The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (524 page)
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The more you STIR it the worse it stinks
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
II
. vi.
The more we stur a tourde, the wours it will stynke.
1639
Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
200
The more you stirre it the worse it stinkes.
1706
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
II
. xii.
The more ye stir, the more 'twill stink.
1929
Crime without Clue
xx.
The more we stir the worse it stinks, inspector. One would never imagine there were so many shady histories in this harmless-looking village.
1971
Dead Piano
iv.
I could tell you … But like my mama always used to say, ‘The more you stir shit, the more it stinks.’
action and consequence;
busybodies
A STITCH in time saves nine
The proverb was originally a couplet. The number
nine
was apparently introduced fancifully for the sake of assonance.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 6291
A Stitch in Time May save nine.
1797
Journal
30 Apr. (1856) 268
After a little while we acquired a method of keeping her [a boat] in the middle of the stream, by watching the moment she began to vary, and thereby verifying the vulgar proverb, ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’
1868
&
Foul Play
I. ix.
Repairing the ship. Found a crack or two in her inner skin … A stitch in time saves nine.
1979
Homes & Gardens
June 105
Looking after oneself is like looking after a house: a stitch in time …
nine
was apparently introduced fancifully for the sake of assonance.
1732Gnomologia
no. 6291
A Stitch in Time May save nine.
1797
Journal
30 Apr. (1856) 268
After a little while we acquired a method of keeping her [a boat] in the middle of the stream, by watching the moment she began to vary, and thereby verifying the vulgar proverb, ‘A stitch in time saves nine.’
1868
&
Foul Play
I. ix.
Repairing the ship. Found a crack or two in her inner skin … A stitch in time saves nine.
1979
Homes & Gardens
June 105
Looking after oneself is like looking after a house: a stitch in time …
STOLEN fruit is sweet
The proverb is used in a variety of forms, principally in allusion to the temptation of Eve (Genesis iii. 6): e.g.
c
1390
CHAUCER
Parson's Tale
l. 332 The fleesh hadde delit in the beautee of the fruyt defended [forbidden]. See also the next entry.
1614
Devil's Banquet
III
. 98
But as the Proverbe hath it .. Apples are sweet, when they are plucked in the Gardiners absence. Eve liked no Apple in the Garden so well as the forbidden.
1668
English Rogue
II
. B1
V
So eager are these sort of people to buy any thing that is unlicensed, following the Proverb, that stollen meat is sweetest.
1855
North & South
II. vi.
I can remember .. your being in some disgrace .. for stealing apples … Some one had told you that stolen fruit tasted sweetest.
1935
Rachel Rosing
xxiv.
He knew that he did not love her … What else, then? .. He was not going to pretend that this stolen fruit was not sweet.
1961
House at Old Vine
II
. 137
Old men are like children, of whom they say ‘Stolen apples are sweetest.’
1971
Mademoiselle Libertine
iii.
The truth was that at the Minimes the show was better than in the Place Royale, perhaps because stolen fruits are sweeter.
theft
c
1390
CHAUCER
Parson's Tale
l. 332 The fleesh hadde delit in the beautee of the fruyt defended [forbidden]. See also the next entry.
1614Devil's Banquet
III
. 98
But as the Proverbe hath it .. Apples are sweet, when they are plucked in the Gardiners absence. Eve liked no Apple in the Garden so well as the forbidden.
1668
English Rogue
II
. B1
V
So eager are these sort of people to buy any thing that is unlicensed, following the Proverb, that stollen meat is sweetest.
1855
North & South
II. vi.
I can remember .. your being in some disgrace .. for stealing apples … Some one had told you that stolen fruit tasted sweetest.
1935
Rachel Rosing
xxiv.
He knew that he did not love her … What else, then? .. He was not going to pretend that this stolen fruit was not sweet.
1961
House at Old Vine
II
. 137
Old men are like children, of whom they say ‘Stolen apples are sweetest.’
1971
Mademoiselle Libertine
iii.
The truth was that at the Minimes the show was better than in the Place Royale, perhaps because stolen fruits are sweeter.
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