The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (288 page)
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He that has an ILL name is half hanged
a1400
in
Religious Lyrics of XIVth Century
(1957) 193
Ho-so hath a wicked name Me semeth for sothe half hongid he is.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
II. vi. 12
He that hath an yll name, is halfe hangd.
1614
Devil's Banquet
IV. 156
It is a very ominous and suspitious thing to haue an ill name. The Prouerbe saith, he is halfe hanged.
1897
Raleigh
xii.
Were not an ill name half hanged he would have been acquitted.
reputation
It's ILL waiting for dead men's shoes
The earlier form of the proverb, exemplified in quots.
c
1549 and 1721, is no longer found. The metaphorical phrase
to wait for dead men's shoes
is also illustrated below.
1530
L'éclaircissement de la Langue Française
306
V
Thou lokest after deed mens shoes.
c
1549
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. C5
Who waitth for dead men shoen, shal go long barfote.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
148
He goes long bare Foot that wears dead Mens Shoon. Spoken to them who expect to be some Man's Heir, to get his Place, or Wife, if he should dye.
1758
Upholsterer
I. ii.
You have very good pretensions; but then its waiting for dead Men's Shoes.
1815
Guy Mannering
II. xvi.
That's but sma' gear, puir thing; she had a sair time o't with the auld leddy. But it's ill waiting for dead folk's shoon.
1912
London Lavender
iv.
I pointed out that I was executor to no fewer than three persons ‘It's ill waiting for dead men's shoes’, Naomi quoted.
1963
Case of Heavenly Twin
xvi.
Perhaps I was right when I suggested he told Staffer he was waiting for a dead man's shoes.
expectation
c
1549 and 1721, is no longer found. The metaphorical phrase
to wait for dead men's shoes
is also illustrated below.
1530L'éclaircissement de la Langue Française
306
V
Thou lokest after deed mens shoes.
c
1549
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. C5
Who waitth for dead men shoen, shal go long barfote.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
148
He goes long bare Foot that wears dead Mens Shoon. Spoken to them who expect to be some Man's Heir, to get his Place, or Wife, if he should dye.
1758
Upholsterer
I. ii.
You have very good pretensions; but then its waiting for dead Men's Shoes.
1815
Guy Mannering
II. xvi.
That's but sma' gear, puir thing; she had a sair time o't with the auld leddy. But it's ill waiting for dead folk's shoon.
1912
London Lavender
iv.
I pointed out that I was executor to no fewer than three persons ‘It's ill waiting for dead men's shoes’, Naomi quoted.
1963
Case of Heavenly Twin
xvi.
Perhaps I was right when I suggested he told Staffer he was waiting for a dead man's shoes.
expectationILL weeds grow apace
Cf. 14th-cent. Fr.
male herbe croist
, bad grass thrives.
c
1470
in
Anglia
(1918) XLII. 200
Wyl[d] weed ys sone y-growe.
Creuerat herba satis
,
que nil habet utilitatis
.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. x. C4
V
Ill weede growth fast Ales [Alice], wherby the corne is lorne [lost].
1578
First Fruits
31
V
An yl weede groweth apace.
1594
Richard
III II. iv. 13
‘Ay’, quoth my uncle Gloucester, ‘Small herbs have grace: great weeds do grow apace.’ .. I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flow'rs are slow and weeds make haste.
1738
Polite Conversation
I. 23
‘Don't you think Miss is grown?’ ‘Ay; ill Weeds grow a-pace’.
1905
Gospel according to St. Matthew
II. 208
The roots of the old lay hid, and, in due time, showed again above ground. ‘Ill weeds grow apace.’
good and evil
;
wrong-doers
male herbe croist
, bad grass thrives.
c1470
in
Anglia
(1918) XLII. 200
Wyl[d] weed ys sone y-growe.
Creuerat herba satis
,
que nil habet utilitatis
.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. x. C4
V
Ill weede growth fast Ales [Alice], wherby the corne is lorne [lost].
1578
First Fruits
31
V
An yl weede groweth apace.
1594
Richard
III II. iv. 13
‘Ay’, quoth my uncle Gloucester, ‘Small herbs have grace: great weeds do grow apace.’ .. I would not grow so fast, Because sweet flow'rs are slow and weeds make haste.
1738
Polite Conversation
I. 23
‘Don't you think Miss is grown?’ ‘Ay; ill Weeds grow a-pace’.
1905
Gospel according to St. Matthew
II. 208
The roots of the old lay hid, and, in due time, showed again above ground. ‘Ill weeds grow apace.’
good and evil;
wrong-doers
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