The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (505 page)
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A SOFT answer turneth away wrath
With allusion to
PROVERBS
xv. 1 (AV) A soft answer turneth away wrath. Cf.
c
1395
WYCLIF
Bible
(1850) Proverbs xv. 1 A soft answere brekith ire.
c
1445
Peter Idley's Instructions to his Son
(1935) I. 84
A softe worde swageth [assuages] Ire.
1693
Wonders of Invisible World
60
We would use to one another none but the Soft Answers, which Turn away Wrath.
1826
Letter
19 July (1912) 414
A soft answer turneth away wrath. There is no shield against wrongs so effectual as an unresisting temper.
1922
Ulysses
597
A soft answer turns away wrath.
1979
Clutch of Vipers
vi.
‘Yes, sir!’ .. Soft answer, no wrath.
anger
;
tact
PROVERBS
xv. 1 (AV) A soft answer turneth away wrath. Cf.
c
1395
WYCLIF
Bible
(1850) Proverbs xv. 1 A soft answere brekith ire.
c1445
Peter Idley's Instructions to his Son
(1935) I. 84
A softe worde swageth [assuages] Ire.
1693
Wonders of Invisible World
60
We would use to one another none but the Soft Answers, which Turn away Wrath.
1826
Letter
19 July (1912) 414
A soft answer turneth away wrath. There is no shield against wrongs so effectual as an unresisting temper.
1922
Ulysses
597
A soft answer turns away wrath.
1979
Clutch of Vipers
vi.
‘Yes, sir!’ .. Soft answer, no wrath.
anger;
tact
SOFTLY, softly, catchee monkey
1907Cassell's Book of Quotations
849 (Proverbs),
‘Softly, softly,’ caught the monkey—(Negro).
1939
Veron Mystery
xx.
‘Softly talkee, catchee monkey,’ Hopley summed up the method thus prescribed to him.
1941
Death of Mr. Lomas
iv. 80
‘Managed to dig out a suitable motive for Steadfall?’ the Chief Constable asked slyly. ‘I haven't done with him yet,’ came the slow reply. ‘Softly, softly, catchee monkee …’
1942
Darkness falls from Air
x.
Softly catch monkey… That's the answer.
1962
Deadline
xiii.
I didn't pursue it any further then. Softly, softly, catchee monkey—and I hated that phrase.
1978
One Policeman's Story
vii.
They took with them the unique motto of the Lancashire Constabulary Training School, ‘Softly, softly, Catchee Monkey’ which inspired the new programme's title, ‘Softly, Softly.’
guile;
patience and impatience
;
ways and means
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