The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (495 page)

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Authors: John Andrew Simpson,

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SHROUDS have no pockets
1854
On Lessons in Proverbs
(ed. 2) v.
With an image Dantesque in its vigour, that ‘a man shall carry nothing away with him when he dieth’, take this Italian,
Our last robe
, that is our winding sheet, is made
without pockets
.
1909
Epistle to Ephesians
41
There is nothing that is truly our wealth which remains outside of us, and can be separated from us. ‘Shrouds have no pockets.’
1961
Spoilt Kill
II
. 20
‘He had a win on the pools and it's burning him.’ ‘Shrouds don't need pockets, love,’ he said with a grin.
1983
Sleepers of Erin
xxviii.
I remembered the ugly thunk of Gerald's arrows as they hit the castle rider. I might even win the torc back, but there's no pockets in shrouds.
death
;
money
A SHUT mouth catches no flies
1599
Spanish Grammar
83
In a closed vp mouth a flie cannot get in.
1640
Outlandish Proverbs
no. 219
Into a mouth shut flies flie not.
1659
Appeal of Injured Innocence
I
. 12
The
Spanish
Proverb .. is necessary in dangerous ..Times,
Where the mouth is shut no Fly doth enter
.
1742
Poor Richard's Almanack
(Feb.)
Speak and speed: the close mouth catches no flies.
1897
In Kedar's Tents
xxiii.
Concha, remembering .. that no flies enter a shut mouth, was silent.
1926
City of Sacred Well
xv.
Tell each of them that a shut mouth catches no flies. We may find .. nothing .. and .. we do not want the other men laughing at us behind our backs.
1970
Brendan Behan
i.
A shut mouth will catch no flies.
discretion
;
speech and silence

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