A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

FINE words butter no parsnips
Nothing is ever achieved by fine words alone. Parsnips are traditionally garnished with butter before serving.

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  1639 J. CLARKE Paramiologia Anglo-Latina 169 Faire words butter no parsnips. 1692 R. L’ESTRANGE Fables of Aesop cccxl. Relations, Friendships, are but Empty Names of Things, and Words Butter No Parsnips. 1763 A. MURPHY Citizen I. ii. What becomes of his Greek and Latin now? Fine words butter no parsnips. 1848 THACKERAY Vanity Fair xix. Who.. said that ‘fine words butter no parsnips’? Half the parsnips of society are served and rendered palatable with no other sauce. 1997 C. M. SCHULZ
  

Washington Post 27 Jan. C12 (Peanuts comic strip)[Charlie Brown:] ‘Yes, ma’am, he’s a very smart dog. Thank you for saying so.’ [Snoopy:] ‘Fine words butter no parsnips.’ 2001 Spectator 1 Dec. 66 While it may be a truth universally acknowledged that fine words butter no parsnips, I have to say that in my experience parsnips are seldom cooked in butter. “hypocrisy; words and deeds
fine see also RAIN before seven, fine before eleven.
FINGERS were made before forks
Commonly used as a polite excuse for eating with one’s hands at table.

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  1567 Loseley MSS (1836) 212 As God made hands before knives, So God send a good lot to the cutler’s wives. 1738 SWIFT Polite Conversation ii. 136 (Colonel takes them [some fritters] out with his Hand.) Col. Here, Miss, they say, Fingers were made before Forks, and Hands before Knives. 1857 TROLLOPE Barchester Towers II. iii. Miss Thorne.. was always glad to revert to anything and.. would doubtless in time have reflected that fingers were made before forks, and have reverted accordingly. 1983 J. WAINWRIGHT Heroes no More 37 ‘This is ridiculous. However, fingers were made before forks.’ She lifted one of the king prawns from its resting place and began to nibble at it. “excuses; manners