The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (197 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

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flower

see
APRIL showers bring forth May flowers
.

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fly

see
(noun) EAGLES don't catch flies
;
HONEY catches more flies than vinegar
;
a SHUT mouth catches no flies
;
(verb) TIME flies
; also
FLEW
.

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flying

see
it is good to make a BRIDGE of gold to a flying enemy
.

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folk

see
DIFFERENT strokes for different folks
;
there's NOWT so queer as folk
;
YOUNG folks think old folks to be fools, but old folks know young folks to be fools
.

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see
TRADE follows the flag
.

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He that FOLLOWS freits, freits will follow him

A Scottish proverb. He that looks for portents of the future will find himself dogged by them.
Freits
are omens.

c
1700
in
Scottish Tragic Ballads
(1781) I. 47
Wha luik to freits, my master deir, Freits will ay follow them.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
128
He that follows Freets, Freets will follow him. He that notices superstitious Observations (such as spilling of Salt) .. it will fall to him accordingly.
1804
in Lockhart
Life of Scott
(1837) II. i.
He answered, smiling, ‘Freits (omens) follow those who look to them’ … Scott never saw him again.
1914
Times Literary Supplement
9 Apr. 178
The Kings of Scots have always been beset by omens, and .. to him who follows freits, freits follow.