Oxford dictionary of proverbs

OXFORD PAPERBACK REFERENCE The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Jennifer Speake is a freelance writer She is the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (1997) and of the Oxford Dictionary of Idioms (1999) The most authoritative and up-to-date reference books for both students and the general reader ABC of Music Accounting Allusions Animal Behaviour Archaeology Architecture and Landscape Architecture Art and Artists Art Terms Arthurian Literature and Legend Astronomy Battles* Better Wordpower Bible Biology British History British Place-Names Buddhism Business and Management Card Games Catchphrases Century of New Words Chemistry Christian Art Christian Church Classical Literature Classical Myth and Religion Classical World Computing Contemporary World History Countries of the World Dance Dynasties of the World Earth Sciences Ecology Economics Education Encyclopaedia Engineering* English Etymology English Folklore English Grammar English Language English Literature English Surnames Environment and Conservation Euphemisms Everyday Grammar Family and Local History Finance and Banking First Names Food and Drink Food and Nutrition Foreign Words and Phrases Geography Humorous Quotations Idioms Internet Irish History Islam Kings and Queens of Britain Language Toolkit Law Law Enforcement Linguistics Literary Terms London Place-Names Mathematics Medical Medicinal Drugs Modern Design Modern Quotations Modern Slang Music Musical Terms Musical Works Nicknames Nursing Ologies and Isms Philosophy Phrase and Fable Physics Plant Sciences Plays Pocket Fowler’s Modern English Usage Political Quotations Politics Popes Proverbs Psychology Quotations Quotations by Subject Reverse Dictionary Rhymes Rhyming Slang Saints Science Scientific Quotations Scottish History Shakespeare Ships and the Sea Slang Sociology Space Exploration Statistics Superstitions Synonyms and Antonyms Weather Weights, Measures, and Units Word Histories World History World Mythology World Religions Zoology *forthcoming The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Edited by JENNIFER SPEAKE Previously co-edited with JOHN SIMPSON Fifth Edition Great Clarendon Street, Oxford OX2 6DP Oxford University Press is a department of the University of Oxford It furthers the University’s objective of excellence in research, scholarship, and education by publishing worldwide in Oxford New York Auckland Cape Town Dar es Salaam Hong Kong Karachi Kuala Lumpur Madrid Melbourne Mexico City Nairobi New Delhi Shanghai Taipei Toronto With offices in Argentina Austria Brazil Chile Czech Republic France Greece Guatemala Hungary Italy Japan Poland Portugal Singapore South Korea Switzerland Thailand Turkey Ukraine Vietnam Oxford is a registered trade mark of Oxford University Press in the UK and in certain other countries Published in the United States by Oxford University Press Inc., New York © Oxford University Press 1982, 1992, 1998, 2003, 2008 The moral rights of the author have been asserted Database right Oxford University Press (maker) First published as The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, edited by John Simpson, 1982 Second edition, edited by John Simpson and Jennifer Speake, 1992 Third edition, edited by John Simpson and Jennifer Speake, 1998 Fourth edition, edited by Jennifer Speake, 2003 Fifth edition, edited by Jennifer Speake, 2008 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of Oxford University Press, or as expressly permitted by law, or under terms agreed with the appropriate reprographics rights organization Enquiries concerning reproduction outside the scope of the above should be sent to the Rights Department, Oxford University Press, at the address above You must not circulate this book in any other binding or cover and you must impose this same condition on any acquirer British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data Data available Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data Data available Typeset by SPI Publisher Services, Pondicherry, India Printed in Great Britain on acid-free paper by Clays Ltd., St Ives plc ISBN 978–0–19–953953–6 10 Editor’s Preface The fifth edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs represents the latest stage in Oxford University Press’s coverage of proverbs and reflects the changes that have taken place in the quarter-century since the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs first appeared The Concise itself grew out of the monumental Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, first published in 1935 and substantially revised by F P Wilson in 1970 A massive work of historical scholarship, the Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs cast its net over the corpus of English literature and brought together a rich haul of metaphor, idiom, and proverb from all stages of the language From the outset, however, the Concise