The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (111 page)
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CURSES, like chickens, come home to roost
Also without specific reference to
curses
, as in quot. 1996.
c
1390
Parson's Tale
1.620
And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth, as a bryd that retorneth agayn to his owene nest.
1592
Arden of Feversham
G4
For curses are like arrowes shot upright, Which falling down light on the suters [shooter's] head.
1810
Kehama
(title-page),
Curses are like young chicken; they always come home to roost.
1880
Duty
iv.
Their injustice will return upon them. Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
1932
Cold Comfort Farm
vii.
Curses, like rookses, flies home to nest in bosomses and barnses.
1986
Washington Post
10 July A23
The proverb teaches us that ‘curses, like chickens, come home to roost.’ The Supreme Court taught that lesson one more time last week in an opinion that combined bad law with rough justice.
1996
Washington Post
26 Feb. B2
In attempting to understand last week's nonsense in New Hampshire, we do well to bear in mind three axioms so hoary that their essential truth may no longer be adequately grasped … The third, ‘Chickens always come home to roost.’
malice
;
retribution
curses
, as in quot. 1996.
c1390
Parson's Tale
1.620
And ofte tyme swich cursynge wrongfully retorneth agayn to hym that curseth, as a bryd that retorneth agayn to his owene nest.
1592
Arden of Feversham
G4
For curses are like arrowes shot upright, Which falling down light on the suters [shooter's] head.
1810
Kehama
(title-page),
Curses are like young chicken; they always come home to roost.
1880
Duty
iv.
Their injustice will return upon them. Curses, like chickens, come home to roost.
1932
Cold Comfort Farm
vii.
Curses, like rookses, flies home to nest in bosomses and barnses.
1986
Washington Post
10 July A23
The proverb teaches us that ‘curses, like chickens, come home to roost.’ The Supreme Court taught that lesson one more time last week in an opinion that combined bad law with rough justice.
1996
Washington Post
26 Feb. B2
In attempting to understand last week's nonsense in New Hampshire, we do well to bear in mind three axioms so hoary that their essential truth may no longer be adequately grasped … The third, ‘Chickens always come home to roost.’
malice;
retribution
The CUSTOMER is always right
1917Confessions of Alphonse
iii.
The great success of a restaurant is built up on this principle—
le patron n'a jamais tort
—the customer is always in the right!
1928
Good Morning, America
17
Behold the proverbs of a nation … Let one hand wash the other. The customer is always right.
1941
Death & Taxes
ii.
‘I'm drunk.’..‘You shouldn't do it, George.’ ‘Business,’ he said solemnly. ‘The customer is always right.’
1973
‘’
Let Sleeping Vets Lie
xxv.
You've heard the old saying, ‘The customer is always right.’ Well I think it's a good working axiom.
1980
Times
30 Sept. 9
That the customer is always right is a theory attributed to John Wanamaker, the American retail prince who founded the stores which bear his name.
1996
American Spectator
June 45
Guided by the shining principle that the customer is always right, Home Secretary Michael Howard was more than willing to oblige the Saudis …
buying and sellingDon't CUT off your nose to spite your face
A warning against spiteful revenge which results in one's own hurt or loss. The metaphorical phrase
to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
is very frequently found. Cf. medieval L.
male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum
,
qui amputat nasum suum
, he who cuts off his nose takes poor revenge for a shame inflicted on him; mid 14th-cent. Fr.
qui cope son nès
,
sa face est despechie
, the man who cuts off his nose spites his face.
c
1560
Deceit of Women
I 1
He that byteth hys nose of, shameth hys face.
1788
Dict. Vulgar Tongue
(ed.2) U3
V
He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face, said of one who, to be revenged of his neighbour, has materially injured himself.
1889
Master of Ballantrae
x.
He was in that humour when a man—in the words of the old adage—will cut off his nose to spite his face.
1964
English Proverbs Explained
43
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
1980
Pint of Murder
vi.
So the next thing anybody knew she'd run off an' married that no-good Bob Bascom an' if that ain't cuttin' off your nose to spite your face, I'd like to know what is.
malice
;
revenge
to cut off one's nose to spite one's face
is very frequently found. Cf. medieval L.
male ulciscitur dedecus sibi illatum
,
qui amputat nasum suum
, he who cuts off his nose takes poor revenge for a shame inflicted on him; mid 14th-cent. Fr.
qui cope son nès
,
sa face est despechie
, the man who cuts off his nose spites his face.
c1560
Deceit of Women
I 1
He that byteth hys nose of, shameth hys face.
1788
Dict. Vulgar Tongue
(ed.2) U3
V
He cut off his nose to be revenged of his face, said of one who, to be revenged of his neighbour, has materially injured himself.
1889
Master of Ballantrae
x.
He was in that humour when a man—in the words of the old adage—will cut off his nose to spite his face.
1964
English Proverbs Explained
43
Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.
1980
Pint of Murder
vi.
So the next thing anybody knew she'd run off an' married that no-good Bob Bascom an' if that ain't cuttin' off your nose to spite your face, I'd like to know what is.
malice;
revenge
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