A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A STERN chase is a long chase

A stern chase is one in which the pursuing ship follows directly in the wake of the pursued.

1823 J. F. COOPER Pilot xv. ‘If we can once get him in our wake I have no fears of

dropping them all.’ ‘A stern chace is a long chase.’ 1919 J. A. BRIDGES Victorian

Recollections xiv. English poetry has had a start of some centuries, and a stern chase is

proverbially a long one. 1929 G. B. VALE Mystery of Papyrus vii. 52 Followed again to-

day by shabby native, but threw him off with complete success by getting rapidly into a

taxi and driving round about. A stern chase is a long chase. futility; persistence

stey (steep): see put a STOUT heart to a stey brae.

It is easy to find a STICK to beat a dog

An excuse to justify a harsh action or opinion is easy to find.

1564 T. BECON Works I. C5V Howe easye a thyng it is to fynde a staffe if a man be

mynded to beate a dogge. 1581 G. PETTIE tr. S. Guazzo’s Civil Conversation III. 50 It is

an easie matter to finde a staffe to beate a dog. 1782 F. HOPKINSON Miscellaneous

Essays I. 266 A proverb.. naturally occurs on this occasion: It is easy to find a stick to

beat a dog. 1875 S. SMILES Thrift xiv. Excuses were abundant. .. It is easy to find a stick

to beat a sick dog. 1908 Times Literary Supplement 6 Nov. 391 The reviewer seems..

predisposed to the view that any stick is good enough to beat a dog with. 1987

Washington Times 30 Apr. 11A When you want to beat a dog, any stick will do. excuses

stick see (noun) up like a ROCKET, down like a stick; SPEAK softly and carry a big stick;
(verb) let the COBBLER stick to his last; throw DIRT enough, and some will stick; the NAIL
that sticks up gets hammered down.

STICKS and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me

Similar to HARD words break no bones.

1894 G. F. NORTHALL Folk-Phrases 23 Sticks and stones will break my bones, but

names will never hurt me! Said by one youngster to another calling names. 1980

Cosmopolitan Dec. 137 ‘Sticks and stones may break my bones,’ goes the children’s