The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (528 page)

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BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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STRETCH your arm no further than your sleeve will reach
Do not spend more than you can afford. Similar to
CUT your coat according to your cloth
.
1541
tr.
H. Bullinger's Christian State of Matrimony
xix.
Strech out thine arme no farther then thy sleve wyll retche.
1639
Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
211
Stretch your arme no further than your sleeve will reach.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
277
Put your Hand no farther than your Sleeve will reach. That is, spend no more than your Estate will bear.
1881
Old Factory
II. ii.
It would leave me short of working capital, and .. I mustn't stretch my arm further than th'coat-sleeve will reach.
circumstances
;
poverty
;
prudence
Everyone STRETCHES his legs according to the length of his coverlet
a
1300
Husbandry
(1890) 4
Wo that stretchet fortherre than his wytel [blanket] wyle reche, in the straue [straw] his fet he mot streche.
1550
Market
D5
V
Then must many a man .. stretche out his legges accordynge to the length of his coverlet.
1640
Outlandish Proverbs
no. 147
Everyone stretcheth his legges according to his coverlet.
1897
In Kedar's Tents
iv.
‘The English .. travel for pleasure.’ .. ‘Every one stretches his legs according to the length of his coverlet,’ he said.
circumstances
;
prudence

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