A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

ASK a silly question and you get a silly answer
With allusion to PROVERBS xxvi. 5 (AV) Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own conceit.
□с 1300 South-English Legendary (EETS) 494 Ffor-sothe thou axest as a fol, and swich ansuere me schul the yive. 1484 CAXTON Aesop (1967) V. xiii. 158 And thus they wente withoute ony sentence For to a folysshe demaunde behoueth a folysshe ansuere. 1551 R. ROBYNSON tr. T. More’s Utopia I E4 For Salomon the wise sayeth: Answer a foole according to his folishnes, like as I do now. с 1600 Tarlton’s Jests (1638) E2^V The fellow seeing a foolish question had a foolish answere, laid his legges on his neck, and got him gone. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 35 A thraward [perverse] Question should a thraward Answer. 1934 C. RYLAND Murder on Cliff vi. If you ask me damned silly questions, I’m going to give you damned silly answers. 1969 ‘A. GILBERT’ Missing from her Home v. No, don’t bother to answer that. Ask a silly question and you get a silly answer. 1985 M. WESLEY Harnessing Peacocks (1990) v. 46 ‘Are you happy at school?’ Ask a silly question. ‘It’s all right.’ ‘What sort of answer is that?’ she cried in distress. ■ action and consequence; stupidity
ASK no questions and hear no lies
□1773 GOLDSMITH She stoops to Conquer III. 51 Ask me no questions and I’ll tell you no fibs. 1818 SCOTT Heart of Midlothian I. ix. If ye’ll ask nae questions, I’ll tell ye nae lees. 1900 H. LAWSON Over Sliprails 135 ‘Where did you buy the steer, father?’ she asked. ‘Ask no questions and hear no lies.’ 1906 R. KIPLING Puck of Pook’s Hill 252 Them that asks no questions isn’t told a lie—Watch the wall, my darling, while the Gentlemen go by! 1997 R. BOWEN Evans Above vi. 65 Charlie put his finger to his nose. ‘Them that asks no questions, don’t get told no lies, that’s what my old mother used to say,’ he said. ■curiosity; lying