The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (353 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

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1539
tr.
Erasmus' Adages
15
Many thynges fall betwene the cuppe and the mouth … Betwene the cuppe and the lyppes maye come many casualties.
1783
in
Collections of Massachusetts Hist. Society
(1877) 5th Ser. II. 216
Have a care, and remember the old proverb of ‘many a slip,’ &c.
1840
Ingoldsby Legends
1st Ser. 280
Doubtless the adage, ‘There's many a slip 'Twixt the cup and the lip,’ hath reference to medicine.
1934
12.30 from Croydon
xii.
He had seen nothing in writing on the subject, and he could not help being worried by dark thoughts of slips between cups and lips.
1979
Summer Scandal
xiii.
‘I thought you were here for life.’ .. ‘There's many a slip between cup and lip.’

disappointment
;
error

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MANY are called but few are chosen

With allusion to
MATTHEW
xxii. 14 (AV) For many are called, but few are chosen.

1871
Life J.S. Batkins
xxviii.
The saying that ‘many shall be called, but few chosen’.
1980
Dissident
iii.
‘Many are called .. but few are chosen.’ He's right. Those of us conscious of our destinies may fairly be termed ‘elitistes’.

choice

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MANY hands make light work

Cf. HESIOD
Works & Days
380