was intended to fulfil a different need from the larger volume, in its focus on contemporary usage and on what the late twentiethcentury English-speaker regarded as a proverb—as John Simpson explains in his Introduction It is this conception that underlies the present dictionary Research for the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs has shown that the proverb in Britain and North America is as vital and varied as ever The resources of the Internet play an increasing role, not least in providing evidence for the continued currency of an appreciable number of older proverbs for which previous editions had offered no citations dating later than the nineteenth century Over forty additional proverbs have been included in this edition, many of them from African, Middle Eastern, and Far Eastern traditions Some of these are apparently modern coinages; others have venerable roots but have recently been revived For this edition some citations of older proverbs have been deleted, but material showing different forms of the proverb has been retained Some proverbs settle quickly to a standard form; others seem to be more susceptible of variation, and by citing variants it is possible to trace their evolution The notes on the individual proverbs draw attention to such points of interest Proverb usage once again shows itself an index of linguistic and social change Whereas many older proverbs use ‘man’ for the human subject, modern users often attempt to avoid such non-inclusive language, preferring ‘someone’ or ‘a person’ While examples of up-todate usage have been found for nearly four hundred of the proverbs in this book, it seems clear that other proverbs are starting to undergo obsolescence by reason of social change Expressions of the received wisdom of a patriarchal agrarian society that organized itself according to the rhythms of the seasons and the Church’s calendar become antiquarian oddities in a modern environment Thus a woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be offends a slew of twenty-first-century sensibilities, while Candlemas day, put beans in the clay has little to say to an urban secular society On the other hand, recent pithy expressions of universal predicaments (when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail) or general truths (justice delayed is justice denied) demonstrate a good proverb’s ability to circulate, thrive, and evolve in a variety of contexts Cartoonists and humorists can assume the easy familiarity of their audience with proverbs, as is shown by recent examples of the opera isn’t over till the fat lady sings and two heads are better than one Although proverbs may be used as clichés by the linguistically lazy, very frequently they are used in contexts that show the user’s often sophisticated awareness of their resonance Over the years many people have been kind enough to demonstrate their interest in this work by drawing my attention to proverbs or discussing them with me Others, notably William F Deeck, have provided invaluable citations I thank them all for their involvement and encouragement Jennifer Speake Oxford December 2007 HAWKS will not pick out hawks’ eyes JUDGE not, that ye be not judged LOVE begets love NOTHING comes of nothing NOTHING for nothing you SCRATCH my back, I’ll scratch yours you don’t get SOMETHING for nothing recreation a CHANGE is as good as a rest he that would go to SEA for pleasure all WORK and no play makes Jack a dull boy regrets MARRY in haste, repent at leisure MARRY in May, rue for aye things PAST cannot be recalled it is too late to shut the STABLE-door after the horse has bolted reputation if the CAP fits, wear it the DEVIL is not so black give a DOG a bad name and hang him every DOG is allowed one bite the only GOOD Indian is a dead Indian GOOD wine needs no bush he that has an ILL name is half hanged if the SHOE fits, wear it SPEAK as you find never SPEAK ill of the dead one man may STEAL a horse, while another may not look over a hedge retribution CURSES, like chickens, come home to roost what GOES around comes around ILL gotten goods never thrive he who LIVES by the sword dies by the sword the MILLS of God grind slowly PRIDE goes before a fall WINTER never rots in the sky even a WORM will turn revenge BLOOD will have blood don’t CUT off your nose to spite your face DEAD men don’t bite DEAD men tell no tales he LAUGHS best who laughs last he who LAUGHS last, laughs longest don’t get MAD, get even REVENGE is a dish that can be eaten cold REVENGE is sweet if you SIT by the river for long enough rewards see just deserts; money riches see also money it is BETTER to be born lucky than rich EARLY to bed and early to rise the MORE you get, the more you want MUCH would have more the RICH man has his ice in the summer if you don’t SPECULATE, you can’t accumulate risk see also caution ADVENTURES are to the adventurous a BIRD in the hand one might as well be HANGED for