A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

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

TURN about is fair play

1755 Life of Captain Dudley Bradstreet 338 Hitherto honest Men were kept from

shuffling the Cards, because they would cast knaves out from the Company of Kings, but

we would make them know, Turn about was fair Play. 1854 SURTEES Handley Cross

xviii. ‘Turn about is fair play,’ as the devil said to the smoke-jack [an apparatus for

turning a roasting spit]. 1986 J. SMITH Tourist Trap xi. ‘And if you hear anything about

Les, you’ll let me know, won’t you?’ ‘I’II be glad to. But turnabout’s fair play—if you

hear something, will you let me know?’ 2002 Washington Times 10 Apr. A16 And let’s

not forget: Turnabout is fair play. If we let the IRS impose U.S. tax laws on foreign

banks, what’s to stop foreign tax collectors from seeking to impose their laws on U.S.

banks? fair dealing

turn see also (noun) one GOOD turn deserves another; (verb) a BAD penny always turns
up; CLERGYMEN’S sons always turn out badly; there is always one who KISSES, and one
who turns the cheek; even a WORM will turn.

turneth see a SOFT answer turneth away wrath.

turning see it is a LONG lane that has no turning.

twelve see it is not SPRING until you can plant your foot upon twelve daisies.

twice see FOOL me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me; he GIVES twice
who gives quickly; LIGHTNING never strikes the same place twice; MEASURE twice, cut
once; ONCE bitten, twice shy; OPPORTUNITY never knocks twice at any man’s door; THINK
twice, cut once.

As the TWIG is bent, so is the tree inclined

Cf. 1530 J. PALSGRAVE L’éclaircissement de la Langue Française 161 A man may bende
a wande [shoot] while it is grene [pliant] and make it strayght though it be neuer so croked.