A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

There’s MANY a slip between cup and lip
Cf. CATO THE ELDER in Aulus Gellius Noctes Atticae XIII. xviii. 1 (saepe audivi) inter os atque offam multa intervenire posse, (I have often heard) that many things can come between mouth and morsel; PALLADAS (attrib.) in Anthologia Palatina x. 32
■ ■ . ■ there are many things between the cup and
the edge of the lip.

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  1539 R. TAVERNER tr. Erasmus’ Adages 15 Many thynges fall betwene the cuppe and the mouth. .. Betwene the cuppe and the lyppes maye come many casualties. 1783 in Collections of Massachusetts Hist. Society (1877) 5th Ser. II. 216 Have a care, and remember the old proverb of’many a slip,’ &c. 1840 R. H. BARHAM Ingoldsby Legends 1st Ser. 280 Doubtless the adage, ‘There’s many a slip ‘Twixt the cup and the lip,’ hath reference to medicine. 1979 E. KYLE Summer Scandal xiii. ‘I thought you were here for life.’.. ‘There’s many a slip between cup and lip.’ ■ disappointment; error
  

MANY are called but few are chosen
With allusion to MATTHEW xxii. 14 (AV) For many are called, but few are chosen.

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  1871 J. S. JONES Life J. S. Batkins xxviii. The saying that ‘many shall be called, but few chosen.’ 1980 P. VAN GREENAWAY Dissident iii. ‘Many are called.. but few are chosen.’ He’s right. Those of us conscious of our destinies may fairly be termed ‘elitistes’. ■ choice; fate and fatalism
  

MANY hands make light work
Cf. HESIOD Works & Days 380 ' ' ■■ ¹ •••••'• ■ more hands mean more
work; ERASMUS Adages II. iii. 95 multae manus onus levius reddunt, many hands make a burden lighter.

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  c 1330 Sir Beves (EETS) 1. 3352 Ascopard be strong and sterk [physically powerful], Mani hondes maketh light werk! 1678 S. BUTLER Hudibras III. ii. Most Hands dispatch apace, And make light work, (the proverb says). 1721 J. KELLY Scottish Proverbs 244 Many Hands make light Work. Because it is but little to every one. 1923 Observer 11 Feb. 9 What is the use of saying that ‘Many hands make light work’ when the same copy-book tells you that ‘Too many cooks spoil the broth’? 2002 B. D’AMATO White Male Infant i. 16 Tony immediately began to prepare the bone marrow..His assistant..simultaneously ran up smears with less usual stains . . Many hands make light work. ^assistance; work
  

many see also there’s many a GOOD tune played on an old fiddle; many a TRUE word is spoken in jest; many go out for WOOL and come home shorn.