Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (214 page)
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
4.8Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
Never look a GIFT horse in the mouth
A horse's age is commonly gauged by the state of its teeth. The proverb warns against questioning the quality or use of a lucky chance or gift. Cf.
a
420
ST. JEROME
Commentary on Epistle to Ephesians
Preface
noli .. ut vulgare proverbium est
,
equi dentes inspicere donati
, do not, as the common proverb says, look at the teeth of a gift horse.
a
1510
Vulgaria
(EETS) 27
A gyuen hors may not [be] loked in the tethe.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. v. B2
V
Where gyfts be gyuen freely, est west north or south, No man ought to loke a geuen hors in the mouth.
1659
Proverbs
80
No man ought to look a guift Horse in the mouth.
1710
Proverbs
40
Never look a Gift Horse in the Mouth.
1892
Diary of a Nobody
xviii.
I told him it was a present from a dear friend, and one mustn't look a gift-horse in the mouth.
1971
Riotous Assembly
ix.
The whole thing was a .. mystery. ‘Oh well, never look a gift horse in the mouth,’ he thought.
1997
Taken to Cleaners
xvii. 172
I couldn't believe he wasn't even going to scold me for not having the burglar alarm hooked up to my office window, but never look a gift horse in the mouth …
giving and receiving
;
gratitude and ingratitude
a
420
ST. JEROME
Commentary on Epistle to Ephesians
Preface
noli .. ut vulgare proverbium est
,
equi dentes inspicere donati
, do not, as the common proverb says, look at the teeth of a gift horse.
a1510
Vulgaria
(EETS) 27
A gyuen hors may not [be] loked in the tethe.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. v. B2
V
Where gyfts be gyuen freely, est west north or south, No man ought to loke a geuen hors in the mouth.
1659
Proverbs
80
No man ought to look a guift Horse in the mouth.
1710
Proverbs
40
Never look a Gift Horse in the Mouth.
1892
Diary of a Nobody
xviii.
I told him it was a present from a dear friend, and one mustn't look a gift-horse in the mouth.
1971
Riotous Assembly
ix.
The whole thing was a .. mystery. ‘Oh well, never look a gift horse in the mouth,’ he thought.
1997
Taken to Cleaners
xvii. 172
I couldn't believe he wasn't even going to scold me for not having the burglar alarm hooked up to my office window, but never look a gift horse in the mouth …
giving and receiving;
gratitude and ingratitude
GIVE and take is fair play
1778Evelina
I. xxv.
This here may be a French fashion .. but Give and Take is fair in all nations.
1832
Newton Forster
III. x.
Give and take is fair play. All I say is, let it be a fair stand-up fight.
1873
‘
Gilded Age
xxxiii.
She thought that ‘give and take was fair play’, and to parry an offensive thrust with a sarcasm was a neat and legitimate thing to do.
fair dealing;
tolerance
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
4.8Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads
Other books
The Fat Innkeeper by Alan Russell
A Cat Was Involved by Spencer Quinn
Traitor to the Crown The Patriot Witch by C.C. Finlay
Contact by A. F. N. Clarke
The Firstborn by Conlan Brown
Influence by Stuart Johnstone
Entangled by Annie Brewer
Dark Obligations: Book One of the Phantom Badgers by Krpoun, RW
A Cupboard Full of Coats by Yvvette Edwards
True History of the Kelly Gang by Peter Carey
