A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

If LIFE hands you lemons, make lemonade
□1996 F. POPCORN Clicking iii. 408 And a little stand by-the-side-of-the-road is a good spot to learn from a wise saying: If life hands you lemons, make lemonade. But, we’d like to add, then market it, franchise it, and sell it to a major international conglomerate as a fresh fruit drink. 2000 New York Times Mag. 8 Oct. 57 (advertisement) As a family, the Upshaws have developed a unique capacity, as Martha puts it, to make ‘lemonade out of lemons’—an attitude that has helped her to remain grounded. 2002 Washington Post 5 April C10 You are the perfect example of the adage ‘When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade.’ Not only have you strengthened your marriage, you have discovered new interests. ■ adversity
LIFE isn’t all beer and skittles
Life is not unalloyed pleasure or relaxation.
□1855 T. C. HALIBURTON Nature & Human Nature I. ii. ‘This life ain’t all beer and skittles.’ Many a time . . when I am disappointed sadly I say that saw over. 1857 T. HUGHES Tom Brown’s Schooldays I. ii. Life isn’t all beer and skittles. 1931 A. CHRISTIE Sittaford Mystery xxvi. ‘It’s an experience, isn’t it?’ ‘Teach him life can’t be all beer and skittles,’ said Robert Gardner maliciously. 1985 B. J. MORISON Beer & Skittles iii. ‘“Life,” as the saying goes,’ he solemnly informed Persis, ‘“is not all beer and skittles.” ‘ life
While there’s LIFE there’s hope
Cf. THEOCRITUS Idyll iv. 42 ' there’s hope among the living; CICERO
Ad Atticum ix. x. dum anima est, spes esse dicitur, as the saying is, while there’s life there’s hope; also ECCLESIASTES ix. 4 (see a LIVE dog is better than a dead lion). A more succinct L. version dum spiro, spero, while I breathe I hope, is part of the motto of South Carolina.
□1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 36^V The sycke person whyle he hath lyfe, hath hope. 1670 J. RAY English Proverbs 113 While there’s life, there’s hope, he cry’d; Then why such haste? so groan’d and dy’d. 1868 READE & BOUCICAULT Foul Play I. xi. They lost, for a few moments, all idea of escaping. But.. ‘while there’s life there’s hope.’ 1939 C. H. B. KITCHIN Death of his Uncle v. But so far it’s only the poor gentleman’s clothes that have been found, isn’t it? I mean, while there’s life there’s hope. 1996 Washington Times 29 Jan. C14 I will be pleasantly surprised if corporate America acts on your ‘wake-up call’—but where there’s life there’s hope. "life; optimism
life see also ART is long and life is short; the BEST things in life are free; a DOG is for life..; if you would be HAPPY for a week take a wife; my SON is my son till he gets him a wife, but my daughter’s my daughter all the days of her life; VARIETY is the spice of life.