A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

The BEST things come in small packages
Parcels sometimes replaces packages. Cf. 13th-cent. Fr. menue[s] parceles ensemble sunt beles, small packages considered together are beautiful; 1659 J. HOWELL Proverbs (French) 10 The best ointments are put in little boxes.

• 
  1877 B. FARJEON Letter 22 Jan. in E. Farjeon Nursery in Nineties (1935) V. As the best things are (said to be) wrapped in small parcels (proverb), I select the smallest sheet of paper I can find.. to make you acquainted with the.. state of affairs. 1979 R. THOMAS Eighth Dwarf xviii. ‘The little gentleman.’.. ‘The best things sometimes come in small packages,’ Jackson said, wincing at his own banality. 2002 Country Life 15 Aug. 61 Back at the lodge, the scales turn at 18 pounds, four ounces—my personal best, and an uber­trout by any standards. .. Sometimes good things come in big packages. "great and small
  

The BEST things in life are free

• 
  1927 B. G. DE SILVA et al. Best Things in Life are Free (song) 3 The moon belongs to ev’ryone, The best things in life are free, The stars belong to ev’ryone, They gleam there for you and me. 1955 W. GADDIS Recognitions II. ii. Someone once told them the best things in life are free, and so they’ve got in the habit of not paying. 2002 Washington Post 12 Jan. C12 The best things in life are free—friendships and sunshine still cost nothing—but some of the worst things are also free. "good things; money
  

It is BEST to be on the safe side
n1668 DRYDEN & NEWCASTT E Sir Martin Mar-all V i I’m resolv’d to be on the



AAA

kA IV/ LA к- VAA IAAV

sure side. 1811 J. AUSTEN Sense & Sensibility III. iv. Determining to be on the safe side, he made his apology in form as soon as he could say any thing. 1847 MARRYAT Children of New Forest I. xi. Be on the safe side, and do not trust him too far. 1935 L. I. WILDER Little House on Prairie iii. Best to be on the safe side, it saves trouble in the end. 1981 Economist 28 Nov. 100 The Rowland-Molina hypothesis about the damaging effects of CFCs has not been disproved, so it is best to be on the safe side. ■ prudence; security

best see also ACCIDENTS will happen (in the best-regulated families); ATTACK is the best form of defence; the best DEFENSE is a good offense; why should the DEVIL have all the best tunes?; the best DOCTORS are Dr Diet, Dr Quiet, and Dr Merryman; EAST, west, home’s best; EXPERIENCE is the best teacher; FIRST thoughts are best; FIRST up, best dressed; the GOOD is the enemy of the best; HONESTY is the best policy; HOPE for the best and prepare for the worst; HUNGER is the best sauce; he LAUGHS best who laughs last; LAUGHTER is the best medicine; if you have to LIVE in the river, it is best to be friends with the crocodile; it is best to be OFF with the old love before you are on with the new; an old POACHER makes the best gamekeeper; SECOND thoughts are best; SILENCE is a woman’s best garment.