Favourite saying, or quote.

[al_yrpal]

Yes, its 'all fur coat and no knickers'. Yank equivalent 'all hat and no cattle'

Al

[axel_knutt]

"the law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread"
Anatole France

[Psamathe]

Question: What is the difference between an MP and a shopping trolley

Answer: You can fill both with drinks but only the shopping trolley has a mind of its own.

Ian

[Audax67]

As beautiful as a broken leg.

Pisser dans un violon ferait autant de bruit = peeing in a violin would make as much noise: descriptive of something that took some effort without drawing much attention.

[Mick F]

Question: What is the difference between an MP and a shopping trolley

Answer: You can fill both with drinks but only the shopping trolley has a mind of its own.

Ian

[Sooper8]

Empty tin cans make a lot of noise

[thomacycle]

"Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the present." - Master Oogway (Kung Fu Panda)

[Pebble]

Empty tin cans make a lot of noise

empty vessels

often hear them shouting into their mobile phones

[Mike Sales]

Life is a jest
And all things show it
I thought so once
And now I know it

John Gay.

[cc1085]

Native maxim: never trust a paleface.

[Audax67]

A creaking door hangs longest* as applied to my office chair, my neck and various other articulations.

And W. G. Grace: "As a substance for ships to sail upon, water is excellent".

* Thx to Len Deighton, in his excellent novel Bomber.

[Mike Sales]

On a Friday at work.
"Poet's day."
(Pee off early, tomorrow's Saturday.)

Describing payday. "The day the golden eagle s....., the day the Good Lord feeds his sparrows"

[Manc33]

"Everything's all ship shape and Bristol fashion".

From Chat GPT:
Circa 1840s. Something is in perfect order, meticulously organized, and maintained to the highest standards. The phrase combines maritime origins with the reputation of Bristol, a historic port known for its well-kept ships that had to be ready for challenging conditions. When something is described as "shipshape and Bristol fashion," it implies that it is tidy, efficient, and prepared for any situation.

I asked Chat GPT to tell me ten of the oldest sayings still in use in the UK and some are really old...

"By the skin of your teeth" - from the Bible (Book of Job 19:20). The phrase implies a narrow escape.

"Bite the dust" - believed to come from Homer’s Iliad (circa 8th century BC). In the poem, soldiers fall and "bite the dust," meaning they die or are defeated.

"A wolf in sheep's clothing" - comes from Aesop's Fables (around the 6th century BC). It describes someone who pretends to be something they are not, particularly to deceive others.

"Crocodile tears" - has its origins in medieval folklore, where it was believed that crocodiles would shed tears to lure or mourn their prey. It’s used to describe fake or insincere displays of emotion.

"Caught red-handed" - dates back to the 15th century in Scotland and was used in a legal context to describe someone caught in the act of committing a crime, particularly with blood on their hands from murder or poaching.

"Run amok" - comes from the Malay word amok, meaning "to act in a frenzied, uncontrolled, and chaotic manner." It entered English usage in the late 17th century.

"Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater" - is traced back to a 16th-century German proverb. It warns against discarding something valuable in an effort to get rid of something unwanted.

"Mind your P's and Q's" - originated in the 17th century and is believed to come from the practice of bartenders in English pubs telling patrons to mind their "pints and quarts" (measures of alcohol), urging them to watch their behavior.

"Baker's dozen" - dates back to the 13th century, this phrase refers to the practice of bakers giving an extra loaf when selling a dozen to avoid punishment for shortchanging customers.

"Once in a blue moon" - dates back to the early 16th century and refers to something extremely rare. The term "blue moon" has various interpretations, but it's commonly known as the second full moon in a calendar month, which is rare.

[Jdsk]

An excellent illustration of the unreliability of ChatGPT.

Jonathan

[Manc33]

"Couldn't catch a pig in an entry"

My mates grandad used to say this, to describe someone that's bow-legged.