A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

protect see HEAVEN protects children, sailors, and drunken men.

prove see the EXCEPTION proves the rule. provide see TAKE the goods the gods provide.

PROVIDENCE is always on the side of the big battalions

Cf. 1673 MME DE SEVIGNE Letter 22 Dec. la fortune est toujours, comme disait le
pauvre M. de Turenne, pour les gros bataillons, fortune is always, as poor Mr. de Turenne
used to say, for the big battalions.

1822 A. GRAYDON Memoirs v. Heaven was ever found favourable to strong

battalions. 1842 A. ALLISON Hist. Europe X. lxxviii. Providence was always on the side

of dense battalions. 1904 ‘SAKI’ Reginald 63 Someone has observed that Providence is

always on the side of the big dividends. 1943 R. A. J. WALLING Corpse by any Other

Name iii. Our statesmen.. ought to have learned years ago that Providence is always on

the side of the big battalions. 1979 Guardian 9 July 9 Many thousands more voices now

are raised in the name of sanity. But I dare say God is still on the side of the big

battalions. great and small; providence

public see one does not WASH one’s dirty linen in public.

Any PUBLICITY is good publicity

1933 R. CHANDLER in Black Mask Dec. 26 Rhonda Farr said: ‘Publicity, darling.

Just publicity. Any kind is better than none at all.’ 1974 P. CAVE Dirtiest Picture

Postcard xiv. Haven’t you ever heard the old adman’s adage.. ‘any publicity is good

publicity’? 1986 ‘C. AIRD’ Dead Liberty xii. Bill wasn’t too worried. Like the old

trouper he is, he insisted that all publicity is good publicity. 2002 Washington Times 9

May C8 Mike Tyson may have disproved the adage that any publicity is good publicity.

public relations

pudding see the PROOF of the pudding is in the eating.

puddle see the SUN loses nothing by shining into a puddle.

It is easier to PULL down than to build up