A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

‘twas best striking while the iron is hot, made this.. speech. 1771 SMOLLETT Humphry

Clinker III. 242 If so be as how his regard be the same, why stand shilly shally? Why not

strike while the iron is hot, and speak to the ‘squire without loss of time? 1848

THACKERAY Vanity Fair xxi. Let George cut in directly and win her. ..Strike while the

iron’s hot. 1974 T. SHARPE Porterhouse Blue xx. ‘It seems an inopportune moment,’

said the Senior Tutor doubtfully. .. ‘We must strike while the iron is hot,’ said the Dean.

2000 ‘G. WILLIAMS’ Dr. Mortimer and Aldgate Mystery (2001) xxxii. 158 ‘Excellent!’

I replied. ‘Let us take up the invitation this very weekend: strike while the iron is hot.’

opportunity

strike see also LIGHTNING never strikes the same place twice.

striving see it is ill SITTING at Rome and striving with the Pope.

stroke see DIFFERENT strokes for different folks; LITTLE strokes fell great oaks; beware
of an OAK, it draws the stroke.

strong see the CARIBOU feeds the wolf, but it is the wolf who keeps the caribou strong;
GOOD fences make good neighbours; the RACE is not to the swift, nor the battle to the
strong; YORKSHIRE born and Yorkshire bred, strong in the arm and weak in the head.

stronger see a CHAIN is no stronger than its weakest link.

stubborn see FACTS are stubborn things.

The STYLE is the man

Cf. L. stylus virum arguit, the style shows the man; G. L. LE CLERC, CONTE DE
BUFFON in Histoire Naturelle (1753) VII. p. xvii. Le style est l’homme même, the style is the
man himself.

1901 A. WHYTE Bible Characters V. civ. If the style is the man in Holy Scripture

also.. we feel a very great liking for Luke. 1942 H. F. HEARD Reply Paid ix. Usually I

don’t like to have my style modified. ‘The style is the man.’ human nature;

idiosyncrasy

From the SUBLIME to the ridiculous is only a step