The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

by John Andrew Simpson

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs is a guide to current English proverbs old and new. Some 1000 proverbs (100 new to this edition) appear, in all their major variants, with their history traced in illustrative quotations. A new thematic index allows the reader to find proverbs dealing with particular subjects and situations as diverse as beauty and bee-keeping, warfare and weather.

Genres: Reference, Language, Nonfiction

333 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 1983

About the author

John Simpson joined the staff of the Oxford English Dictionary in the summer of 1976. He was appointed Chief Editor in 1993. He is a member of the English Faculty at Oxford and of the Philological Society (where the idea of the Dictionary was first mooted in the 1850s), and a Fellow of Kellogg College. He is a world expert on proverbs and slang, and has edited dictionaries on both these subjects for Oxford University Press; he regularly lectures and broadcasts on the English language and on the Dictionary.

--from the author's website

Reviews

[Alok Mishra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good reference book for anyone who wants to know more about the world's most famous English proverbs (mostly). The book contains a very large number of entries and does not disappoint the readers in giving details, meanings and possible attribution.

[Harry Harman]

If something can go wrong or be misinterpreted, it will’

Commonly known as Murphy's Law, If an aircraft part can be installed incorrectly, someone will install it that way.

It is BETTER to be born lucky than rich

BIG fish eat little fish

The BIGGER they are, the harder they fall

A BIRD in the hand is worth two in the bush

in the COUNTRY of the blind, the one-eyed man is king

a RISING tide lifts all boats.

if you WANT something done, ask a busy person.

don't THROW the baby out with the bathwater.

EARLY to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise

A BIRD never flew on one wing

an IDLE brain is the Devil's workshop.

Take care of the PENCE and the pounds will take care of themselves.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

This looks like an interesting book. Most of the Proverbs seem to me to be English proverbs. Unfortunately I was looking for Chinese proverbs so it's hard for me to say how good it is in terms of meeting any specific need. But if you like to know the sources of common sayings, this book would be interesting to read through. It seems very thorough and well done.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book for a dollar at a recent library book sale. It’s an amusing little thing – great for nighttime reading. Centuries ago, students were taught to memorize long list of proverbs (until someone finally realized that many of these nuggets of wisdom contradicted each other.

This is hardly a comprehensive listing of proverbs. I can think of a few that are not included. (I.e., You can’t put the toothpaste back into the tube.) But it is interesting to see the origins of some I knew, and hear some that were new to me (Shrouds have no pockets – i.e., you can’t take it with you).

This is a light, entertaining read for anyone interested in language and unusual expressions, but it is also designed to be a reference work to look up the origin of a proverb using one of the key words. I only wish it offered more explanations of the meanings. Some just left me baffled.