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University of Nebraska Studies in Language,
Literature, and Criticism
English, Department of
1-1-1933
Proverbial Lore in Nebraska
Emma Louise Snapp
University of Nebraska
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PROVERBIAL ILORE I N NEBRASKA
BY EMMA LOUISE S N A P P
LINCOLN, NEBRASKA
1933
PREFACE
The following study attempts to list and to classify the
proverbs and proverbial phrases in current oral use in Nebraska. My chief source for the collection was the talk of
persons with whom I have been in contact for the last six
months. The amount of proverbial lore on the lips of representatives of many walks of life is astonishing; one can have
no conception of its extent until he consciously listens for it
and keeps a record of what he hears. Further, friends in
Lincoln and in other parts of the state gathered and sent to
me many lists of the current proverbial expressions that they
knew. The members of classes in American Literature a t the
University of Nebraska, classes made up of students coming
from many different communities, contributed a considerable
number. I also consulted collections of proverbial lore and
the sayings that I immediately recognized as current were incorporated into my lists. I have lived most of my life in Nebraska so that I felt confident that any expression with which
I was very familiar is in circulation in the state. In instances
where there was the least doubt, however, I had the sayings
identified by other Nebraskans.
My collection in no sense represents an exhaustive study of
the subject. The very nature of proverbial lore makes a complete and finished list an impossibility. Proverbial lore, like
all other lore, is a growing, living thing, changing from day
to day. The figurative language popular today may become
proverbial tomorrow, or it may pass into oblivion.
The organization of material that I have used is arbitrary;
it was fixed upon for convenience in arranging a large number
of proverbs and proverbial phrases. It is based on two types
of groupings. The first type brings together a collection of
proverbs concerning a certain subject, such as the section on
Women, Love, and Marriage. In the other type, the sayings
listed together are all derived from a common source, though
they apply to many phases of life; e.g., the aphoristic sayings
from animal life are significant chiefly as interpretations of
human nature. In some cases, notably the section on weather,
both types of classification are utilized.
54
STUDIESI N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
I wish to express my indebtedness to Dr. Louise Pound,
Professor of English a t the University of Nebraska. for suggesting this study and for encouragement and practical aid
while i t was in preparation. I owe sincere appreciation also
t o the many persons who helped me in my compilation of lists
of proverbial expressions in Nebraska.
EMMALOUISESNAPP
Lincoln, Nebraska
CONTENTS
Page
Preface ...................................................................................... 53
Introduction .............................................................................. 57
1. Proverbial Lore from the Bible .................................... 59
I1. Lore from Animal Life .................................................. 63
I11. Nature .............................................................................. 73
IV . Weather .......................................................................... 76
V . Women. Love and Marriage .......................................... 79
VI . Vice and Folly .................................................................. 82
VII . Virtue and Wisdom ........................................................ 86
VIII . Money .............................................................................. 89
IX . Home Life ....................................................................... 92
X . Professions and Trades .................................................. 96
XI . Sports and Games .......................................................... 99
XI1. Proverbial Apothegms .............................. .................... 102
XI11. Miscellaneous Proverbial Lore ...................................... 104
Bibliography .............................................................................. 112
INTRODUCTION
To define a proverb is a difficult task because of the many
elements involved. Two characteristics, however, seem essential; proverbs must be aphoristic and they must be in wide
oral currency. They are written a s well as spoken, of course,
but it is chiefly by word of mouth that they gain and hold
their surprisingly large place in the language.
Proverbs and proverbial phrases are grouped separately in
this collection; the differentiation between them is based on
their form. The rigidity of the form of the proverb is one of
its salient characteristics. The phrase, on the other hand,
may vary according to its application. The proverbial phrases
listed in this collection, such as "to eat humble pie," may
assume any of several forms, varying in tense and person,
determined by the way they are used. Perhaps it is because
of their brevity, and this very characteristic of greater freedom in form, that stock proverbial phrases are more numerous
than proverbs themselves. It is, perhaps, a commentary on
the modern desire for speed and brevity, even in conversation,
that phrases, rather than proverbs, make up most of the
proverbial lore of recent origin in this collection.
A study of the history of the proverbial lore current in
Nebraska reveals the fact that a very large percentage of i t
came from England. A smaller percentage has come from
other European and Asiatic folklore. An astonishing number
of imported expressions have been adopted in their entirety,
even when they preserve archaic allusions or customs no
longer in existence. Many Nebraskans use sayings such as
"to carry coals to Newcastle" and "to look both ways for
Sunday" that certainly have no experiential significance t o
them. Others of these expressions have been made over; e.g.,
the popular Americanism, "An apple a day keeps the doctor
away" was doubtless modeled on the English proverb, "Eat
an apple on going to bed and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread." The fact that many proverbs are centuries
old, however, does not mean that the day of proverb-making
is past. New occupations, new sports, even new inventions
offer opportunities for the birth of new proverbial expres-
58
STUDIES
IN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
sions. The phrases "to step on the gas" and "to broadcast
one's troubles" are obviously of recent origin.
One of the most interesting aspects of the study of proverbial language is the manner in which it is constantly employed by persons who have no conception of its original meaning. Often when a n individual says "as busy a s a beaver," he
is not reflecting his knowledge of the industrious character of
the beaver; rather, he is using a saying, the metaphorical
force of which has been impressed on his mind through hearing i t employed many times to convey a certain meaning.
Even expressions, the origins of which a r e unknown, such as
"to be a t sixes and sevens" and "as queer a s Dick's hatband"
a r e used by a speaker with perfect confidence that his meaning will be well conveyed. Through years of wide circulation,
such proverbial phrases have gained a strong connotative
significance.
Occasionally the oral use of a proverb is prefixed by some
remark, such as, "as the saying goes," or the colloq~lialand
facetious "as the feller says." Usually, however, proverbs
have become so fixed a part of the language of Nebraskans
that their users seem unconscious that they are employing
stock sayings.
The various groupings used in arranging the proverbs listed
in the foilowing pages suggest the wide scope of proverbial
lore in source and content. From every class of life, from
every occupation and field of human endeavor .are derived
stock sayings which, because of certain almost indefinable,
yet real, qualities of memorableness, have become a part of
the everyday language of Nebraska folk.
I
PROVERBIAL LORE FROill T H E BIBLE
Biblical proverbs and proverbial sayings form a sizable
portion of the proverbial lore of Nebraskans. Such lore, like
other folklore, is largely oral. The stories, the characters, the
very terminology of the Bible have formed a staple part of the
language experience of the inhabitants of Nebraska from
their early childhood.
In the proverbs themselves, the Biblical tern~inologyseems
to have been preserved with varying degrees of success. There
are often minor modifications in wording or sentence order
but sometimes the change is so great that the identity of the
proverb a s a Biblical product is almost entirely lost. An instance is "Man proposes but God disposes," the long and
varied history of which is discussed by Taylor.] In some cases
the inadvertent loss of a word or two in the oral version
causes a change in meaning. For example, the oral proverb,
"Money is the root of all evil" is a misquotation of "The love
of money is the root of a11 evil." Occasionally in oral speech,
only a part of a Biblical proverb is used, with the understanding on the p a r t of the speaker that his hearers are familiar
enough with it to complete it for themselves. Examples of
such curtailed sayings are, "The sins of the fathers" and
"Cast your bread upon waters."
The proverbial phrases OT Biblical origin are of two definite
classes: those using the exact phraseology of the Bible and
those suggested by Biblical stories and lore. To the former
class belong such familiar expressions a s "castifig pearls before swine" and "the blind leading the blind." The group
suggested by the characters or incidents in Bible stories is
very large. Its size is a commentary on the widespread
appeal of Bible lore. Many of the important persons in these
stories have managed to get themselves ancl their characteristics into permanent currency in our everyday language. Old
Testament figures are represented in such expressions a s
"as meek as Moses," "the patience of Job," and "He's a
Jonah." From the stories of the life of Christ we have such
1
Archer Taylor, The Proverb, pp. 55-56. 1931.
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
60
widely used sayings as "thirty pieces of silver" and "to wash
one's hands of a thing."
I t is obvious that the various authors of the Bible made use
of figurative expressions in current use in their own periods.
This means that many of the proverbial sayings occurring in
the Bible probably had their origin in another literature or
oral speech.
In the following list of proverbial sayings of Biblical origin,
no attempt is made to distinguish the two classes.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
A
A
A
A
A
Proverbs
friend lovcth a t all times.
good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.
kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.
little child shall lead them.
little leaven leaveneth the whole lump.
Very often in oral usage, this is reduced t o t h e proverbial saying, "a
little leaven."
6. A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country.
7. A soft answer turneth away wrath.
8. Answer a fool according to his folly.
9. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.
10. As ye would that men should do to you, do ye unto them.
11. Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?
12. Can the Ethiopian change his skin or the leopard his spots?
This is a n interestinrr examole of t h e effectiveness of a nroverh c a s t in
t h e form of a n interrogation.
13. Cast thy bread upon the waters and i t shall be returned to thee after
many days.
Often only t h e first clause of this proverb is used.
14. Charity ccvers a multitude of sins.
15. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you die.
The wording i n the Bible IS, "Let us eat and drink for tomorrow we
shall die."
16. Get thee behind me, Satan.
17. God is not mocked.
18. Go t o the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways and be wise.
In oral usage often only t h e first p a r t of this proverb is used.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
He that is without sin, let him cast the first stone.
He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that taketh a city.
Hide not your light under a bushel.
Honor thy father and thy mother.
Hope deferred maketh the heart sick.
I have fought a good fight; I have finished the course.
The proverbial sayings, "to fight a good fight" a n d "to
course." a r e shortened portions of thin prsverb.
finish t h e
26. I t is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a
rich man t o enter (he kingdom of heaven.
26. I t is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
This is a n example of t h e use In t h e Gospels of a proverb of nonChristian origin. T h e expression was current among t h e Romans of
Jesus' day a n d was used by t h e Greek dramatists, E s c h y l u s ( 5 2 5 - 4 5 6
B. C.) and Euripides ( 4 8 0 - 4 0 6 B. C.).'
27. Judge not that ye be not judged.
"wight
E. Marvin, Curiosities in Proverbs, pp. 119-120, 1916.
28. No man can serve two masters.
29. Physician, heal thyself.
This "seems to have been a current proverb when the Nazarenes
asrainst Jesus a%a rebuke."'
ouoted it
-
30. Pride goeth before
a fall.
This is a misquotation. The wording in the Bible i s "Pride goeth
before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall."
31. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the
things that are God's.
32. She hath done what she could.
33. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
34. Strain a t a gnat and swallow a camel.
35. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
36. Take my yoke upon you.
37. The laborer is worthy of his hire.
38. The Lord loveth a cheerful giver.
39. The poor ye have always with you.
40. The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong.
41. The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.
42. The tree is known by its fruit.
43. The wages of sin is death.
44. The way of the transgressor is hard.
45. The wicked flee when none pursue.
46. Train up a child in the way he should go.
47. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord.
Commonly this proverb is shortened to the first three words: the curtailment greatly alters the meaning.
48. We have nn advocate with the father.
49. Where there is no vision, the people perish.
50, What shall i t profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his
own soul?
51. Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.
52. Whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth.
53. Whosoever hath, to him shall be given.
51. Wine is a mocker.
Proverbial Phrases
1, a coat of many colors.
2. a Judas kiss.
3. a pearl of great price.
4. a prisoner of hope.
5. a Samson shorn of his strength.
6. a thorn in the flesh.
7. an abomination unto the Lord.
8. an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.
9. a s meek as Moses.
10. as old as Methuselah.
11. a s poor a s Job.
12. a s poor as Job's turkey.
This singular proverb seems to be a variant of the preceding one,
on the a s s u m ~ t i o n ,one supposes, that since Job i s poor, his turkey
will be poorer:
a s unalterable a s the laws of the Medes and Persians.
balm of Gilead.
by precept and example.
forbidden fruit.
17. Garden of Gethsemane.
78. in t h e twinkling of an eye.
13.
14.
15.
16.
This is probably an example of the chronicler's use of a current proverbial expression. It is found in 1 Corinthians XV:52.
V a y l o r , op. cit., p. 59.
19. like David and Jonathan.
This is said of two men who are close friends.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
like manna from heaven.
loaves and fishes.
no room in the i ~ n .
out of the ~ n o u t h sof babes a n d sucklings.
precept on precept.
t h e cry of Rachel.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
the
35.
36.
37.
38.
