Published on 12, July, 2020
My head is a repository of all the old sayings my mum used when I was little and they stuck.
I only ever hear people my age (50+) using these now.
It's a shame if their use disappears completely.
I'd be curious to know whether any of the younger members of the forum know/use these.
Please share any you know.
There is a lot of wisdom in these.
A few that spring to mind immediately.
A stitch in time saves nine.
He who hesitates is lost.
Look before you leap.
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Jack of all trades, master of none
A rolling stone gathers no moss.
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
Out of the frying pan, into the fire
Youth is wasted on the young
Kill two birds with one stone.
A bad workman blames his tools
A fool and his money are soon parted
Honesty is the best policy
Absence makes the heart grow fonder
Careless talk costs lives
Don't rob Peter to pay Paul
Which leads me to ... train an idiot and you get - a trained idiot. Some drink from the fountain of knowledge while others merely gargle.
Those who can, do. Those who can't teach. Those who can't teach, teach teachers. And those who can't teach teachers become Ofsted inspectors.
On experts: x is an unknown quantity or a has-been, and spurt is a drip under pressure.
In life, sometimes you are the pigeon, and sometimes you are the statue. It happens. Deal with it.
When all is said and done, a lot more is said than done.
There's light at the end of the tunnel ... [sound of a train horn]
What happens when I push this button?
" I'm sorry, Dave. I am afraid I can't do that." (2001 A Space Odyssey)
"Close the door, I’m not paying to heat the neighbourhood."
A favourite of my grandfather's. He still says it now
I recognose a few of yours. "Kill two birds with one stone" is still used pretty often I think.
One that's stuck with me is "whoever steals an egg today will steal a bull tomorrow". I've never heard someone use it in English though.
"It is easier for a camel to pass though the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven"
And "No matter who you vote for the government always gets back in" 1960's hippie saying..
Actions speak louder than words.
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts. ( especially in the vicinity of Troy)
Pixiefox said:"Don't cast a clout until May is out"
I learnt that as: 'Ne're cast a clout til May be out' ... and I thought of it this week as I tried to change over to spring clothes and it never stopped raining ...
I've heard most of these sayings before, except "he who hesitates is lost"
I was saying today how although it's a bit warmer I won't stop wearing my coat for a while, then remembered this one: "Don't cast a clout until May is out"
If you're not sure, that means "Don't take off any layers of clothing until the end of May"
"Dagnabbit!"
OOOH! oo! oo! I just used in an email "I'm not quite as green as I am cabbage like..."
One of my dad's old sayings.
Don't pick at that metaphor it can leave a nasty scar
When my ship came in I flew hell bent for leather for the dock where, shiver me timbers, but the rainbow ends could not justify the bling!
"It's a pun-y world." says I, and and left the sleeping dogs to lie to someone else.
NAS93338 said:Shame a lot of them are ghosts now you know.
What does this mean?
I agree though, there are so many good sayings on this thread. I don't know many of them but I've heard a few used by the people I know.
Roy said:Fixating on the smaller detail could be a sign of autism. Happy Friday
Neat
Wishing you the same.
Are you saying that you often don’t see the ‘bigger picture?’ Fixating on the smaller detail could be a sign of autism. Happy Friday.
Not my circus, not my clowns.
Roy said:Can’t see the wood for the trees.
I use that one constantly.
That's probably significant
Can’t see the wood for the trees.
Good sayings.
Shame a lot of them are ghosts now you know.
Or a window to cast it out of!
Number said:Haven't got a pot to pi ss in
If you obtain one, I hope it has a silver lining ... and that it is sitting at the end of a rainbow alongside a pot of gold ....
Mixed Metaphors R Us.