A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

bean see CANDLEMAS day, put beans in the clay, put candles and candle-sticks away.
BEAR and forbear
Cf. EPICTETUS Fragments X. л.ч?.¹ . be patient and endure; ERASMUS
Adages II. vii. 13 sustine et abstine.

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  1573 T. TUSSER Husbandry (rev. ed.) II. 12V Both beare and forbeare, now and then as ye may, then wench God a mercy [reward you], thy husband will say. 1688 BUNYAN Discourse of Building, &c. House of God 53 To bear and forbear here, will tend to rest. 1871 S. SMILES Character xi. The golden rule of married life is, ‘Bear and forbear’. 1940 H. W. THOMPSON Body, Boots & Britches xix. You must take two bears two live with you—Bear and Forbear. ■ patience and impatience; tolerance
  

bear (noun) see don’t SELL the skin till you have caught the bear.
beard see it is MERRY in hall when beards wag all.
beast see when the WIND is in the east, ‘tis neither good for man nor beast.
If you can’t BEAT them, join them
Lick is more usual in the US.

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  1941 Q. REYNOLDS Wounded don’t Cry i. There is an old political adage which says ‘If you can’t lick’em, jine ‘em’. 1953 P. GALLICO Foolish Immortals xvii. It was vital to him to get the reins back into his own hands again. He remembered an old adage: ‘If you can’t lick ’em, join ‘em.’ 1979 D. LESSING Shikasta 2661 said, Running things, what’s the point? He said, If you can’t beat them, join them! 1996 Washington Times 2 July B8 Having taken it on the chin so convincingly, brokers have decided that, if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. 2002 Washington Times 26 Feb. A20 In fact, he began an attempt to win over the Catholic party to his side; the Teutonic version of ‘can’t lick ’em, join ’em.’ ■ enemies; self-preservation
  

beat see also one ENGLISHMAN can beat three Frenchmen; it is easy to find a STICK to beat a dog; a WOMAN, a dog, and a walnut tree, the more you beat them the better they be.