“ Like The Dictionary of Daily Blunders, this Dictionary of English Proverbs has been framed so as to enable the reader to find what he wants without difficulty. The Dictionary itself is arranged according to the principal words, and there is also a Copious Index of additional principal words.
Other modern collections profess to give an "Alphabetical Index," but such an index is of little use when we find that it is framed on the rule that because a proverb begins with the article A, it should therefore be indexed under that letter. As, "A bald head is soon shaven." ”

“ On this subject Disraeli, in his essay on the "Philosophy of Proverbs," says "The arrangement of proverbs has baffled the ingenuity of every one of their collectors. Ray, after long premeditation, has chosen a system with the appearance of an alphabetical order, but it turns out that his system is no system, and his alphabet is no alphabet. After ten years' labour the good man could only arrange his proverbs by commonplaces." In this little Dictionary, as we have already stated, the proverbs are arranged in alphabetical order, according to the leading words, and are consecutively numbered. ”

“ But, in order to avoid repetition (as most of the proverbs contain, at least, two leading words) , the subject words are used for the Dictionary, and the other principal words will be found in the Index, with a numerical reference to the proverb. The great advantage of this arrangement is, that if only one important word of a proverb be remembered, that word can be turned to in the Dictionary, and, if not found there, will certainly be in the Index. Nearly two thousand of the leading words are thus indexed—enough to make it almost impossible to miss finding what is wanted. ”

“ We know a large number of persons who would preserve themselves from perpetrating the most unfortunate blunders if they would carefully consult it.—Christian World.
The compiler of A Dictionary of Daily Blunders at least deserves credit for an excellent idea. . . . Even the most practised speaker or writer is liable to momentary uncertainty about simple points of pronunciation or spelling—not to say construction of sentences. ”

“ A very useful little work which will be invaluable to the reader whose studies have not included the classic languages. In the space of 120 pages are compressed no fewer than fifteen hundred Latin words, phrases, and proverbs, frequently met with in newspapers, political or philosophical works, law books, etc. We have looked over the book carefully, and tested it by searching for less usual quotations; but in every case we have found what we sought. Each phrase is rendered as literally as the construction of the English and Latin languages will admit ”

“ Riches. Riches are like muck, which stink in a heap, but spread abroad make the earth fruitful.
1360. Riches. Riches are but the baggage of fortune.
[77] 1361. Ride. Better ride on an ass that carries me than a horse that throws me. ”

“ He that buys land buys many stones,
He that buys flesh buys many bones,
He that buys eggs buys many shells,
He that buys ale buys nothing else.
24. Ale-house. Every one has a penny to spend at a new ale-house. ”

“ Fool. No one is a fool always; every one sometimes.
[35] 603. Fool. A fool may ask more questions in half an hour than a wise man can answer in seven years.
604. Fool. A fool may give a wise man counsel.
605. Fool. One fool makes many.
606. Fool. Every man is either a fool or a physician after thirty years of age.
607. Fool (old) . An old fool is the worst of fools.
608. Fool. Better it is to meet a bear bereaved of her whelps, than a fool in his folly.
609. Fool. A fool is fulsome.
610. Fool thinks. As the fool thinks, so the bell chinks. ”

“ The legion of "self-educated" men who adorn our age should not be without this useful companion, for, by its aid, the blunders of speech more particularly common to them would be advantageously avoided.—Citizen. ”

“ Those who are not quite sure as to their grammar, their pronunciation, or their spelling, will doubtless find this pocket volume very useful.—Sunday Times.
Will be of use to every one who has either to speak or to write. As this embraces all mankind, the book may be said to be of value to everybody. Very neatly got up.—Scotsman.
A glance through the pages of this book is very amusing, almost as entertaining as a selection of wit and humour would be. There is no doubt as to the general accuracy and usefulness of the corrections. . . . . We heartily recommend the Dictionary.—Liverpool Albion. ”

“ This plan has also the effect [viii] of bringing together the proverbs on kindred subjects, which is often a matter of importance to writers, and is, moreover, most amusing to those who only read the book to while away a leisure hour. Ready reference is further facilitated in the Index by the addition of associated words. If one word only had been given, the reader might have had to refer to eleven proverbs before he found the one he required; as, for example, in the case of Dog. ”

“ It only remains to remind the reader that this is a collection of English Proverbs only; and we may appropriately conclude our Preface with a further extract from Disraeli's essay, wherein he very justly remarks that "The experience of life will throw a perpetual freshness over these short and simple texts; every day may furnish a new commentary; and we may grow old and still find novelty in proverbs by their perpetual application."
[1]
A Dictionary of English Proverbs. A 1. Absence. Absence cools moderate passions, and inflames violent ones.
2. Absent. The absent are always at fault. ”

