers