Proverbs starting with "B"

Displaying 797 proverbs. Click on any proverb below to view the full analysis and original text.

• B1 He knows not a B from a battledore¹
• B2 A BABBLER wearies all the company
• B3 Much BABBLING is not without offense
• B4 As innocent (clear) as a newborn BABE (child, chrisom-child)
• B5 Love the BABE for her that bore it
• B6 The BABY comes out of his mother's parsley bed
• B7 Ye be a BABY of Beelzebub's bower
• B8 To look BABIES in another's eyes
• B9 We BACHELORS grin but you married men laugh till your hearts ache
• B10 BACHELORS' wives and maids' children are well taught
• B11 The BACK of a herring, the poll of a tench, the side of a salmon, the belly of a wench are best
• B12 Fall BACK fall edge
• B13 His BACK is broad enough to bear jests
• B14 I bear him on my BACK
• B15 Stick to him BACK and edge
• B16 To break one's BACK
• B17 To claw one by the BACK
• B18 As bare as the BACK of my hand
• B19 He both BACK-BEATS him and belly-beats him
• B20 As straight as the BACKBONE of a herring
• B21 The BACK DOOR robs the house
• B22 Dunmow BACON¹ and Doncaster daggers, Monmouth caps² and Lemster wool³, Derby ale⁴ and London beer
• B23 He loves BACON well that licks the swinesty door
• B24 To save one's BACON
• B25 Where you think there is BACON there is not so much as a chimney
• B26 To change the BAD for the better
• B27 To go from BAD to worse
• B28 Gip, quoth BADGER (Gilbert) when his mare kicked
• B29 Bode¹ a BAG and bairn
• B30 An empty BAG (sack) cannot stand upright
• B31 He is able to put him up in a BAG
• B32 To give one the BAG
• B33 Toom¹ BAGS rattle
• B34 He is like a BAGPIPE, he never talks till his belly is full
• B35 Lincolnshire BAGPIPES
• B36 Whiles¹ thou whiles I, so goes the BAILIERY²
• B37 The BAILIFF OF BEDFORD is coming
• B38 He is arrested by the BAILIFF OF MARSHLAND
• B39 As sore cries the BAIRN that is dung¹ at night as he that was dung in the morning
• B40 A beltless BAIRN cannot lie
• B41 It is a sair dung¹ BAIRN that dare not greet²
• B42 It is an ill-faced BAIRN that is gotten against the father's will
• B43 Let him who begot the BAIRN hold the bairn
• B44 A silly¹ BAIRN is eith² to learn
• B45 A tarrowing¹ BAIRN was never fat
• B46 Better my BAIRNS (children) seek of me than I of them
• B47 I am beggared and all my BAIRNS
• B48 Ill BAIRNS are best heard at home
• B49 BAIRNS' mother brust¹ never
• B50 The BAIT hides the hook
• B51 What BAITS one banes¹ another
• B52 As you BAKE so shall you brew (eat)
• B53 Be not a BAKER if your head be of butter
• B54 He should be a BAKER by his bowlegs
• B55 A BAKER's wife may bite of a bun, a brewer's wife may drink of a tun, and a fishmonger's wife may feed of a conger, but a servingman's wife may starve for hunger
• B56 It is good BAKING beside meal
• B57 The BALANCE¹ distinguishes not between gold and lead
• B58 Every BALANCE¹ has its counterpoise
• B59 When BALE is highest boot is next¹
• B60 Make no BALKS¹ (not a BALK) in good ground (bear-land²)
• B61 As round as a BALL
• B62 He has struck the BALL under the line
• B63 He has the BALL at his foot
• B64 An old BAND (ensign) is the honor of a captain
• B65 Be as be may is no BANNING (Be as be may)
• B66 Bite not (Bourd¹ not with) my BANNOCK²
• B67 BANNOCKS¹ is better than no bread
• B68 There is no great BANQUET but some fare ill
• B69 A BARBER learns to shave by shaving of fools
• B70 One BARBER shaves not so close but another finds work
• B71 One BARBER trims (shaves) another
• B72 A young BARBER and an old physician
• B73 As common as a BARBER's chair
• B74 Like a BARBER's chair, fit for every buttock
• B75 BARBERS are correctors of capital crimes
• B76 A BARGAIN is a bargain
• B77 A good BARGAIN is a pickpurse
• B78 It is an ill BARGAIN where no man wins
• B79 On a good BARGAIN (pennyworth) think twice (pause a while)
• B80 To sell one a BARGAIN
• B81 Some BARGAINS dear bought good cheap would be sold
• B82 To be beloved is above all BARGAINS
