The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (123 page)
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The DEVIL looks after his own
Cf.
1606
J. DAY
Isle of Gulls
D4
V
You were worse then the devil els, for they say hee helps his Servants.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
310
The Dee'ls ay good to his own … Spoken when they whom we affect not, thrive and prosper in the World; as if they had their Prosperity from the Devil.
1837
Arethusa
II. i.
Weazel was the only midshipman saved besides myself: the devil always takes care of his own.
1940
Why did Trethewy Die
? vii.
‘The devil looks after his own,’ said Pierce. ‘Yes, doesn't he? But even he's not so clever, either.’
1979
Hooky & Villainous Chauffeur
xii.
I managed; as the saving goes, the devil looks after his own.
associates
;
good fortune
1606
J. DAY
Isle of Gulls
D4
V
You were worse then the devil els, for they say hee helps his Servants.
1721Scottish Proverbs
310
The Dee'ls ay good to his own … Spoken when they whom we affect not, thrive and prosper in the World; as if they had their Prosperity from the Devil.
1837
Arethusa
II. i.
Weazel was the only midshipman saved besides myself: the devil always takes care of his own.
1940
Why did Trethewy Die
? vii.
‘The devil looks after his own,’ said Pierce. ‘Yes, doesn't he? But even he's not so clever, either.’
1979
Hooky & Villainous Chauffeur
xii.
I managed; as the saving goes, the devil looks after his own.
associates;
good fortune
The DEVIL makes his Christmas pies of lawyers' tongues and clerks' fingers
1591Second Fruits
179
Of three things the Deuill makes his messe, Of Lawyers tongues, of Scriveners fingers, you the third may gesse [i.e. women].
1629
Workes
1059
Corrupt and consciencelesse lawyers you will confesse to be sharp and wounding brambles … The Italians haue a shrewd prouerbe against them. The Deuill makes his Christmas-pyes of lawyers tongues, and clerkes fingers.
a
1697
Brief Lives
(1898) I. 422
Sir Robert Pye, attorney of the court of wardes, .. happened to dye on Christmas day: the newes being brought to the serjeant, said he ‘The devill haz a Christmas pye.’
1952
Calendar of Crime
248
Well, well, it couldn't have happened at a more appropriate season; there's an old English proverb that says the Devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers' tongues.
1980
Times
24 Dec. 8
The Devil makes his Christmas-pies of television personalities' tongues and journalists' typing fingers: old English proverb, adapted.
honesty and dishonesty;
law and lawyers
The DEVIL's children have the Devil's luck
Cf.
the DEVIL looks after his own.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 126
The Devils child the Devils luck.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
333
The Dee'ls Bairns have Dee'ls luck. Spoken enviously when ill People prosper.
1798
Letter
20 July (1845) III. 42
It is an old saying, ‘the Devil's children have the Devil's luck.’ I cannot find .. where the French Fleet are gone to.
1841
Tom Bowling
II. x.
The luck of the fellow! .. Not a leg or an arm missing … The devil's children have the devil's luck.
1938
Corpse with Grimy Glove
vii.
They must have had her hidden up somewhere .. and waited till after sundown to get away. The devil's own luck—but the devil looks after his children.
1980
Red Kill
viii.
The Devil's son has the Devil's luck. We're going to need that kind of luck.
luck
the DEVIL looks after his own.
1678English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 126
The Devils child the Devils luck.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
333
The Dee'ls Bairns have Dee'ls luck. Spoken enviously when ill People prosper.
1798
Letter
20 July (1845) III. 42
It is an old saying, ‘the Devil's children have the Devil's luck.’ I cannot find .. where the French Fleet are gone to.
1841
Tom Bowling
II. x.
The luck of the fellow! .. Not a leg or an arm missing … The devil's children have the devil's luck.
1938
Corpse with Grimy Glove
vii.
They must have had her hidden up somewhere .. and waited till after sundown to get away. The devil's own luck—but the devil looks after his children.
1980
Red Kill
viii.
The Devil's son has the Devil's luck. We're going to need that kind of luck.
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