The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (5 page)
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As good be an ADDLED egg as an idle bird
1578Euphues
I. 325
If I had not bene gathered from the tree in the budde, I should beeing blowne haue proued a blast, and as good it is to bee an addle egge as an idle bird.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 681
As good be an addled Egg, as an idle Bird.
1974
Ghost Writer
iii.
The chickens are feeling the heat, poor creatures. I'm afraid I gave them a bit of a ticking off. As good be an addled egg, I told them, as an idle bird.
action and inaction;
idleness
ADVENTURES are to the adventurous
1844Coningsby
III. 1. 244
‘I fear that the age of adventures is past.’ … ‘Adventures are to the adventurous,’ said the stranger.
1914
‘’
Beasts & Super-Beasts
264
Adventures, according to the proverb, are to the adventurous.
1952
‘’
Mr Nicholas
iv.
He told himself that adventure was to the adventurous … If he could not make the effort for the small he would miss the big adventure.
boldness;
opportunity, taken
;
risk
ADVERSITY makes strange bedfellows
While the underlying idea remains the same, there has always been some variation in the first word of the proverb: see also
POLITICS makes strange bedfellows
.
1611
Tempest
II. ii. 37
My best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
1837
Pickwick Papers
xli. (
heading
)
Illustrative .. of the old proverb, that adversity brings a man acquainted with strange bedfellows.
1886
Princess Casamassima
I. I. x.
She loathed them [the people] with the outspoken violence of one who had known poverty, and the strange bedfellows it makes.
1927
Times
27 Aug. 12
The .. alliance of 1923–5 was an illustration of the adage that adversity makes strange bedfellows.
1982
Times
15 Mar. 9 (
heading
)
Poverty makes strange bedfellows.
adversity
;
misfortune
POLITICS makes strange bedfellows
.
1611Tempest
II. ii. 37
My best way is to creep under his gaberdine; there is no other shelter hereabout. Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows.
1837
Pickwick Papers
xli. (
heading
)
Illustrative .. of the old proverb, that adversity brings a man acquainted with strange bedfellows.
1886
Princess Casamassima
I. I. x.
She loathed them [the people] with the outspoken violence of one who had known poverty, and the strange bedfellows it makes.
1927
Times
27 Aug. 12
The .. alliance of 1923–5 was an illustration of the adage that adversity makes strange bedfellows.
1982
Times
15 Mar. 9 (
heading
)
Poverty makes strange bedfellows.
adversity;
misfortune
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