“ Better be a beggar than a fool.
95. Beggar. A beggar can never be bankrupt.
96. Beggar. The beggar is never out of his way.
97. Beggars. Beggars must not be choosers.
98. Beggars. Beggars on horseback will ride to the devil. ”

“ Fashion. As good to be out of the world as out of the fashion.
551. Fast bind. Fast bind, fast find.
552. Fat hog. Every one basteth the fat hog, while the lean one burneth.
553. Fault. Every one puts his fault on the times. ”

“ Purse. Be ruled by your purse.
1314. Purse. Let your purse be your master.
1315. Purse. You cannot make a purse of a sow's ear.
1316. Purse. A full purse maketh the mouth to speak.
1317. Purse. He that shows his purse longs to be rid of it.
1318. Purse.
Be it better or be it worse,
Be ruled by him who bears the purse.
1319. Purse. A heavy purse makes a light heart.
1320. Purse. He who gets four pounds and spends five has no need of a purse.
1321. Purses (wrinkled) . Wrinkled purses make wrinkled faces. ”

“ Windmill. You cannot drive a windmill with a pair of bellows.
1792. Wine. More have been drowned in wine than water.
1793. Wine. When wine sinks, words swim.
1794. Wine. Wine is the master's, but the goodness is the drawer's.
1795. Wine (good) . Good wine needs no bush.
1796. Wine (in) . When wine is in, wit is out.
1797. Wine (turncoat) . Wine is a turncoat, first a friend, then an enemy. ”

“ A wager is a fool's argument.
1710. Wages. He who serves well need not be afraid to ask his wages.
1711. Waits. He that waits on another man's trencher, makes many a late dinner.
1712. Want. The worth of a thing is best known by the want of it.
1713. Want of. For want of a nail the shoe is lost; for want of a shoe the horse is lost; for want of a horse the rider is lost.
1714. War. War, hunting, and law, are as full of trouble as pleasure.
1715. War. War is death's feast.
1716. War. Who preacheth war is the devil's chaplain. ”

“ Be a good husband, and you will get a penny to spend, a penny to lend, and a penny for a friend.
831. Husband. In the husband wisdom, in the wife gentleness.
[48]
I 832. Idle brain. An idle brain is the devil's workshop.
833. Idle folk. Idle folk have the least leisure.
834. Idle folk. Idle folk take the most pains. ”

“ Breakfast. He who would have a hare for breakfast must hunt over night.
161. Breaking. The best horse needs breaking, and the best child needs teaching.
[10] 162. Bred. That which is bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh.
163. Brevity. Brevity is the soul of wit.
164. Brew. As you brew, so shall you bake.
165. Bribe. A bribe will enter without knocking.
166. Brimmer. There is no deceit in a brimmer.
167. Broken leg. A broken leg is not healed by a silk stocking.
168. Burden. A burden which one chooses is not felt. ”

“ A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often.
363. Crows. It never goes well when the hen crows.
364. Cruelty. Cruelty is a tyrant always attended by fear.
365. Cruelty. Cruelty is a devil's delight. ”

“ It may be convenient to state that the Dictionary has been compiled principally from Ray's collection, first published in 1670. The remainder of the proverbs have been collected from ancient and modern literature ”

“ Plain dealing's a jewel.
1256. Play.
All play and no work,
Gives Tom a ragged shirt.
1257. Play. All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.
1258. Play. If you play with a fool at home, he'll play with you in the market. ”

“ Goods. A man may lose his goods for want of demanding them.
709. Good things. God reacheth us good things with our own hands.
710. Good thing. One can never have too much of a good thing.
711. Good turns. One never loseth by doing good turns.
712. Good Turn. One good turn deserves another.
713. Good words.
Good words without deeds
Are rushes and reeds.
714. Gown. The gown is hers who wears it, and the world is his who enjoys it. ”

“ Gentility. Gentility without ability is worse than plain beggary.
669. Gentle strokes. Gentle strokes make the sweetest harmony.
670. Get.
Get what you can, and what you get, hold,
'Tis the stone which will turn your lead into gold.
671. Gift horse. Look not a gift horse in the mouth.
[39] 672. Gift. A gift with a kind countenance is a double gift.
673. Give. To give and keep there is need of wit.
674. Giveth. He giveth twice who gives in a trice.
675. Giving.
Giving to the poor
Increaseth your store.
676. Gladness. A man of gladness seldom falls into madness. ”

“ Mother-wit. An ounce of mother-wit is worth a pound of clergy.
1115. Mountain. Never make a mountain of a mole-hill.
1116. Mountain. If the mountain will not go to Mahomet, let Mahomet go to the mountain.
1117. Mouth civility. Mouth civility costs little but is worth less.
1118. Mouths. He that sends mouths sends meat.
1119. Much. A fool demands much, but he's a greater that gives it. ”

