Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs features 2,000 proverbs and sayings from around the world and across 250 subjects - from 'Cats' and 'Dogs' to 'Achievement' and 'Extravagance'. Each theme has a short introduction giving an overview of key elements in the proverbial treatment of the topic and each entry provies information on the date, source, and meaning of the phrase. Not only is this book a pleasure to browse but it is ideal for quick reference with its comprehensive index that makes it easy to find the exact phrase you're looking for. Drawing on Oxford's ongoing dictionary research and language monitoring, this book unearths sayings used in the English-speaking world from Asia, Africa, Middle East, and many other cultures. Together with proverbs more traditional to the English language it includes many new phrases, such as 'The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best is now' (modern saying).
Go from 'Let sleeping dogs lie' (English, late 14th century), to 'Let's be careful out there' (the catchphrase from the Hill Street Blues), from 'Poke a bush, a snake comes out' (Japanese proverb) to 'Caution is the parent of safety' (American, early 18th century), from 'Delhi is far away' (an Indian proverb deriving from the 14th century) to 'Once bitten by a snake, a man will be afraid of a piece of rope for three years' (China, 20th century). Find phrases on all aspects of life in this fascinating little book.