The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (56 page)
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BLOOD is thicker than water
Predominantly used to mean that a family connection will outweigh other relationships. Cf. 12th-cent. Ger.
ouch hoer ich sagen
,
daz sippebluot von wassere niht verdirbet
, also I hear it said that kin-blood is not spoiled by water;
1412
LYDGATE
Troy Book
(EETS) III. 2071 For naturaly blod will ay of kynde Draw un-to blod, wher he may it fynde.
1813
English Proverbs
(ed. 5) 281
Blood's thicker than water.
1815
Guy Mannering
II. xvii.
Weel—blood's thicker than water—she's welcome to the cheeses.
1895
Woman who Did
xi.
At moments of unexpected danger, angry feelings between father and son are often forgotten, and blood unexpectedly proves itself thicher then water.
1914
Man upstairs & Other Stories
115
But though blood, as he was wont to remark while negotiating his periodical loans, is thicker then water, a brother-in-law's affection has its limits.
1933
From View to Death
iv.
Really .. And then they say that blood is thicker than water. They know perfectly well that I have had hayfever.
1960
Adventures of Christmas Pudding
240
It's exactly like a serial. .. Reconciliation with the nephew, blood is thicker than water.
1992
Rather English Marriage
(1993) xiii. 230
Blood's thicker than water. .. and I have to put those boys first.
family
ouch hoer ich sagen
,
daz sippebluot von wassere niht verdirbet
, also I hear it said that kin-blood is not spoiled by water;
1412
LYDGATE
Troy Book
(EETS) III. 2071 For naturaly blod will ay of kynde Draw un-to blod, wher he may it fynde.
1813English Proverbs
(ed. 5) 281
Blood's thicker than water.
1815
Guy Mannering
II. xvii.
Weel—blood's thicker than water—she's welcome to the cheeses.
1895
Woman who Did
xi.
At moments of unexpected danger, angry feelings between father and son are often forgotten, and blood unexpectedly proves itself thicher then water.
1914
Man upstairs & Other Stories
115
But though blood, as he was wont to remark while negotiating his periodical loans, is thicker then water, a brother-in-law's affection has its limits.
1933
From View to Death
iv.
Really .. And then they say that blood is thicker than water. They know perfectly well that I have had hayfever.
1960
Adventures of Christmas Pudding
240
It's exactly like a serial. .. Reconciliation with the nephew, blood is thicker than water.
1992
Rather English Marriage
(1993) xiii. 230
Blood's thicker than water. .. and I have to put those boys first.
family
The BLOOD of the martyrs is the seed of the Church
The Church has thrived on persecution. Cf. TERTULLIAN
Apologeticus
l.
semen est sanguis Christianorum
, the blood of Christians is seed.
1560
Aggeus the Prophet
U4
V
Cipriane wrytes that the bloud of Martirs is the seede of the Church.
1562
De Neutralibus & Mediis
M8
V
It is a very goodly and a most true saying: Christian mennes bloud is a sede, and in what felde so euer is sowed, ther spring vp Christian men most plenteously thick.
1655
Church Hist. Britain
I. iv.
Of all Shires in England, Stafford-shire was .. the largest sown with the Seed of the Church, I mean, the bloud of primitive Martyrs.
1889
Pleasures of Life
II. xi.
The Inquisition has even from its own point of view proved generally a failure. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
1979
Church Times
15 June 10
It is not merely that ‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’; it is that a little persecution is good for you.
adversity
;
Christianity
Apologeticus
l.
semen est sanguis Christianorum
, the blood of Christians is seed.
1560Aggeus the Prophet
U4
V
Cipriane wrytes that the bloud of Martirs is the seede of the Church.
1562
De Neutralibus & Mediis
M8
V
It is a very goodly and a most true saying: Christian mennes bloud is a sede, and in what felde so euer is sowed, ther spring vp Christian men most plenteously thick.
1655
Church Hist. Britain
I. iv.
Of all Shires in England, Stafford-shire was .. the largest sown with the Seed of the Church, I mean, the bloud of primitive Martyrs.
1889
Pleasures of Life
II. xi.
The Inquisition has even from its own point of view proved generally a failure. The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church.
1979
Church Times
15 June 10
It is not merely that ‘the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church’; it is that a little persecution is good for you.
adversity;
Christianity
BLOOD will have blood
Violence begets violence. Cf.
GENESIS
ix. 6 (AV) Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.
a
1449
Minor Poems
(EETS) 512
Blood will have wreche [vengeance], that wrongfully is spent.
1559
Mirror for Magistrates
(1938) 99
Blood wyll haue blood, eyther fyrst or last.
1605
–
6
Macbeth
III. iv. 122
It will have blood; they say blood will have blood.
1805
Madoc
I. vii.
Blood will have blood, revenge beget revenge.
1974
Cricket Term
i.
‘Blood will have blood,’ quoted Lawrie smugly.
revenge
;
violence
GENESIS
ix. 6 (AV) Who so sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed.
a1449
Minor Poems
(EETS) 512
Blood will have wreche [vengeance], that wrongfully is spent.
1559
Mirror for Magistrates
(1938) 99
Blood wyll haue blood, eyther fyrst or last.
1605
–
6
Macbeth
III. iv. 122
It will have blood; they say blood will have blood.
1805
Madoc
I. vii.
Blood will have blood, revenge beget revenge.
1974
Cricket Term
i.
‘Blood will have blood,’ quoted Lawrie smugly.
revenge;
violence
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