Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (80 page)
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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catch
see also
a CAT in gloves catches no mice
;
a DROWNING man will clutch at a straw
;
EAGLES don't catch flies
;
the EARLY bird catches the worm
;
FIRST catch your hare
;
HONEY catches more flies than vinegar
;
KEEP no more cats than will catch mice
;
if you RUN after two hares you will catch neither
;
a SHUT mouth catches no flies
;
if the SKY falls we shall catch larks
;
SUE a beggar and catch a louse
;
set a THIEF to catch a thief
.
a CAT in gloves catches no mice
;
a DROWNING man will clutch at a straw
;
EAGLES don't catch flies
;
the EARLY bird catches the worm
;
FIRST catch your hare
;
HONEY catches more flies than vinegar
;
KEEP no more cats than will catch mice
;
if you RUN after two hares you will catch neither
;
a SHUT mouth catches no flies
;
if the SKY falls we shall catch larks
;
SUE a beggar and catch a louse
;
set a THIEF to catch a thief
.
CATCHING's before hanging
1818Letters from Alabama
(1830) xxxvi.
Yes, says Marchant, but catching's before hanging—the villain's cleared out.
1876
New England Life
vii.
Catchin' before spankin' is the rule.
1961
In Arms of Mountain
60
Ketchin' comes before hangin', I always say.
action and consequenceAll CATS are grey in the dark
The proverb, which turns on the concept that the night obscures all distinguishing features, is used in a variety of contexts.
c
1549
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. V. A6
V
When all candels be out, all cats be grey. All thyngs are then of one colour.
1596
Margarite of America
H2
V
All cattes are grey in the darke .. and therefore (good madam) you doe well to preferre the eie.
1745
Letter
25 June in
Papers
(1961) III. 31
And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior.
1771
Humphry Clinker
III. 67
He knew not which was which; and, as the saying is, all cats in the dark are gray.
1886
Princess Casamassima
I. xiv.
‘If she isn't, what becomes of your explanation?’ .. ‘Oh, it doesn't matter; at night all cats are grey.’
1941
Chuckling Fingers
iii.
‘Cecile wouldn't know,’ Jean said. ‘In the dark all cats are grey.’
1981
Dark Blue & Dangerous
xxvii.
You forgot that all cats are grey in the dark and so are uniformed policemen.
1990
Dying of Light
xi. 130
He braked as a cat scuttled in front of him … ‘Was that black?’ ‘All cats are grey in the dark,’ Tess quoted. ‘But it could have been. That's lucky.’
similarity and dissimilarity
c1549
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. V. A6
V
When all candels be out, all cats be grey. All thyngs are then of one colour.
1596
Margarite of America
H2
V
All cattes are grey in the darke .. and therefore (good madam) you doe well to preferre the eie.
1745
Letter
25 June in
Papers
(1961) III. 31
And as in the dark all Cats are grey, the Pleasure of corporal Enjoyment with an old Woman is at least equal, and frequently superior.
1771
Humphry Clinker
III. 67
He knew not which was which; and, as the saying is, all cats in the dark are gray.
1886
Princess Casamassima
I. xiv.
‘If she isn't, what becomes of your explanation?’ .. ‘Oh, it doesn't matter; at night all cats are grey.’
1941
Chuckling Fingers
iii.
‘Cecile wouldn't know,’ Jean said. ‘In the dark all cats are grey.’
1981
Dark Blue & Dangerous
xxvii.
You forgot that all cats are grey in the dark and so are uniformed policemen.
1990
Dying of Light
xi. 130
He braked as a cat scuttled in front of him … ‘Was that black?’ ‘All cats are grey in the dark,’ Tess quoted. ‘But it could have been. That's lucky.’
similarity and dissimilarity
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
2.41Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
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