The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs (62 page)
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BRAG is a good dog, but Holdfast is better
Tenacity and quietness of manner are preferable to ostentation. Cf.
1580
A. MUNDAY
Zelauto
146 Brag is a good Dogge, whyle he will holde out: but at last he may chaunce to meete with his matche;
1599
SHAKESPEARE
Henry
V II. iii. 52 And Holdfast is the only dog, my duck.
1709
English Proverbs
123
Brag is a good Dog, but Hold-fast is a Better …Nothing edifies less in an ingenuous Conversation, than Boasting and Rattle.
1752
Rambler
4 Feb. VIII. 92
When I envied the finery of any of my neighbours, [my mother] told me, that ‘brag was a good dog, but holdfast was a better’.
1889
Pictorial Proverbs for Little People
11
Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast is better.
1937
It's Far Cry
xxi.
In golf, as in life .. the exceptional has no staying qualities. To quote a Southern [US] saying, ‘Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is better’.
1952
Some Part of Myself
vii.
I remember my mother's repeating once after he left an old proverb: ‘Brag's a good dog, but Hold Fast is a better.’
boasting
;
words and deeds
1580
A. MUNDAY
Zelauto
146 Brag is a good Dogge, whyle he will holde out: but at last he may chaunce to meete with his matche;
1599
SHAKESPEARE
Henry
V II. iii. 52 And Holdfast is the only dog, my duck.
1709English Proverbs
123
Brag is a good Dog, but Hold-fast is a Better …Nothing edifies less in an ingenuous Conversation, than Boasting and Rattle.
1752
Rambler
4 Feb. VIII. 92
When I envied the finery of any of my neighbours, [my mother] told me, that ‘brag was a good dog, but holdfast was a better’.
1889
Pictorial Proverbs for Little People
11
Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast is better.
1937
It's Far Cry
xxi.
In golf, as in life .. the exceptional has no staying qualities. To quote a Southern [US] saying, ‘Brag is a good dog, but Holdfast is better’.
1952
Some Part of Myself
vii.
I remember my mother's repeating once after he left an old proverb: ‘Brag's a good dog, but Hold Fast is a better.’
boasting;
words and deeds
None but the BRAVE deserve the fair
The pair referred to in Dryden's poem (
Alexander's Feast
) are Alexander the Great and the Athenian courtesan Thaïs.
1697
Poems
(1958) III. 148
Happy, happy, happy Pair!..None but the Brave deserves the Fair.
1829
Boxiana
2nd Ser. II. 354
The tender sex .. feeling the good old notion that ‘none but the brave deserve the fair’, were sadly out of temper.
1873
Phineas Redux
II. xiii.
All the proverbs were on his side. ‘None but the brave deserve the fair,’ said his cousin.
1978
Praxis
xii.
She frequented the cafe where the Rugger set hung out, and on a Saturday, after closing hours, could be seen making for the downs, laughing heartily and noisily in the company of one or other of the brave, who clearly deserved the fair.
courage
;
just deserts
Alexander's Feast
) are Alexander the Great and the Athenian courtesan Thaïs.
1697Poems
(1958) III. 148
Happy, happy, happy Pair!..None but the Brave deserves the Fair.
1829
Boxiana
2nd Ser. II. 354
The tender sex .. feeling the good old notion that ‘none but the brave deserve the fair’, were sadly out of temper.
1873
Phineas Redux
II. xiii.
All the proverbs were on his side. ‘None but the brave deserve the fair,’ said his cousin.
1978
Praxis
xii.
She frequented the cafe where the Rugger set hung out, and on a Saturday, after closing hours, could be seen making for the downs, laughing heartily and noisily in the company of one or other of the brave, who clearly deserved the fair.
courage;
just deserts
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