33.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
the widow's mite.
t h e wisdoi~iof Solomon.
t h e writing in the sand.
t h e writing on the wall.
they t h a t a r e born of woman.
t h i r t y gieces of silver.
to be a doubting Thomas.
t o be a good Samaritan.
t o be a Jezebel.
to be a Jonah.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52,
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
tc
to
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
66.
66.
t o r e t u r n good f o r evil.
to I-ob Peter to pay Paul.
to sell one's birthright f o r a mess of pottage.
t o serve God and Mammon.
t o t u r n t h e other cheek.
t o wash one's hands of a thing.
when Gabriel blows his horn.
This refers to the cry of a mother bereft of her children.
d a y of judgment.
foolish virgin.
m a r k of Cair..
prodigal son.
pronlised land.
salt of the earth.
strength of Samson.
tree of knowledge.
weaker vessel.
Tnis metaphorical
women.
expression is
used in
1 Peter III:7 to refer to
A "Joneh" is a person who brings bad luck.
be r Judas.
be a Mzigdalene.
be a n Ananias.
be eyes to t h e blind.
be hanged a s high a s Hanlan.
be no respecter of persons.
bear one's cross.
build one's house on sands.
cast pearls before swine.
cast the first stone.
dig a pit f o r one's self.
have t h e patience of Job.
heap coals of fire on his head.
kill the fatted calf.
l03k as if it came out of the ark.
This is said of a thing of great age.
LORE FROM ANIMAL LIFE
Animal life seems to offer the greatest single source of
proverbial lore in Nebraska. This is a natural outcome of
t h e predominance of agricultural life in the state. The use
of animal proverbs is not confined to rural regions, of
course. Much animal proverbial lore, especially t h a t of
domesticated animals, is common to all sections of Nebraska. Expressions concerning prairie-dogs and jack
rabbits a r e found most often in western Nebraska where
these animals a r e most numerous.
The many comparisons taken from animal life a r e
usually employed to illustrate some characteristic of
human n a t u r e ; it is in this application to human beings
t h a t their chief importance lies. The majority of these
con~parisonsrefer to undesirable human traits; "as greedy
a s a pig," "as contrary a s a mule," and "as dumb a s a n ox,"
are examples. Less disparaging are such comparisons as
"as busy a s a bee" a n d "as gentle a s a lamb." Some
animals a r e used f o r both commendatory a n d abusive comparisons. From the equine family we have both t h e expressions, "to have good horse sense" a n d "to eat like a horse."
On t h e whole, however, one particular characteristic seems
to be attached to each animal. This tendency is illustrated
in such common metaphorical names as "cur." "hog," "hear,"
and "cow."
Most of these sayings refer to the animals themselves,
b u t a few a r e concerned with their relations with man.
Instances of this kind a r e "Love me, love my dog" and "Do
not look a gift horse in t h e mouth."
The horse leads all other animals in the proverbial lore
of Nebraska. The dog a n d the cat vie with each other f o r
second place. Cattle, pigs, and sheep also provide a large
number of proverbs. Small wild animals, such a s rabbits
a n d squirrels, form a surprisingly prolific source, whereas
foxes, bears, a n d wolves figure less prominkntly in everyd a y speech. Least common of all a r e animals no? in-
64
STUDIES
IN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
digenous to this part of the country, yet these are not
entirely unrepresented. Very well known, indeed, a r e
such expressions a s "as bold a s a lion" and "as big a s a n
elephant."
Included in this group dealing with lore from animal life
are fowls, insects, birds, reptiles, and fish. These offer
material for a large number of comparisons. Here, too, there
are such pronounced characteristics that metaphorical expressions such as "snake," "bird," and "sucker" convey
definite meanings. In this section all of the expressions relating to one animal or animal group are placed together.
Alphabetical arrangement is preserved within these subdivisions.
( 1 ) Docs
Proverbs
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
A dead dog te!ls no tales.
A dog that will bring a bone will take one away.
Barking dogs do not bite.
Dog eat dog.
EGery dog has his day.
Give a dog a bad name and you may as well hang him.
His bark is worse than his bite.
I have a bone to pick with you.
Let sleeping dogs lie.
Love me, love my dog.
The hair of the dog is good for the bite.
Proverbial Phrases
a s crooked a s a dog's hind leg.
a s much use for a thing as a dog has for two tails.
a s playful a s a puppy.
as sick a s a dog.
a s sleepy a s a dog.
a s sound a s a hound's tooth.
a s thick a s fleas on a dog's back.
bulldog tenacity.
dog days.
enough to make a dog laugh.
gone to the dogs.
like a scared hound.
puppy love.
since Hec was a pup.
to be a dog in the manger.
to die a dog's death.
to dog his footsteps.
to eat like a dog.
to fawn like a dog.
to go off with one's tail between one's legs.
t o have a bulldog jaw.
33. to lead a dog's life.
34. to lick one's chops.
35. to make no bones about a thing.
36. to put on dog.
37 to work like a dog.
( 2 ) CATS
Proverbs
38. A cat may look a t a king.
39. A singed cat avoids the fire.
40. Care killed a cat.
41. Cats that wear gloves catch no mice.
42. Curiosity killed a cat.
43. There are more ways to kill a cat than to choke it on hot butter.
44. When the cat's away, the mouse will play.
45. You have to catch a cat before yon skin it.
Proverbial Phrases
46. a different breed of cats.
47. a s black a s a stack of black cats.
4s. a s common as a back-fence cat.
49. as green as cat's eyes.
50. a s harmless as a kitten.
51. a s high a s a cat's back.
52. a s nervous a s a cat.
53. a s playful as a kitten.
54. a s sick a s a cat.
55. a s weak a s a cat.
56. like a cat caught licking cream.
57. like a cat licking paste.
58. not room enough to cuss a cat in.
Variant: not room enough to swing a cat in.
59. to bell the cat.
This means to undertake a difficult task.
60. to grin like a chessy cat.
The word "chessy" is a mlspr.onunciation of the wo:d
the incorrect form is that common in current usage.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
"Cheshire" but
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
hate water like a cat.
have as many lives a s a cat.
let the cat out of the bag.
live a cat and dog life.
make a cat's paw of.
make the f u r fly.
purr like a cat.
rain cats and dogs.
rub one's f u r the wrong way.
see how the cat jumps.
(3) HORSES
Proverbs
A short horse is soon curried.
Every horse thinks his own pack the heaviest.
Never look a nift horse in the mouth.
Sit tight.
-
This expression comes from horseback riding.
75. There is life in the old horse yet.
76. You can drive a willing horse to death.
77. You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
66
78.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
STUDIESI N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
P1-overbzul Pk?,uses
a horse laugh.
a mare's nest.
a s coarse a s a horse's tail.
a s contrary a s a mule.
a s frisky a s a colt.
a s poor a s a race horse.
a s skittish a s a colt.
a s sick a s a horse.
a s silly a s a n ass.
head u p and tail over t h e dashboard.
This expression is used of one who is anxious to go.
88. hoss and hoss.
l h i s is an expression used in gambling.
It means equal.
89. kicked by t h e same mule.
90. one-horse town.
91. t h e neSve of a government mule.
Phis expression is a lesacy from Civil War times.
had a large number of mules in the service.
92.
93.
94.
95.
96.
97.
98.
99.
100.
101.
102.
103.
104.
105.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
tc
to
The government
be a dark horse.
be a horse of a different color.
be a horse f o r work.
be close on the heels of.
be on one's high horse.
be r a r i n g to go.
bridle one's tongue.
browse through a library.
die in the harness.
e a t like a horse.
feel one's oats.
get the bit in his mouth.
give him line enough.
go Shank's mare.
This means to walk.
106. t o have good horse sense.
107. to have her tail over t h e line.
This means to be ready to go.
108. t o
109. to
110. t o
111. to
112; t o
113. to
114. t o
115. t o
116. t o
117.
118.
119.
120.
hold one's horses.
hold t h e whip hand.
hoof it.
kick over the traces.
lock t h e stable door a f t e r t h e horse is stolen.
put t h e c a r t before the horse.
p u t t h e saddle on the wrong horse.
ride for a fall.
work f o r a dead horse.
(4) Hoes
Proverbs
Root, hog, or die.
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear.
You can't make a whistle out of a pig's tail.
Provsrbia,l P h ~ u s e s
a hog-killing time.
This means a pleasant, exhilarating time. An illustration of its use
is, "We had a hog-killina time at the party."
121. a s d i r t y a s a pig.
122. a s f a t a s a pig.
123.
124.
125.
126.
127.
128.
129.
as
as
to
to
to
to
to
greedy a s a pig.
independent a s a hog on ice.
be left to dance In the hog trough.
bleed like a stuck pig.
buy a pig in a poke.
e a t like a pig.
get a good scald on a thing.
130.
131.
132.
133.
to
to
to
to
go whole hog or none.
have t h e wrong sow by the ear.
make a pig of one's self.
w a i t a s one pig waits f o r another.
134.
135.
136.
137,
138.
139.
140.
141.
142.
143.
T h ~ smeans to do a thlrig well.
It comes from the butchering of hogs
( 5 ) SHEEP
Proverba
Anybody t h a t would take a dare,
Would kill a sheep and e a t the hair.
H e might a s well be hung f o r a sheep a s a lamb.
His mind is a-wool-gathering.
There is one black sheep in every flock.
Proverbial Phrases
a s dumb a s a sheep.
as gentle a s a lamb.
a s meek a s a lamb.
to be a black sheep.
to cast sheep's eyes.
t o fleece anyone.
( 6 ) CATTLE
Proverbs
,
144. Don't swallow the cow and worry with t h e tail.
This proverb is related In meaning to the Biblical
gnat and swallow a camel."
saying,
"Strain at a
145. Give t h a t calf more rope.
146. T h a t will bring her t o her milk.
This expression means, "That w ~ l lc o n v i ~ c eher."
Proverbial Phrases
147.
148.
149.
150.
as
as
as
as
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
a s safe a s a cow in the stock yards.
a s strong a s a n ox.
like a bu!l in a china closet.
like a red
t o a bull.
till the cows come home.
t o d r a w in one's horns.
t o kick !ike a bay steer.
to look like a dying calf.
t o take t h e bull by the horns.
dangerous a s a mad bull.
dumb a s a n ox.
f a t a s a cow.
graceful a s a cow.
This ironic comparison is sometimes made more ridiculous by changing
it to "as eraceful as the bird they call the cow."
68
160.
161.
162.
163.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
169.
170.
STUDIESIN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
(7) FO.XES,
BEARS,AND WOLVDS
Proverbs
A sleeping fox catches no poultry.
The strength of the pack is t h e wolf and the strength of the wolf
is the pack.
Proverbial Phrases
a bear hug.
a wolf in sheep's clothing.
as clumsy a s a bear.
a s cross a s a bear.
a s hungry a s a bear.
a s rough a s a bear.
a s sly a s a fox.
like a bear after wild honey.
to cry "wolf" too often.
This expression comes from the story of "The Boy who Cried Wolf,"
one of &sop's fables.
171. to eat like a wolf.
172. to keep the wolf from the door.
173. to wolf one's food.
(8) RODENTS
Proverbs
174. Rats desert a sinking ship.
Proverbial Phrases
175. a s busy a s a beaver.
176. a s fast as a jack rabbit in front of a prairie fire.
177. as flip as a prairie dog.
This expression whlch comes from the sandhill region of Nebraska is
used especially to refer to a girl who swishes her skirts as the dog
fllps his tail.
178.
179.
180.
181.
182.
183.
184.
185.
186.
187.
188.
189.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
196.
197.
as perky a s a rabbit's ears.
as poor a s a church mouse.
a s quick a s a prairie-dog.
a s scared a s a rabbit.
a s slick a s a rat.
a s thin a s a rat.
a s wet as a drowned rat.
a s wild as a March hare.
a s timid a s a mouse.
a s tiny as a mouse.
like a rat in a trap.
to chatter like a chipmunk.
to die like a cornered rat.
to fight like a r a t in a corner.
to jump like a rabbit.
to look like a drowned rat.
to run like a scared rabbit.
t o scamper like a squirrel.
to work like a beaver.
to yip like a prairia-dog.
(9) ANIMALSNOT INDIGJ~NOUSTO NEBRASKA
Prove~bialPhrases
198. a s big as a hippopotamus.
199. a s bold a s a brass monkey.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.
as
as
as
as
as
bold a s a lion.
crazy a s a baboon.
dry a s a camel.
fierce as a tiger.
fleet a s a deer.
See under 206.
205. as hairy a s an ape.
206. a s swift a s an antelope.
Antelope were formerly cbundant in Nebraska.
Anteiope Creek, etc.
207.
20S.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.
