A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Even the humblest will strike back if harassed or imposed upon too far.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. iv. G4V Treade a worme on the tayle,

and it must turne agayne. 1592 R. GREENE Groatsworth of Wit XII. 143 Stop shallow

water still running, it will rage. Tread on a worme and it will turne. 1854 ‘M.

LANGDON’ Ida May xi. Even the worm turns when he is trodden upon. 1889 W. JAMES

i n Mind XIV. 107 Since even the worm will ‘turn’, the space-theorist can hardly be

expected to remain motionless when his Editor stirs him up. 1962 A. CHRISTIE Mirror

Crack’d xii. He’s a very meek type. Still, the worm will turn, or so they say. 1975 ‘M.

INNES’ Appleby File 98 Signs were not wanting that she was putting stuffing into

Charles Vandervell, of late so inclined to unwholesome meditation of headlong dying. It

was almost as if a worm were going to turn. retribution

worm see also the EARLY bird catches the worm.

worry see it is not WORK that kills, but worry.

worse see GO further and fare worse; NOTHING so bad but it might have been worse; the
more you STIR it the worse it stinks.

worst see HOPE for the best and prepare for the worst; when THINGS are at the worst they
begin to mend.

The WORTH of a thing is what it will bring

Cf. L. valet quantum vendi potest, it is worth as much as it can be sold for; 15th-cent. Fr.
tant vault la chose comme elle peut estre vendue, a thing is worth just so much as it can be
sold for.

1569 J. SANFORDE tr. H. C. Agrippa’s Vanity of Arts & Sciences xci. The thinge is

so muche worthy as it maye be solde for. 1664 S. BUTLER Hudibras II. i. For what is

Worth in any thing, But so much Money as ‘twill bring? 1813 SOUTHEY Life of Nelson

I. ii. Vouchers, he found in that country were no check whatever; the principle was, that

‘a thing was always worth what it would bring’. 1847 J. O. HALLIWELL Dict. II. 864

The worth of a thing is what it will bring. 1908 Spectator 4 Apr. 535 ‘The real worth of

anything Is just as much as it will bring’. You cannot get beyond that piece of ancient

wisdom as to the determination of value. buying and selling; value