• B83 As near as BARK to tree
• B84 He never BARKS false
• B85 Great BARKERS are no biters
• B86 The greatest BARKERS are not the sorest biters (bite not sorest)
• B87 BARLEY makes the heap but wheat the cheap
• B88 A BARLEYCORN is better than a diamond (pearl) to a cock
• B89 BARLEY STRAW is good fodder when the cow gives water
• B90 When the BARN is full you may thresh before the door
• B91 To dance BARNABY
• B92 BARNABY BRIGHT, the longest day and the shortest night
• B93 As broad as a BARN DOOR
• B94 Neither (Never a) BARREL better herring
• B95 To be bout as BARROW was
• B96 To be dressed like BARTHOLOMEW BABIES
• B97 BASHFULNESS does moderate desires
• B98 BASHFULNESS is an enemy to poverty
• B99 The BASILISK's eye is fatal
• B100 He that makes one BASKET may make a hundred
• B101 It is not a BASKET of hay but a basket of flesh which will make a lion roar
• B102 You shall have the BASKET
• B103 A BASKET justice will do justice right or wrong
• B104 BASTARDS by chance are good, by nature bad
• B105 The BATH of the blackamoor has sworn not to whiten
• B106 BATTLES cost both sides blows
• B107 The BAVIN¹ burns bright but it is but a blaze
• B108 BAWDS and attorneys, like andirons, the one holds the sticks, the other their clients, till they consume
• B109 At a BAY
• B110 BAYARD¹ of ten toes
• B111 Keep BAYARD¹ in the stable
• B112 Who so bold (As bold) as blind BAYARD¹?
• B113 The BEADS in the hand and the devil in capuche1
• B114 A BEAN in liberty is better than a comfit in prison
• B115 Every BEAN has its black
• B116 He has sold a BEAN and bought a pea
• B117 Like a BEAN in a monk's hood
• B118 Not worth a BEAN
• B119 Abstain from BEANS
• B120 The more BEANS (sheep) the fewer (fewer eggs) for a penny
• B121 Set BEANS in the wane of the moon
• B122 Sow BEANS in the mud and they'll grow like wood
• B123 Sow or set BEANS in Candlemas¹ waddle²
• B124 Three blue BEANS in a blue bladder, rattle, bladder, rattle
• B125 To sow BEANS in the wind
• B126 As handsomely as a BEAR picks mussels
• B127 As willingly as the BEAR goes to the stake
• B128 The BEAR wants a tail and cannot be a lion
• B129 If it were a BEAR (wolf) it would bite you
• B130 Like a BEAR to a honeypot
• B131 You dare as well take a BEAR (boar) by the tooth
• B132 Sell not the BEAR's skin before you have caught him
• B133 Are you there with your BEARS?
• B134 He would bind BEARS
• B135 BEAR and forbear
• B136 BEAR with me and I will bear with thee
• B137 As naked as they were BORN
• B138 First BORN first fed
• B139 He that is BORN to be hanged (drowned) shall never be drowned (hanged)
• B140 He that is once BORN once must die
• B141 We are not BORN for ourselves
• B142 Who is BORN fair is born married
• B143 A red BEARD and a black head, catch him with a good trick and take him dead
• B144 Whoever has a divided BEARD the whole world will not prevail against him
• B145 Long BEARDS heartless, painted hoods witless, gay coats graceless, make England thriftless
• B146 He speaks BEAR GARDEN
• B147 He is the black BEAR OF ARDEN
• B148 He that has eaten a BEAR PIE will always smell of the garden¹
• B149 The awfullest BEAST is a bearded king
• B150 The BEAST that goes always never wants blows
• B151 The BEAST with two backs
• B152 Better a BEAST sold than bought
• B153 A good BEAST will get himself a heat with eating
• B154 He a BEAST does die that has done no good to his country
• B155 It is a strange BEAST that has neither head nor tail
• B156 Who goes a BEAST to Rome a beast returns
• B157 All BEASTS of prey are strong
• B158 The most deadly of wild BEASTS is a backbiter (tyrant), of tame ones a flatterer
• B159 Of all tame BEASTS I hate sluts
• B160 To BEAT (pinch) one black and blue
• B161 It is good BEATING proud folks, for they'll not complain
• B162 As bold as BEAUCHAMP
• B163 BEAUTY and chastity (honesty) seldom meet
• B164 BEAUTY and folly are often matched together
• B165 BEAUTY does fade like a flower
• B166 BEAUTY draws more than oxen
