The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (327 page)
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LITTLE leaks sink the ship
1616Taming of Tongue
28 in
Sacrifice of Thankefulnesse
It is a little leake that drowneth a shippe.
1642
Holy State
I. viii.
If servants presume to dispose small things without their masters allowance (besides that many little leaks may sink a ship) this will widen their consciences to give away greater.
1745
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Jan.)
Beware of little Expences; a small leak will sink a great ship.
1809
Chain of Lorenzo
60
Methinks none will make that reply, but those who love and plead for a
little
sin; one leak will
sink
a ship.
1851
London at Table
iv.
Beware of little expenses—a small leak will sink a great ship.
1927
How Old Woman got Home
II. xiii.
‘Don't mind spending a few pounds for me: you won't miss it’ .. ‘Won't miss it .. I don't know so much about that: it's the little leaks sink the ship.’
great and small
LITTLE pitchers have large ears
Children overhear much that is not meant for them. A pitcher's
ears
are its handles.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
II. V. G4
V
Auoyd your children, small pitchers haue wide eares.
1594
Richard
III ii. iv. 37
Good madam, be not angry with the child.—Pitchers have ears.
1699
New Dict. Canting Crew
s.v. Pitcher-bawd,
Little Pitchers have large ears.
1840
Ingoldsby Legends
1st Ser. 226
A truth Insisted on much in my earlier years, To wit, ‘Little pitchers have very long ears!’
1972
Colonel Butler's Wolf
i.
He watched her shoo her sisters safely away … He had been lamentably careless in forgetting that little pitchers had large ears.
1996
Body in Bog
ii. 39
Any question of whether Miss Lora had heard about the latest attack on her family was answered by the teacher's first words to Faith, whispered furiously after the precaution ‘Little pitchers have big ears.’
eavesdroppers
ears
are its handles.
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
II. V. G4
V
Auoyd your children, small pitchers haue wide eares.
1594
Richard
III ii. iv. 37
Good madam, be not angry with the child.—Pitchers have ears.
1699
New Dict. Canting Crew
s.v. Pitcher-bawd,
Little Pitchers have large ears.
1840
Ingoldsby Legends
1st Ser. 226
A truth Insisted on much in my earlier years, To wit, ‘Little pitchers have very long ears!’
1972
Colonel Butler's Wolf
i.
He watched her shoo her sisters safely away … He had been lamentably careless in forgetting that little pitchers had large ears.
1996
Body in Bog
ii. 39
Any question of whether Miss Lora had heard about the latest attack on her family was answered by the teacher's first words to Faith, whispered furiously after the precaution ‘Little pitchers have big ears.’
eavesdroppersA LITTLE pot is soon hot
A small person is easily roused to anger or passion.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. D2
It is wood [mad] at a woorde, little pot soone whot.
1593
Taming of Shrew
IV. i. 6
Now were not I a little pot and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth.
1670
English Proverbs
115
A little pot's soon hot … Little persons are commonly cholerick.
1884
Perilous Secret
II. xv.
Cheeky little beggar, But .. ‘a little pot is soon hot’.
1930
Mignonette
xxiii.
‘Oh well,’ she quite obviously swallowed down her grievance, still simmering, ‘I suppose you'll say little pots are soon hot.’
anger
;
great and small
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
I. xi. D2
It is wood [mad] at a woorde, little pot soone whot.
1593
Taming of Shrew
IV. i. 6
Now were not I a little pot and soon hot, my very lips might freeze to my teeth.
1670
English Proverbs
115
A little pot's soon hot … Little persons are commonly cholerick.
1884
Perilous Secret
II. xv.
Cheeky little beggar, But .. ‘a little pot is soon hot’.
1930
Mignonette
xxiii.
‘Oh well,’ she quite obviously swallowed down her grievance, still simmering, ‘I suppose you'll say little pots are soon hot.’
anger;
great and small
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