A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

rhyme, ‘but words will never hurt me.’ One wonders whether the people on the receiving

end.. would agree. 2001 Times 28 Dec. 20 Sticks and stones may break some bones, but,

as every journalist knows, words truly hurt. They rouse the fiends of fury, litigation and

letters to the press. malice; words and deeds

A STILL tongue makes a wise head

1562 J. HEYWOOD Works Dd3V Hauyng a styll toung he had a besy head. 1776 T.

COGAN John Buncle, Junior I. 238 Mum’s the word. .. A quiet tongue makes a wise

head, says I. 1869 W. C. HAZLITT English Proverbs 35 A still tongue makes a wise

head. 1892 A. QUILLER-COUCH I saw Three Ships vii. A still tongue makes a wise

head. 1937 J. WORBY Other Half iv. ‘I believe in the old saying “A still tongue keeps a

wise head”.’ ‘I guess you’re right. .. It’s no business of mine.’ speech and silence;

wisdom

STILL waters run deep

Now commonly used to assert that a placid exterior hides a passionate or subtle nature. Cf.
Q. CURTIUS De Rebus Gestis Alexandri Magni VII. iv. 13 altissima quaeque flumina minimo
sono labi, the deepest rivers flow with least sound [said there to be a Bactrian saying].

c 1400 Cato’s Morals in Cursor Mundi (EETS) 1672 There the flode is deppist the

water standis stillist. c 1410 J. LYDGATE Minor Poems (EETS) 476 Smothe waters ben

ofte sithes [oftentimes] depe. 1616 T. DRAXE Adages 178 Where riuers runne most

stilly, they are the deepest. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 287 Smooth Waters run

deep. 1858 D. M. MULOCK Woman’s Thoughts about Women xii. In maturer age.. the

fullest, tenderest tide of which the loving heart is capable may be described by those ‘still

waters’ which ‘run deep’. 1979 M. UNDERWOOD Victim of Circumstances II. 86 As for

her, still waters run deep, it seems. She always looked so solemn. .. Fancy her shooting

him! 2001 National Review 30 Apr. 60 Still waters run deep, so they say. The stillest and

deepest belonged to Greta Garbo, who abruptly ended a dispute with Hollywood’s moguls

by saying, ‘I tink I go home now.’ She meant Sweden. appearance, deceptive; speech

and silence

sting see if you gently touch a NETTLE it’ll sting you for your pains.

stink see the FISH always stinks from the head downwards; FISH and guests smell after
three days; the more you STIR it the worse it stinks.