IN FRATERNAM MEAM

IN FRATERNAM MEAM

Friday, January 02, 2004

PROVERBS:
Meanings and Origins of Popular Sayings
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(as compiled by: Martin H. Manser)

1. actions speak louder than words:
--- the first recorded use of this proverb, in the form "actions are more precious than words", was in a speech by the english politician John Pym in 1628, Its current form is of U.S. origin.

2. age before beauty:
--- this proverb was first recorded in 1843, facetious retorts or extensions to the proverb includes "bBeauty before the beast". or "Grace before meat." and "Pearls before swine".

3. all good things must come to an end:
--- this proverb was first record c. 1440: " Ye wrote wele of all thing moste be an ends" the word good was probably not included until the 19th or early 20th century.

4. all's well that ends well:
--- first recorded in this form c. 1530, the proverb is perhaps the best known as the title of one of Shakespeare's play.

5. all that glitters is not gold:
--- this proverbs occurs in Shakespear's play "The Merchant of Venice" in the form:"All that glitters is not gold", but the sentiment it expresses was first recorded c. 1220.

6. always a bridesmaid, never a bride:
--- this proverb is also used more generally as alament by a young womand who receives many invitations to be a bridesmaid but not aproposals of marriage.this proverb was first recorded in 1881 in the form :" Always a maiden, never a wife", the word maiden being a "bridal attendant" in this context.

7. always look on the bright side:
--- the proverbs was first recorded in 1726, in a sermon by John Wesley, according to a less well known saying , "if you try to make some people see the bright side, they will complain that it hurts their eyes".

8. appearances are deceiving:
--- this proverb was first recorded in 1666, in an Italian proverb collections, but the sentiment it expresses can be found in one of Aesop Fables (16th cent.b.c.), which also gave rise to the figurative praise:" a wolf in sheep's clothing".

9. an apple a day keeps the doctor away:
--- the proverb was first recorded in 1866 in the form:" eat an apple on going to bed/ and you'll keep the doctor from earning his bread".

10.ask me no questions and I'll tell you no lies:
--- this proverb was based on a biblical quotation, "coAnswer a fool according to his folly,lest he be wise in his own conceit"(Proverbs 26:5) the variant of this proverb is: "silly question, silly answer".

(to be continued--- i am very sleepy)

posted by infraternam meam @ 5:02 AM

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