The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (437 page)

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BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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POLITICS makes strange bedfellows
Politics
has long been considered a plural noun; its use with a singular verb is comparatively recent. A well-established variant of
ADVERSITY makes strange bedfellows
.
1839
Diary
9 July (1927) I. 404
Party politics, like poverty, bring men ‘acquainted with strange bedfellows.’
1870
My Summer in Garden
(1871) 187
The Doolittle raspberries have sprawled all over the strawberry-beds: so true is it that politics makes strange bed-fellows.
1936
Gone with Wind
lviii.
Ashley Wilkes and I are mainly responsible. Platitudinously but truly, politics make strange bedfellows.
1980
Dissident
vii.
Even enemies have something in common. Statecraft produces strange bedfellows.
1995
Washington Times
31 Mar. A4
Politics makes strange bedfellows, if Mr. Hyde will forgive the unforgivable but irresistible metaphor.
associates
;
politics
It is a POOR dog that's not worth whistling for
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I
. xi.
It is, as I haue learned in lystnyng, A poore dogge, that is not worth the whistlyng.
1614
Remains concerning Britain
(ed. 2) 303
A poore dog that is not worth the whystling.
1738
Polite Conversation
I
. 41
Because, Miss, you never ask'd me; and 'tis an ill Dog that's not worth whistling for.
1952
Alias Simon Suggs
i.
It was a poor dog indeed that wasn't worth whistling for.
value

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