A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

cry see also MUCH cry and little wool; SING before breakfast, cry before night.

It is no use CRYING over spilt milk

It is pointless to repine when it is too late to remedy the misfortune.

1659 J. HOWELL Proverbs (British) 40 No weeping for shed milk. 1738 SWIFT

Polite Conversation i. 27 ‘I would cry my Eyes out.’.. “Tis a Folly to cry for spilt Milk.’

1884 J. PAYN Canon’s Ward I. xv. There would be a row.. but he would say, like a wise

man, ‘There’s no use in crying over spilt milk.’ 1936 M. DE LA ROCHE Whiteoak

Harvest xxv. It’s no use crying over spilt milk. The money’s gone.. and that’s that. 1995

R. ORMEROD And Hope to Die ix. 115 I said this dismissively. No good crying over

spilt milk. misfortune; past

cup see FULL cup, steady hand; the LAST drop makes the cup run over; there’s MANY a
slip between cup and lip.

He that will to CUPAR maun to Cupar

Cupar is a town in Fife, Scotland.

1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 141 He that will to Cowper [Cupar], will to Cow-

per. A Reflection upon obstinate Persons, that will not be reclaim’d. 1817 SCOTT Rob

Roy III. i. The Hecate.. ejaculated, ‘A wilfu’ man will hae his way—them that will to

Cupar maun [must] to Cupar!’ 1893 R. L. STEVENSON Catriona xiii. He stood part of a

second.., hesitating. ‘He that will to Cupar, maun to Cupar,’ said he, and.. was hauled into

the skiff. 1958 J. CANNAN And be Villain v. ‘I shall take the first plane to Paris.’.. ‘Well,

he who will to Cupar maun to Cupar, but I think it’s very silly of you.’ obstinacy

cure see NO cure, no pay; PREVENTION is better than cure.

What can’t be CURED must be endured

Cf. 1377 LANGLAND Piers Plowman B. x. 439 When must comes forward, there is
nothing for it but to suffer; c 1408 LYDGATE Reason & Sensuality (EETS) 1. 4757 For thyng