A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

strength see UNION is strength.
strengthen see as the DAY lengthens, so the cold strengthens.
STRETCH your arm no further than your sleeve will reach
Do not spend more than you can afford. Similar to CUT your coat according to your cloth.

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  1541 M. COVERDALE tr. H. Bullinger’s Christian State of Matrimony xix. Strech out thine arme no farther then thy sieve wyll retche. 1639 J. CLARKE Parrnmiologia Anglo-Latina 211 Stretch your arme no further than your sleeve will reach. 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 277 Put your Hand no farther than your Sleeve will reach. That is, spend no more than your Estate will bear. 1881 W. WESTALL Old Factory II. ii. It would leave me short of working capital, and . . I mustn’t stretch my arm further than th’coat-sleeve will reach. ■ circumstances; poverty; prudence
  

Everyone STRETCHES his legs according to the length of his coverlet

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  a 1300 WALTER OF HENLEY Husbandry (1890) 4 Wo that stretchet fortherre than his wytel [blanket] wyle reche, in the straue [straw] his fet he mot streche. 1550 W. HARRYS Market D5^V Then must many a man.. stretche out his legges accor-dynge to the length of his coverlet. 1640 G. HERBERT Outlandish Proverbs no. 147 Everyone stretcheth his legges according to his coverlet. 1897 ‘H. S. MERRIMAN’ In Kedar’s Tents iv. ‘The English.. travel for pleasure.’.. ‘Every one stretches his legs according to the length of his coverlet,’ he said. ■ circumstances; prudence
  

STRIKE while the iron is hot
A proverb originally alluding to the blacksmith’s art. Cf. late 13th-cent. Fr. len doit batre le fer tandis cum il est chauz, one must strike the iron while it is hot.

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  c 1386 CHAUCER Tale of Melibee 1.1035 Whil that iren is hoot, men sholden smyte. 1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs I. iii. A4 And one good lesson to this purpose I pyke [pick] From the smiths forge, whan thyron is hote stryke. 1576 G. PETTIE Petit Palace 181 I think it wisdome to strike while the iron is hot. 1682 BUNYAN Holy War 18 Finding.. the affections of the people warmly inclining to him, he, as thinking
  

‘twas best striking while the iron is hot, made this.. speech. 1771 SMOLLETT Humphry Clinker III. 242 If so be as how his regard be the same, why stand shilly shally? Why not strike while the iron is hot, and speak to the ‘squire without loss of time? 1848 THACKERAY Vanity Fair xxi. Let George cut in directly and win her. ..Strike while the iron’s hot. 1974 T. SHARPE Porterhouse Blue xx. ‘It seems an inopportune moment,’ said the Senior Tutor doubtfully. .. ‘We must strike while the iron is hot,’ said the Dean. 2000 ‘G. WILLIAMS’ Dr. Mortimer and Aldgate Mystery (2001) xxxii. 158 ‘Excellent!’ I replied. ‘Let us take up the invitation this very weekend: strike while the iron is hot.’ ■ opportunity