The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (48 page)
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BETTER wed over the mixen than over the moor
It is better to marry a neighbour than a stranger. For
mixer
, see quot. 1661.
a
1628
in
Proverbs in Scots
(1957) no. 320
Better to wow [woo] over middin, nor [than] over mure.
a
1661
Worthies
(Cheshire) 174
Better Wed over the Mixon [midden] then over the Moor .. that is, hard by or at home, Mixon being that heap of Compost which lyeth in the yards of good husbands.
1818
Heart of Midlothian
III. vi.
He might hae dune waur [worse] than married me …Better wed over the mixen as over the moor, as they say in Yorkshire.
1874
Far from Madding Crowd
I. xxii.
‘That means matrimony.’.. ‘Well, better wed over the mixen than over the moor,’ said Laban Tall.
familiarity
;
marriage
mixer
, see quot. 1661.
a1628
in
Proverbs in Scots
(1957) no. 320
Better to wow [woo] over middin, nor [than] over mure.
a
1661
Worthies
(Cheshire) 174
Better Wed over the Mixon [midden] then over the Moor .. that is, hard by or at home, Mixon being that heap of Compost which lyeth in the yards of good husbands.
1818
Heart of Midlothian
III. vi.
He might hae dune waur [worse] than married me …Better wed over the mixen as over the moor, as they say in Yorkshire.
1874
Far from Madding Crowd
I. xxii.
‘That means matrimony.’.. ‘Well, better wed over the mixen than over the moor,’ said Laban Tall.
familiarity;
marriage
better
BETWEEN two stools one falls to the ground
Inability to choose between, or accommodate oneself to, alternative viewpoints or courses of action may end in disaster. Now more common in the metaphorical phrase to
fall between two stools
. Cf. medieval L.
labitur enitens sellis herere duabus
, he falls trying to sit on two seats; also current in early 16th-cent. German (woodcut in Thomas Murner's
Schelmenzunft
, 1516).
c
1390
Confessio Amantis
IV. 626
Thou farst [farest] as he betwen tuo stoles That wolde sitte and goth to grounde.
c
1530
Commonplace Book
(EETS) 129
Betwen two stolis, the ars goth to grwnd.
1731
Tom Thumb
II. x.
While the two Stools her Sitting Part confound, Between 'em both fall Squat upon the Ground.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
I.
XXXIII
.
She was .. still in daily occupation of her old stool opposite to that of her brother Sampson. And equally certain it is, by the way, that between these two stools a great many people had come to the ground.
1907
Alice-for-Short
xvi.
Your mother wants to put it off on me …But I won't be let into saying anything …Charles saw that between the two stools the young couple wouldn't fall to the ground, but would go to the altar.
1979
Nancy Cunard
xxi.
Politically, Nancy had fallen between stools.
decision and indecision
fall between two stools
. Cf. medieval L.
labitur enitens sellis herere duabus
, he falls trying to sit on two seats; also current in early 16th-cent. German (woodcut in Thomas Murner's
Schelmenzunft
, 1516).
c1390
Confessio Amantis
IV. 626
Thou farst [farest] as he betwen tuo stoles That wolde sitte and goth to grounde.
c
1530
Commonplace Book
(EETS) 129
Betwen two stolis, the ars goth to grwnd.
1731
Tom Thumb
II. x.
While the two Stools her Sitting Part confound, Between 'em both fall Squat upon the Ground.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
I.
XXXIII
.
She was .. still in daily occupation of her old stool opposite to that of her brother Sampson. And equally certain it is, by the way, that between these two stools a great many people had come to the ground.
1907
Alice-for-Short
xvi.
Your mother wants to put it off on me …But I won't be let into saying anything …Charles saw that between the two stools the young couple wouldn't fall to the ground, but would go to the altar.
1979
Nancy Cunard
xxi.
Politically, Nancy had fallen between stools.
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