A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

MAY chickens come cheeping
The proverb literally means that the weakness of chickens born in May is apparent from their continual feeble cries.

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  1868 A. HISLOP Proverbs of Scotland 223 May birds are aye cheeping. This refers to the popular superstition against marrying in.. May, the children of which marriages are said to ‘die of decay’. 1895 S. O. ADDY Household Tales II. viii. Children born in the month of May require great care in bringing up, for ‘May chickens come cheeping.’ ■ calendar lore; misfortune
  

May see also APRIL showers bring forth May flowers; ne’er CAST a clout till May be out; MARRY in May, rue for aye; so many MISTS in March, so many frosts in May; SELL in May and go away; a SWARM in May is worth a load of hay; SWEEP the house with broom in May, you sweep the head of the house away.
may see he that WILL not when he may, when he will he shall have nay.
means see the END justifies the means; he who WILLS the end, wills the means.
MEASURE seven times, cut once
Russian proverb, originally referring to carpentry and needlework, meaning that care taken in preparation will prevent errors; cf. MEASURE twice, cut once and THINK twice, cut once.

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  1853 W. FELGATE trans. Tapparelli d’Azeglio, Marchese Massimo Maid of Florence 213 ‘However, measure seven times before you cut once.’ ‘The more I think of it, the more do I repent not having done it.’ 1920 ‘Moscow wireless message’ in Times 2 July (online) If the small Powers, attentive to the policy of the Great Powers, willingly play the part of pulling the chestnuts out of the fire for them, they are destined to burn their fingers severely.. At the proper moment, the Great Powers will, without any ceremony, betray their little agents . . ‘Let Finland measure seven times, before cutting off the piece!’ 1990 New York Times 1 June (online) Boris Yeltsin has been accusing the present regime of half-measures when drastic action is needed, while ‘Measure seven times, cut once’ is the go-slow Gorbachev adage. 2004 posting on www.eng.yabloko.ru 13 Aug. Putin, they said, is not interested in thrashing around aimlessly. Before launching radical reforms, he will measure seven times and cut seven times. Now, sadly, it must be noted that the ‘warming-up period’ was wasted after all. ■ caution