Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (394 page)
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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never
NEW brooms sweep clean
The phrase
new broom
(one newly appointed to a position who makes changes in personnel or procedures) derives from this proverb.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
II
. i. F3
V
Som therto said, the grene new brome swepith cleene.
1578
Euphues
I. 232
Ah well I wotte [know] that a newe broome sweepeth cleene.
1616
Dict.
(rev. ed.) 569
New bromes sweepe cleane, yet old friendship still retaine.
1776
New Brooms!
15
I am glad he is gone—Glad!—To be sure.
New Brooms
, you know.
1877
Short Studies
3rd Ser. 55
New brooms sweep clean. Abbot Thomas, like most of his predecessors, began with attempts at reformation.
1930
Crime in India
I. i.
Datt was a new broom, and he began to sweep vigorously.
1979
Sweet & Deadly
iv.
He was all right at first. It was a case of a new broom sweeping clean.
improvement
;
innovation
new broom
(one newly appointed to a position who makes changes in personnel or procedures) derives from this proverb.
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
II
. i. F3
V
Som therto said, the grene new brome swepith cleene.
1578
Euphues
I. 232
Ah well I wotte [know] that a newe broome sweepeth cleene.
1616
Dict.
(rev. ed.) 569
New bromes sweepe cleane, yet old friendship still retaine.
1776
New Brooms!
15
I am glad he is gone—Glad!—To be sure.
New Brooms
, you know.
1877
Short Studies
3rd Ser. 55
New brooms sweep clean. Abbot Thomas, like most of his predecessors, began with attempts at reformation.
1930
Crime in India
I. i.
Datt was a new broom, and he began to sweep vigorously.
1979
Sweet & Deadly
iv.
He was all right at first. It was a case of a new broom sweeping clean.
improvement;
innovation
What is NEW cannot be true
1639Paroemiologia Anglo-Latina
228
The newest things, not always truest.
1791
Life of Johnson
II. 283
I found that generally what was new was false.
1880
Byron
ix.
We are told .. that he knew little of art or music. .. It is true but not new. But when Hunt proceeds to say that Byron had no sentiment .. it is new enough, but is manifestly not true.
1928
Times
4 Feb. 8
Sir Arthur Evans has fallen a victim .. to the old slogan ‘What is new cannot be true.’
innovationNEW lords, new laws
Cf.
a
1450
St. Editha (1883) 96 Willyham Conquerour was made here kyng, And made newe lordus and eke new lawe.
a
1547
Chronicle
(1548) Hen. VI 169
Tholde spoken prouerbe, here toke place: New Lordes, new lawes.
1824
St. Ronan's Well
II. i.
But new lords new laws—naething but fine and imprisonment, and the game no a feather the plentier.
1874
Far from Madding Crowd
I. viii.
‘I was lately married to a woman, and she's my vocation now.’ .. ‘New lords new laws, as the saying is.’
change
;
circumstances
a
1450
St. Editha (1883) 96 Willyham Conquerour was made here kyng, And made newe lordus and eke new lawe.
a1547
Chronicle
(1548) Hen. VI 169
Tholde spoken prouerbe, here toke place: New Lordes, new lawes.
1824
St. Ronan's Well
II. i.
But new lords new laws—naething but fine and imprisonment, and the game no a feather the plentier.
1874
Far from Madding Crowd
I. viii.
‘I was lately married to a woman, and she's my vocation now.’ .. ‘New lords new laws, as the saying is.’
change;
circumstances
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
3.09Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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