Read The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs Online
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The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (51 page)
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A BIRD never flew on one wing
Mainly Scottish and Irish. Now frequently used to justify a further gift, esp. another drink.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
308
The Bird must flighter [flutter] that flies with one Wing. Spoken by them who have Interest only in one side of the House.
1824
Inheritance
III. xxxii.
‘The bird maun flichter that flees wi' ae wing'— but ye's haud up your head yet in spite o' them a’.
1914
Folk of Furry Farm
ii.
He held out a shilling to Hughie. ‘A bird never yet flew upon the one wing, Mr. Heffernan!’ said Hughie, that was looking to get another shilling.
1925
Juno & Paycock
III. 89
Fourpence, given to make up the price of a pint, on th' principle that no bird ever flew on wan wing.
1980
No Country for Young Men
iii.
I'll just have another quick one. A bird never flew on wan wing.
food and drink
1721Scottish Proverbs
308
The Bird must flighter [flutter] that flies with one Wing. Spoken by them who have Interest only in one side of the House.
1824
Inheritance
III. xxxii.
‘The bird maun flichter that flees wi' ae wing'— but ye's haud up your head yet in spite o' them a’.
1914
Folk of Furry Farm
ii.
He held out a shilling to Hughie. ‘A bird never yet flew upon the one wing, Mr. Heffernan!’ said Hughie, that was looking to get another shilling.
1925
Juno & Paycock
III. 89
Fourpence, given to make up the price of a pint, on th' principle that no bird ever flew on wan wing.
1980
No Country for Young Men
iii.
I'll just have another quick one. A bird never flew on wan wing.
food and drink
bird
There are no BIRDS in last year's nest
Circumstances have altered.
1620
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
II. lxxiv.
I pray you go not on so fast, since that in the nests of the last yeere, there are no birds of this yeere. Whilom [formerly] I was a foole, but now I am wise.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 4863
There are no Birds this Year, in last year's Nest.
1845
Poems
62
All things are new .. even the nest beneath the eaves;—There are no birds in last year's nest.
1926
Times
19 Jan. 15
Things may not be as they were; ‘there are no birds in last year's nest’, and there may be no fish in the old rivers.
1946
Unkindly Cup
I.ii. 23
‘I am not as bad, or as unfeeling as I sound. It was my memory that was groaning—not the other part of my anatomy.’ “There are no birds in last year's nests”, Bland quoted sententiously.
change
;
circumstances
1620tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
II. lxxiv.
I pray you go not on so fast, since that in the nests of the last yeere, there are no birds of this yeere. Whilom [formerly] I was a foole, but now I am wise.
1732
Gnomologia
no. 4863
There are no Birds this Year, in last year's Nest.
1845
Poems
62
All things are new .. even the nest beneath the eaves;—There are no birds in last year's nest.
1926
Times
19 Jan. 15
Things may not be as they were; ‘there are no birds in last year's nest’, and there may be no fish in the old rivers.
1946
Unkindly Cup
I.ii. 23
‘I am not as bad, or as unfeeling as I sound. It was my memory that was groaning—not the other part of my anatomy.’ “There are no birds in last year's nests”, Bland quoted sententiously.
change;
circumstances
BIRDS in their little nests agree
A nursery proverb, also used as a direction, which states that young children should not argue among themselves.
1715
Divine Songs
25
Birds in their little Nests agree; And 'tis a shameful Sight, When Children of one Family Fall out, and chide, and fight.
1868
Little Women
i.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ sang Beth, the peacemaker.
1941
Little Town on Prairie
xiv.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ she said, smiling …She knew nothing at all about birds.
1961
Winter of our Discontent
I.i.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ he said. ‘So why can't we?..You kids can't get along even on a pretty morning.’
1980
Birds of Air
52
Her mother used to say to her and Mary: ‘Birds in their little nests agree.’
harmony
1715Divine Songs
25
Birds in their little Nests agree; And 'tis a shameful Sight, When Children of one Family Fall out, and chide, and fight.
1868
Little Women
i.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ sang Beth, the peacemaker.
1941
Little Town on Prairie
xiv.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ she said, smiling …She knew nothing at all about birds.
1961
Winter of our Discontent
I.i.
‘Birds in their little nests agree,’ he said. ‘So why can't we?..You kids can't get along even on a pretty morning.’
1980
Birds of Air
52
Her mother used to say to her and Mary: ‘Birds in their little nests agree.’
harmony
BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs
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