The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (138 page)
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1605
–
6
Macbeth
III. ii. 12
Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What's done is done.
Ibid
. v. i. 65
What's done cannot be undone.
1791
Letter
1 Dec. in
Writings
(1939) XXXI. 433
What has been done cannot be undone, and it would be unfortunate .. if disputes amongst the friends of the federal City should Arm the enemies of it with weapons to wound it.
1818
Marriage
III. xxi.
I hope you will think twice about it. Second thoughts are best. What's done cannot be undone.
1967
Technicolor Time Machine
vii.
What's done is done .. I'll see you don't suffer for it.
1981
Ironmaster
xxii.
What is done cannot be undone .. but you must take responsibility for it.
past
–
6
Macbeth
III. ii. 12
Things without all remedy Should be without regard. What's done is done.
Ibid
. v. i. 65
What's done cannot be undone.
1791
Letter
1 Dec. in
Writings
(1939) XXXI. 433
What has been done cannot be undone, and it would be unfortunate .. if disputes amongst the friends of the federal City should Arm the enemies of it with weapons to wound it.
1818
Marriage
III. xxi.
I hope you will think twice about it. Second thoughts are best. What's done cannot be undone.
1967
Technicolor Time Machine
vii.
What's done is done .. I'll see you don't suffer for it.
1981
Ironmaster
xxii.
What is done cannot be undone .. but you must take responsibility for it.
past
done
A DOOR must either be shut or open
Said of two mutually exclusive alternatives. Cf. Fr.
il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée
, it is necessary that a door be open or shut.
1762
Citizen of World
I. xlix.
There are but the two ways; the door must either be shut, or it must be open.
1896
Hist. Nineteenth-Century Literature
vii.
Fiction .. pleads in vain for detailed treatment. For all doors must be shut or open; and this door must now be shut.
1953
Sudden View
I. ix.
We .. returned to France, the land of good sense .. where a door has got to be either open or shut.
choices
il faut qu'une porte soit ouverte ou fermée
, it is necessary that a door be open or shut.
1762Citizen of World
I. xlix.
There are but the two ways; the door must either be shut, or it must be open.
1896
Hist. Nineteenth-Century Literature
vii.
Fiction .. pleads in vain for detailed treatment. For all doors must be shut or open; and this door must now be shut.
1953
Sudden View
I. ix.
We .. returned to France, the land of good sense .. where a door has got to be either open or shut.
choicesdoor
see also
a CREAKING door hangs longest
;
a GOLDEN key can open any door
;
when ONE door shuts, another opens
;
OPPORTUNITY never knocks twice at any man's door
;
a POSTERN door makes a thief
;
when POVERTY comes in at the door, love flies out of the window
;
it is too late to shut the STABLE-door after the horse has bolted
.
a CREAKING door hangs longest
;
a GOLDEN key can open any door
;
when ONE door shuts, another opens
;
OPPORTUNITY never knocks twice at any man's door
;
a POSTERN door makes a thief
;
when POVERTY comes in at the door, love flies out of the window
;
it is too late to shut the STABLE-door after the horse has bolted
.
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