Witness Antelope County,
as tough a s rhinoceros hide.
cold enough to freeze a brass monkey.
like a stag a t bay.
to act like a monkey.
to ape.
to beard the lion in his den.
to get the lion's share.
to have a neck like a giraffe's.
to have a rhinoceros hide.
to have an elephant on one's hands.
to laugh liko, a hyena.
to monkey with a buzz-saw.
(10) REPTILES,
FROGS
Proverbs
219. If it were a snake, it would bite you.
220. The worm will turn.
Proverbial Phrases
221.
222.
223.
224.
225.
226.
227.
228.
229.
230.
231.
232.
a big frog in a little puddle.
a s cold as a frog.
a s cold a s a snake.
a s crooked a s a snake.
a s deadly a s a cobra.
a s hoarse as a frog.
as poisonous a s a snake.
a s slippery as an eel.
a s treacherous a s a snake.
a s ugly as a turtle.
as wise a s a serpent.
crocodile tears.
233.
234.
235.
236.
237.
238.
239.
240.
241.
242.
243.
244.
like a stuffed toad.
lower than a snake's belly.
madder than snakes in haying.
to blink like a frog in sweet milk.
to croak like a frog.
to dive like a frog.
to go a t a snail's pace.
to hiss like a snake.
to jump like a frog.
to nourish a viper in one's bosom.
to stick out one's head like a turtle.
to worm one's way through.
Taylor says this expression "is explained by the old belief that crocodiles enticed unwary men into their power by imitating a weeping
child."
Archer Taylor, The Proverb, pp. 197-198.
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
-4ND LITERATIJRE
(11) FOWLS
Proverbs
245. A setting hen never grows f a t .
246. Chickens come home to roost.
247. What's sauce f o r the goose IS sauce f o r the gander.
Proverbial Phrases
248. a cock and bull story.
249. a s a duck t e k m t o water.
250. a s busy a s a n old hen with two chicks.
251. a s cocky a s a rooster.
252. a s downy a s a chick.
253. a s game a s a fighting cock.
254. a s nlad a s a wet hen.
255. a s proud a s a turkey cock.
256. a s scarce a s hens' teeth.
257. knee high to a duck.
258. like a chicken with its head off.
259. like water 03 a duck's back.
260. to be tho biggest duck in the puddle.
261. to cackle like a hen.
262. to cook his goose.
263. t o count one'c: chickens before they a r e h ~ t c h e d .
264. to crow like a rooster.
265. to fly t h e coop.
266. to have sand in one's gizzard.
267. t o !ook like a dying duck in s thunderstorm.
268. to s t r u t like a turkey cock.
269. to talk turkey.
To talk business is t h e meanlng of t h ~ sexpression.
270.
271.
272.
273.
274.
275.
276.
277.
278.
279.
280.
281.
282.
283.
284.
285.
286.
287.
288.
289.
(12) BIRDS
Proverbs
A bird in t h e hand i s worth two in t h e bush.
A little bird told me.
Birds of a feather flock together.
Every bird likes t o hear himself sing.
Every crow thinks her own bird the blackest.
Fine feathers make fine birds.
One swallow does not n ~ a k ea summer.
The bird t h a t can ring snd won't sing ought t o be wade t o sing.
The birds have flown.
The early bird catches the worm.
Proverbial Phrases
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
as
black a s a crow.
blind a s a bat.
blind a s a n owl.
blind a s a wren.
chipper as a sparrow.
crazy a s a hoot owl.
crazy a s a loon.
f r e e a s a bird.
gay a s a bird of paradise.
graceful a s a swan.
290.
291.
292.
293.
294.
295.
296.
297.
298.
299.
300.
301.
302.
303.
304.
305.
306.
307.
308.
309.
310.
311.
312.
313.
a s light as a feather.
a s mean a s a jaybird.
a s meek as a dove.
a s naked as a jay.
a s plump a s a partridge.
a s proud a s a peacock.
a s small a s a wren.
a s sneaking as a chicken hawk.
a s tame a s a pigeon.
a s t h e crow flies.
a s tough a s boiled owl.
a s vain a s a peacock.
a s wise a s a n owl.
bats in t h e belfry.
like a hawk watching a chicken.
not enough t o keep a canary alive.
t o be pigeon-breasted.
to bill and coo.
to hammer like a woodpecker,
to have a neck like a crane's.
t o kill two birds with one stone.
t o open one's mouth like a young robin.
t o put salt on a bird's tail.
to say a crow is white.
This means to tell a falsehood.
314. to screech like a n owl.
315. to sing like a bird.
Variant: to sing like a lark.
316. to soar like a n eagle.
317. to whistle like a quail.
( 1 3 ) FISH
318.
319.
320.
321.
322.
323.
324.
325.
326.
327.
328.
329.
330.
331.
332.
333.
334.
335.
336.
337.
338.
339.
Proverbs
All's fish that comes t o his net.
Every fish t h a t escapes seems greater than it is.
It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the same bait.
There a r e just a s good fish in the sea a s ever were caught.
Proverbial Phrases
a pretty kettle of fish.
a s big a s a whale.
a s cold as a fish.
a s dead a s a herring.
as much backbone a s a jellyfish.
a s red as a boiled lobster.
a s slippery a s a n eel.
like a fish out of water.
to be packed in like sardines in a box.
to crab.
to crawfish out.
to drink like a fish.
t o fish f o r a thing.
t o have a mouth like a sucker's.
to have other fish t o fry.
t o jump like a trout.
t o shut up like a n oyster.
to sponge one's way.
STUDIESIN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
(14) INSECTS
Proverbial Phrases
340.
341.
342.
343.
344.
345.
346.
347.
348.
349.
350.
351.
352.
353.
354.
355.
356.
357.
358.
359.
360.
361.
362.
363.
364.
365.
366.
367.
368.
369.
370.
371.
372.
373.
374.
375.
a bee in his bonnet.
a bug in his ear.
a fly in the ointment.
as busy a s a bee.
a s cheerful as a cricket.
a s crazy a s a bedbug.
a s full as a tick.
a s gay a s a butterfly.
a s green a s a grasshopper.
a s happy as a cricket.
as lively a s a cricket
a s mad as a hornet.
a s spry as a cricket.
knee high t o a grasshopper.
like a moth in a candle.
to bring a hornet's nest about one's ears.
to buzz around like a gnat.
t o buzz like a bee.
to chirp like a cricket.
t o flit like a butterfly.
to put a flea in his ear.
to spit tobacco juice like a grasshopper.
to sting like a hornet.
(15) MISCEI.LAN~US
GROUP OF ANIMAL PROVERBIALPHRASES
as blind as a mole.
as lousy as a pet coon.
a s nimble as a goat.
a s sly as a mink.
to be hidebound.
to be neither fish nor flesh nor good red herring.
to be the goat.
t o get one's goat.
Variants: to get one's nanny.
to get one's angora.
to have a stomach like a goat.
t o scamper like a goat.
to smell like a goat.
t o smell like a skunk.
to turn tail.
I11
NATURE
The proverbial lore grouped in this section is derived
from nature in its various aspects. An exception is
weather, which is treated separately. Natural objects,
being a part of the environment of all Nebraskans, form a
prolific source of the aphoristic sayings current in the state.
The inevitable passing of time is a matter of great interest; illustrative is the traditional saying, "Time and tide
wait for no man." The phenomena of day and night have
become a part of daily speech in such commonly used expressions as "The darkest hour is just before the dawn,"
and "The longest day will come to a n end." Trees, flowers,
streams, rocks, the moon, the sun, and stars all have
qualities which are somehow applicable in a figurative way
to the lives of human beings. These qualities have managed
to get themselves established in many proverbs. Among
the best known are: "Great oaks from little acorns grow,"
and "Every rose has its thorn."
Obviously, natural objects afford a fertile field for the
production of proverbial phrases. Similes such a s "as blue
a s the sky" and "as old a s the hills" are very numerous.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
Proverbs
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
A tree is known by its fruit.
Constant dripping wears away the hardest stone.
Diamond cut diamond.
Distance lends enchantment.
Do not whistle until you are out of the woods.
Every cloud has a silver lining.
Every rose has its thorn.
F a r off fields are greenest.
Go to grass.
Great oaks from little acorns grow.
He is not out of the woods, yet.
He let no grass grow under his feet.
He went through the woods and through the woods and picked up
a crooked stick a t last.
He will never set the world on fire.
I11 weeds grow apace.
I t beats all the way the weeds grow.
I t goes against the grain.
It's a long road that has no turning.
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
A N D LITERATURE
74
Variant: It's a long lane t h a t has n o turning.
20. More water has gone under the bridge.
Variant: More water has r u n down t h e hill.
Both these exprccsir,ns are used t o indlcate passage of time.
21.
22.
23.
24.
Never is a long time.
Oil a n d water will not mix.
Steady pecking makes a hole in t h e rock.
Stick t o your bush.
This proverb comes from berry picking.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
Still waters r u n deep.
Take time by t h e forelock.
The darkest hour is just before the dawn.
The longest d a y will come % a n end.
The moon is made of green cheese.
The night hath ears.
There's nothing new under the sun.
Time and tide wait f c r no man.
Where there's smoke, there's some fire.
You cannot see t h e woods f o r t h e trees.
35. You never miss t h e water till t h e well r u c s dry.
36. You can't g e t blood out of a turnip.
Proverbial Phruses
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
a bed of roses.
a bolt from the blue.
a s bald a s a n egg.
a s big a s all outdoors.
a s black a s tar.
a s blue a s indigo.
a s blue a s t h e sky.
a s bold a s brass.
a s brown a s a berry.
a s clear as a crystal.
a s cool a s a cucumber.
a s cross a s two sticks.
a s deep a s t h e sea.
a s d r y a s a bone.
a s d r y a s dust.
a s easy as falling off a log.
a s fleecy a s a cloud.
a s f r e e a s air.
a s f r e e a s t h e wind.
a s good a s gold.
a s g r a y a s putty.
a s green a s a gourd.
a s green a s grass.
a s happy a s the d a y is long.
a s hard a s a rock.
a s heavy a s lead.
a s high a s heaven.
a s large a s life.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
as
as
as
as
as
6.
7.
8.
Sometimes the words, "and twice as natural" are added.
light a s day.
much alike a s two peas in a pod.
old a s t h e hills.
pure a s a lily.
r e d a s a beet.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
a s soft a s thistle-down.
a s sweet a s a rose.
a s tight a s t h e bark on a tree.
a s welcome a s a s ~ ~ o w b ain
l l hell.
a s white a s snow.
like a bump on a log.
not t h e only pebble on t h e beach.
small potatoes a n d f e w in a hill.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
sour grapes.
t o be a clinging vine.
t o be a diamond in t h e rough.
t o be a hard n u t t o crack.
t o be between t h e bark and t h e wood.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
be
be
be
be
be
be
be
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
to
to
to
to
to
blush like a rose.
break t h e ice.
call it a day.
c u t t h e ground from under his feet.
d r y up on t h e vine.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
74.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
gild t h e lily.
go through fire and water.
go t o seed.
grow like a weed.
lay a s t r a w to.
leave no stone unturned.
look a s if one had been drawn through a knot hole.
look like the last rose of summer.
pull t h e wool over his eyes.
quake like a n aspen leaf.
r a t t l e like peas in a pod.
skate on thin ice.
split a hair.
steal his thunder.
stick like a burr.
t u r n night into day.
This is said of a thing of inferior quality.
This saying is related in meaning t o the one which follows i t ; it means
to be between two evils.
between t h e devil and t h e deep blue sea.
between two fires.
born under a lucky star.
in clover.
r o t t e n t o t h e core.
the apple of his eye.
tied t o a sour apple tree.
This means to be married to an undesirable person.
This is used to designate a non-progressive person.
IV
WEATHER
Proverbial lore about weather is less extensive ir! Nebraska than a consideration of the widespread interest and
importance of the subject would lead one to expect. It
seems reasonable to assume that a large body of proverbs
on weather would be current in a state predominatly agricultural in its interests, yet the following list of such expressions is comparatively small. The explanation is that
weather folklore takes various forms; there are current
signs, omens, and traditions, a s well a s proverbs, on the
subject of weather. It is definiteness of form which differentiates a proverb from other folklore. Advice a s to the
proper time of planting, for example, is usually not proverbial because the wording of it is not constant, although
the content may be fairly stable.
The majority of weather proverbs a r e prognostic in
nature. This tendency toward forecasting is illustrated in
the saying, "April showers bring May flowers." The practical value of such weather predictions is questionable.
