A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1794 W. GODWIN Caleb Williams I. viii. Say the word; a nod is as good as a wink

to a blind horse. 1822 B. MALKIN Gil Blas (rev. ed.) I. II. ix. I shall say no more at

present; a nod is as good as a wink. 1925 S. O’CASEY Shadow of Gunman in Two Plays I.

142 You needn’t say no more—a nod’s as good as a wink to a blind horse. 1979 L.

MEYNELL Hooky & Villainous Chauffeur vi. The way he behaves.. Other men’s wives.

Still, I expect you know as much about that as I do... They say a nod’s as good as a wink

to a blind horse. 1992 W. DONALDSON Root into Europe ii. 34 Got a good PR machine

working for you, I expect. Say no more. .. Nod’s as good as a wink. hints; tact

nod see also (verb) HOMER sometimes nods.

noise see EMPTY vessels make the most sound.

none see a BAD excuse is better than none; there’s none so BLIND as those who will not
see; none but the BRAVE deserve the fair; there’s none so DEAF as those who will not hear;
JACK of all trades and master of none; TWO is company, but three is none..

no one see no one should be JUDGE in his own cause.

NORTH wind doth blow, we shall have snow

1805 Songs for Nursery 3 The north wind doth blow, And we shall have snow, And

what will poor Robin do then? Poor thing! 1980 A. T. ELLIS Birds of Air (1983) 113

Mary was thinking, ‘The north wind doth blow and we shall have snow and what will the

robin do then..’ weather lore

nose see don’t CUT off your nose to spite your face.

NOTHING comes of nothing

Cf. ALCAEUS Fragment cccxx. (Lobel-Page) nothing comes of
nothing; L. ex nihilo nihil fit.

c 1380 CHAUCER Boethius v. pr. i. For this sentence is verray and soth, that ‘no

thing hath his beynge of naught’. 1551 CRANMER Answer to Gardiner 369 Sicut ex

nihilo nihil fit, Ita nihil in nihilum redigitur, As nothyng can be made of nought, so