breaking up of a long frost’ (J. Bridge, Cheshire Proverbs).
1855 W. NEVILLE Life & Exploits of Robin Hood ii. Every one, at least every York-
shireman, is familiar with the observation that Robin Hood could brave all weathers but a
thaw wind. 1931 J. BUCHAN Blanket of Dark xii. I dread the melting wind which makes
seas of rivers and lakes of valleys. Robin Hood feared little above ground, but he feared
the thaw-wind. weather lorerock see (noun) who won’t be RULED by the rudder must be ruled by the rock; (verb) the
HAND that rocks the cradle rules the world.
Up like a ROCKET, down like a stickThe origin of this is Thomas Paine’s gibe about Edmund Burke’s oratory in a House of
Commons debate on the subject of the French Revolution (see quot. 1792).
1792 T. PAINE Letter to Addressers on Late Proclamation 4 As he rose like a
rocket, he fell like the stick. 1922 JOYCE Ulysses 364 Up like a rocket, down like a stick.
1974 A. MENEN Fonthill (1975) 53 I believe he died loaded with debts. Well, up like a
rocket and down like the stick, I always say. 2002 Oldie Aug. 26 The value of the shares
they had so vaingloriously promoted performed like the proverbial rocket and its equally
proverbial stick. ambition; priderod see SPARE the rod and spoil the child.A ROLLING stone gathers no mossCf. ERASMUS Adages III. iv. a rolling stone does not
gather sea-weed; musco lapis volutus haud obducitur, a rolling stone is not covered with moss.
1362 LANGLAND Piers Plowman A. x. 101 Selden Moseth [becomes mossy] the
Marbelston that men ofte treden. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. xi. D2 The
rollyng stone neuer gatherth mosse. 1579 S. GOSSON Ephemerides of Phialo 5VA
rowling stone gathers no mosse, and a running hed wil neuer thriue. 1710 A. PHILIPS
Pastorals II. 8 A Rolling Stone is ever bare of Moss. 1841 DICKENS Old Curiosity Shop
II. xlviii. Your popular rumour, unlike the rolling stone of the proverb, is one which
gathers a deal of moss in its wanderings up and down. 1979 Listener 5 July 16 A roadside