The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (617 page)
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Many go out for WOOL and come home shorn
Many seek to better themselves or make themselves rich, but end by losing what they already have.
1599
Dialogues in Spanish
61
You will goe for wooll, and returne home shorne.
1612
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
I. vii.
To wander through the world .. without once considering how many there goe to seeke for wooll, that returne againe shorne themselues.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 220
Many go out for wooll and come home shorn.
1858
Piney Woods Tavern
xxiii.
There's a proverb about going out after wool, and coming home shorn.
1910
Sketches & Snapshots
315
Some go [to Ascot] intent on repairing the ravages of Epsom or Newmarket; and in this speculative section not a few .. who go for wool come away shorn.
1981
One Damn Thing after Another
iii.
One always comes back tired from holidays. ‘Go for wool and come back—?’ ‘Shaved—no, cropped.’ ‘Sheared. Yes.’
ambition
;
misfortune
;
poverty
1599Dialogues in Spanish
61
You will goe for wooll, and returne home shorne.
1612
tr.
Cervantes' Don Quixote
I. vii.
To wander through the world .. without once considering how many there goe to seeke for wooll, that returne againe shorne themselues.
1678
English Proverbs
(ed. 2) 220
Many go out for wooll and come home shorn.
1858
Piney Woods Tavern
xxiii.
There's a proverb about going out after wool, and coming home shorn.
1910
Sketches & Snapshots
315
Some go [to Ascot] intent on repairing the ravages of Epsom or Newmarket; and in this speculative section not a few .. who go for wool come away shorn.
1981
One Damn Thing after Another
iii.
One always comes back tired from holidays. ‘Go for wool and come back—?’ ‘Shaved—no, cropped.’ ‘Sheared. Yes.’
ambition;
misfortune
;
poverty
A WORD to the wise is enough
Now often abbreviated to
a word to the wise
. Cf. L.
verbum sat sapienti
, a word is sufficient to a wise man; also
verb. sap
.
a
1513
Poems
(1979) 206
Few wordis may serve the wyis.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
II
. vii. 14
V
Fewe woords to the wise suffice to be spoken.
a
1605
Englishmen for my Money
(1616) D3
They say, a word to the Wise is enough: so by this little French that he speakes, I see he is the very man I seeke for.
1768
Sentimental Journey
III. 164
A word, Mons. Yorick, to the wise .. is enough.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
ii.
‘Fred!’cried Mr. Swiveller, tapping his nose, ‘a word to the wise is sufficient for them—we may be good and happy without riches, Fred.’
a
1947
Still glides Stream
(1948) vi.
I advise you to keep an eye on that eldest daughter of yours …You know what they say, a word to the wise.
1981
Thus was Adonis Murdered
viii.
‘Well—’ the Major appeared embarrassed. ‘Word to the wise and so forth. Nod's as good as a wink.’
1994
Washington Times
29 Dec. A19
‘A word to the wise is sufficient.’ That was one of my father's favorite proverbs. I hope the new legislative majority remembers it, along with the other family values they count.
hints
a word to the wise
. Cf. L.
verbum sat sapienti
, a word is sufficient to a wise man; also
verb. sap
.
a1513
Poems
(1979) 206
Few wordis may serve the wyis.
1546
Dialogue of Proverbs
II
. vii. 14
V
Fewe woords to the wise suffice to be spoken.
a
1605
Englishmen for my Money
(1616) D3
They say, a word to the Wise is enough: so by this little French that he speakes, I see he is the very man I seeke for.
1768
Sentimental Journey
III. 164
A word, Mons. Yorick, to the wise .. is enough.
1841
Old Curiosity Shop
ii.
‘Fred!’cried Mr. Swiveller, tapping his nose, ‘a word to the wise is sufficient for them—we may be good and happy without riches, Fred.’
a
1947
Still glides Stream
(1948) vi.
I advise you to keep an eye on that eldest daughter of yours …You know what they say, a word to the wise.
1981
Thus was Adonis Murdered
viii.
‘Well—’ the Major appeared embarrassed. ‘Word to the wise and so forth. Nod's as good as a wink.’
1994
Washington Times
29 Dec. A19
‘A word to the wise is sufficient.’ That was one of my father's favorite proverbs. I hope the new legislative majority remembers it, along with the other family values they count.
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