A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

once’. 1996 Bookseller 19 Jan. 27 As they say in carpentry—think twice; cut once!

caution

think see also EVIL to him who evil thinks; GREAT minds think alike; what
MANCHESTER says today, the rest of England says tomorrow.

thinketh see the FAT man knoweth not what the lean thinketh.

THIRD time lucky

c 1840 R. BROWNING Letter (1933) 5 ‘The luck of the third adventure’ is

proverbial. 1862 A. HISLOP Proverbs of Scotland 194 The third time’s lucky. 1882 R. L.

STEVENSON New Arabian Nights II. 59 ‘The next time we come to blows—’ ‘Will

make the third,’ I interrupted. .. ‘Ay, true. .. Well, the third time’s lucky.’ 1942 N.

MARSH Death & Dancing Footman vii. It was a glancing blow. .. It might have been my

head. .. One of them’s saying to himself: ‘Third time lucky.’ 1993 ‘C. AIRD’ ‘Slight of

Hand’ in Injury Time (1995) 62 ‘And after the second time,’ murmured the Commander

into his drink, ‘he said he hoped it would be a case of third time lucky.’ luck;

superstition

The THIRD time pays for all

1574 J. HIGGINS Mirror for Magistrates (1946) 93 The third payes home, this

prouerbe is to true. 1599 Warning for Fair Women E3 The third time payes for all. 1855

GASKELL North & South I. xvii. ‘This is th’ third strike I’ve seen,’ said she.. ‘Well,

third time pays for all.’ 1922 Punch 20 Dec. 594 Mrs. Ellison has already been twice

married. The third time pays for all, so they say. 1978 S. KING Stand III. liv. If I could

have brought myself to jump once.. I might not be here. Well, last time pays for all.

perseverance; superstition

third see also while TWO dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it.

Thomas see on SAINT Thomas the Divine kill all turkeys, geese, and swine.

thorn see beware of an OAK, it draws the stroke; he who PLANTS thorns should not
expect to gather roses; no ROSE without a thorn; do not grieve that ROSE-TREES have
thorns...