A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The PROOF of the pudding is in the eating

Proof means ‘test’ rather than the more normal ‘verification, proving to be true’.

c 1300 King Alisaunder (EETS) 1. 4038 Jt is ywrite that euery thing Hymself

sheweth in the tastyng. 1623 W. CAMDEN Remains concerning Britain (ed. 3) 266 All

the proofe of a pudding, is in the eating. 1666 G. TORRIANO Italian Proverbs 100

(note)Astheysay at the winding up, or the proof of the pudding is in the eating. 1738

SWIFT Polite Conversation ii. 132 The Proof of the Pudden is in the Eating. 1842 R. H.

BARHAM Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. 25 With respect to the scheme.. I’ve known

soldiers adopt a worse stratagem. .. There’s a proverb however, I’ve always thought

clever.. The proof of the Pudding is found in the eating. 1924 J. GALSWORTHY White

Monkey III. xii. Let us.. look at the thing more widely. The proof of the pudding is in the

eating. 1997 New Scientist 19 July 41 Lindzen for one argues that if the models get the

detail wrong, they will get the big picture wrong, too. But modellers say the proof of the

pudding is in the eating. appearance; reality and illusion

A PROPHET is not without honour save in his own country

With allusion to MATTHEW xiii. 57 (AV) A prophet is not without honour, save in his
own country, and in his own house.

a 1485 CAXTON in Malory Works (1967) I. p. cxlv. The word of God.. sayth that no

man is accept for a prophete in his owne contreye. 1603 J. FLORIO tr. Montaigne’s

Essays III. ii. No man hath beene a Prophet..in his owne country, saith the experience of

histories. 1771 SMOLLETT Humphry Clinker III. 92 The captain, like the prophets of

old, is but little honoured in his own country. 1946 W. S. MAUGHAM Then & Now xxx.

In Florence.. they had no great confidence in his judgment and never followed his advice.

‘A prophet is not without honour save in his own country.’ 2002 Spectator 2 Feb. 48 ‘I

hope you don’t mind, but my wife is in love with your Prime Minister.’ ‘Mind? Not I,’ I

coughed. ‘A prophet is not without honour save in his own country,’ another quoted.

familiarity; honour

propose see MAN proposes, God disposes.

prosper see CHEATS never prosper.