They often express in a general way obvious truths t h a t
have almost no prognostic value. That even those who use
weather proverbs have a healthy doubt of their trustworthiness is indicated in the axiom, "All signs fail in dry
weather."
The proverbs grouped here include not only the prophetic
weather sayings which must be taken literally, but also
aphorisms which are derived from weather conditions and
have a figurative significance. Illustrative of these metaphorical weather proverbs a r e "After a storm comes a
calm," and "Lightning never strikes twice in the same
place." This figurative quality is especially apparent in
the proverbial phrases listed in this section. Such expressions a s "as right a s rain" and "to look like a thunder
cloud" are examples.
Rhymed proverbs seem to be more numerous in this
group than in any other section. Doubtless they owe much
of their longevity to use of rhyme.
Proverbs
1. A green Christmas makes a full church yard.
Variant: A mild winter makes a full church yard.
2. After a storm comes a calm.
3. All signs fail in dry weather.
4. April showers bring May flowers.
5. Evening red and morning gray help the traveler on his way;
Evening gray and morning red bring down rain upon his head.
6. Every cloud has a silver lining.
7. Friday is always the fairest or foulest.
8. If March comes in like a lamb, i t will go out like a lion.
The reverse of this is also in current oral use.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
If i t rains on Easter, it will rain for seven Sundays in order.
I t never rains but i t pours.
It's an ill wind that blows nobody good.
Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.
Make hay while the sun shines.
Rain before seven; dry before eleven.
Variant: Rain a t seven; fine a t eleven.
Rainbow in the east, sign of a farmer's feast;
Rainbow in the west, sign of a farmer's rest.
Red sky in the morning, sailors take warning,
Red sky a t night; sailor's delight.
Set your sail the way the wind blows.
She brings her sun dogs with her.
This saying is most common in the sandhill region where sun dogs are
more prevalent than in other parts of the state. It refers to a woman
w h o makes a cood initial imaression yet is suspected by the pessimistic
i i b e i k i less t L n shc seems. -
19. Snowbirds fly high.
This means they are flying in bunshes, which indicates a storm.
Straws show the way the wind blows.
Sunshine when it rains, rain tomorrow.
The almanac-writer makes the almanac but God makes the weather.
The north wind doth blow
And we shall have snow.
24. There is always a calm before a storm.
25. Those who are weather-wise are rarely otherwise.
26. Thunder in the morning; thunder in the evening.
20.
21.
22.
23.
The figurative meaning of this is that if one wakes up feeling cross,
h e will be cross all day.
37. When a rain crow calls, there will be rain.
28. When the wind is in the east
It's good for neither man nor beast.
29. When the wind's in the west
The weather's a t the best.
Proverbial Phrases
1. as fast as greased lightning.
2. a s loud a s thunder.
3. a s right as rain.
4. in the merry month of May.
5. midsummer madness.
6. to find a pot of gold a t the foot of the rainbow.
7. to have spring fever.
8. t o keep something for a rainy day.
78
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
9. to know which way the wind blows.
10. t o leave under a cloud.
11. t o look like a thunder cloud.
12. to see a storm brewing.
This means t o see trouble coming.
13. to steal another's thunder.
14. t o think the sun rises or sets in a certain person.
15. to thunder.
WONEN, LOVE, AND MARRIAGE
Love a n d marriage a r e experiences which a r e common
to t h e majority of humankind; therefore they a r e productive of much proverbial lore. Love is a subject of universal interest, either sympathetic or hostile. Marriage,
probably t h e most important of all human relationships,
naturally looms large in t h e sayings of most languages.
The proverbs on love a n d courtship indicate a sympathetic point of view, on t h e whole. Such maxims a s "All
the world loves a lover," and "Love laughs a t locksmiths,"
show a kindly tolerance. On t h e other hand, t h e aphoristic
sayings dealing with marriage a r e hardly complimentary
t o t h a t institution. "A youiig m a n married is a young man
marred," and "Marriage is a lottery" manifest a distinct!^
unsympathetic attitude.
Feminine nature has always been t h e subject of much
comment a n d controversy, some of which h a s been translated into pro~rerbiallore a n d has become a n established
part of t h e language. Some sayings on women a r e of a
gallant nature, commending their beauty a n d virtue, but a
larger part a r e either patronizing in tone o r openly disparaging. Especially held u p t o ridicule a n d censure a r e
t h e alleged feminine traits of laziness a n d inconsistency.
"A woman's 'no' means 'yes' " illustrates this point of view.
Even beauty seems to be regarded a s a doubtful asset; t o
t h e possessor of it is usually attributed sonte less desirable
trait. Instances of this are "Beauty is but skin deep," and
"Beauty never boiled a pot."
It is interesting t o note t h a t masculine nature. a s distinct
from human nature, does not p ~ o v i d ematerial for a correspondingly large body of proverbs. This a n d t h e quality
of t h e sayings on women seem t o indicate t h a t men, not
women, originated most proverbial lore of this type.
1. A scolding wife
2. A whistling girl
Always come t o
3. A woman's hair
and a smoking chimney a r e two bad companions.
and a crowing hen
some bad end.
is her crowning glory.
4. A woman's "no" means "yes."
5. A young man married is a young man marred.
Shakespeare used this proverb in a slightly different form: "A young
man married is a man that's marred," in All's Well That End3 W p l l , 11.
iii.
6. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
7. All is fair in love and war.
8. All the world loves a lover.
Variant: All mankind loves a lover.
9. Be off with the old love before you are on with the new.
10. Beauty is but skin deep.
11. Beauty never boiled a pot.
12. "Because" is a woman's answer.
13. Better be an old man's darling than a young man's slave.
14. Disguise our bondage a s we will,
'Tis woman, woman rules us still.
This quotation, which has become proverbial throurrh ute, ia from
Thomas Moore's poem, Sovereign Women.
15. Every Jack must have his Jill.
16. Faint heart ne'er won fair lady.
17. For if she will, she will, you may depend on it;
And if she won't she won't, and there's an end to it.
18. Happy is the bride the sun shines on,
Sorry is the bride the rain rains on.
19. Happy is the wooing that is not long in doing.
20. He that would the daughter win
Must with the mother first begin.
21. He was married before he was dry behind the ears.
22. Her tongue is loose a t both ends and tied in the middle.
23. If you change the name and not the letter
You change for the worse and not f o r the better.
24. I t is better not to spoil two families.
This is said when two unattractive persons marry.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
It is better not to wed May with December.
I t takes two to make a match.
Love is blind.
Love laughs a t locksmiths.
Love me little, love me long.
Love will find a way.
Man's work is from sun to sun
But woman's work is never done.
Many a heart is caught on the rebound.
Marriage is a lottery.
Marriages are made in heaven.
Marry in haste and repent a t leisure.
None but the brave deserve the fair.
37.
38.
39.
40.
Old maids' children are always the best.
She has set her cap for him.
She wears the breeches a t their house.
Sweets to the sweet.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
From Dryden's Ode. Almander's Feast.
This auotation is from Shakespeare's Hamlet, V, i.
41. The course of true love never runs smooth.
42. The longest way round is the shortest way home.
43. 'Tis better to have loved and lost than never to have loved a t all.
This well-known saying we owe to Tennyson.
In Memoriam, XXVII, 4.
44. Two is company, three's a crowd.
It is found in the poem,
45. What will Mrs. Grundy say?
Mrs. Grundy has come to stand for a scandalmonger. This saying in the
form of a n interrogation is from a play by Thomas Morton, Speed the
Plough, I , 1. 1798.
46. Where cobwebs grow
Beaux never go.
47. Wiving and hanging go by destiny.
This proverb was quoted by Shakespeare in The Merchant of Venice. 11,
iu
....
' ' ~ hancient
~
saying is no heresy,
Hanging and ~viving go by detiny."
VICE AND FOLLY
The comparatively large number of proverbs a n d proverbial phrases on vice a n d folly which a r e current in Nebraska bears witness t o t h e t r u t h of Shakespeare's generalization, "The evil that men do lives after them." In the appended list of proverbs, there are verbal monuments to t h e
weaknesses of many generations of men. Proverbs on this
subject a r e very numerous, not only because to sin is common to all mankind, but also because t o speak ill of other
persons is a characteristic tendency of human nature.
Probably many of the adages in this group owe their longevity, and perhaps their very birth, to this not very commendable trait. The use of pejorative proverbial expressions
offers a convenient and effective means of reviling one's
enemies. Such sayings as "as false as hell," or "born t o be
hanged" are illustrations of the succinctness and extreme
efficacy of this group.
Aphoristic sayings on vice and folly exemplify a realistic,
and sometimes even a cynical point of view toward life. Thcre
is validity in Emerson's remark, "That which the droning
world, chained t o appearances, will not allow the realist t o say
in his own words, it will suffer him to say in proverbs without
contradiction." l
Many of these proverbs are admonitions and cautions
against certain lines of conduct: these usually begin with
"don't." Others deal with the inevitability of punishment following sin. Among the phrases, human frailties are subjected t o vigorous but unflattering comparisons.
Although the proverbs in this group are often cynical, perhaps even malicious, they are essentially moral. I n a discussion of the ethics of this type of folklore, Taylor comments,
"Proverbs will not champion martyrdom or villainy."
The
truth of this statement is evidenced by the list of proverbs
and proverbial pl~raseswhich follows. Sin and folly are condemned with the force and potency characteristic of proverbial language.
1 "Compensation" in Essags, First Series.
2Archer Taylor, The Proverb, p. 168.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
Proverbs
A guilty conscience needs n o accuser.
A lie t h a t is half t r u t h is t h e blackest lie.
A little education is a dangerous thing.
A sin confessed is half forgiven.
All hell h a s broken loose.
Ask me n o questions and 1'11 tell you no lies.
Avoid all appearance of evil.
Beware of too g r e a t a bargain.
Confess a n d be hanged.
Don't bite t h e hand t h a t feeds you.
Don't cross t h e bridge before you come t o it.
Don't c u t off your nose t o spite your face.
Don't holler till you a r e hurt.
Don't judge others by yourself.
Don't kick a man when he is down.
Don't pay too much f o r your whistle.
This comes from a story of Benjamin Franklin in which he, in his own
words, "paid dear, very dear for his whistle."
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Don't p u t off till to-morrow what you can do to-day.
Don't sail too n e a r t h e wind.
Don't trouble trouble till trouble troubles you.
Easy come, easy go.
Every man f o r himself and t h e devil take t h e hindmost.
Fools a n d children tell t h e truth.
Fool's names a n d fool's faces
A r e always seen in public places.
Fools r u s h in where angels f e a r t o tread.
F o r t u n e favors fools.
Give a man a n ill name a n d h a n g him.
Variant: Give a dog a n ill name a n d h a n g him.
Give a thief rope enough and he'll hang himself.
Give him a n inch and he'll t a k e a mile.
Haste makes waste.
H e can't see a n inch before his nose.
H e doesn't d a r e show his head.
H e jests a t scars who never f e l t a wound.
This proverb we owe to Shakespeare.
11, ii.
It is found in Romeo and Juliet,
33. H e strokes with one hand and stabs with t h e other.
34. H e t h a t will not work shall not eat.
35. H e wants t h e whole world with a f e n c e around it.
Variants: H e wants t h e whole world with a potato patch on t h e
other side.
H e wants t h e world with a fence around it a n d a slice off t h e moon.
36. It i s a sin t o steal a pin.
37. It takes a thief t o catch a thief.
38. Lazy wretch a t table doth stretch.
39. Lost time can never be found again.
40. Man convinced against his will
I s of t h e same opinion still.
41. Murder will out.
42. Neither a borrower nor a lender be.
This proverb comes from Shakespeare's Hamlet, I, iii.
43. Never l e t t h e sun set on your anger.
44. None so deaf a s he who won't hear.
45. Of two evils, choose t h e lesser.
46. One may smile a n d smile a n d be a villain.
This exact wording is found in Shakespeare's H a m l e t , I, v.
47.
48.
49.
59.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Proscrastination is t h e thief of time.
Show me a l i a r and I'll show you a thief.
The devil some mischief finds f o r idle hands t o do.
The idle brain is t h e devil's workshop.
The road t o hell is paved with good intentions.
There is honor among thieves.
There is no fool like a n old fool.
They t h a t touch pitch will be defiled.
They who live in glass houses should not throw stones.
Whatever is begun i n anger ends in shame.
What's yours is mine a n d what's mine is my own.
When thieves quarrel, honest men g e t their dues.
Who dances t o t h e t u n e must pay t h e piper (fiddler).
You a r e a n honest man a n d I'm your uncle and that's two lies.
