A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

by Government for its own army, but, as the Scottish saying has it, ‘What a neighbour

gets is not lost.’ 1933 N. GORDON Shakespeare Murders xv. 237 ‘Every one is naturally

interested in the whereabouts of a million pounds, even if it does not belong to oneself. It

isn’t lost, what a friend gets.’ ‘You mean that you can always borrow from him?’ ‘I

meant rather that one delights in his good fortune.’ neighbours; winners and losers

neighbour see also GOOD fences make good neighbours.

nest see there are no BIRDS in last year’s nest; BIRDS in their little nests agree; it’s an
ILL bird that fouls its own nest.

In vain the NET is spread in the sight of the bird

With allusion to PROVERBS i. 17 (AV) Surely in vain the net is spread in the sight of any
bird; cf. c 1395 WYCLIF Bible (1850) Proverbs i. 17 A net is leid in veyn before the ighen
[eyes] of briddis.

1581 G. PETTIE tr. S. Guazzo’s Civil ConversationI. 20V In vaine (as the Prouerb

sayth) The net is pitcht in the sight of the birdes. 1888 J. E. T. ROGERS Economic

Interpretation of Hist. xxi. The landowners in Pitt’s time foresaw this. .. They would

certainly be caught, and the net was spread in vain in sight of the bird. 1941 ‘M. COLES’

They tell No Tales x. ‘Keep a good look out.’.. ‘In vain is the net spread in the sight of the

bird, anyway.’ 1961 L. S. DE CAMP Dragon of Ishtar Gate viii. ‘If they come, we shall

be ready,’ said Bessas. ‘In vain the net is spread in the sight of the bird.’ deception;

futility

net see also all is FISH that comes to the net.

If you gently touch a NETTLE it’ll sting you for your pains; grasp it like a lad of
mettle, an’ as soft as silk remains

The metaphorical phrase to grasp the nettle, to tackle a difficulty boldly, is often found.

1578 LYLY Euphues I. 212 True it is Philautus that he which toucheth ye nettle

tenderly, is soonest stoung. 1660 W. SECKER Nonsuch Professor I. 156 Sin is like the

nettle, that stings when it is gently touched, but doth hurt not when it is ruggedly handled.

1753 A. HILL Works IV. 120 Tender-handed stroke a nettle, And it stings you, for your