The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (292 page)
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JACK is as good as his master
Jack
is variously used as a familiar name for a sailor, a member of the common people, a serving man, and one who does odd jobs.
1706
Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Pedro,
Peter is as good as his Master. Like Master, like Man.
1868
&
Foul Play
II. xx.
Is it the general opinion of seamen before the mast? Come, tell us. Jack's as good as his master in these matters.
1905
Old Harbour Town
xi.
If the crew are to be carried away to an unbeknown place, they all go below to a man, for Jack's as good as his master when it comes to his having to do something which he didn't agree for.
1936
South Riding
I.iv.
She was far from thinking Jack as good as his master and explained failure in plebeian upstarts by saying with suave contempt: ‘Well, what can you expect? Wasn't bred to power’.
1987
Child's Play
viii.
1945 might have seen Britain ready at last for the political assertion that Jack was as good as his master, but it was still light years away from any meaningful acknowledgement that Black Jack was as good as White Jack.
employers and employees
;
equality
is variously used as a familiar name for a sailor, a member of the common people, a serving man, and one who does odd jobs.
1706Spanish & English Dict.
s.v. Pedro,
Peter is as good as his Master. Like Master, like Man.
1868
&
Foul Play
II. xx.
Is it the general opinion of seamen before the mast? Come, tell us. Jack's as good as his master in these matters.
1905
Old Harbour Town
xi.
If the crew are to be carried away to an unbeknown place, they all go below to a man, for Jack's as good as his master when it comes to his having to do something which he didn't agree for.
1936
South Riding
I.iv.
She was far from thinking Jack as good as his master and explained failure in plebeian upstarts by saying with suave contempt: ‘Well, what can you expect? Wasn't bred to power’.
1987
Child's Play
viii.
1945 might have seen Britain ready at last for the political assertion that Jack was as good as his master, but it was still light years away from any meaningful acknowledgement that Black Jack was as good as White Jack.
employers and employees;
equality
Jack
JAM tomorrow and jam yesterday, but never jam today
1871Through Looking-Glass
V.
‘The rule is, jam to-morrow and jam yesterday—but never jam to-day.’ ‘It
must
come sometimes to “jam to-day”,’ Alice objected. ‘No, it can't,’ said the Queen.
1951
Day of Triffids
xii.
Just put the Americans into the jam-tomorrow-pie-in-the-sky department awhile.
1979
Guardian
9 June 10
The manageress of the launderette calls me darling … ‘Jam yesterday, jam tomorrow, but never jam today.’
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