You can't judge a book by its covers.
You can't play with fire without burning your fingers.
You can't play with pitch without getting your fingers black.
P ~ o z ~ e r b i aPhra,ses
l
a fool's paradise.
all appearances of evil.
a s drunk a s a lord.
a s false a s hell.
a s false a s t h e devil.
a s thick a s two thieves.
by hook or crook.
man's inhumanity t o man.
This phrase is from a line in Burns' poem, M a n Thct Was Mqde to
Mourn.
9. mean enough t o steal t h e pennies f r o m his dead grandmother's
eyes.
Variant: mean enough t o steal t h e pennies f r o m a dead nigger's
eyes.
This refers to the practice, formerly employed, of placing pennies on the
eyes of a corpse to weight down the lids while they were still warm.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
add insult t o injury.
be afraid of one's own shadow.
be born t o be hanged.
be caught red-handed.
be generous t o a fault.
be more sinned against t h a n sinning.
be not so black a s he is painted.
be not worthy to be mentioned in t h e same breath.
blow one's own horn.
borrow trouble.
c r y out before one is hurt.
c u t and run.
22.
23.
24.
25.
2,6.
27.
28.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
damn with f a i n t praise.
g e t a w a y with murder.
give some one a black eye,
have a h e a r t a s black a s hell.
have not enough sense t o come in out of the rain.
have not enough sense t o pound sand in a r a t hole.
kill with kindness.
This carries an implication of cownrdip.
This is an old expre?sion. Thomas Heywood wrote in 1603 s comedy
named A W o m a n Kilde with K i n d ~ t c s s e .
29.
30.
31.
32.
to
to
to
to
play
play
play
play
f a s t a n d loose.
with fire.
t h e fool.
whaley.
This expression, common in oral language, is no: usually incl~udecl in
col!ections of proverbs. It means to do the wrong thing.
33. t o stick one's head i n t h e noose.
34. t o tell tales o u t of school.
35. t o tilt a t windmills.
An incident in Don Quixote by Cervantes, furnishes the origin for this
expression. It means t o dissipate ope's energy in futile combat.
36. to t r a m p all d a y in a half bushel.
This is said of a person who expends a g r e a t deal of energy h u t accomplishes little.
37. t o wink a t a thing.
38. when patience ceases t o be a virtue.
VII
VIRTUE AND WISDOM
Less productive of proverbial lore than vice and folly, t h e
topics of the preceding section, are the opposite human characteristics of virtue and wisdom. The tendency to talk less
about the desirable qualities of men than about their faults
and weaknesses seems to be universal. .Virtue and wisdom
a r e admirable but less interesting than vice and folly a s topics
of conversation; and it is in conversation that most proverbial
lore gains its wide currency.
In Professor Archer Taylor's discussion of the ethical traits
of proverbs, he states that "A sound skepticism pervades proverbial wisdom," ' and that "The most striking trait in the
ethics of proverbs is the adherence to the middle way." "
These two characteristics of proverbial lore are particularly
well exemplified in the aphoristic sayings in the following
group.
Many of the proverbs on virtue and wisdom are of an admonitory nature, encouraging the acquisition of the obvious
virtues of honesty, industry, thrift, perseverance, and
prudence. Kindness and tolerance are less commonly treated,
although "Bear and forebear," and "Give the devil his dues"
are well known. Industry and its associated virtue, perseverance, are the qualities most universally approved. Examples
are "Better wear out than rust out," and ''A used key is always bright." Second in the list of highly commended traits
seems to be honesty.
Proverbs on wisdom are very scarce, indeed. "Great minds
run in the same channel," and "Wise men change their minds ;
fools never" are among the few sayings celebrating the
sagacity of mankind. The infrequency of proverbs on this
subject indicates again the curious reluctance of human beings
to laud their fellows. Ready to praise the judgment of individuals, they refuse to consider wisdom characteristic enough
to be proverbial.
Interesting to notice in this group are the proverbs of a
consolatory type which contain a kind of promise of reward
1-The Proverb, p. 169.
Ibid., p. 168.
2
of virtue. "Be good and you'll be happy," and the cheerful
"You can't keep a govd man down" illustrate this group.
Commenting on proverbs of this kind, Professor Taylor says,
"Just as reflective men see life in the light of eternal truths
and formulate them in apothegms and aphorisms, so the folk
seeks and finds support in the common humanity of proverbial philosophy."
Proverbs
1. A patch beside a patch is neighborly
B u t a patch upon a patch is beggarly.
2. A task well begun is half done.
3. A thing worth doing a t all is worth doing well.
4. A used key is always bright.
5. A word t o t h e wise is sufficient.
6. All work and no play make Jack a dull boy,
B u t all play and no work make Jack a mere toy.
7. An honest confession is good f o r t h e soul.
8. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
9. Appearances a r e deceitful.
10. Be good and you'll be happy.
11. Be just before you a r e generous.
12. Be sure you a r e r i g h t ; then go ahead.
13. Bear and forbear.
14. B e t t e r bend t h a n break.
15. Better l a t e t h a n never.
In complete contradiction to this is the saying, "Better never late."
16. Better wear out than r u s t out.
17. Brevity is t h e soul of wit.
Thls saylng we owe to Shake,peare.
It 1s found in Hamlet 11, ii.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Charity begins a t home.
Discretion is t h e better p a r t of valor.
E t e r n a l vigilance is t h e price of liberty.
Experience is a dear school but fools learn in no other.
Variant: Experience is t h e best teacher.
22. First come, first served.
23. Give t h e devil his dues.
24. Give t o t h e world the best you have a n d t h e best will come back
t o you.
Thjs quotntion is from nn American poem, Life's Mirror, by hladriine
Briages (Mary 4ingc I k V e r e ) , whose work appeared 1870-1915.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
God helps him who helps himself.
Great minds r u n in t h e same channels.
Grin and bear it.
Handsome is a s handsome does.
V a r i a n t : P r e t t y is a s p r e t t y does.
H e will stick t o it if i t takes all summer.
H e wouldn't steal a pin.
His word is a s good a s his bond.
Honesty is t h e best policy.
If a t first you don't succeed, t r y , t r y again.
It is never too l a t e t o mend.
88
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
35. I t will all be t h e same in a hundred years.
36. It's a poor rule t h a t won't work both ways.
37. It's no use t r y i n g t o please everybody.
Variant: You can't please everybody.
38. Keep your tongue within your teeth.
39. Know yourself.
This is a nroverh of Greek origin.
Apollo at Delphi.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
It was the motto of the oracle of
Knowledge is power.
Let well enough alone.
Live and learn.
Live a n d let live.
Make h a y while t h e sun shines.
Man proposes, God disposes.
Many a t r u t h is spoken i n jest.
My mind is a kingdom t o me.
This proverb has a long and varied literary history.
"My m i d to me 3 kingdom is."
Its poetic form is,
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
No man can live unto himself.
One good t u r n deserves another.
One to-day is worth two to-morrows.
Opportunity knocks but once a t every man's door.
Practice makes perfect.
Practice what you preach.
Rome was not built in a day.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
Second thoughts a r e best thoughts.
Slow a n d steady does it.
Some a r e wise and some otherwise.
Success i s two per cent inspiration and ninety-eight perspiration.
Sweet a r e t h e uses of adversity.
This is one of the very few proverbs current in Nebraska which has a
historic background.
This proverb is found in Shakespeare's As You Like It, 11, i.
Tell t h e t r u t h a n d shame t h e devil.
The good die young.
The middle path i s the safe path.
There a r e two sides t o every story.
There is n o royal road t o learning.
There is no time like t h e present.
There is nothing t h a t costs so little nor goes so f a r a s courtesy.
They who cannot have what they like should learn t o like what they
have.
68. To e r r is human, to forgive divine.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
66.
66.
67.
Alexander Pope's phrasing in his Essay on Criticzsm.
To t h e pure, all things a r e pure.
T r u t h is stranger t h a n fiction.
Virtue is i t s own reward.
Well begun is half done.
What can't be cured.
Must be endured.
74. Where ignorance i s bliss, 'tis folly t o be wise.
69.
70.
71.
72.
73.
This is the last line of the poem, O n a Distant Prospect of Eton College,
by Thomas Gray.
Where there's a will, there's a way.
Where there's room i n t h e heart, there's room in t h e house.
Wise men change their minds; fools never.
You cannot dream yourself into a character; you must f o r g e one
out f o r yourself.
80. You can't keep a good m a n down.
75.
76.
77.
78.
VITI
MONEY
Money and its allied subjects, poverty and wealth, are of
universal interest. Even a cursory reading of collections of
proverbs of various nations reveals the widespread human
regard for the possession of means. That Nebraskans a r e not
excluded from this general concern for worldly wealth is
demonstrated by the list of proverbs and proverbial phrases
on the subject current in their state.
A study of the history of these expressions shows that but
few of them are of recent origin; the majority hare come
from the proverbiai lore of England or other countries. Such
sayings a s "Penny wise; pound foolish" have become current
in Nebraska, although there is no pound in the system of
currency used here, probably because there is no other expression which conveys the same meaning in such a pointed
manner. Singular, too, is the tenacity with which the phrase,
"as rich a s Crcesus" has kept its place in the language, since
C r e s u s lived in the sixth century B. C., and has been succeeded by many f a r wealthier men.
Many old English proverbs on this subject emphasized the
superiority of the man of wealth over his less sffluent fellow
An instance of this is the saying, "poor but honest." Not
many expressions of this type have taken root in Nebraska
soil; perhaps this may be accounted for by the ideals of democracy held and propagated by the pioneers of the state.
"It i s no sin t o be poor," and "The more he has, the more he
wants" illustrate this tendency awav from veneration for the
rich man. A feeling of respect and strong approval for the
money itself has not died down, however, as is attested in the
proverbs, "Money talks," and "Money makes the mare go."
The widespread use of money doubtless accounts for its
fertility in providing comparisons to illustrate and illuminate
traits of human nature. "To feel like thirty cents" and "as
bright a s a dollar" are examples of this large group.
Proverbs
1. A bad penny always turns up.
H fool and his money are soon parted.
-3. A penny saved is a penny earned.
90
STUDIESIN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
4. All is not gold that glitters.
Shake peare was quoting an old international proverb when he used this
in The Merchant of Venice, 11, vii.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Beggars cannot be choosers.
Better a n empty purse than a n empty head.
Beware of little expense.
Every man has his price.
Variant: All men have their price.
H e t h a t waits f o r a dead man's shoes may long go barefoot.
H e who buys what he does not need will often need what he cannot buy.
His money burns a hole in his pocket.
If you would know t h e value of money, t r y t o borrow some.
I t is no sin to be poor.
Money is a good servant but a bad master.
Money makes t h e man.
Money makes the mare go.
Money makes t h e pot boil.
Money talks.
My tastes do not fit my pocketbook.
Nothing makes money faster than money.
Penny wise; pound foolish.
Possession is nine points of the law.
Poverty is no disgrace.
To this are sometimes added the words, "hut being ashamed of it is."
24. P u t a beggar on horseback and he will ride t o t h e devil.
25. Riches and wealth will soon fade away.
But manners and learning will never decay.
26. Riches have wings.
This is probably a shortened version of the Gihlical proverb, "Riches eertainly make themselves wings."
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Save a t t h e spigot and waste a t the bung.
Take care of the dimes and t h e dollars will take care of themselves.
The more we have, the more we want.
That's too much sugar f o r a cent.
Them a s has gets.
Waste not; want not.
Wilful waste brings woeful want.
Prove~bialPhrases
a beggar on horseback.
a penny f o r your thoughts.
as bright as a dollar.
a s rich a s a Jew.
a s rich a s Crcesus.
ill gotten gain.
not f o r love nor money.
to bank on a thing.
t o be born with a silver spoon in one's mouth.
t o be head over heels in debt.
to be not worth a continental.
t o be n o t worth a plugged nickel.
t o be not worth a rap.
"Rap" means a coin of infinitesimal value.
Dean Swift in his
Drapier's Letters (1755) mentions a rap as a counterfeit coin, worth
about half a farthing, which passed current for a half penny in Ireland
in the 18th century, owing to the scarcity of genuine money.
14. to be poor but honest.
15. t o be poor but proud.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
t o be u p t o his eyes in debt.
t o buy something f o r a song.
t o buy spmething f o r nothing.
t o buy something o n a shoe string.
t o feel like t h i r t y cents.
t o g e t more t h a n one bargained for.
t o have not a penny t o bless one's self with.
t o have not a penny t o one's name.
t o have n o t a Fenny t o r u b against another.
t o live f r o m hand t o mouth.
t o make both ends meet.
t o make capital of something.
t o pay him back in his own coin.
t o sow money.