a sheep as a lamb IN for a penny, in for a pound if you don’t make MISTAKES you don’t make anything NOTHING venture, nothing gain NOTHING venture, nothing have if you don’t SPECULATE, you can’t accumulate rules, general the EXCEPTION proves the rule there is an EXCEPTION to every rule HARD cases make bad laws RULES are made to be broken rulers and ruled BETTER a century of tyranny than one day of chaos when the BLIND lead the blind the CAT, the rat, and Lovell the dog in the COUNTRY of the blind DIVIDE and rule whosoever DRAWS his sword against the prince the FISH always stinks from the head downwards GOD is high above, and the tsar is far away the KING can no wrong the MOUNTAINS are high, and the emperor is far away he that cannot OBEY cannot command REVOLUTIONS are not made with rose-water the VOICE of the people is the voice of God rumour BELIEVE nothing of what you hear a LIE is halfway round the world no SMOKE without fire what the SOLDIER said isn’t evidence a TALE never loses in the telling safety see security seasons see calendar lore; weather lore secrecy see concealment security it is BEST to be on the safe side BETTER be safe than sorry one HAND for yourself and one for the ship beware of an OAK OUT of debt, out of danger SAFE bind, safe find there is SAFETY in numbers self-help EVERY man is the architect of his own fortune GOD helps them that help themselves PHYSICIAN, heal thyself if you would be well SERVED, serve yourself TRUST in God but tie your camel put your TRUST in God if you WANT a thing done well self-interest see self-help; self-preservation self-preservation if you can’t BEAT them, join them it is BEST to be on the safe side BETTER be safe than sorry DEVIL take the hindmost EVERY man for himself EVERY man for himself, and devil take the hindmost EVERY man for himself, and God for us all those who live in GLASS houses HEAR all, see all, say nowt JOUK and let the jaw go by NEAR is my kirtle, but nearer is my smock NEAR is my shirt, but nearer is my skin SELF-preservation is the first law of nature separation see absence servants see employers and employees silence see speech and silence similarity and dissimilarity BIRDS of a feather flock together all CATS are grey in the dark COMPARISONS are odious DIAMOND cuts diamond like FATHER, like son FIGHT fire with fire when GREEK meets Greek, then comes the tug of war LIKE breeds like LIKE will to like like MOTHER, like daughter like PEOPLE, like priest it TAKES one to know one TWO of a trade never agree slander see also malice; rumour throw DIRT enough, and some will stick give a DOG a bad name and hang him a DOG that will fetch a bone those who live in GLASS houses the GREATER the truth, the greater the libel never SPEAK ill of the dead sleep see health smallness see great and small society a CAT may look at a king DO as you would be done by DO unto others as you would they should unto you EVERYBODY loves a lord one HALF of the world does not know how the other half lives if every man would SWEEP his own doorstep it takes a whole VILLAGE to bring up a child soldiers an ARMY marches on its stomach the FIRST duty of a soldier is obedience OLD soldiers never die what the SOLDIER said isn’t evidence speech and silence little BIRDS that can sing and won’t sing a BLEATING sheep loses a bite out of the FULLNESS of the heart who KNOWS most, speaks least LEAST said, soonest mended NO names, no pack-drill NO news is good news a SHUT mouth catches no flies SILENCE is a woman’s best garment SILENCE is golden SILENCE means consent SPEECH is silver, but silence is golden a STILL tongue makes a wise head STILL waters run deep spending see getting and spending staying power see perseverance; persistence strength and weakness the CARIBOU feeds the wolf a CHAIN is no stronger when ELEPHANTS fight, it is the grass that suffers there is nothing like LEATHER a REED before the wind lives on when SPIDER webs unite, they can tie up a lion UNION is strength the WEAKEST go to the wall stress CARE killed the cat when the GOING gets tough, the tough get going if you don’t like the HEAT, get out of the kitchen it is the PACE that kills if you can’t RIDE two horses at once not call a WOLF to help you against the dogs it is not WORK that kills, but worry stupidity ASK a silly question and you get a silly answer a FOOL and his money are soon parted a FOOL at forty is a fool indeed there’s no FOOL like an old fool PENNY wise and pound foolish success every DOG has his day let them LAUGH that win NOTHING succeeds like success the RACE is not to the swift if at first you don’t SUCCED SUCCESS has many fathers, but failure is an orphan superstition see also dreams; omens BAD things come in threes CHANGE the name and not the letter if you want to LIVE and thrive, let the spider run alive there is LUCK in odd numbers PARSLEY seed goes nine times to the Devil help you to SALT, help you to sorrow SWEEP the house with broom in May THIRD