The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (507 page)
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You don't get SOMETHING for nothing
A variant of this, originally from the north country, runs
you don't get owt
[anything]
for nowt
[nothing]. Cf.
1845
DISRAELI
Sybil
I.
I
. V. To do nothing and get something formed a boy's ideal of a manly career.
1870
Struggles & Triumphs
viii.
When people expect to get ‘something for nothing’ they are sure to be cheated.
1947
Manchester Fourteen Miles
xiii.
No stranger, she declared emphatically, ever sent to another stranger ‘summat for nowt’. It would .. be against nature.
1952
Double Jeopardy
i.
You don't get something for nothing, even in medicine. Perizone has a peculiar secondary effect. It releases all inhibitions.
1979
Guardian
18 June 10
Stravinsky and Auden .. [are] saying ‘You don't get something for nothing.’ If you want the lovely things .. you can't have them unless you're prepared to pay for them.
1979
Church Times
29 June 13
You don't get owt for nowt.
reciprocity
you don't get owt
[anything]
for nowt
[nothing]. Cf.
1845
DISRAELI
Sybil
I.
I
. V. To do nothing and get something formed a boy's ideal of a manly career.
1870Struggles & Triumphs
viii.
When people expect to get ‘something for nothing’ they are sure to be cheated.
1947
Manchester Fourteen Miles
xiii.
No stranger, she declared emphatically, ever sent to another stranger ‘summat for nowt’. It would .. be against nature.
1952
Double Jeopardy
i.
You don't get something for nothing, even in medicine. Perizone has a peculiar secondary effect. It releases all inhibitions.
1979
Guardian
18 June 10
Stravinsky and Auden .. [are] saying ‘You don't get something for nothing.’ If you want the lovely things .. you can't have them unless you're prepared to pay for them.
1979
Church Times
29 June 13
You don't get owt for nowt.
reciprocitySOMETHING is better than nothing
Similar in sentiment to
HALF a loaf is better than no bread
. Cf. early 15th-cent. Fr.
mieulx vault aucun bien que neant
, something is better than nothing.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I
. ix. D1
And by this prouerbe appereth this o [one] thyng, That alwaie somwhat is better than nothyng.
1612
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
III
. vii.
I will weare it as I may: for something is better then nothing.
1842
Attorney
xvii.
Something is better than nothing—nothing is better than starving.
1980
Country Life
24 Apr. 1283
Mrs Smith worked out her own charitable rules: give what can be given in kind (for something is better than nothing) but never give money.
content and discontent
HALF a loaf is better than no bread
. Cf. early 15th-cent. Fr.
mieulx vault aucun bien que neant
, something is better than nothing.
1546Dialogue of Proverbs
I
. ix. D1
And by this prouerbe appereth this o [one] thyng, That alwaie somwhat is better than nothyng.
1612
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
III
. vii.
I will weare it as I may: for something is better then nothing.
1842
Attorney
xvii.
Something is better than nothing—nothing is better than starving.
1980
Country Life
24 Apr. 1283
Mrs Smith worked out her own charitable rules: give what can be given in kind (for something is better than nothing) but never give money.
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