A Dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

binding see you can’t tell a BOOK by its cover.

A BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush

It is better to accept or be content with what one has than to try to get more and risk losing
everything. Cf. 13th-cent. L. plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis, one bird in
the hands is worth more than two in the woods. Parodied by the American actress Mae West
(1892–1980) in the 1934 movie Belle of the Nineties: ‘A man in the house is worth two in the
street.’

c 1450 J. CAPGRAVE Life of St. Katharine (EETS) II. iii. It is more sekyr [certain]

a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a-boue. c 1470 Harley MS 3362 f.4

Betyr ys a byrd in the hond than tweye in the wode. 1581 N. WOODES Conflict of

Conscience IV. i. You haue spoken reasonably, but yet as they say, One Birde in the

hande, is worth two in the bush. 1678 BUNYAN Pilgrim’s Progress I. 42 That Proverb, A

Bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more Authority with them, then are all..

testimonies of the good of the world to come. 1973 G. GREENE Honorary Consul II. iii.

We have an expression in English—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I don’t

know anything about that ‘afterwards’. I only know I would like to live another ten years.

2002 Oxford Times 18 Jan. 15 The firm could realise a very good price now. .. The

situation may not be as good as this in three or four years. A bird in the hand is worth two

in the bush. prudence; risk

A BIRD never flew on one wing

Mainly Scottish and Irish. Now frequently used to justify a further gift, esp. another drink.

1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 308 The Bird must flighter [flutter] that flies with

one Wing. Spoken by them who have Interest only in one side of the House. 1824 S.

FERRIER Inheritance III. xxxii. ‘The bird maun flichter that flees wi’ ae wing’—but ye’s

haud up your head yet in spite o’ them a’. 1914 K. F. PURDON Folk of Furry Farm ii. He

held out a shilling to Hughie. ‘A bird never yet flew upon the one wing, Mr. Heffernan!’

said Hughie, that was looking to get another shilling. 1925 S. O’CASEY Juno & Paycock

III. 89 Fourpence, given to make up the price of a pint, on th’ principle that no bird ever

flew on wan wing. 1980 J. O’FAOLAIN No Country for Young Men iii. I’ll just have

another quick one. A bird never flew on wan wing. food and drink

bird see also as good be an ADDLED egg as an idle bird; you cannot CATCH old birds
with chaff; the EARLY bird catches the worm; FINE feathers make fine birds; it’s an ILL bird