The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (212 page)

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SILENCE is a woman's best garment
.

 
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a CREAKING door hangs longest
;
one man may STEAL a horse, while another may not look over a hedge
.

 
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a ROLLING stone gathers no moss
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where the CARCASE is, there shall the eagles be gathered together
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on SAINT Thomas the Divine kill all turkeys, geese, and swine
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from CLOGS to clogs is only three generations
;
from SHIRTSLEEVES to shirtsleeves in three generations
.

 
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Although apparently not expressed in this form before quot. 1823, the three-generation concept was current in the Renaissance period: e.g.
1598
J. KEPERS tr.
A. Romei's Courtier's Academy
187 He may bee called absolutely noble, who shall have lost the memory of his ignobilitie .. during the reuolution of three generations;
1625
F. MARKHAM
Five Decades of Honour
ii. Three perfit descents, do euer so conclude a perfit Gentleman of Blood.
1823
Pioneers
I. xviii.
You will find it no easy matter to make a gentleman of him. The old proverb says, that ‘it takes three generations to make a gentleman.’
1915
Of Human Bondage
xxvii.
He remembered his uncle's saying that it took three generations to make a gentleman: it was a companion proverb to the silk purse and the sow's ear.
1940
‘’
Comedy of Terrors
i.
It has always been possible to make a gentleman in three generations; nowadays .. the thing is done in two.
family
;
gentry

 
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