A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

LITTLE fish are sweet
□1830 R. FORBY Vocabulary of East Anglia 434 ‘Little fish are sweet.’—It means small gifts are always acceptable. 1914 K. F. PURDON Folk of Furry Farm vii. ‘They’ll sell at a loss,’ he went on, with a sigh, ‘but sure, little fish is sweet! and the rent has to be made up.’ 1981 J. BINGHAM Brock 92 Wealthy proprietor of the Melford Echo and three or four small newspapers in the country. (’Little fish are sweet, old boy.’) "great and small
A LITTLE knowledge is a dangerous thing
The Pierian spring in quot. 1711 refers to the classical tradition that the Muses were born in the Pieria region of northern Greece. The original learning is also used instead of
knowledge.
□1711 POPE Essay on Criticism 1. 215 A little Learning is a dang’rous Thing; Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian Spring. 1829 P. EGAN Boxiana 2nd Ser. II. 4 The sensible idea, that ‘A little learning is a dangerous thing!’ 1881 T. H. HUXLEY Science & Culture iv. If a little knowledge is dangerous, where is the man who has so much as to be out of danger? 1974 T. SHARPE Porterhouse Blue xviii. His had been an intellectual decision founded on his conviction that if a little knowledge was a dangerous thing, a lot was lethal. 2002 Washington Post 14 Jan. D9 If a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, then extensive-but-incomplete knowledge is a constant torment. "ignorance; learning
LITTLE leaks sink the ship
□1616 T. ADAMS Taming of Tongue 28 in Sacrifice ofThankefulnesse It is a little leake that drowneth a shippe. 1642 T. FULLER Holy State I. viii. If servants presume to dispose small things without their masters allowance (besides that many little leaks may sink a ship) this will widen their consciences to give away greater. 1745 B. FRANKLIN Poor Richard’s Almanack (Jan.) Beware of little Expences; a small leak will sink a great ship. 1809 L. DOW Chain of Lorenzo 60 Methinks none will make that reply, but those who love and plead for a little sin; one leak will sink a ship. 1927 M. P. SHIEL How Old Woman got Home II. xiii. ‘Don’t mind spending a few pounds for me: you won’t miss it.’.. ‘Won’t miss it. .. I don’t know so much about that: it’s the little leaks sink the ship.’ 2002 Washington Post 17 March H91 sweat the small stuff. Ben Franklin wrote: ‘Beware of little expenses; a small leak will sink a great ship.’ "great and small