A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

wash see also one HAND washes the other.
WASTE not, want not
Want is variously used in the senses ‘lack’ and ‘desire’. Another proverb making the connection between waste and want is WILFUL waste makes woeful want.

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  1772 WESLEY Letter 10 Aug. (1931) V 334 he will waste nothing; but he must want nothing. 1872 T. HARDY Under Greenwood Tree I. I. viii. Helping her to vegetable she didn’t want, and when it had nearly alighted on her plate, taking it across for his own use, on the plea of waste not, want not. 1941 C. MACKENZIE Red Tapeworm xxii. ‘The lorry’s full of children as well as rubbish.’ .. ‘And what is printed on the banner?’.. ‘Waste Not Want Not.’ 2002 Washington Times 8 Apr. B5 Your cousin was a practical woman. ‘Waste not, want not.’ "thrift; waste
  

waste (noun) see HASTE makes waste; WILFUL waste makes woeful want.
A WATCHED pot never boils

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  1848 GASKELL Mary Barton II. xiv. What’s the use of watching? A watched pot never boils. 1880 M. E. BRADDON Cloven Foot III. viii. Don’t you know that vulgar old proverb that says that ‘a watched pot never boils’? 1940 C. BOOTHE Europe in Spring X. ‘He [Mussolini] is waiting to see how the next battle turns out,’ they said. .. ‘A watched pot never boils,’ they said—only this one finally did. 2002 Washington Post 26 Apr. C10 (Born Loser comic strip)’Whoever said, “A watched pot never boils” obviously didn’t own a microwave.’ ■ patience and impatience
  

Don’t go near the WATER until you learn how to swim

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  1855 H. G. BOHN Hand-Book of Proverbs 459 Never venture out of your depth till you can swim. 1975 D. BAGLEY Snow Tiger xv. ‘There I was. .. Over-protected and regarded as a teacher’s pet into the bargain.’ ‘“Don’t go near the water until you learn how to swim,” ‘ quoted McGill. ■ prudence
  

water see also BLOOD is thicker than water; DIRTY water will quench fire; you can take a HORSE to the water, but you can’t make him drink; no matter how long a LOG stays in the water.. ; the MILL cannot grind with the water that is past; you never MISS the water till the well runs dry; STILL waters run deep; STOLEN waters are sweet; don’t THROW out your dirty water until you get in fresh.