The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (20 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

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away

see
when the CAT's away, the mice will play
.

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see
who SAYS A must say B
.

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babe

see
out of the MOUTHS of babes—
.

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baby

see
don't THROW the baby out with the bathwater
.

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GOD makes the back to the burden
;
what is GOT over the Devil's back is spent under his belly
;
it is the LAST straw that breaks the camel's back
;
you SCRATCH my back, I'll scratch yours
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A BAD excuse is better than none

1551
Rule of Reason
S6
This is as the saie in English, better a badde excuse, then none at all.
1579
School of Abuse
24
A bad excuse is better, they say, then none at all. Hee, because the Frenchmen paid tribute every moneth, into xiii moneths devided the yeere.
1686
in
Publications of Prince Society
(1867) IV. 30
Philaret .. being loth to dye so early in the morning, would not leave his Cabin .. till he had found his Ruffles: (a bad Excuse, you know, Brother, is better than none).
1821
Letter
29 Aug. in
Memoirs
(1849) II. vii.
The old fellow's look had a glimpse of passing cunning as much as to say, ‘A bad excuse is better than none.’
1981
‘Cassandra’ Bill
xiii.
What excuse is better than none?