A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

A PENNY saved is a penny earned

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  1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 506 A penny spar’d is twice got. a 1661 T. FULLER Worthies (Hunts.) 51 By the same proportion that a penny saved is a penny gained, the preserver of books is a Mate for the Compiler of them. 1695 E. RAVENSCROFT Canterbury Guests II. iv. This I did to prevent expences, for..a penny sav’d, is a penny got. 1853 DICKENS Bleak House ix. I saved five pounds out of the brickmaker’s affair. .. It’s a very good thing to save one, let me tell you: a penny saved, is a penny got! 1923 WODEHOUSE Inimitable Jeeves xi. I can save money this way; and believe me, laddie, nowadays.. a penny saved is a penny earned. 2001 Washington Post 6 Dec. C11 (Family Circus comic strip) ‘A penny saved is a penny earned, but what can I buy with it?’ "thrift
  

PENNY wise and pound foolish

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  1607 E. TOPSELL Four-footed Beasts 609 If by couetousnesse or negligence, one withdraw from them their ordinary foode, he shall be penny wise, and pound foolish. 1712 J. ADDISON Spectator 7 Feb. I think a Woman who will give up herself to a Man in Marriage, where there is the least room for such an Apprehension.. may very properly be accused.. of being Penny wise and Pound foolish. 1864 MRS H. WOOD Trevlyn Hold II. xxi. He never would insure his ricks. .. Miss Diana has often told him he deserved to have his ricks take fire for being penny wise and pound foolish. 2001 Washington Post 17 June H1 I didn’t stop because I was too focused on saving that 2 cents a gallon. I was, without a doubt, being penny-wise and pound-foolish. "meanness; stupidity
  

penny see also a BAD penny always turns up; IN for a penny, in for pound; NO penny, no paternoster.
Like PEOPLE, like priest
With allusion to HOSEA iv. 9 (AV) Like people, like priest.

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