time lucky the THIRD time pays for all tact DIFFERENT strokes for different folks DRIVE gently over the stones EASY does it FAIR and softly goes far in a day LEAST said, soonest mended a NOD’S as good as a wink never mention ROPE in the house of a man who has been hanged a SOFT answer turneth away wrath SPEAK not of my debts unless you mean to pay them with a SWEET tongue and kindness THINK first and speak afterwards talkativeness see speech and silence; words and deeds taste there is no ACCOUNTING for tastes BEAUTY is in the eye of the beholder EVERY man to his taste FAR-FETCHED and dear-bought is good for ladies one man’s MEAT is another man’s poison TASTES differ teamwork see co-operation theft it’s a SIN to steal a pin STOLEN fruit is sweet STOLEN waters are sweet thrift CUT your coat according to your cloth KEEP a thing seven years OUT of debt, out of danger take care of the PENCE a PENNY saved is a penny earned PENNY wise and pound foolish see a PIN and pick it up SPARE well and have to spend THRIFT is a great revenue WASTE not, want not tidiness see orderliness time there is a TIME and place for everything TIME and tide wait for no man TIME flies there is a TIME for everything TIME is a great healer TIME is money man fears TIME, but time fears the pyramids no TIME like the present TIME will tell TIME works wonders TIMES change and we with time tolerance it takes ALL sorts to make a world BEAR and forbear GIVE and take is fair play JUDGE not, that ye be not judged to KNOW all is to forgive all LIVE and let live trades and skills let the COBBLER stick to his last the COBBLER to his last EVERY man to his trade JACK of all trades and master of none there are TRICKS in every trade TWO of a trade never agree travel it is BETTER to travel hopefully GO abroad and you’ll hear news of home TRAVEL broadens the mind he TRAVELS fastest who travels alone trouble see also misfortune AFTER a storm comes a calm ANY port in a storm don’t CARE was made to care don’t CROSS the bridge what the EYE doesn’t see GOD makes the back to the burden GOD tempers the wind to the shorn lamb don’t HALLOO till you are out of the wood when you are in a HOLE, stop digging the MOTHER of mischief is no bigger than a midge’s wing those who PLAY at bowls must look out for rubbers if you’re not part of the SOLUTION, you’re part of the problem the SQUEAKING wheel gets the grease a TROUBLE shared is a trouble halved never TROUBLE trouble till trouble troubles you trust and scepticism BELIEVE nothing of what you hear SEEING is believing THREE things are not be trusted truth see also reality and illusion CHILDREN and fools tell the truth what EVERYBODY says must be true the GREATER the truth, the greater the libel a LIE is halfway round the world what is NEW cannot be true what the SOLDIER said isn’t evidence TELL the truth and shame the Devil many a TRUE word is spoken in jest there is TRUTH in wine TRUTH is the first casualty of war TRUTH lies at the bottom of a well TRUTH makes the Devil blush TRUTH will out uncertainty see certainty and uncertainty unity and division a HOUSE divided cannot stand when SPIDER webs unite, they can tie up a lion UNION is strength UNITED we stand, divided we fall value the nearer the BONE, the sweeter the meat GOLD may be bought too dear a KING’S chaff is worth more than other men’s corn it is a POOR dog that’s not worth whistling for the WORTH of a thing is what it will bring variety it takes ALL sorts to make a world VARIETY is the spice of life villainy see wrong-doers violence BLOOD will have blood when ELEPHANTS fight, it is the grass that suffers KILLING no murder MURDER will out virtue the BEST of men are but men at best to the PURE all things are pure VIRTUE is its own reward wanting and having see also greed APPETITE comes with eating the BEST-laid schemes gang aft agley the CAT would eat fish he that would EAT the fruit must climb the tree if IFS and ands were pots and pans NO pain, no gain NOTHING venture, nothing gain NOTHING venture, nothing have if you RUN after two hares you will catch neither SEEK and ye shall find the WISH is father to the thought if WISHES were horses, beggars would ride warfare ATTACK is the best form of defence COUNCILS of war never fight the best DEFENSE is a good offense all’s FAIR in love and war TRUTH is the first casualty of war waste HASTE makes waste not throw PEARLS to swine SPARE at the spigot, and let out at the bung-hole WASTE not, want not WILFUL waste makes woeful want ways and means DIFFERENT strokes for different folks DIRTY water will quench fire EASY does it never EVIL that good may come of it FIGHT fire with fire he who FIGHTS and runs away FIRE is a good servant but a bad master FIRST catch your hare when all you have is a HAMMER the LONGEST way round is the shortest way home you cannot make an OMELETTE without breaking eggs ONE size does not fit all don’t PUT the cart before the horse REVOLUTIONS are not made with