The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (484 page)
Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
Authors: John Andrew Simpson,
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
4.98Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
What you SEE is what you get
Of American origin: often shortened to the acronym
wysiwyg
(especially in computing) of a system capable of reproducing the screen format of text on a printout.
1971
New York Times
14 Nov. 17
‘What you see, is what you get’ .. is one of those recurring gag lines from the Flip Wilson Show that has quickly drifted into the language, all but become a household expression.
1983
To die in Beverly Hills
vii.
The teleprinter raced as it printed the names of arrestees nicknamed Bones. ‘What you see is what you get,’ she said, squirming to point her breasts. ‘I mean the printout of course.’
1990
Washington Post
10 Sept. (Business Section) 59
The lenders who would lend to anyone who said ‘real estate’ aren't lending now. So we aren't going to build any more product. What you see is what you get.
1997
Spectator
19 July 20
I am an old woman .. and this is how I look. What you see is what you get.
appearance, significant
wysiwyg
(especially in computing) of a system capable of reproducing the screen format of text on a printout.
1971New York Times
14 Nov. 17
‘What you see, is what you get’ .. is one of those recurring gag lines from the Flip Wilson Show that has quickly drifted into the language, all but become a household expression.
1983
To die in Beverly Hills
vii.
The teleprinter raced as it printed the names of arrestees nicknamed Bones. ‘What you see is what you get,’ she said, squirming to point her breasts. ‘I mean the printout of course.’
1990
Washington Post
10 Sept. (Business Section) 59
The lenders who would lend to anyone who said ‘real estate’ aren't lending now. So we aren't going to build any more product. What you see is what you get.
1997
Spectator
19 July 20
I am an old woman .. and this is how I look. What you see is what you get.
appearance, significant
SEE no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil
The proverb is conventionally represented by three monkeys covering their eyes, ears, and mouth respectively with their hands.
1926
Army & Navy Stores Catalogue
197
The three wise monkeys. ‘Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.’
1939
Man who didn't Answer
viii.
‘Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil’ was all right in its place, but Matt knew .. they gossiped as much there as in any other smallish town.
1978
Money War
III
. 233
It's the sort of thing they want done but do not want to know about. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
1995
Mortal Remains
(1996) xiii. 182
But they were as useless as the three proverbial monkeys: hear no, see no, and speak no evil.
1926Army & Navy Stores Catalogue
197
The three wise monkeys. ‘Speak no evil, see no evil, hear no evil.’
1939
Man who didn't Answer
viii.
‘Hear no evil, see no evil and speak no evil’ was all right in its place, but Matt knew .. they gossiped as much there as in any other smallish town.
1978
Money War
III
. 233
It's the sort of thing they want done but do not want to know about. See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.
1995
Mortal Remains
(1996) xiii. 182
But they were as useless as the three proverbial monkeys: hear no, see no, and speak no evil.
see
see also
BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see
;
there's none so BLIND as those who will not see
;
what the EYE doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over
;
HEAR all, see all, say nowt
;
they that LIVE longest, see most
;
LOOKERS-ON see most of the game
; see
a PIN and pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck
; also
SEEING
,
SEEN
.
BELIEVE nothing of what you hear, and only half of what you see
;
there's none so BLIND as those who will not see
;
what the EYE doesn't see, the heart doesn't grieve over
;
HEAR all, see all, say nowt
;
they that LIVE longest, see most
;
LOOKERS-ON see most of the game
; see
a PIN and pick it up, all the day you'll have good luck
; also
SEEING
,
SEEN
.
Good SEED makes a good crop
The obverse is found earlier in 1492
Dialogue of Salomon & Marcolphus
(1892) 5 He that sowyth chaf shall porely mowe.
1569
Longer Thou Livest
A2
To be a good man it is also expedient Of good Parents to be begotten and borne … Commonly of good Seed procedeth good Corne.
1700
Letters
i.
If the Seed he Sowes be good .. his Crop is according; .. If he Sows Tares .. will he expect Wheat?
1940
Long Winter
xvii.
Seed-time's pretty sure to come around … And good seed makes a good crop.
beginnings and endings
Dialogue of Salomon & Marcolphus
(1892) 5 He that sowyth chaf shall porely mowe.
1569Longer Thou Livest
A2
To be a good man it is also expedient Of good Parents to be begotten and borne … Commonly of good Seed procedeth good Corne.
1700
Letters
i.
If the Seed he Sowes be good .. his Crop is according; .. If he Sows Tares .. will he expect Wheat?
1940
Long Winter
xvii.
Seed-time's pretty sure to come around … And good seed makes a good crop.
beginnings and endingsOther books
Psion Beta by Jacob Gowans
Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
Dark Ritual by Patricia Scott
1 Dead in Attic by Chris Rose
Dusk of Defiance (The Era of Ensemble Book 1) by Woosey, JP
Consuming Passions: Leisure and Pleasure in Victorian Britain by Flanders, Judith
Through Smoke: The Troubled Heroes Series by J.R. Tate
The Fall by R. J. Pineiro
Las fieras de Tarzán by Edgar Rice Burroughs
Wish You Were Here by Stewart O'Nan