themselves at the moment of visiting their dentist. 2002 Washington Times 9 May C2 All
of which is a mere footnote to the longest presidency in American history, and one of the
greatest. But it is a useful reminder that just as no man is a hero to his valet so, it seems,
not even a president is immune to the ministrations of a Chef From Hell. employers and
employees; familiarityNO moon, no man1878 T. HARDY Return of Native I. I. iii. ‘No moon, no man.’ ‘Tis one of the truest
sayings ever spit out. The boy never comes to anything that’s born at new moon. 1878 T.
F. THISTELTON-DYER English Folk-Lore ii. In Cornwall, when a child is born in the
interval between an old moon and the first appearance of a new one, it is said that it will
never live to reach the age of puberty. Hence the saying ‘No moon, no man.’ calendar
lore; childrenNO names, no pack-drillIf nobody is named as being responsible for something, then nobody can be blamed and
punished. Also used more generally in favour of reticence on a subject. Pack-drill is a military
punishment in which the offender is compelled to march up and down in full marching order.
1923 O. ONIONS Peace in our Time I. ii. Men had a way of omitting the names of
those of whom they spoke; no names no pack-drill. 1925 S. O’CASEY Juno & Paycock
II. 61 I know some as are as sweet as the blossoms that bloom in the May—oh, no names,
no pack drill. 2000 P. LOVESEY Reaper iv. 47 ‘Do you know, I’ve heard of churches—
no names, no pack-drill—who wait until the end of the year before stomping up.’ speech
and silenceNO news is good news1616 JAMES I in Loseley MSS (1836) 403 No newis is bettir then evill newis. 1640
J. HOWELL Familiar Letters 3 June (1903) II. 144 I am of the Italians mind that said,
‘Nulla nuova, buona nuova’, (no news, good news). 1850 F. E. SMEDLEY Frank
Fairlegh x. Arguing.. (on the ‘no news being good news’ system) that I should have heard
again if anything had gone wrong, I dismissed the subject from my mind. 1974 T.
SHARPE Porterhouse Blue xxi. ‘He can’t reply,’ the Senior Tutor pointed out. ‘I find that
most consoling. After all no news is good news.’ 2002 Washington Post 12 Feb. C13
(Mother Goose & Grimm comic strip) ‘Sigh.. No news is good news.’ ‘I’ll say.. It means
no rolled-up newspaper.’ news