A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Legends 1st Ser. 270 Who suppes with the Deville sholde have a longe spoone! 1979 ‘E.

ANTHONY’ Grave of Truth viii. Hindenburg and the army thought they could use

[Hitler]... Who sups with the devil needs a long spoon. associates; caution; peril

sure see SLOW but sure.

suspicion see CAESAR’S wife must be above suspicion.

SUSSEX won’t be druv

A local proverb which asserts that Sussex people have minds of their own, and cannot be
forced against their will. Druv is a dialect variant of drove (standard English driven).

1910 in T. Wales Sussex Garland (1979) i. (postcard) Have got as fat as a Sussex

[pig]—and ‘wunt be druv’ from Brighton. 1924 H. DE SELINCOURT Cricket Match vi.

‘Well, we’d better be going, I suppose,’ Gauvinier announced.. well aware that ‘Sussex

won’t be druv’. 1939 ‘D. FROME’ Pinkerton at Old Angel vi. The sudden weariness in

her frail face testified to years of patient leading. Mr. Pinkerton thought of the boast of

the men of Sussex. They too couldn’t be druv, they said. 1979 T. WALES Sussex Garland

i. There ant no place like Sussex, Until ye goos above, For Sussex will be Sussex, And

Sussex won’t be druv! obstinacy

One SWALLOW does not make a summer

Cf. Gr. one swallow does not make a spring; ERASMUS Adages I.
vii. una hirundo non facit ver.

1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 25 It is not one swalowe that bryngeth in

somer. It is not one good qualitie that maketh a man good. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue

of Proverbs II. v. H3 One swalow maketh not sommer. 1659 J. HOWELL Proverbs

(English) 11 One Swallow doth not make a Summer. 1844 DICKENS Martin Chuzzlewit

xlii. One foul wind no more makes a winter, than one swallow makes a summer. 2000 ‘G.

WILLIAMS’ Dr. Mortimer and Aldgate Mystery (2001) xiv. 78 One or two alfresco

afternoons in the garden under the supervision of Ord and Demmy did not spell liberation

any more than one swallow made a summer.. omens

It is idle to SWALLOW the cow and choke on the tail