The Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140514783 ISBN 13: 9780140514780

Publisher: Penguin, 2001

Synopsis

A collection of over 6000 proverbs (and their origins).

About this title

From the Publisher:

Some sample entries:

182. WILL

Its power

1. Where there's a will there's a way

2. That which two will, takes effect

3. You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink

4. To bow the body is easy, to bow the will is hard (Chinese proverb)

163. SPENDING

Its effects

14. Fat housekeepers make lean executors. (Implies that those whose household expenses are too lavish will have little to leave in their wills)

15. Silks and satins put out the fire in the chimney. (A reference to hardship caused by spending money on luxuries)

16. Who dainties love, shall beggars prove.

17. Lavishness is not generosity.

18. The prodigal robs his heir; the miser himself.

27. CONTEMPT

Its sources

1. Familiarity breeds contempt. (Cited by St Augustine of Hippo as `a common proverb', early 5th century AD)

2. A maid oft seen, and a gown oft worn, are disesteemed and held in scorn.

3. Scorn comes commonly with scathe. (`Scathe' means `harm, injury')

4. Where the demand is a jest, the fittest answer is a scoff.

5. To be too busy, gets contempt. (`Busy' here has the sense of `meddlesome')

About the Author:

ROSALIND FERGUSSON has worked extensively as an editor, lexicographer and writer for over twenty years. Her previous publications include THE PENGUIN DICTIONARY OF SYNONYMS AND ANTONYMS, THE PENGUIN RHYMING DICTIONARY and CHOOSE YOUR BABY'S NAME. She is currently working on the forthcoming NEW PENGUIN ENGLISH DICTIONARY and THE PENGUIN A-Z THESAURUS.
She is married and lives in Newington, nr Sittingbourne, Kent.

About this edition

• Publisher: Penguin
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0140514783
• ISBN 13: 9780140514780
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 384
• Editor: Fergusson Rosalind