• B167 BEAUTY is a blaze (blast)
• B168 BEAUTY is a blessing
• B169 BEAUTY is but a blossom
• B170 BEAUTY is but skin-deep
• B171 BEAUTY is no heritage (inheritance)
• B172 BEAUTY is potent but money is omnipotent
• B173 BEAUTY may have fair leaves yet bitter fruit
• B174 BEAUTY without bounty avails nought
• B175 BEAUTY without goodness is worth nothing (is like wine that has taken wind)
• B176 Sweet BEAUTY with sour beggary
• B177 Where BEAUTY is there needs no other plea
• B178 A poor BEAUTY finds more lovers (sweethearts) than husbands
• B179 BECAUSE is woman's reason
• B180 BECCLES for a Puritan, Bungay for the poor, Halesworth for a drunkard, and Bliborough for a whore
• B181 A BECK¹ is as good as dieugarde²
• B182 To be at BECK and bay
• B183 Better to go to BED supperless than to rise in debt
• B184 Early to BED and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise
• B185 Eat till you sweat and work till you freeze and lie in BED till your bones ache
• B186 Go to BED with the lamb and rise with the lark
• B187 He that goes to BED thirsty rises healthy
• B188 He that lies long in BED his estate feels it
• B189 He that makes his BED ill lies there
• B190 If the BED could tell all it knows it would put many to the blush
• B191 Last in BED best heard
• B192 Loath to BED loath out of it
• B193 To lie in BED and forecast
• B194 To look for and not to come, to be in BED and not to sleep, to serve and not to be accepted are three deadly things
• B195 Who goes drunk to BED begets but a girl
• B196 Who goes to BED supperless all night tumbles and tosses
• B197 Ye would make me go to BED at noon
• B198 To go to BEDFORDSHIRE
• B199 A mad BEDLAM
• B200 To scratch one with a BEDSTAFF¹
• B201 To look as if he had eaten his BEDSTRAW
• B202 As busy as a BEE
• B203 As quick as a BEE
• B204 The BEE is often hurt with its own honey
• B205 The BEE sucks honey out of the bitterest flowers (thyme)
• B206 A dead BEE makes no honey
• B207 Where the BEE can suck no honey she leaves her sting behind
• B208 Where the BEE sucks honey the spider sucks poison
• B209 Every BEE's honey is sweet
• B210 As thick as Bees
• B211 BEES that have honey in their mouths have stings in their tails
• B212 When BEES are old they yield no honey
• B213 Where BEES are there is honey
• B214 Salt BEEF finds the way to the wine without a candle
• B215 Such BEEF such broth
• B216 To complain of fat BEEF
• B217 The BEER (ale) runs atilt
• B218 What is better than the BEER that's made of malt?
• B219 As blind as a BEETLE
• B220 As dull as a BEETLE
• B221 The BEETLE flies over many a sweet flower and lights in a cowshard
• B222 Better BEG than steal
• B223 He BEGS of them that borrowed of him
• B224 As big as a BEGGAR
• B225 As drunk as a BEGGAR
• B226 A BEGGAR can never be bankrupt
• B227 A BEGGAR can no beggar well abide
• B228 The BEGGAR is never out of his way
• B229 The BEGGAR may sing before the thief
• B230 A BEGGAR pays a benefit with a louse
• B231 Better die a BEGGAR than live a beggar
• B232 Every BEGGAR is descended from some king and every king is descended from some beggar
• B233 He is a sairy (poor) BEGGAR that may not go by one man's door
• B234 I know him as well as the BEGGAR knows his dish¹
• B235 It would make a BEGGAR beat his bag
• B236 One BEGGAR is enough at one door
• B237 One BEGGAR is woe (bides woe) that another by the door should go
• B238 Set a BEGGAR on horseback and he will ride a gallop (run his horse out of breath)
• B239 Set a BEGGAR on horseback and he will ride to the devil
• B240 Sue a BEGGAR and get (catch) a louse
• B241 You will scratch a BEGGAR before you die
• B242 A BEGGAR's purse is bottomless (always empty)
• B243 As merry as forty BEGGARS
• B244 BEGGARS breed and rich men feed
• B245 BEGGARS can bear no wealth
• B246 BEGGARS make a free company¹
• B247 BEGGARS should be no choosers
• B248 To swear by no BEGGARS (bugs)
• B249 You think BEGGARS have no lice
• B250 The BEGGARS OF BATH
