The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (59 page)
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You can't tell a BOOK by its cover
1929American Speech
IV. 465
You can't judge a book by its binding.
1946
&
Glass Room
i.
‘Forgive me, sir,’ he said. ‘I had you all wrong. You can never tell a book by its cover.’
1954
Journal of Edwin Carp
131
This is a nice respectable street, wouldn't you say, sir? .. Unfortunately, sir, you can't tell a book by its cover.
1969
et al.
You can't judge Book by its Cover (song)
1
I can't let you know you're getting to me .. 'cause you can't judge a book by its cover. My pappa used to say, look, child, look beyond a tender smile.
1984
Thin Woman
xii.
Appreciate your allowing me to participate, but you should be less trusting, Ellie—can't always judge a book by its cover.
1995
Washington Times
2 Dec. C3
The old saying goes that you can't judge a book by its cover. Now that's even true of the ones labeled ‘Holy Bible.’
appearance, deceptive
If you're BORN to be hanged then you'll never be drowned
Commonly used to qualify another's apparent good luck. Cf. mid 14th-cent. Fr.
noyer ne peut, cil qui doit pendre
, he cannot drown who must hang;
c
1503
A. BARCLAY tr.
Gringore's Castle of Labour
(1506) A8 He that is drowned may no man hange.
1593
Ortho-Epia Gallica
127
He thats borne to be hangd shall neuer be drownde.
1723
Colonel Jack
(ed. 2) 126
He had a Proverb in his Favour, and he got out of the Water .. not being born to be drown'd, as I shall observe afterwards in its place.
1884
Sir Thomas Upmore
I. viii.
Don't tumble into it .. though you never were born to be drowned, that I'll swear.
1933
Mystery of Mr. Cross
343
You have a proverb .. that those who are to hang will not drown.
1956
Witch & Priest
v.
There is another picture, and underneath it says ..
If you're born to be hanged
,
then you'll never be drowned
.
fate and fatalism
;
luck
noyer ne peut, cil qui doit pendre
, he cannot drown who must hang;
c
1503
A. BARCLAY tr.
Gringore's Castle of Labour
(1506) A8 He that is drowned may no man hange.
1593Ortho-Epia Gallica
127
He thats borne to be hangd shall neuer be drownde.
1723
Colonel Jack
(ed. 2) 126
He had a Proverb in his Favour, and he got out of the Water .. not being born to be drown'd, as I shall observe afterwards in its place.
1884
Sir Thomas Upmore
I. viii.
Don't tumble into it .. though you never were born to be drowned, that I'll swear.
1933
Mystery of Mr. Cross
343
You have a proverb .. that those who are to hang will not drown.
1956
Witch & Priest
v.
There is another picture, and underneath it says ..
If you're born to be hanged
,
then you'll never be drowned
.
fate and fatalism;
luck
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