The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (578 page)

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TWO blacks don't make a white
Similar to
TWO wrongs don't make a right
.
1721
Scottish Proverbs
321
Two Blacks make no White. An Answer to them who, being blam'd, say others have done as ill or worse.
1822
Letter 14Mar (1934) VII. 96
To try whether I cannot contradict the old proverb of ‘Two blackies [Lockhart
Life:
blacks] not making a white.’
1882
Charles Lamb
vii.
As two blacks do not make a white, it was beside the mark to make laborious fun over Southey's youthful ballads.
1932
Adventures of Black Girl
28
Never forget that two blacks do not make a white.
1966
I start Counting
viii.
‘What's the modern murderer got to fear? .. They'll only go to prison ..’. ‘Two blacks don't make a white.’
good and evil
While TWO dogs are fighting for a bone, a third runs away with it
c
1386
Knight's Tale
l. 1177
We stryve as dide the houndes for the boon …Ther cam a kyte, whil that they were so wrothe, And baar awey the boon betwixe hem bothe.
1534
Dialogue of Comfort
(1553) I Aiii
V
Now strive there twain for vs, our lord send the grace, that the thyrde dog cary not awaie the bone from them both.
1639
Parœmiologia Anglo-Latina
94
Two dogs strive for a bone, and the third runs away with it.
1784
Gazette of State of S. Carolina
17 July 2
Verifying the coarse proverb, while two dogs are fighting for a bone, a third comes and runs away with it.
1983
Practical Computing
June 5
While the major companies continue to argue among themselves they are in a poor position to police the rest of the industry. When two alsatians are fighting over a large bone, a passing poodle can easily walk off with it.
opportunity, taken
TWO heads are better than one
Similar to
FOUR eyes see more than two
.
c
1390
Confessio Amantis
I
. 1021
Tuo han more wit then on.
1530
L'éclaircissement de la Langue Française
269
Two wyttes be farre better than one.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
I
. ix. C2
V
But of these two thynges he wolde determyne none Without ayde. For two hedds are better than one.
1778
Nabob
I. 5
Here comes brother Thomas; two heads are better than one; let us take his opinion.
1817
Rob Roy
I. viii.
‘Francis .. was likely to be as effectually .. supported by my presence than by yours.’ ‘Two heads are better than one, you know.’
1979
Eurokillers
xviii.
Two heads are better than one … I'd value your advice.
assistance

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