Today we’re returning to our series of occasional blogs spread over the year and looking at British proverbs, their meanings and origins.
A proverb is a short, pithy saying that neatly expresses a commonly held truth or piece of wisdom. Proverbs have proved so useful in language that they appear in most cultures, often playing an important role in religion or spiritual teachings, as well as everyday life.
A great deal of common sense and worldly experience is encapsulated in proverbs. Today we’ll take a look at some beginning with the letter ‘D’:
Dead men tell no tales: Often associated with pirates, this phrase literally means that it is best to leave no survivors, as they will tell of your misdeeds and maybe give information which could lead to your eventual capture and punishment. By contrast, dead men tell no such tales. In a broader and less literal sense the proverb has come to mean don’t leave any loose ends which could cause your enterprise to unravel. The proverb can be found in literature as early as 1560 and was by no means confined to pirates. Instead it was adopted by various brigands, marauders and criminal gangs as a justification for taking no prisoners. In more modern times the truth of the proverb has been challenged by scientific advances. The skills of forensic pathologists have ensured that while dead men will ‘tell’ no tales, their bodies and the evidence found there can speak volumes about what fate befell them and even who was responsible.
Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself: As you can imagine, there is a whole host of proverbs beginning with the word “don’t”. The very nature of proverbs is to offer advice and guidance, so it stands to reason that a good deal of that advice will concern what not to do. This particular example simply means don’t employ someone to perform a task, then perform that task yourself. The earliest citation in print seems to be from a 1583 novel which contained the line: “It is small reason you should kepe a dog, and barke your selfe.” The proverb became popular in many walks of life, but especially in the military as advice to inexperienced officers not to do the jobs traditionally assigned to lower ranks. As people rise through the ranks in any occupation they often find it difficult to let go of the roles they previously performed and learn not to “bark themselves”.
Don’t try to run before you can walk: Here’s another ‘don’t’ proverb, this one meaning don’t attempt anything difficult or advanced before you’ve mastered the basic skills required for the task. Although it’s been around a very long time, this proverb still rings true today and can be applied to almost any aspect of life. Whatever it is you’re learning, from rug making to rock climbing, it’s important to get to grips with the fundamentals before you can move on to more challenging aspects. Failure to do so could end in anything from mild embarrassment to absolute disaster.
The Devil finds work for idle hands: Dating from at least the 1300s, this proverb urges people to keep busy with productive labour, because failure to do so leads down the road to mischief and wrongdoing. The imagery is that the Devil is lying in wait for anyone who is idle, ready to employ them for his own wicked ends and earn them a place in purgatory. Parents would no doubt use it to keep their children busy with chores, but, like many proverbs rooted in religion, it was also used to keep the subordinate classes in their place. Workers might not be industrious purely in the pursuit of their masters’ increased profits, but they might well be if they believed it would earn them a place in heaven, free from the clutches of the Devil!
A drowning man will clutch at a straw: When all hope is slipping away and the situation is truly desperate, a man will grab at any chance of salvation, however slight it may seem. The imagery in this proverb is that while a floating straw is extremely unlikely to save a drowning man, he will still grab for it if that is all there is. You will often hear is said that someone is “clutching at straws” when trying to extricate themselves from a precarious position, whether in sport, an argument, business or many other aspects of life. Versions of this proverb date back as early as the 1500s and although the language changes over time, the sentiment remains the same. Just very occasionally, the “straw” will save the “drowning man”, which is probably why we keep clutching at them.
A dog is for life, not just for Christmas: While most proverbs are centuries old, this is a modern one, coined in 1978 as a slogan for the UK’s National Canine Defence League, now known as the Dogs Trust. It tried to dissuade people from giving puppies as Christmas presents without first fully considering the lifelong care and commitment a dog will need, and the cost it entails. The campaign was needed because of the large number of puppies being cruelly abandoned or taken to dogs’ homes shortly after Christmas, once the novelty had worn off and the realities of dog ownership began to sink in. In recent times this modern proverb has been used more widely – and frequently paraphrased – to warn people not to act on a whim without considering the long-term commitment. For example… “a wife is for life, not just for the honeymoon – think before you propose!”