The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (94 page)
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The COBBLER to his last and the gunner to his linstock
A fanciful variant of the preceding proverb. A
linstock
is a staff with a forked head to hold a lighted match.
1748
Roderick Random
II. xlii.
I meddle with no body's affairs but my own; The gunner to his linstock, and the steersman to the helm, as the saying is.
1893
Life of W. H. Smith
II. v.
He .. never showed any disposition to trespass on the province of science or literature … There is sound sense in the adage, ‘The cobbler to his last and the gunner to his linstock’.
work
linstock
is a staff with a forked head to hold a lighted match.
1748Roderick Random
II. xlii.
I meddle with no body's affairs but my own; The gunner to his linstock, and the steersman to the helm, as the saying is.
1893
Life of W. H. Smith
II. v.
He .. never showed any disposition to trespass on the province of science or literature … There is sound sense in the adage, ‘The cobbler to his last and the gunner to his linstock’.
work
Every COCK will crow upon his own dunghill
Everyone is confident or at ease when on home ground. Cf. SENECA
Apocolocyntosis
vii.
gallum in suo sterquilinio plurimum posse
, the cock is most powerful on his own dunghill; the work is a satire on Claudius' deification at death, and Seneca is punning on Claudius' provincial origin and interests, as
gallus
means both a cock and a Gaul.
a
1250
Ancrene Wisse
(1952) 62
Coc is kene [bold] on his owune mixerne [midden].
1387
tr.
Higden's Polychronicon
(1879) VIII. 5
As Seneca seith, a cok is most myghty on his dongehille.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. D2
He was at home there, he myght speake his will. Euery cocke is proude on his owne dunghill.
1771
Humphry Clinker
II. 178
Insolence .. akin to the arrogance of the village cock, who never crows but upon his own dunghill.
1935
Gaudy Night
xix.
‘I believe you're showing off.’..‘Every cock will crow upon his own dunghill’.
1980
Death of Favourite Girl
vii.
Mariner seemed to be easy enough. A cock on his own dunghill.
home
Apocolocyntosis
vii.
gallum in suo sterquilinio plurimum posse
, the cock is most powerful on his own dunghill; the work is a satire on Claudius' deification at death, and Seneca is punning on Claudius' provincial origin and interests, as
gallus
means both a cock and a Gaul.
a1250
Ancrene Wisse
(1952) 62
Coc is kene [bold] on his owune mixerne [midden].
1387
tr.
Higden's Polychronicon
(1879) VIII. 5
As Seneca seith, a cok is most myghty on his dongehille.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. D2
He was at home there, he myght speake his will. Euery cocke is proude on his owne dunghill.
1771
Humphry Clinker
II. 178
Insolence .. akin to the arrogance of the village cock, who never crows but upon his own dunghill.
1935
Gaudy Night
xix.
‘I believe you're showing off.’..‘Every cock will crow upon his own dunghill’.
1980
Death of Favourite Girl
vii.
Mariner seemed to be easy enough. A cock on his own dunghill.
homecock
COLD hands, warm heart
1903Collectanea
III. 380
A cold hand and a warm heart.
1910
Dutch Agnes
206
I did take her hand … Cold hand, warm heart!
1927
Shall We join Ladies in Plays
(1928) 840
I knew you would be on my side …Cold hand—warm heart. That is the saying, isn't it?
1962
Knave of Hearts
xv.
A hot, humid night, but her hands cold. Cold hands, warm heart.
1985
Death & Blintzes
xxvi.
‘Belle, your hands are cold,’ he said. ‘Cold hands, that's funny?’ ‘You know the old saying, “cold hands, warm heart”.’
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