The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (50 page)
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A BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush
Parodied by the American actress Mae West (1892–1980) in the 1934 movie
Belle of the Nineties
: ‘A man in the house is worth two in the street.’ It is better to accept what one has than to try to get more and risk losing everything. Cf. 13th-cent. L.
plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis
, one bird in the hands is worth more than two in the woods.
c
1450
Life of St. Katharine
(EETS) II. iii.
It is more sekyr [certain] a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a-boue.
c
1470
Harley
MS 3362
f.4
Betyr ys a byrd in the hond than tweye in the wode.
1581
Conflict of Conscience
IV.i.
You haue spoken reasonably, but yet as they say, One Birde in the hande, is worth two in the bush.
1678
Pilgrim's Progress
I. 42
That Proverb, A Bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more Authority with them, then are all .. testimonies of the good of the world to come.
1829
Boxiana
2nd Ser. II. 507
We have stated thus much to show how the London Fancy [boxing fans] were ‘thrown out’ of the above fight; likewise, to bear in mind, in future, ‘that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.
1973
Honorary Consul
II. iii.
We have an expression in English—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I don't know anything about that ‘afterwards’. I only know I would like to live another ten years.
prudence
;
risk
Belle of the Nineties
: ‘A man in the house is worth two in the street.’ It is better to accept what one has than to try to get more and risk losing everything. Cf. 13th-cent. L.
plus valet in manibus avis unica quam dupla silvis
, one bird in the hands is worth more than two in the woods.
c1450
Life of St. Katharine
(EETS) II. iii.
It is more sekyr [certain] a byrd in your fest, Than to haue three in the sky a-boue.
c
1470
Harley
MS 3362
f.4
Betyr ys a byrd in the hond than tweye in the wode.
1581
Conflict of Conscience
IV.i.
You haue spoken reasonably, but yet as they say, One Birde in the hande, is worth two in the bush.
1678
Pilgrim's Progress
I. 42
That Proverb, A Bird in the hand is worth two in the Bush, is of more Authority with them, then are all .. testimonies of the good of the world to come.
1829
Boxiana
2nd Ser. II. 507
We have stated thus much to show how the London Fancy [boxing fans] were ‘thrown out’ of the above fight; likewise, to bear in mind, in future, ‘that a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush’.
1973
Honorary Consul
II. iii.
We have an expression in English—A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush. I don't know anything about that ‘afterwards’. I only know I would like to live another ten years.
prudence;
risk
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