Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (412 page)
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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ONCE bitten, twice shy
The variant
once burned
,
twice shy
is particularly common in the US, perhaps influenced by a
BURNT child dreads the fire
.
1853
Sponge's Sporting Tour
xxxvii.
Jawleyford had been bit once, and he was not going to give Mr. Sponge a second chance.
1894
Folk-Phrases
20
Once bitten, twice shy.
1920
Rescue
III. ix.
Once bit twice shy. He had no mind to be kidnapped.
1949
Dead Sure
XV
.
She was especially on her guard .. because she'd been victimized in a stupid swindle herself, recently. Once burned, twice shy, you know.
1979
Mortal Affair
i.
The vaguely concealed caution of not wanting to become involved again—once bitten twice shy.
1981
Ransom Game
xvi.
I can't imagine why this man would be harassing my wife again, Mr. Cooperman. You'd think ‘Once burned, twice shy’, wouldn't you.
1998
Times
7 Jan. 27/6
Once bitten, twice shy when thinking of certain shops.
experience
once burned
,
twice shy
is particularly common in the US, perhaps influenced by a
BURNT child dreads the fire
.
1853Sponge's Sporting Tour
xxxvii.
Jawleyford had been bit once, and he was not going to give Mr. Sponge a second chance.
1894
Folk-Phrases
20
Once bitten, twice shy.
1920
Rescue
III. ix.
Once bit twice shy. He had no mind to be kidnapped.
1949
Dead Sure
XV
.
She was especially on her guard .. because she'd been victimized in a stupid swindle herself, recently. Once burned, twice shy, you know.
1979
Mortal Affair
i.
The vaguely concealed caution of not wanting to become involved again—once bitten twice shy.
1981
Ransom Game
xvi.
I can't imagine why this man would be harassing my wife again, Mr. Cooperman. You'd think ‘Once burned, twice shy’, wouldn't you.
1998
Times
7 Jan. 27/6
Once bitten, twice shy when thinking of certain shops.
experience
When ONE door shuts, another opens
1586tr.
Lazarillo
D3
V
This proverbe was fulfild, when one doore is shut the other openeth.
1620
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
III
. vii.
Where one door is shut another is opened.
1710
Proverbs
49
When one Door Shuts another Opens… How often does the Divine Bounty surprize us with unthought of Felicity!
1821
Annals of Parish
xxvi.
Here was an example .. of the truth of the old proverb that as one door shuts another opens; .. A full equivalent for her [the light-headed Lady Macadam] was given in this hot and fiery Mr. Cayenne.
1925
Juno & Paycock
I
. 16
‘The job couldn't come at a betther time.’ .. ‘Ah, God never shut wan door but he opened another.’
1979
Queen sends for Mrs Chadwick
80
I do not accept that I have .. come to the end of the road… When one door closes, another one opens.
opportunityONE for sorrow, two for mirth; three for a wedding, four for a birth
A traditional country proverb found in a variety of forms, which refers to the number of magpies seen on a particular occasion.
1846
Autobiography
(1853)
I
.
V
.
During the journey four magpies rose .. and flew away… I repeated .. the old saw, ‘one for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, and four for death.’
1846
Proverbs relating to Seasons, &c.
35
One for sorrow: two for mirth: three for a wedding: four for a birth: five for silver: six for gold: seven for a secret, not to be told: eight for heaven: nine for hell: and ten for the devil's own sel [self].
1913
Along Road
162
I never see magpies myself without relating the old rhyme: ‘One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a death, Four for a birth; Five, you will shortly be In a great company.’
1981
Licence Renewed
ii.
Bond thought of the old adage, ‘One for sorrow, two for joy.’ There were a lot of single magpies swooping near the car.
bird lore
;
omens
1846Autobiography
(1853)
I
.
V
.
During the journey four magpies rose .. and flew away… I repeated .. the old saw, ‘one for sorrow, two for mirth, three for a wedding, and four for death.’
1846
Proverbs relating to Seasons, &c.
35
One for sorrow: two for mirth: three for a wedding: four for a birth: five for silver: six for gold: seven for a secret, not to be told: eight for heaven: nine for hell: and ten for the devil's own sel [self].
1913
Along Road
162
I never see magpies myself without relating the old rhyme: ‘One for sorrow, Two for mirth, Three for a death, Four for a birth; Five, you will shortly be In a great company.’
1981
Licence Renewed
ii.
Bond thought of the old adage, ‘One for sorrow, two for joy.’ There were a lot of single magpies swooping near the car.
bird lore;
omens
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
13.06Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
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