“ Words (many) . Many words will not fill a bushel.
1847. Words (soft) . Soft words hurt not the mouth.
1848. Work. They that will not work in heat, must hunger in frost.
1849. Workmen (bad) . Bad workmen always complain of their tools.
1850. World. One half of the world knows not how the other half lives.
1851. World. The world is his who knows how to wait for it.
1852. World. The world was never so dull but if one won't another will.
1853. World. This world is nothing except it tend to the next.
1854. World's pulse. There needs a long time to know the world's pulse. ”

“ Every man must eat a peck of ashes before he dies.
42. Ask. Ask but enough, and you may lower as you list.
43. Ask. Ask thy purse what thou shouldst buy.
44. Asking. Lose nothing for asking.
45. Ass. The ass that brays most, eats least.
46. Ass. Every ass thinks himself worthy to stand with the king's horses. ”

“ Burdens. The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest.
172. Burnt child. A burnt child dreads the fire.
173. Business. Business is the salt of life.
174. Business. Every man as his business lies.
175. Bush. A bad bush is better than the open field.
176. Busy. Who more busy than they that have least to do.
177. Butcher. Better pay the butcher than the doctor.
178. Butter. Butter is gold in the morning, silver at noon, lead at night.
179. Butter. Why, butter would not melt in his mouth!
180. Butter. What is a pound of butter amongst a kennel of hounds? ”

“ Peas. He who hath most peas may put most in the pot.
1223. Pedlar. A small pack suits a small pedlar.
1224. Pedlar. Let every pedlar carry his own pack.
1225. Pen. Pen and ink are a wit's plough.
1226. Pence. Take care of the pence, and the pounds will take care of themselves.
1227. Penny. That penny is well spent that saves a groat.
1228. Penny. A penny in my purse will bid me drink when all my friends I have will not.
1229. Penny. A penny in your pocket is a good companion.
1230. Penny. In for a penny, in for a pound.
1231. Penny. A penny saved is a penny got. ”

“ In wiving and thriving men should take counsel of all the world.
322. Counsel. Three may keep counsel, if two be away.
323. Counselled. He that will not be counselled cannot be helped.
324. Count. Count not your chickens before they be hatched.
325. Country. In every country the sun riseth in the morning.
326. Country. You must go into the country to hear what news at London.
327. Couple. Every couple is not a pair.
328. Court. A friend at court is better than a penny in the purse. ”

“ Like master like man.
1042. Master. He that will too soon be his own master, will have a fool for his scholar.
1043. Master. No man is his craft's master the first day.
1044. Master. Marry above your match and you get a master. ”

“ A doctor and a clown know more than a doctor alone.
438. Doctor. An old doctor, a young lawyer.
439. Dog. Every dog has his day.
440. Dog. A good dog deserves a good bone.
441. Dog. It's a bad dog that deserves not a crust.
[26] 442. Dogs bark. Dogs bark before they bite.
443. Done. If you wish a thing done, go; if not, send.
444. Doomsday. A thousand pounds and a pottle of hay is all one thing at doomsday. ”

“ The greatest barkers are not always the sorest biters.
72. Barley.
When the sloe-tree is as white as a sheet,
Sow your barley, whether it be dry or wet.
73. Barleycorn. Sir John Barleycorn is the strongest knight.
74. Barley straw. Barley straw's good fodder when the cow gives water.
75. Barrel. You cannot know wine by the barrel.
76. Batchelor. Commend a wedded life, but keep thyself a batchelor.
77. Bean. Every bean has its black.
78. Beans. Sow beans in the mud, they'll grow like wood.
79. Beans. Beans should blow before May doth go.
80. Bear. A man may bear till his back breaks. ”

“ One swallow makes not a spring, nor one woodcock a winter.
1568. Sweat. No sweat, no sweet.
1569. Sweep. Sweep before your own door.
1570. Sweep. They have need of a besom that sweep the house with a turf.
1571. Sweet. He deserves not the sweet that will not taste the sour.
1572. Swim. He must needs swim that's held up by the chin.
1573. Swim. Never trust yourself out of your depth till you can swim.
1574. Sword. He that strikes with the sword shall be beaten with the scabbard.
1575. Sword. Who draws his sword against his prince must throw away the scabbard. ”

“ Over boots, over shoes.
1201. Overtakes. None is so wise but the fool overtakes him sometimes.
1202. Oysters. Oysters are not good in the month that hath not an R in it.
1203. Own dog. A man may cause his own dog to bite him. ”