A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

FIRST catch your hare
Commonly thought to originate in the recipe for hare soup in Mrs Glasse’s Art of Cookery (1747) or in Mrs Beeton’s Book of Household Management (1851), but not found there (see quot. 1896). Similar in sentiment to CATCHING’S before hanging. Cf. c 1300 BRACTON De Legibus Angliae IV. xxi. vulgariter dicitur, quod primo opportet cervum capere, & postea cum captus fuerit illum excoriare, it is commonly said that one must first catch the deer, and afterwards, when he has been caught, skin him.

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  1801 Spirit of Farmers’ Museum 55 How to dress a dolphin, first catch a dolphin. 1855 THACKERAY Rose & Ring xiv. ‘To seize wherever I should light upon him—’ ‘First catch your hare!’.. exclaimed his Royal Highness. 1896 Daily News 20 July 8 The familiar words, ‘First catch your hare,’ were never to be found in Mrs. Glasse’s famous volume. What she really said was, ‘Take your hare when it is cased [skinned].’ 1984 ‘C. AIRD’ Harm’s Way iii. Sloan took his reply straight from the pages of an early cookery book. .. ‘First, catch your hare.’ *ways and means
  

FIRST come, first served
Cf. late 13th-cent. Fr. qui aingois vient au molin aingois doit moldre, he who comes first to the mill may grind first.

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  с 1390 CHAUCER Wife of Bath’s Prologue 1. 389 Whoso that first to mille comth, first grynt. 1548 H. BRINKELOW Complaint of Roderick Mors xvii. Ye haue a parciall lawe in making of tachmentes [attachments, i.e. judicial seizure of one’s person or goods (obsolete)], first come first serued. 1608 R. ARMIN Nest of Ninnies D1 He found Sexton.. making nine graues.. and who so dyes next, first comes, first seru’d. 1819 SCOTT Montrose in Tales of my Landlord 3rd Ser. IV. xii. All must.. take their place as soldiers should, upon the principle of, first come, first served. 2002 Rough Guide: Hong Kong & Macau 170 You can’t reserve seats on the ferries: it’s first come, first served, so get there early at busy times. ■ orderliness