A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

1940 ‘J. J. CONNINGTON’ Four Defences xii. Tastes differ. One has to admit it. 1974

‘M. INNES’ Appleby’s Other Story xi. She seemed as alive as an electric eel, and no more

comfortable for the purpose of making passes at. But tastes of course differ.

idiosyncrasy; taste

tattered see there’s many a GOOD cock come out of a tattered bag.

tax see NOTHING is certain but death and taxes.

You can’t TEACH an old dog new tricks

1530 J. FITZHERBERT Husbandry (ed. 2) G1V The dogge must lerne it when he is a

whelpe, or els it wyl not be; for it is harde to make an olde dogge to stoupe. 1636 W.

CAMDEN Remains concerning Britain (ed. 5) 300 It is hard to teach an old dog trickes.

1672 W. WALKER English & Latin Proverbs 46 An old dog will learn no new tricks.

1806 J. RANDOLPH Letter 15 Feb. (1834)14 There is an old proverb, ‘You cannot teach

an old dog new tricks.’ 1987 J. HIGGINS Little Death Music V. He’s listening to records

with Vance. Downright rude, if you ask me, but you can’t teach an old dog new tricks.

2002 Times 18 May 5 If ever there was a teacher who gave the lie to the proverb about old

dogs and new tricks it is 89-year-old Donald Turner, whose classes on subjects as wide-

ranging as line dancing and geography have left pupils asking for more. habit;

innovation; old age

Don’t TEACH your grandmother to suck eggs

A caution against offering advice to someone wiser and more experienced than oneself.
The metaphorical phrase to teach one’s grandmother (to suck eggs) is also found.

1707 J. STEVENS tr. Quevedo’s Comical Works IV. 403 You would have me teach

my Grandame to suck Eggs. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation i. 57 ‘I’ll mend it, Miss.’ ..

‘You mend it! go, Teach your Grannam to suck Eggs.’ 1882 BLACKMORE Christowell

II. iii. A.. twinkle, which might have been interpreted—‘instruct your grandfather in the

suction of gallinaceous products’. 1967 RIDOUT & WITTING English Proverbs

Explained 48 Don’t teach your grandmother to suck eggs. 2000 S. BOOTH Black Dog

xxvii. 433 Hitchens was really warming up now. ‘Teaching your grandmother to suck

eggs’ was an expression that sprang to the DCI’s mind. advice

teach see also he who CAN, does.