A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A SOFT answer turneth away wrath

With allusion to PROVERBS xv. 1 (AV) A soft answer turneth away wrath. Cf. c 1395
WYCLIF Bible (1850) Proverbs xv. 1 A soft answere brekith ire.

c 1445 Peter Idley’s Instructions to his Son (1935) I. 84 A softe worde swageth

[assuages] Ire. 1693 C. MATHER Wonders of Invisible World 60 We would use to one

another none but the Soft Answers, which Turn away Wrath. 1826 SOUTHEY Letter 19

July (1912) 414 A soft answer turneth away wrath. There is no shield against wrongs so

effectual as an unresisting temper. 1922 JOYCE Ulysses 597 A soft answer turns away

wrath. 1979 J. SCOTT Clutch of Vipers vi. ‘Yes, sir!’.. Soft answer, no wrath. anger;

tact

soft see also SEPTEMBER blow soft, till the fruit’s in the loft.

SOFTLY, softly, catchee monkey

1907 G. BENHAM Cassell’s Book of Quotations 849 (Proverbs) ‘Softly, softly,’

caught the monkey—(Negro). 1939 H. C. BAILEY Veron Mystery xx. ‘Softly talkee,

catchee monkey,’ Hopley summed up the method thus prescribed to him. 1941 F.

VIVIAN Death of Mr. Lomas iv. 80 ‘Managed to dig out a suitable motive for Steadfall?’

the Chief Constable asked slyly. ‘I haven’t done with him yet,’ came the slow reply.

‘Softly, softly, catchee monkee. .. ‘ 1978 E. ST. JOHNSTON One Policeman’s Story vii.

They took with them the unique motto of the Lancashire Constabulary Training School,

‘Softly, Softly, Catchee Monkey’ which inspired the new programme’s title, ‘Softly,

Softly’. guile; patience and impatience; ways and means

softly see also FAIR and softly goes far in a day; SPEAK softly and carry a big stick.

What the SOLDIER said isn’t evidence

1837 DICKENS Pickwick Papers III. xxxiii. ‘You must not tell us what the soldier..

said, sir,’ interposed the judge; ‘it’s not evidence.’ 1931 ‘v. LODER’ Red Stain xii. ‘It

was true!’.. ‘True to you,.. but you have no means of proving it to us. What the soldier

said is not evidence.’ 1971 P. MOYES Season of Snows & Sins ix. ‘There is an English

mot about a poilu—no?.. What le poilu say cannot be in Court—is that it?’ Henry

grinned. ‘What the soldier said isn’t evidence.’ rumour; soldiers; truth