rose-water all ROADS lead to Rome give a man ROPE enough and he will hang himself there is no ROYAL road to learning SLOW and steady wins the race SLOW but sure SOFTLY, softly, catchee monkey there is more than one WAY to skin a cat there are more WAYS of killing a cat than choking it with cream there are more WAYS of killing a dog than choking it with butter there are more WAYS of killing a dog than hanging it where there’s a WILL, there’s a way he who WILLS the end, wills the means weakness see strength and weakness wealth see riches weather lore see also calendar lore APRIL showers bring forth May flowers there is no such thing as BAD weather if CANDLEMAS day be sunny and bright as the DAY lengthens, so the cold strengthens a DRIPPING June sets all in tune if in FEBRUARY there be no rain a GREEN Yule makes a fat churchyard LONG foretold, long last MARCH comes in like a lion so many MISTS in March, so many frosts in May NORTH wind doth blow when the OAK is before the ash a PECK of March dust is worth a king’s ransom RAIN before seven, fine before eleven RED sky at night, shepherd’s delight ROBIN Hood could brave all weathers but a thaw wind if SAINT Paul’s day be fair and clear SAINT Swithun’s day, if thou be fair, for forty days it will remain SEPTEMBER blow soft, till the fruit’s in the loft the SHARPER the storm, the sooner it’s over when the WIND is in the east, ‘tis neither good for man nor beast weddings happy is the BRIDE always a BRIDESMAID, never a bride DREAM of a funeral MARRY in May, rue for aye one WEDDING brings another happy’s the WOOING that is not long a-doing wilfulness see obstinacy winners and losers see also gains and losses let them LAUGH that win he LAUGHS best who laughs last he who LAUGHS last, laughs longest what you LOSE on the swings you cannot LOSE what you never had what a NEIGHBOUR gets is not lost the WEAKEST go to the wall you WIN a few, you lose a few you can’t WIN them all wisdom you cannot CATCH old birds with chaff EXPERIENCE is the father of wisdom FOOLS ask questions that wise men cannot answer KNOW thyself KNOWLEDGE is power one cannot LOVE and be wise out of the MOUTHS of babes— you cannot put an OLD head on young shoulders a STILL tongue makes a wise head wishes see under wanting and having wives and husbands see also marriage BETTER to be an old man’s darling a BLIND man’s wife needs no paint the GREY mare is the better horse the HUSBAND is always the last to know he that will THRIVE must first ask his wife women never CHOOSE your women or your linen by candlelight the FEMALE of the species is more deadly than the male the HAND that rocks the cradle rules the world HELL hath no fury like a woman scorned LONG and lazy, little and loud SILENCE is a woman’s best garment a WHISTLING woman and a crowing hen a WOMAN, a dog, and a walnut tree a WOMAN and a ship ever want mending a WOMAN without a man a WOMAN’S place is in the home a WOMAN’S work is never done words and deeds ACTIONS speak louder than words a BARKING dog never bites a BELLOWING COW soon forgets her calf BRAG is a good dog DO as I say, not as I EMPTY vessels make the most sound EXAMPLE is better than precept FINE words butter no parsnips MUCH cry and little wool an OUNCE of practice is worth a pound of precept PRACTISE what you preach STICKS and stones may break my bones TALK is cheap work see also diligence; trades and skills ANOTHER day, another dollar a BAD workman blames his tools never send a BOY to a man’s job two BOYS are half a boy you cannot make BRICKS without straw BUSINESS before pleasure he who CAN, does let the COBBLER stick to his last the COBBLER to his last EVERY man to his trade FOOLS and bairns should never see half-done work why KEEP a dog and bark yourself? KEEP no more cats than will catch mice the LABOURER is worthy of his hire MANY hands make light work PAY beforehand was never well served a SHORT horse is soon curried if a THING’S worth doing, it’s worth doing well TOO many cooks spoil the broth a WOMAN’S work is never done all WORK and no play makes Jack a dull boy WORK expands so as to fill the time available if you won’t WORK you shan’t eat worry see stress wrong-doers see also error a BAD penny always turns up CHEATS never prosper to ERR is human EVIL doers are evil dreaders the GREATER the sinner, the greater the saint a GUILTY conscience needs no accuser HANG a thief when he’s young there is HONOUR among thieves an IDLE brain is the Devil’s workshop ILL weeds grow apace LITTLE thieves are hanged OFFENDERS never pardon OLD sins cast long shadows ONCE a whore, always a whore an old POACHER makes the best gamekeeper if there were no RECEIVERS give a man ROPE enough set a THIEF to catch a thief when THIEVES fall out youth whom the GODS love die young the GOOD die young you cannot put an OLD head on young shoulders SOON ripe, soon rotten WANTON kittens make sober cats YOUNG folks think old folks to be fools a YOUNG man married is a young man marred YOUNG saint, old devil YOUTH must be served if YOUTH knew, if age could [...]