The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (182 page)
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FEBRUARY fill dyke, be it black or be it white
February is traditionally a month of heavy rain (black) or snow (white), but see quot. 1978.
1557
Husbandry
D1
Feuerell fill dyke, doth good with his snowe.
1670
English Proverbs
40
February fill dike Be it black or be it white; But if it be white, It's the better to like.
1906
Country Diary of Edwardian Lady
(1977) 13
February fill dyke Be it black or be it white.
1978
Calendar of Country Customs
iii.
Though February is notoriously associated with floods, as in the appellation ‘February filldyke’, it is statistically one of the driest months of the year.
calendar lore
1557Husbandry
D1
Feuerell fill dyke, doth good with his snowe.
1670
English Proverbs
40
February fill dike Be it black or be it white; But if it be white, It's the better to like.
1906
Country Diary of Edwardian Lady
(1977) 13
February fill dyke Be it black or be it white.
1978
Calendar of Country Customs
iii.
Though February is notoriously associated with floods, as in the appellation ‘February filldyke’, it is statistically one of the driest months of the year.
calendar loreIf in FEBRUARY there be no rain, 'tis neither good for hay nor grain
An earlier expression of this idea is:
1670
J. RAY
English Proverbs
40 All the moneths in the year curse a fair Februeer.
1706
Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Febrero,
When it does not rain in February, there's neither good Grass nor good Rye.
1906
Country Diary of Edwardian Lady
(1977) 13
If February bring no rain 'Tis neither good for grass nor grain.
1978
Calendar of Country Customs
iii.
One farming adage asserts that ‘If in February there be no rain Tis neither good for hay nor grain.’
weather lore
1670
J. RAY
English Proverbs
40 All the moneths in the year curse a fair Februeer.
1706Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Febrero,
When it does not rain in February, there's neither good Grass nor good Rye.
1906
Country Diary of Edwardian Lady
(1977) 13
If February bring no rain 'Tis neither good for grass nor grain.
1978
Calendar of Country Customs
iii.
One farming adage asserts that ‘If in February there be no rain Tis neither good for hay nor grain.’
weather loreFEED a cold and starve a fever
Probably intended as two separate admonitions, but the alternative interpretation is explained in quot. 1939. Early medical advice is represented by:
1574
J. WITHALS
Dict.
66 Fasting is a great remedie in feuers.
1852
Polonius
p. ix.
‘Stuff a cold and starve a fever,’ has been grievously misconstrued, so as to bring on the fever it was meant to prevent.
1867
‘’
Celebrated Jumping Frog
69
It was policy to ‘feed a cold and starve a fever’.
1910
Clayhanger
I. xvii.
Edwin's cold was now fully developed; and Maggie had told him to feed it.
1939
Kitty Foyle
xxxi.
I said I better go downstairs and eat a square meal, ‘feed a cold and starve a fever.’.. ‘You misunderstand that.’ he says. ‘It means if you feed a cold you'll have to starve a fever later.’
1985
Beer & Skittles
viii.
He hasn't eaten anything all day, and Grandmother always says, ‘Feed a cold and starve a fever.’
1997
Washington Times
19 Nov. A8
‘Forget about feeding a cold and starving a fever,’ Dr. Edelman said, adding there is no medical reason for diet changes.
health
1574
J. WITHALS
Dict.
66 Fasting is a great remedie in feuers.
1852Polonius
p. ix.
‘Stuff a cold and starve a fever,’ has been grievously misconstrued, so as to bring on the fever it was meant to prevent.
1867
‘’
Celebrated Jumping Frog
69
It was policy to ‘feed a cold and starve a fever’.
1910
Clayhanger
I. xvii.
Edwin's cold was now fully developed; and Maggie had told him to feed it.
1939
Kitty Foyle
xxxi.
I said I better go downstairs and eat a square meal, ‘feed a cold and starve a fever.’.. ‘You misunderstand that.’ he says. ‘It means if you feed a cold you'll have to starve a fever later.’
1985
Beer & Skittles
viii.
He hasn't eaten anything all day, and Grandmother always says, ‘Feed a cold and starve a fever.’
1997
Washington Times
19 Nov. A8
‘Forget about feeding a cold and starving a fever,’ Dr. Edelman said, adding there is no medical reason for diet changes.
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