A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

chickens, come home to roost.’ The Supreme Court taught that lesson one more time last

week in an opinion that combined bad law with rough justice. 2001 Spectator 8 Dec. 71

The Brits used diplomatic language which is as useless as the Draft Dodger’s oath in a

court of law. As they say down on the farm, the chickens have come home to roost.

malice; retribution

The CUSTOMER is always right

1917 B. PAIN Confessions of Alphonse iii. The great success of a restaurant is built

up on this principle—le patron n’a jamais tort—the customer is always in the right! 1928

C. SANDBURG Good Morning, America 17 Behold the proverbs of a nation. .. Let one

hand wash the other. The customer is always right. 1941 D. LODGE Death & Taxes ii.

‘I’m drunk.’.. ‘You shouldn’t do it, George.’ ‘Business,’ he said solemnly. ‘The

customer is always right.’ 1980 Times 30 Sept. 9 That the customer is always right is a

theory attributed to John Wanamaker, the American retail prince who founded the stores

which bear his name. 2001 Washington Times 3 Sept. A12 The old man wasn’t much on

theory, but he understood value received, good will, repeat business, that the customer is

always right and above all the importance of a trusted brand. buying and selling

Don’t CUT off your nose to spite your face

A warning against spiteful revenge which results in one’s own hurt or loss. The
metaphorical phrase to cut off one’s nose to spite one’s face is very frequently found. Cf.
medieval L. male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum, qui amputat nasum suum, he who cuts off his
nose takes poor revenge for a shame inflicted on him; mid 14th-cent. Fr. qui cope son nès, sa
face est despechie, the man who cuts off his nose spites his face.

c 1560 Deceit of Women I1 He that byteth hys nose of, shameth hys face. 1788 F.

GROSE Dict. Vulgar Tongue (ed. 2) U3V He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face,

said of one who, to be revenged of his neighbour, has materially injured himself. 1889 R.

L. STEVENSON Master of Ballantrae x. He was in that humour when a man—in the

words of the old adage—will cut off his nose to spite his face. 1964 RIDOUT &

WITTING English Proverbs Explained 43 Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face.

1980 A. CRAIG Pint of Murder vi. So the next thing anybody knew she’d run off an’

married that no-good Bob Bascom an’ if that ain’t cuttin’ off your nose to spite your face,

I’d like to know what is. malice; revenge

CUT your coat according to your cloth