Variant: t o scatter money.
These expressicns mean to spend money very freely.
30. wouldn't give a nickel f o r a car load.
31. wouldn't give a nickel with a hole in it.
Variant: wouldn't give a plugged nickel.
HOME L I F E
Home life is a many-faceted subject. Includecl in the section dealing with i t are proverbs and proverbial phrases on
the allied topics of household tasks, child nature and such
acts a s eating, usually carried on in the home.
'The home itself, widely celebrated in verse and prose, is the
theme of rather fewer proverbs than might be expected. Some
express a n affectionate regard for home, e.g., "East or west,
home is best." Others such as "A home is a place to eat and
sleep" indicate a more casual attitude. Sayings on child
nature, as distinct from human nature in general, are very
few.
From household tasks have come such well-known proverbs
a s "A new broom sweeps clean," and "Too many cooks spoil
the broth." I t is interesting to note that the phase of the
homemaker's work which is most productive of proverbial
lore is cooking; sewing and cleaning excite much less general
interest, evidently. The tools of the housekeeper, the needle,
the broom, and various cooking utensils, loom large in our
everyday proverbial allusions.
Eating and sleeping are common to all mankind; therefore
they yield a large number of well-known sayings. Closely related to these two topics is the subject of health; in fact, some
admonitions in regard to eating and sleeping might be classified as health proverbs, e.g., "An apple a day keeps the doctor
away" and "One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two
hours' afterward."
Among the proverbial phrases dealing with home life, food
provides material for a large number of similes. Illustrative
of this group are "as easy as pie" and "as flat as a pancake."
The three foods oftenest mentioned in these sayings are bread,
pie, and cake. Household duties are represented in such proverbial phrases as "to wash one's dirty linen in public" and
"to put on the shelf."
Proverbs
I. A b u r n t child dreads t h e fire.
2 . A man's home is his castle.
This is related to the proverb, "In my own home, I a m king."
3. A new broom sweeps clean.
4. A pitcher t h a t goes o f t t o t h e well i s broken a t last.
5. A stitch in time saves nine.
6. A watched kettle never boils.
7. An apple a d a y keeps t h e doctor away.
A predecessor of this American expression is t h e English proverb:
"Eat e n apple on going to bed
And you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread."
8. As you have made your bed, so you must lie in it.
9. Bread i s t h e staff of life.
An interesting old English version of this proverb is, "Bread is t h e staff
of life but beer is life itself."
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Children a n d fools tell t h e t r u t h .
Children should be seen a n d not heard.
Cut your sail according t o your cloth.
Do not bite off more than you can chew.
Do n o t p u t all your eggs in one basket.
E a r l y t o bed a n d early t o rise
Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
This is one of Benjamin Franklin's adages included i n his preface to
Poor Richard Improved.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
E a s t o r west, home is best.
E a t t o live, do not live t o eat.
Every t u b mnst sit on its own bottom.
Half a loaf is b e t t e r t h a n no bread a t all.
Health is wealth.
His bread i s buttered o n both sides.
Home is where m y h a t is off.
How sharper t h a n a serpent's tooth is a thankless child.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
Hunger is t h e best sauce.
It will all come out in t h e wash.
Little chests may hold g r e a t treasures.
Little pitchers have big ears.
Many men dig their graves with their teeth.
One hour's sleep before midnight is worth two hour's a f t e r .
Silks a n d satins p u t o u t t h e kitchen fire.
Sweep your own doorstep off first.
That's m e a t and drink t o me.
T h a t might happen in t h e best regulated family.
The f a t is in t h e fire.
The n e a r e r t h e bone, t h e sweeter t h e meat.
The pot calls t h e kettle black.
The proof of t h e pudding in t h e eating thereof.
There's many a slip 'twixt t h e cup a n d t h e lip.
This quotation is from Shakespeare's King Zear, I , iv.
This is a n old saying coming from the Greeks.
Its translated form i;:
"Many things happen between the cup and the
upper lip."
39. There's no place like home.
Occasionaliy in oral usage, this is prefixed by the phrase, "Re i t ever so
humble," from the song, Home Sweet H o n ~ e , by John Howard Payne
(1823). I t is related to the English proverb, "Home is home, though
never so homely."
40. This won't buy t h e baby a n y shoes nor pay f o r t h e ones he has.
41. Too many cooks spoil t h e broth,
STUDIESIN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
94
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
We must all eat a peck of dirt before we die.
Welcome the coming and speed the parting guest.
What is home without a mother?
What's one man's meat is another man's poison.
You cannot e a t yonr cake and have it.
You cannot spoil a rotten egg.
Your cake is all dough.
Proverbial Phrases
a pot boiler.
a tempest in a teapot.
a s black a s chimney soot.
as easy a s a pie.
a s flat a s a pancake.
a s if butter would not melt in his mouth.
as innocent a s a new-born babe.
as red as a new-born baby.
a s short a s pie crust.
a s slow as molasses in January.
a s soft a s butter.
as thick as three in a bed.
as tight as the paper on the wall.
as warm a s toast.
t o add fuel to the flame.
t o be a t loose ends.
t o b e cut over t h e same pattern.
t o be half-baked.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
1.
2.
3.
This is an abbreviation of an English proverbial expression, "to ae put
in with the bread and taken out with the cake;, to be half-baked." l
be in hot water.
be not worth his salt.
be on pins and needles
be tied t o one's mother's apron strings.
bring home t h e bacon.
carry water on both shoulders.
e a t humble pie.
e a t one out of house and home.
eat his bread.
This is related to the phrase, "to sleep under his roof."
to accept another's hospitality.
They both mean
28. to e a t one's heart out.
29. t o e a t one's words.
30. t o fetch some one over the coals.
Variant: to rake some one over t h e coals.
31. to get into hot water.
32. to get out on the wrong side of the bed.
Variant: to get out of bed with t h e wrong foot first.
33. t o go like a house afire.
34. t o go like clock work.
35. t o go to bed supperless.
37. to g o to pot.
38. t o hang by a thread.
39. t o have a bellyful.
40. to have a bitter pill to swallow.
41 t o have a family skeleton.
1
G . L. Apperson, English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, p. 376.
1929.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.52.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
-
have a finger in the pie.
have a mind like a sieve.
jump out of the frying pan into t h e fire.
know on which side one's bread is buttered.
make one's mouth water.
make the pot boil.
make u p out of whole cloth.
pin him down.
pin one's faith t o a thing.
Dour water in a sieve.
put on t h e shelf.
A
In keeping with the American preference for shortened forms, this has
been abbreviated to the expression, "to shelve."
53. t o p u t one's finger in the pie.
54. to raise t h e roof.
55. t o r e t u r n t o one's mutton.
This means to return to whatever one was doing.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
to rise betimes.
t o sleep like a log.
to sleep like a top.
to sleep with one eye open.
to spill the beans.
to stew in one's own juice.
Variant: to f r y in one's own grease.
to t a k e it with a grain of salt.
to take one's medicine.
t o take the cake.
to take two bites a t a cherry.
This is used of a very fastidious person.
66. to wash one's dirty linen in public.
Variant: t o a i r one's dirty linen in public.
X
PROFESSIONS AND TRADES
The characteristics peculiar to specific professions and
trades are neither well enough known nor of enough general
interest to cause them t o be very productive as sources of
proverbial lore. Every profession or trade has its own particular jargon and set of idiomatic expressions, but such sayings are usually employed only by persons who are aclually
engaged in a profession or trade. It is only occasionally that
one of these expressions establishes itself as a part of the
language of the folk. Examples of these r a r e instances are
"Stick t o your last," derived from the cobbler's work, and
"The shoemaker's child goes barefoot."
Proverbial phrases finding their origin in the professions
and trades a r e more common than proverbs proper. Among
the artistic professions, the actor's is particularly prolific of
stock sayings. "To give the show away" and "to take one's
cue" have come to possess a figurative significance understood
and applied by many who are not directly concerned with the
stage. Military and commercial life each contribute several
phrases and many professions and trades are the sources of
one or two widely current expressions.
Some of the sayings in this list are obviously of recent
origin, notably those referring to trades in which modern
mechanical devices are used, e.g., "to blow off steam'' and "to
be a live wire."
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
Proverbs
A fair exchange is no robbery.
A poor workman always blames his tools.
Always tell your doctor and your lawyer the truth.
Business is business.
If "ifs" and "ands" were pots and pans,
There were little need of tinkers.
It's a poor workman who loses his tools.
It's all in t h e day's work.
Jack of all trades; master of none.
Keep t h y shop and thy shop wiIl keep thee.
Politics make queer bedfellows.
Stick t o your last.
Stick to your text.
The die is cast.
14. The postman takes a nice, long walk on his vacation.
This ironic saying is used to refer to one who cannot get away from
his business even in his leisure hours.
15. The shoemaker's child goes barefoot.
Variant: The shoemaker's wife goes barefoot.
16. There a r e tricks in all trades.
17. Watch your step.
18. You're t h e doctor.
This is an American~im,meaning, "You are directing this."
Proverbial Phrases
( 1 ) FROMTHE ARTISTIC
PROFESSIONS
1. a song and a dance.
2. the drama of life.
3. t o act a part.
4. to be a puppet.
5. t o be in t h e limelight.
Variant: to be in the spotlight.
6. t o be t h e power behind t h e scenes.
7. to change one's tune.
8. t o give some one a big hand.
9. to give the show away.
10. t o have t h e leading role.
11. to put the finishing touches on a thing.
12. to set t h e stage f o r a n event.
13. to stage a come-back.
14. to stage a farce.
This is related in meanlng to the more common "to make a scene."
15. to steal some one's stuff.
16. t o take one's cue.
17. to take one's last curtain.
( 2 ) FROM
MILITARYLIFE
bear t h e brunt of the attack.
fall into line.
pass muster.
soldier on the job.
stand one's ground.
steal a march on another.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
to
to
to
to
to
to
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
UNCLASSIFIED
TRADESAND PROFESSIONS
( 3 ) FROM
a baker's dozen.
as busy a s a cranberry merchant.
a s sober a s a judge.
to b e a live wire.
t o be bought and sold.
This means to be betrayed.
29. to blow off steam.
30. t o come under the hammer.
This expression comes from the language of the auctioneer.
31. t o feel sold.
The meaning of this phrase is to feel chagrined.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
to
to
to
to
to
get more than one bargained for.
go a t a thing hammer and tongs.
have a screw loose.
have a thing i n black and white.
have one's work c u t out f o r one.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
have other irons in t h e fire.
hit t h e nail on t h e head.
keep one's nose to the grindstone.
knock off work.
lay down on t h e job.
make t h e best of a bad bargain.
mean business.
p u t through the mill.
strike a balance.
talk shop.
throw on the scrap heap.
This is often abbreviated to the phrase "to scrap."
48. to t u r n t h e scales.
SPORTS AND GAMES
The emphasis placed on sports and games in modern life is
reflected in the sizable body of proverbial lore on these subjects current in Nebraska. Some of these, such as "to be in
a t the killing" and "to run with the hare and hunt with the
hounds," a r e heritages from old England, but the majority
a r e of comparatively recent origin and many of them are conspicuously American. Rfost of the phrases on hunting and
shooting came from England or there are expressions parallel
in meaning to them in English proverbial lore. Obviously,
however, the sayings derived from the national sport of baseball are distinctively American in origin and use.
This popular game of baseball has produced several sayings
that a r e widely current even among persons unfamiliar with
the game. Boxing, wrestling, and horse-racing are other
sources of a considerable number of proverbial sayings.
Phrases derived from football and golf are fewer than the
popularity of these games would indicate.
Card playing, perhaps because it involves participators,
rather than spectators, is the most productive of current
aphoristic sayings. Most of these may refer t o any card
game but some had their origin in specific games, e.g., "to
have a poker face" and "to euchre."
All of the phrases in this group are figurative in nature;
they a r e not expressions concerning sports and games but
sayings derived from those activities applicable to many fields
of life. I t will be noted that the list is made up almost entirely
of phrases rather than of proverbs proper.
1. Play ball.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Proverbial Phrases
(1) FROM
BASEBALL
This expression in very wide current use, means to go ahead with the
business in hand.
right off the bat.
to be a south paw.
to be caught with one's foot off base.
to get to first base.
This is most often used in a negative f o l m ; e.g., "He will never get to
first base."
100
STUDIES
IN LANGUAGE
AND
LITER-~TURE
6. to have one's inning.
7. to have two strikes on him.
