A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

That is not long a doyng. 1624 BURTON Anatomy of Melancholy (ed. 2) III. ii. Blessed is

the wooing, That is not long a doing. 1754 RICHARDSON Grandison I. ix. What

signifies shilly-shally? What says the old proverb? ‘Happy’s the wooing, That is not long

a doing.’ 1842 R. H. BARHAM Ingoldsby Legends 2nd Ser. ii. 40 ‘Thrice happy’s the

wooing that’s not long a-doing!’ So much time is saved in the billing and cooing. 1930 A.

CHRISTIE Mysterious Mr. Quin iii. The old saying.. ‘Happy the wooing that’s not long

doing.’ weddings

Many go out for WOOL and come home shorn

Many seek to better themselves or make themselves rich, but end by losing what they
already have.

1599 J. MINSHEU Dialogues in Spanish 61 You will goe for wooll, and returne

home shorne. 1612 T. SHELTON tr. Cervantes’ Don Quixote I. vii. To wander through

the world.. without once considering how many there goe to seeke for wooll, that returne

againe shorne themselues. 1678 J. RAY English Proverbs (ed. 2) 220 Many go out for

wooll and come home shorn. 1858 S. A. HAMMETT Piney Woods Tavern xxiii. There’s a

proverb about going out after wool, and coming home shorn. 1910 G. W. E. RUSSELL

Sketches & Snapshots 315 Some go [to Ascot] intent on repairing the ravages of Epsom

or Newmarket; and in this speculative section not a few.. who go for wool come away

shorn. 1981 N. FREELING One Damn Thing after Another iii. One always comes back

tired from holidays. ‘Go for wool and come back—?’ ‘Shaved—no, cropped.’ ‘Sheared.

Yes.’ ambition; misfortune; poverty

wool see also MUCH cry and little wool.

A WORD to the wise is enough

Now often abbreviated to a word to the wise. Cf. L. verbum sat sapienti, a word is
sufficient to a wise man; also verb. sap.

a 1513 DUNBAR Poems (1979) 206 Few wordis may serve the wyis. 1546 J.

HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vii. 14V Fewe woords to the wise suffice to be

spoken. a 1605 W. HAUGHTON Englishmen for my Money (1616) D3 They say, a word

to the Wise is enough: so by this little French that he speakes, I see he is the very man I

seeke for. 1768 STERNE Sentimental Journey III. 164 A word, Mons. Yorick, to the

wise.. is enough. 1841 DICKENS Old Curiosity Shop ii. ‘Fred!’cried Mr. Swiveller,

tapping his nose, ‘a word to the wise is sufficient for them—we may be good and happy