The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (109 page)
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Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
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It is no use CRYING over spilt milk
It is pointless to repine when it is too late to remedy the misfortune.
1659
Proverbs
(British) 40
No weeping for shed milk.
1738
Polite Conversation
I. 27
‘I would cry my Eyes out.’.. ‘'Tis a Folly to cry for spilt Milk.’
1884
Canon's Ward
I. xv.
There would be a row .. but he would say, like a wise man, ‘There's no use in crying over spilt milk.’
1936
Whiteoak Harvest
xxv.
It's no use crying over spilt milk. The money's gone .. and that's that.
1984
‘’
Gondola Scam
xiii.
I wish now I'd thought about the implications, but it's no good crying over spilt milk.
1995
And Hope to Die
ix. 115
I said this dismissively. No good crying over spilt milk.
misfortune
;
past
1659Proverbs
(British) 40
No weeping for shed milk.
1738
Polite Conversation
I. 27
‘I would cry my Eyes out.’.. ‘'Tis a Folly to cry for spilt Milk.’
1884
Canon's Ward
I. xv.
There would be a row .. but he would say, like a wise man, ‘There's no use in crying over spilt milk.’
1936
Whiteoak Harvest
xxv.
It's no use crying over spilt milk. The money's gone .. and that's that.
1984
‘’
Gondola Scam
xiii.
I wish now I'd thought about the implications, but it's no good crying over spilt milk.
1995
And Hope to Die
ix. 115
I said this dismissively. No good crying over spilt milk.
misfortune;
past
cup
He that will to CUPAR maun to Cupar
Cupar is a town in Fife, Scotland.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
141
He that will to Cowper [Cupar], will to Cowper. A Reflection upon obstinate Persons, that will not be reclaim'd.
1817
Rob Roy
III. i.
The Hecate .. ejaculated, ‘A wilfu' man will hae his way—them that will to Cupar maun [must] to Cupar!’
1893
Catriona
xiii.
He stood part of a second .., hesitating. ‘He that will to Cupar, maun to Cupar.’ said he, and .. was hauled into the skiff.
1958
And be Villain
v.
‘I shall take the first plane to Paris.’.. ‘Well, he who will to Cupar maun to Cupar, but I think it's very silly of you.’
obstinacy
1721Scottish Proverbs
141
He that will to Cowper [Cupar], will to Cowper. A Reflection upon obstinate Persons, that will not be reclaim'd.
1817
Rob Roy
III. i.
The Hecate .. ejaculated, ‘A wilfu' man will hae his way—them that will to Cupar maun [must] to Cupar!’
1893
Catriona
xiii.
He stood part of a second .., hesitating. ‘He that will to Cupar, maun to Cupar.’ said he, and .. was hauled into the skiff.
1958
And be Villain
v.
‘I shall take the first plane to Paris.’.. ‘Well, he who will to Cupar maun to Cupar, but I think it's very silly of you.’
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