8. to make a home run.
This is used of a success of any kind. A characteristic American ahbreviation of this, also used figuratively, is "to homer."
9. to strike out.
10. to umpire.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
at
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
( 2 ) FROMBOXINGAND WRESTLING
t h e clang of the gong.
be a n intellectual heavy-weight.
be down but not out.
give a body blow.
go to the mat with.
have him on t h e hip.
h i t below t h e belt.
take t h e count.
throw up t h e sponge.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
( 3 ) FROMHORSERACING
back t h e wrong horse.
be left a t t h e post.
be neck and neck.
be out of the running.
be t h e runner-up.
g e t in under the wire.
hold t h e whip hand.
win by a nose.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
( 4 ) FROMCARDPLAYING
call his bluff.
euchre.
expose one's hand.
get the dirty end of the deal.
have a poker face
have all t h e cards stacked against one.
have a n ace up one's sleeve.
hold the winning cards.
lay all one's cards on t h e table.
pass the buck.
To pass the buck is to pass the deal.
38. to play one's ace first.
39. to play one's trump card.
40. to stand pat.
This term comes from the game of poker.
41. t o t r u m p one's partner's ace.
FROMHUNTINGAND SHOOTING
42. a s sure as shooting.
43. to back track.
This expression meam to retrace one's steps or to withdraw from a
positio~l. In onc usage it comes from the actions of hunting dogs.
to
to
to
to
to
49. t o
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
bag one's game.
bark u p t h e wrong tree.
be a f t e r bigger game.
be in a t the killing.
fall into t h e trap.
have shot all one's ammunition.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
hit t h e bull's eye.
lead some one a merry chase.
make a random shot.
miss t h e mark.
r u n with t h e hare a n d h u n t with t h e hounds.
shoot i n t h e dark.
shoot wide of t h e mark.
57.
58.
59.
69.
61.
62.
63.
64.
65.
66.
67.
68.
69.
70.
at
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
MISCELLANEOUSGAMESAND SPORTS
( 6 ) FROM
this stage of t h e game.
be in t h e swim.
be on t h e safe side.
be thrown f o r a loss.
delay t h e game.
even u p old scores.
go unto a huddle.
have much ( o r little) a t stake.
keep one's eye on t h e ball.
kick a goal.
make a hole i n one.
play safe.
play t h e game.
play with loaded dice.
This phrase means to cheat.
71. t o r u n a race.
This is applied t o almost every kind of a contest, particularly political.
72. t o stake everything on one throw.
PROVERBIAL APOTHEGMS
Almost all proverbial lore owes much of its effectiveness t o
the figurative language in which i t is phrased. Apothegms,
however, a r e merely truisms which have gained currency
through much repetition. The distinguishing characteristic
of such a group of proverbs is their lack of metaphor. Professor Archer Taylor defines the apothegm as, "merely a bald
assertion which is recognized as proverbial only because we
nave heard i t often and because i t can be applied to many
different situations." ' "What has happened once can happen
again" and "Mistakes will happen" a r e proverbs containing
no figurative language t o make them vivid, but they represent
something universal in human experience and wisdom and
therefore have become a permanent part of the language.
It is difficult to discover the origin and to trace the development of such truisms. Generalizations concerning the more
obvious truths of life have been made by all peoples. Some
such generalizations have lived for centuries; others a r e long
dead and forgotten. Although the majority of apothegms
may be justly considered mere platitudes, they assume n connotative significance from long usage and from their associations. Such very commonplace s a v i ~ g sas, "There must be a
first time for everything" and "What's done is done" are very
effective when used in certain situations. These platitudes
gain a certain dignity as well as emotional significance with
age.
The number of apothegms current in Nebraska is not large.
It is surprising t o note what a very small per cent of all the
proverbial lore used by Nebraskans has no figurative basis.2
Proverbs
1. A genius is born, not made.
2. A man can die but once.
3. A place f o r everything and everything in its place.
The Proverb, p. 5 .
The grouping and discussion of this section of Nebraska proverbial
lore were suggested by the section on "Proverbial Apothegms" in Professor Archer Taylor's book, The Proverb, pp. 5-10.
1
2
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
All men must die.
Boys will be boys.
Christmas comes but once a year.
Circumstances alter cases.
Dead men tell no tales.
This proverb "arose in a ruthless, quarrelsome society. Although we a r e
perhaps inclined to associate i t with the moral code of a pirate, i t must
be older than Cantain Kidd and belong t o a somewhat higher social
level, for i t is already a n established proverb in Elizabethan times."
9. Enough is enough.
Sayings which approximate this in meaning but a r e not apothegms a r e
"Enough is a s good a s a feast," and "Enough is a s good a s plenty.''
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
Everybody's business is nobody's business.
Everything comes t o him who waits.
If you can't be good, be careful.
If you want a t h i n g well done, do i t yourself.
I t is easier said t h a n done.
It is never too late to learn.
It's all i n t h e day's work.
It's hard t o know when t o keep still.
Live a n d learn.
Long expected comes a t last.
Many a t r u e word is spoken i n jest.
Many hands make light work.
Mistakes will happen.
Necessity knows n o law.
No man can lose what he never has had.
Seeing is believing.
Variant: To see is t o believe.
The young m a y die; the old must die.
There i s a time f o r everything.
There is no h a r m in asking.
There i s nothing certain in this world b u t death.
Sometimes in oral usage, the words "and taxes" a r e added to this proverb.
30. There must be a first time f o r everything.
Variant : Everything must have a beginning.
31. To-morrow never comes.
32. Troubles never come singly.
33. Unlooked f o r often comes.
43. W h a t h a s happened once can happen again.
35. What's done i s done.
36. What you don't know won't h u r t you.
37. You can never tell until you've tried.
38. Wonders will never cease.
.3
Taylor, op. eit., p. 9.
MISCELLANEOUS PROVERBIAL LORE
There-is current in Nebraska a large body of proverbial
utterances which do not fall into any of the preceding classifications. These are listed together in this section. Whenever
it seemed practicable, those related in meaning were brought
together under a subheading.
This miscellaneous group reveals the wide range of the
subject-matter of proverbial lore. Almost every conceivable
field of human activity is represented. Sea life, clothing, instruments and tools, books and stories,,and even forms of
punishment yield a sizable number. The largest of these
minor groups is concerned with friends and relatives. Most
of these proverbs exhibit a distinctly sympathetic attitude
toward friendship, e.g., "A friend in need is a friend indeed."
A few, however, such a s the cynical, "Save a man from his
friends," question its value. Typical examples of phrases referring to parts of the body, another group, are "on the other
hand" and "to have one's nose out of joint."
The number derived from history is very small; the obvious
reason is the transitory nature of historical subject-matter.
Many expressions which were on every tongue a s recently as
the period of the World War have now passed into oblivion,
and almost no proverbial monuments of earlier historical
happenings remain. Another rather unproductive source is
the narrative. Aside from the expressions which come from
theBsopic fables (listed in this collection with animal proverbs) there are few which a r e indebted t o stories for their
origin.
The history of many of these unclassified proverbs and proverbial phrases is difficult to trace. I n numerous cases tlie
origin is entirely unknown and in others the explanations
offered seem to be of doubtful validity. Some phrases, the
origin of which is uncertain are "to be a t sixes and sevens"
and "to burn one's bridges behind one."
Occasionally, isolated proverbs are derived from literature.
An individual author may say a thing in so aphoristic and
pithy a manner that his words get themselves into oral circulation and eventually become proverbial. Illustrative of these
sayings of individual invention are Shakespeare's "There is a
divinity that shapes our ends" and Pope's "To err is human;
to forgive divine,"
Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
( I ) FROMCLOTHING
1. Clothes make t h e man.
Sometimes the reverse of this 1s heard: "Clothes do not make the man."
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
If the shoe fits, wear it.
That i s where t h e shoe pinches.
The shoe i s on t h e other foot.
You cannot judge by appearances.
a s comfortable a s a n old shoe.
a s common a s a n old shoe.
a s soft a s silk.
t o be all wool and a yard wide.
t o be down a t t h e heels.
to be hand i n glove with.
t o be o u t a t t h e elbows.
t o die with one's boots on.
t o give him t h e mitten.
t o keep a thing under one's hat.
t o laugh up one's sleeve.
t o pin one's faith t o another man's sleeve.
18. t o wear one's h e a r t on one's sleeve.
(2) O N FORMSOF PUNISHMEINT
19. t o be crucified.
20. t o be driven f r o m pillar t o post.
Taylor offers the conjecture that t h ~ sexpresslon refera "to the treatment
of Chrlst before the cruc'fix~on"
21. t o be on t h e rack.
2.2 t o come o u t a t t h e little end of the horn.
Hazl~ttglves an lnterestlnq explanation of the orlgln of t h ~ sexpresslon.
The horn, he explains, was a s~xteenth century Instrument of ~orture
through winch the vlctlm was pulled. By the tlme he reacherl the llttle
end, he was sadly elongated and compressed.-
23. t o p u t t h e screws on.
24. t o r u n t h e gauntlet.
PARTSO F THE Bony
(3) FROM
25. a s plain a s t h e nose on your face.
26. a t one's fingers' ends.
27. a t one's tongue's end.
Variant: on t h e t i p of one's tongue.
28. cold h a n d ; warm heart.
29. not t o l e t one's right hand know what one's left hand is doing.
30. o n t h e other hand.
31. to be a sight f o r sore eyes.
32. t o be o n one's last legs.
33. t o follow one's nose.
-I Taylor, The Proverb, p. 193.
* S e e Hazlitt, English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, pp. 467-468.
34. t o g o a t a thing, tooth and t o e nail.
35. t o have him under one's thumb.
36. t o have more wits (or courage) i n one's little finger t h a n another
has in his whole body.
37. t o have not a leg t o stand on.
38. t o have one foot in the grave.
39. t o have one's brains in one's feet.
Thls is used of a gerson who is not very intelligent but who is an excellent dancer.
40.
41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.
51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.
61.
62.
have one's hands full.
have one's nose out of joint.
keep a civil tongue in one's head.
laugh on t h e wrong side of one's mouth.
laugh o u t of t h e corner of one's mouth.
lead some one by t h e nose.
let a thing go in a t one e a r a n d out a t t h e other.
l e t your head save your heels.
p u t one's shoulder t o t h e wheel.
say a t h i n g with one's tongue in one's cheek.
step on some one's toes.
sup sorrow through one's nostrils.
t a k e i t out of his skin.
talk one's leg off.
wind some one around one's little finger.
use elbow grease.
( 4 ) ON SEALIFE
A drowning man will catch a t a straw.
A small leak may sihk a g r e a t ship.
Weight i s what sinks t h e ship.
a n y port in a storm.
like trying t o drink t h e ocean dry.
t o be i n t h e same boat with.
t o fly under false colors.
63.
64.
65.
66.
to
to
to
to
This probably comes from plratlcal sea hfe.
go on t h e rocks.
pour oil on troubled waters.
put in a n oar.
rest on one's oars.
Related in mean~npto this is the expression, "to rest on one's .aure,s."
67. t o sail close t o t h e wind.
68. t o steer clear of.
69. t o walk t h e plank.
(5) ON BOOKSAKD STORIES
70. A good tale may be marred in t h e telling.
71. A tale never loses in t h e telling.
72. Thereby hangs a tale.
That this was current in Shake;peare's time
it appears in The Mwrv W i v e s of Wzndsor,
Noble Kinsmen, 111, iii.
73.
74.
75.
76.
77.
78.
You cannot judge a book by i t s binding.
a twice told tale.
t o make a long story short.
t o r e a d a lecture to.
t o r e a d between t h e lines.
t o t u r n over a new leaf.
IS
I,
ev~dencedby the fact that
IV, and In Fletcher's Two
( 6 ) ON TOOLSAND INSTRUMENTS
a s dull a s a hoe.
a s fit a s a fiddle.
as hard as nails.
as hollow a s a drum.
a s keen a s a razor.
as keen a s a two-edged sword.
a s sharp as a knife.
a s sharp a s a n ax.
as smart as a steel-trap.
a s smart a s a whip.
a s tight a s a drum.
90. a s t r u e a s steel.
91. not worth a fiddlestick.
92. t o call a spade a spade.
93. to harp on a thing.
Variant: to harp on the same string.
94. t o have a n a x to grind.
95. to have two strings t o one's bow.
96. t o hit t h e nail on the head.
97. to lay i t on with a trowel.
98. to play second fiddle.
( 7 ) ON FRIENDSAND RELATIVES
99. A friend in need is a friend indeed.
100. A friend to everybody is a friend t o nobody.
101. A man is known by the company he keeps.
102. A daughter is a daughter all her life;
A son is a son till he gets a wife.
