The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (299 page)

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BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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KEEP a thing seven years and you'll always find a use for it
1623
Palace of Pleasure
C5
Things of small value the old proverb say, Wise men seuen yeares will carefully vp lay.
1663
Parson's Wedding in Comedies & Tragedies
(1664) 100
According to the Proverb; Keep a thing seven years, and then if thou hast no use on't throw't away.
1816
Antiquary
II. vi.
They say, keep a thing seven year, an' ye'll aye find a use for't.
1945
Lark Rise
xx.
‘I don't know that I've any use for it’. ‘Use! Use!.. Keep a thing seven years and you'll always find a use for it!’
thrift
KEEP no more cats than will catch mice
1673
Counsellor Manners
lxii.
If thou hast a regard to Thrift, keep no more Cats than will kill Mice.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 350
I will keep no more cats then will catch mice (i.e. no more in family then will earn their living).
Somerset
.
1710
Proverbs
358
Keep no more Cats than will Catch Mice. Ecquipage and Attendance .. must be agreeable to Character, Dignity and Fortune.
1910
Rewards & Fairies
73
The King keeps no cats that don't catch mice. She must sail the seas, Master Dawe.
efficiency and inefficiency
;
work
KEEP your own fish-guts for your own sea-maws
1721
Scottish Proverbs
118
Give your own Sea Maws [gulls] your own Fish Guts. If you have any Superfluities give them to your poor Relations, Friends, or Countrymen, rather than to others.
1816
Antiquary
I. xv.
Ye ken my gudeman likes to ride the expresses himsel—we maun gie our ain fish-guts to our ain sea-maws.
1895
James Inwick
xix.
Na, na, we'll keep oor ain fish guts for oor ain sea maws!
1952
Death in Canongate
(1954) viii.
‘Oh! it makes me a bit sick when you can be so liberal with anyone—’ ‘And not with you. That's what you are trying to say, isn't it?’ ‘I suppose so,’ he said, and quoted lugubriously, ‘“Keep your ain fish guts for your ain sea maws.”’
charity
;
family

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