... history (of) , historical ibidem (in the same place) Italian January Latin Magazine March modern manuscript(s) November New York October Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs Oxford English Dictionary Pt quot rev Sept Ser St STS tr US vol part quotation revised September series Saint Scottish Text Society translation (of) United States (of America) volume Introduction Th e Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs. .. note that a high proportion of traditional ‘English’ proverbs are of foreign origin Like many of the words in our language, proverbs frequently passed into English from Latin or Greek, through the learned disciplines of medicine or the law, or from a knowledge of the classical authors; or they came into English from French in the years following the Conquest A number of modern proverbs, such as The opera... headings The manner of arrangement chosen here is that favoured by most major proverb collections of recent years, such as M P Tilley’s Dictionary of the Proverbs in England in the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries (1950) and B J Whiting’s Early American Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases (1977) This method combines the advantages of alphabetical and thematic presentation by listing proverbs by the first... Introduction Dictionary Bibliography Thematic Index Abbreviations used in the dictionary a Apr Aug AV BCP c cent cf COD Dec Dict Du ed EETS esp et al Feb Fr Ger Gr Hist Ibid Ital Jan L Mag Mar mod MS(S) Nov NY Oct ODEP OED ante (before) April August Authorized Version (of the Bible), 1611 Book of Common Prayer circa (about) century confer (compare) Concise Oxford Dictionary December dictionary (of) Dutch... a lamb The original meanings of words such as handsome in Handsome is as handsome does are also discussed when necessary Much of the work involved in the compilation of the dictionary has concerned the verification of quotations In the past, quotations have often been carried forward from one proverb dictionary to another without being checked; this is especially true of the older quotations All quotations... distinguish between Proverbs, and those polite Speeches which beautify Conversation: As to the former, I utterly reject them out of all ingenious Discourse.’ It is easy to see how proverbs came into disrepute Seemingly contradictory proverbs can be paired—Too many cooks spoil the broth with Many hands make light work; Absence makes the heart grow fonder with its opposite Out of sight, out of mind Proverbs could... Illustrative quotations of proverbs are a major feature of the dictionary, as in ODEP Accordingly, the earliest known example of each proverb’s occurrence in literature is always given as the first quotation Many of the proverbs were probably in common oral use before being recorded in print, but this dictionary clearly must rely upon the evidence of the printed word When a proverb is known to have existed... manifold, the most apparent being the grouping of large numbers of unrelated proverbs under a few words such as a, every, one, and the, forcing the user to engage on a long search for the proverb of his choice Another option is thematic presentation, whereby proverbs relating to cats, dogs, the Devil, Pride, etc., are each placed together Despite the many advantages of this method, confusion can occur when... man nor beast Several of the more common metaphorical phrases are included in the dictionary if they are also encountered in the form of a proverb The phrases to cut off your nose to spite your face and to throw the baby out with the bathwater, for example, would not ordinarily qualify for inclusion, but have been admitted because they are often found in proverb form—Don’t cut off your nose to spite... into the cliché Such views overlook the fact that while the role of the proverb in English literature has changed, its popular currency has remained constant In medieval times, and even as late as the seventeenth century, proverbs often had the status of universal truths and were used to confirm or refute an argument Lengthy lists of proverbs were compiled to assist the scholar in debate; and many .. .OXFORD PAPERBACK REFERENCE The Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Jennifer Speake is a freelance writer She is the editor of the Oxford Dictionary of Foreign Words and Phrases (1997) and of the Oxford. .. the quarter-century since the Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs first appeared The Concise itself grew out of the monumental Oxford Dictionary of English Proverbs, first published in 1935 and... 978–0–19–953953–6 10 Editor’s Preface The fifth edition of the Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs represents the latest stage in Oxford University Press’s coverage of proverbs and reflects the changes that have