A dictionary of Proverbs (Oxford Paperback Reference)

Never send a BOY to do a man’s job

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  1931 G. FOWLER Great Mouthpiece xii. Mr. Alfred J. Talley.. took command of the.. prosecution. He was an able man. .. ‘It’s about time they gave me a run for the money,’ Fallon said. ‘The People shouldn’t send boys on men’s errands.’ 1941 ‘T. CHANSLOR’ Our Second Murder xxviii. Never send a boy to do a man’s work. 1967 E.
  

MCGIRR Hearse with Horses vi. He blushed. Piron thought that he shouldn’t have sent a boy to do a man’s job. 1987 Washington Post 21 Jan. D10 Research proves that in more than 99 percent of these cases, the defender who has overruffed endears himself by uttering the old cliche, ‘Never send a boy to do a man’s job.’ ■ efficiency and inefficiency; work
Two BOYS are half a boy, and three boys are no boy at all
The more boys that help, the less work they do.

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  c 1930 F. THOMPSON Country Calendar 114 Their parents do not encourage the joining of forces. .. We have a proverb here: ‘Two boys are half a boy, and three boys are no boy at all.’ 1971 New York Times 31 Jan. IV. 12 Rural New England of the mid­nineteenth century, not commonly sophisticated in mathematics but witty enough about man’s condition, used to [say].. ‘One boy helping, a pretty good boy; two boys, half a boy; three boys, no boy.’ 2002 Times: Weekend 6 Apr. 91.. have been warned by my neighbours not to let him have any friends round. Because the more boys there are, the less work will get done. Apparently there is a country proverb that goes: ‘One boy is a boy. Two boys are half a boy. And three boys are no boys at all.’ ■ assistance; efficiency and inefficiency; work
  

BOYS will be boys
Occasionally girls will be girls.

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