A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A WOMAN and a ship ever want mending

Cf. PLAUTUS Poenulus II. 210–15 negoti sibi qui volet vim parare, navem et mulierem,
haec duo comparato. .. Neque umquam satis hae duae res ornantur, neque is ulla ornandi satis
satietas est, whoever wants to acquire a lot of trouble should get himself a ship and a woman.
For neither of them is ever sufficiently equipped, and there is never enough means of
equipping them.

1578 J. FLORIO First Fruits 30 Who wil trouble hym selfe all dayes of his life, Let

hym mary a woman, or buy hym a shyp. 1598 Mirror of Policy (1599) X2 Is it not an old

Prouebe. That Women and Shippes are neuer so perfect, but still there is somewhat to bee

amended. 1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 780 A shippe and a woman are

ever repairing. 1840 R. H. DANA Two Years before Mast iii. As has often been said, a

ship is like a lady’s watch, always out of repair. 1928 A. T. SHEPPARD Here comes Old

Sailor II. vi. There are special proverbs for us ship-men: .. ‘A woman and a ship ever

want mending.’ women

A WOMAN without a man is like a fish without a bicycle

This remark is now widely attributed to the American feminist Gloria Steinem (born
1934), but seems to have originated as an anonymous graffito (see quot. 1979).

1979 N. REES Graffiti Lives OK 80 ‘A woman without a man is like a fish without a

bicycle.’ Penned as a Woman’s Lib slogan, this was met by the male response: ‘Yes, but

who needs a stationary haddock?’ 2001 Times Literary Supplement 28 Dec. 8 Women

may have decided they need men like a fish needs a bicycle, but the pram in the hall is

with us still, ruthlessly demanding attention. women

A WOMAN’S place is in the home

1844 ‘J. SLICK’ High Life II. 121 A woman’s place is her own house, a taking care

of the children. 1897 ‘S. GRAND’ Beth Book (1898) xix. If we had.. done as we were told,

the woman’s-sphere-is-home would have been as ugly and comfortless a place for us

today as it used to be. 1936 R. A. J. WALLING Corpse with Dirty Face iv. Mrs. Franks,

being a dutiful wife, was always on the premises. ‘Ah, yes—woman’s place is in the

home,’ said Pierce. 1943 A. CHRISTIE Moving Finger vi. I go up in arms against the

silly old-fashioned prejudice that women’s place is always the home. 1979 G. WAGNER

Barnardo v. Barnardo.. firmly believed that a woman’s place was in the home. women