The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (125 page)

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DIAMOND cuts diamond

Used of persons evenly matched in wit or cunning. Also frequently found as a descriptive phrase
diamond cut diamond.
Cf.
1593
NASHE
Christ's Tears
II. 9 An easie matter is it for anie man to cutte me (like a Diamond) with mine own dust.

1604
Malcontent
IV. i.
None cuttes a diamond but a diamond.
1629
Lover's Melancholy
I. 18.
We're caught in our own toyles. Diamonds cut Diamonds.
1863
Hard Cash
II. xi.
You might say I robbed you … It is diamond cut diamond.
1958
Nine Coaches Waiting
xi.
I'll always have prospects. Diamond cuts diamond.
1979
Guardian
19 Apr. 26
When the boat comes in:
Diamond cut diamond. James Bolam as the rough one turned smoothie.

similarity and dissimilarity

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You can only DIE once

c
1435
Torrent of Portugal
(EETS) l. 993
A man schall But onnys Dyee.
1597
–
8
Henry IV, Pt. 2
III. ii. 228
A man can die but once.
a
1721
in
Literary Works
(1971) I. 533
With great Submission I pronounce That People dye no more than once.
1818
Travels in Canada & United States
xxxvii.
He replied .. that he was too ill to come out, and should die if she forced him; ‘You can die but once,’ said the beldame.
1840
Olla Podrida
I. xii.
‘A man cannot die more than once,’ .. but .. a man can die .. once professionally or legally, and once naturally.
1980
Death of Favourite Girl
ii.
‘Why not,’ said Sally. ‘You can only die once.’

death
;
fate and fatalism

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die