103. A mother is a mother all her life;
A father is a f a t h e r till he gets a new wife.
104. Blood is thicker than water.
105. Choose your friends like your books; f e w b u t choice.
106. Familiarity breeds contempt.
79.
80.
81.
82.
83.
84.
85.
86.
87.
88.
89.
This proverb has several different forms.
The biblical groverb, ' A
prophet is not without honor save in his own country" is related to it.
So also is "No man is a hero t o his valet."
107.
108.
109.
110.
111.
112.
113.
114.
115.
116.
Friends must part.
I n union there is strength.
It's a wise father that knows his own son.
It takes two to make a bargain.
I t takes two to make a quarrel.
Like begets like.
Like father, like son.
Like master, like man.
Old friends and old wine a r e best.
Save a man from his friends.
An extended form of this rather cynical proverb is quoted by Hazlitt:
"Save a man from his friends and leave him to strugale with his
enemies." "
117.
118.
119.
120.
3
The way t o lose a friend is to lend him money.
What is bred in the bone will out in t h e flesh.
You may know him by the company he keeps.
You never know your friends till you a r e in need.
Op. cit., p. 374.
108
STUDIES
IN LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
(8) UNCLASSIFIEID
MISCEZ.LANEOUS
PROVERBS
121. A chain is no stronger than its weakest link.
122. A little nonsense, now and then,
I s relished by t h e best of men.
123. A man is a s young a s he feels.
124. A poor excuse is better than none.
125. A thing of beauty is a joy forever.
This quotation is from the poem Endymion by John Keats.
126.
127.
128.
129.
130.
131.
Actions speak louder than words.
All roads lead to Rome.
All things come t o him who waits.
All's well t h a t ends well.
Bad news travels fast.
Barkis is willin'.
Barkis is a character in Diekens' David Copperfield.
132. Coming events cast their shadows before.
This is in line from the poem, Lochiel's Warning, by Thomas Campbell.
133. Comparisons a r e odious.
134. Distance lends enchantment.
Given currency by Thomas Campbell's poem, Pleasures of Hope.
135. F a c t is stronger than fiction.
Variant: Truth is stranger than fiction.
136. Forewarned is forearmed.
137. Half of the world doesn't know how the other half lives.
138. History repeats itself.
139. If t h e mountain will not come to Mahomet,
Mahomet will have t o g o t o t h e mountain.
140. Ignorance of t h e law excuses nobody.
141. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
142. Justice is blind.
143. Laugh and grow fat.
144. Laugh a n d t h e world laughs with you.
This is r. line from the poem, The Wag of the World, by Ella 'Nheeler
Wileox (1855-1919).
145.
146.
147.
148.
149.
150.
151.
152.
153.
154.
155.
156.
157.
158.
159.
160.
Least expected is sure t o happen.
Let bygones be bygones.
Long expected comes a t last.
Misery loves company.
Misf ortunes never come singly.
Necessity is t h e mother of invention.
Necessity knows no law.
Never say die.
No news is good news.
Once bitten; twice shy.
Out of sight is out of mind.
P u t t h a t in your pipe and smoke it.
Raw dabs make f a t lads.
Silence gives consent.
So goes Monday, so goes all the week.
Speak of t h e devil and he'll appear.
Variant: Speak of t h e angels and you'll hear the flutter of their
wings.
161. Speech is silver but silence is golden.
162. Sticks and stones will break your bones but names will never
h u r t you.
This contradict; the proverb, "Give a dog a n ill name and ycu may as
well hang him."
163. Take while t h e taking is good.
164.
165.
166.
167.
168.
Talk
The
The
The
The
is cheap.
better the day, t h e better t h e deed.
die is cast.
end justifies t h e means.
mills of t h e gods grind slow b u t t h e y grind exceeding fine.
This is a:, old Greek saying, used by Euripides and by the Roman poet
Juvcnal.
169.
170.
171.
172.
The tables a r e turned.
The third time is t h e charm.
The wish is f a t h e r t o t h e thought.
There a r e three generations f r o m shirtsleeves t o shirtsleeves.
Taylor quote; an interesting English predecessor of this American Proverb: " 'There is nohbut three generations atween clogs and clogs.' "
173. There is no accounting f o r tastes.
An amusing variant of this is, " 'Everybody to his own notion', said the
old woman a s she kissed the cow."
174. There is s a f e t y in numbers.
175. There's a divinity t h a t shapes o u r ends.
This well-known saying we owe to Shakespeare.
V, ii.
I t is found in Hamlet,
176. There's t h e rub.
Shakespeare's Hamlet, 111, i, is the source of this.
177. Variety is t h e spice of life.
I n Cowper's poem The Task, Bk. 11, 1 . 506 is found the line, "Variety's
the very spice of life."
178. W h a t you want in t h e nation of to-morrow put i n t h e schools of
to-day.
179. When in Rome, do a s t h e Romans do.
MISCELLANE:OUSPHRASE;S
(9) UNCLASSIFIED
180. a t u r n f o r t h e better.
1.81. a yellow streak.
182. a s black a s ink.
183. a s bright a s a button.
184. a s broad a s i t is long.
185. a s clear a s a bell.
186. a s dull a s ditch water.
187. a s f a s t a s hops.
188. a s pleased a s Punch.
This English nhrase probably owes its lorgevity to its alliterative qual;ty.
189. a s queer a s Dick's hatband.
This singular proverbial phrase came from England but English collectors of rjroverbs seem to know nothing of its origin. The phrase continues
to the effect that the band went three times around the h a t but would not
meet a t last.
190.
191.
192.
193.
194.
195.
as
as
as
as
at
slick a s a whistle.
sure a s death.
s u r e a s God made little apples.
white a s death.
his wit's end.
at sixes and sevens.
The origin of this phrase is not known certainly. One explanation which
is not verified is that i t is derived from the game of backgammon.
196. before one could say "Jack Robinson."
Compare the popular ~ o c g Jack
,
Robinson, cnrrent in the early nineteenth
century. I t s last line is, "And he w s s off before you could 6p.y Jack
Robinson."
197. between you and me and t h e g a t e post.
198. by fits and starts.
4
Op. cit., p. 11.
Ashton, M o d e m S t r e e t Ballads, p. 256. 1888.
5 John
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
110
199.
200.
201.
202.
203.
204.
205.
206.
207.
208.
209.
210.
211.
212.
213.
214.
215.
216.
217.
218.
219.
220.
fit f o r a king.
f o r all the world.
from t h e sublime to the ridiculous.
good riddance to bad rubbish.
in t h e nick of time.
more than you could shake a stick at.
more t r u t h than poetry.
on the spur of the moment.
once in a life time.
other things being equal.
six of one and half dozen of t h e other.
t h e irony of fate.
the long and t h e short of it.
till t h e crack of doom.
times without number.
t o b e a fifth wheel.
t o be a hail-fellow, well met.
to be a nine day's wonder.
to be a.n Indian giver.
t o be full of one's self.
to be high time f o r a thing.
t o b e in a brown study.
This was "originally simply 'in a study' and this form persisted for renturies after the inexplicable 'brown' had been introduced." "
212. to be in the seventh heaven.
222. t o be last but not least.
223. t o be tarred with t h e same stick.
Related to this in meaning is "to be kicked by the same mule."
224. to be dead spit of.
Variant: t o be spittin' image of.
These singular expressions refer to similarity in looks. They are used
mostly of the resemblance between a child and its parent. Probably from
"as alike as two spits," "to tbe the spit and image of." See American
Specch, V, 496.
to be the worse f o r wear.
t o be up to snuff.
t o beggar description.
t o blow hot and cold with the same breath.
t o build castles i n t h e air.
Variant: t o build castles in Spain.
230. to burst of envy.
231. t o bury the hatchet.
225.
226.
227.
228.
229.
This is one of the few expressions remaining in our language which came
from association with the Indian.
232.
233.
234.
235.
236.
237.
238.
239.
240.
241.
242.
243.
244.
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
to
carry coals to Newcastle.
carry through to the bitter end.
come to the end of one's rope.
come to the end of the road.
dance attendance on.
find some hole to creep out of Jor into).
give a s good as one gets.
give some one a wide berth.
give tit f o r tat.
have heaven on earth.
have hell on earth.
have t h e last word.
know what's what.
6 Apperson,
E?zgZish Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, p. 70.
245.
246.
247.
248.
t o leave one in t h e lurch.
t o let him whistle f o r it.
t o look high and low f o r a thing.
to look nine ways f o r Sunday.
Variant: t o look both ways f o r Sunday.
These expressions mean t o souint. Hazlitt quotes this amusing sentence
from Witt's Recrmtions, 1640, (repr. 1817, p. 1 6 8 ) . " 'He was horn i n
the middle of the week, and looked haath ways for Sunday.' " '
249. t o murder t h e king's English,
250. t o p u t a spoke i n his wheel.
251. t o r e a d t h e riot act.
Taylor explains t h a t this "refers to the actual reading aloud which precedes the dispersing of a mob in England." "
252. t o reckon without one's host.
253. t o r u b i t in.
V a r i a n t : t o r u b salt into t h e wound.
T h e first of these which is the more common of the two is probably a
shortened form of the second.
254. t o r u n amuck.
Hazlitt gives a n interesting explanation of this expression which comes
f r o m a custom of the Malayzna. The Maylay amoq means rushing in a
frenzy t o the commission of indiscriminate murdcr."
255.
256.
257.
258.
259.
260.
261.
262.
263.
264.
265.
266.
267.
268.
t o s e t one's heart on a thing.
t o sit tight.
t o smell t o heaven.
t o split hairs.
t o step high, wide and handsome
t o storm the castle.
t o t a k e French leave.
t o t a k e some one down a peg.
t o t a l k a blue streak.
t o t h r o w d u s t in his eyes.
t o walk chalk.
t o walk o u t on.
t o work like a Trojan.
too much of a good thing.
Op. cit., p. 482.
O p . cit., p. 192.
9 Op. n't., p. 490.
7
STUDIES
I N LANGUAGE
AND LITERATURE
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bool~s
Apperson, George Latimer. E n g l i s h P r o v e r b s and Proverbial Phrases.
London and Toronto, J. M. Dent and Sons Limited, 1929.
Bechtel, J o h n H. Proverbs. Philedelphia, T h e Penn Publishing Company, 1905.
Bohn, Henry G. A H a n d - B o o k of Proverbs. London, G. Rcll and Sons
Limited, 1915.
Cheals, Alan Benjamin. Proverbial Folklore. London, 1907.
Hazlitt, William Carew. E n g l i s h P r o v e r b s a n d Proverbial Phrases.
London, Reeves and Turner, 1907.
Inwards, Richard. W e a t h a r Lo7 e. London, E. Stock, 1898.
Jente, Richard. T h e P r o v e r b s of S h a k e s p e a r e w i t h E a r l y ond Conty
t e m p o r a r y Parallels. Reprinted f r o m Washington U n i ~ ~ e r s i Studies,
Vol. XIII, Humanistic Series, No. 2, 391-444, 1926.
Marvin, Dwight Edwards. Curiosities in Proverbs. New York and
London, G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1916.
Roberts, K a t e Louise. H o y t ' s N e w Cyclopedia o f Practical Quotations.
New York and London, F u n k and Wagnalls Company, 1927.
Taylor, Archer. T h e Proverb. Cambridge, Massachusetts, H a r v a r d University Press, 1931.
PERIODICAL
PUBLICATIONS
Bond, Richmond P. "Animal Conlparisons in Indiana," A m e r i c a n
S p e e c h , Vol. 11, No. 1 (1926), 42-58.
Hardie, Margaret. "Proverbs and Proverbial Expressions Current in t h e
United States E a s t of t h e Missouri and North of the Ohio Rivers,"
A m e r i c a n S p e e c h , Vol. IV, No. 6 (1929), 461-472.
Jente, Richard. "The American Proverb," A m e r i c a n S p e e c h , Vol. VII,
No. 5 (1932), 342-348.
Matthews, Brander. "American Aphorisms," Harper's, Vol. 131 (1915),
864-868.
Merryweather, L. W. "Hell i n American Speech," A m e r i c a n S p e e c h ,
Vol. VI, NO. 6 (1931), 433-435.
Taylor, Archer. "An Introductory Bibliography f o r t h e Study of
Proverbs," Moder-n Philology, Vol. 30, 195-210.
Westermarch, Edward. "On the Study of Popular Sayings," N a t u r e .
Vol. 122 (1928), 701-703.