fears the fire, and bitter experience had taught Pongo Twistleton to view with concern the
presence in his midst of Ickenham’s fifth earl. 1984 Newsweek 5 Nov. 98 The burned
child fears the fire and when dawn breaks next Tuesday voters may pull the covers over
their ringing heads and refuse to get out of bed. experienceburnt see also if you PLAY with fire you get burnt.bury see let the DEAD bury the dead.bush see a BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush; GOOD wine needs no bush; do not
grieve that ROSE-TREES have thorns,...
The BUSIEST men have the most leisureComplementary to IDLE people have the least leisure and the rationale behind if you
WANT something done, ask a busy person. Cf. 1866 S. SMILES Self-Help (new ed.) i. Those
who have most to do.. will find the most time.
1884 J. PAYN Canon’s Ward II. xxxiv. It is my experience that the men who are
really busiest have the most leisure for everything. 1911 Times Literary Supplement 6
Oct. 365 The busiest men have always the most leisure; and while discharging the
multifarious duties of a parish priest and a guardian he found time for travelling.BUSINESS before pleasureThe two nouns are frequently contrasted in other, non-proverbial, expressions. Cf. c 1640
Grobiana’s Nuptials (MS Bodley 30) 15 Well to the businesse.—On; businesse is senior to
complement; 1767 T. HUTCHINSON Diary & Letters (1883) I. v. Pleasure should always give
way to business.
1837 C. G. F. GORE Stokeshill Place III. vi. ‘Business before pleasure’ is a golden
rule which most of us regard as iron. 1943 S. STERLING Down among Dead Men v. This
is business, Sarge. You know what business comes before. 1986 J. HESS Strangled Prose
vi. Douglas drifted past with the department chairman, engrossed in conversation. He
gave me a quick nod, but steered his captive toward a sofa. Business before pleasure.
1997 R. BOWEN Evans Above xxii. 232 ‘I think I should buy you a drink first.’..
‘Business before pleasure, major,’ Evan said. business; work