A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

silver see every CLOUD has a silver lining; SPEECH is silver, but silence is golden.

It’s a SIN to steal a pin

1875 A. B. CHEALES Proverbial Folk-Lore 129 It is a sin To steal a pin, as we, all

of us, used to be informed in the nursery. 1945 F. THOMPSON Lark Rise xiii. Children

were taught to ‘know it’s a sin to steal a pin’.. when they brought home some doubtful

finding. 1956 D. M. DISNEY Unappointed Rounds xvii. I brought that boy up.. and I

taught him to be honest. .. I used to say to him. ‘’Tis a sin to steal a penny or a pin,’ and

he’d say it after me. honesty and dishonesty; theft

sin see also CHARITY covers a multitude of sins; OLD sins cast long shadows.

sincerest see IMITATION is the sincerest form of flattery.

SING before breakfast, cry before night

Also occurs in reverse form; see quot. 1954.

1530 J. PALSGRAVE L’éclaircissement de la Langue Francaise 404 You waxe

mery this morning god gyue grace you wepe nat or [before] nyght. 1611 R. COTGRAVE

Dict. French & English s.v. Soir, Some laugh amornings who ere night shed teares. 1721

J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 332 They that laugh in the Morning may greet [weep] e’er

Night. 1940 ‘T. CHANSLOR’ Our First Murder xii. ‘You remember the saying. “Sing

before breakfast—”’ ‘Oh dear—“cry before night.”’ 1954 A. SETON Katherine xxxi. Cry

before breakfast, sing before supper. merriment

sing see also little BIRDS that can sing and won’t sing must be made to sing; the OPERA
isn’t over till the fat lady sings; if you can WALK you can dance, if you can talk you can sing.

single see BEAUTY draws with a single hair; the LONGEST journey begins with a single
step.

singly see MISFORTUNES never come singly.

sink see LITTLE leaks sink the ship.