• B251 Like the blind BEGGARS OF BOLOGNA
• B252 He is lodged in BEGGARS' INN
• B253 Good to BEGIN well, better to end well
• B254 Well BEGUN is half done
• B255 The BEGINNING of virtue is of nature
• B256 Every BEGINNING is hard
• B257 Everything has (All things have) a BEGINNING
• B258 From the BEGINNING to the end
• B259 A good BEGINNING makes a good ending
• B260 A hard BEGINNING has (makes) a good ending
• B261 An ill (bad) BEGINNING has an ill (bad) ending
• B262 Such BEGINNING such end
• B263 Beware BEGINNINGS
• B264 From small BEGINNINGS come great things
• B265 BELIEVE well and have well
• B266 Better BELIEVE it than go where it was done to prove it
• B267 I cannot BELIEVE it though I saw it myself
• B268 I will BELIEVE it when I see it
• B269 We soon BELIEVE what we desire
• B270 Quick BELIEVERS need broad shoulders
• B271 As clear as a BELL
• B272 As sound as a BELL
• B273 A BELL is known by the sound
• B274 A cracked BELL can never sound well
• B275 He bears away the BELL
• B276 To curse with BELL, book, and candle
• B277 Who shall tie (hang) the BELL about the cat's neck?
• B278 BELLS call others but themselves enter not into the church
• B279 I must not hang all my BELLS upon one horse
• B280 Many BELLS many clappers
• B281 They agree like BELLS, they want nothing but hanging
• B282 To take off your BELLS and let you fly
• B283 Allow thy BELLY what thou shouldst, not what thou mayest
• B284 The BELLY carries the legs and not the legs the belly
• B285 A BELLY full of gluttony will never study willingly
• B286 The BELLY has no ears
• B287 The BELLY is not filled (fed) with fair words
• B287a The BELLY is the truest clock
• B288 The BELLY robs the back
• B289 The BELLY that is full may well fast
• B290 The BELLY thinks the throat cut
• B291 Better BELLY burst than good drink (meat) lost
• B292 A fasting BELLY may never be merry
• B293 A fat BELLY does not engender a subtle wit
• B294 A full BELLY gives good counsel
• B295 A full BELLY neither fights nor flies well
• B296 He whose BELLY is full believes not him that is fasting (empty)
• B297 His BELLY is too strong for his purse
• B298 Hold (Fill), BELLY, hold (fill)
• B299 I wish it were in your BELLY for me
• B300 It were well for your little BELLY if your guts were out
• B301 My BELLY cries cupboard
• B302 Never good that mind their BELLY so much
• B303 When the BELLY is full the bones would be at rest
• B304 When the BELLY is full the mind is amongst the maids
• B305 A BELLYFUL is a bellyful though it be but of chopped hay
• B306 To have a BELLYFUL
• B307 He is a BENCH WHISTLER
• B308 He gapes for a BENEFICE
• B309 BENEFITS are soon forgotten
• B310 BENEFITS bind
• B311 BENEFITS please, like flowers, while they are fresh
• B312 I hope better, quoth BENSON when his wife bid him, Come in, cuckold
• B313 I have the BENT of his bow
• B314 As brown as a BERRY
• B315 From BERWICK to Dover, three hundred miles over
• B316 Bad is the BEST
• B317 The BEST is as good as stark nought
• B318 The BEST is behind
• B319 The BEST is best cheap
• B320 The BEST is best to speak to
• B321 The BEST may amend
• B322 The BEST must crave their aces of allowance
• B323 The BEST of the sport is to do the deed and say nothing
• B324 Deem the BEST (Judge nothing) till time has tried the truth out
• B325 I see the BEST but follow the worst
• B326 Make the BEST of a bad bargain (market)
• B327 There is never a BEST among them, as the fellow said by the fox cubs
• B328 We must hope for the BEST and fear the worst
• B329 A good BE STILL is worth a groat¹
• B330 BETTER is better
• B331 He niffers¹ for the BETTER
• B332 Seldom comes the BETTER
• B333 The BETTER the worse
• B334 She is BETTER than she is bonny
• B335 To be no BETTER than one (it) should be
• B336 If BEVER¹ has a cap you churls of the vale look to that
• B337 BEWARE what and to whom yo
• B338 He turns to his old BIAS again
• B339 To run against the BIAS
• B340 The BIBLE and a stone do well together
• B341 BID me and do it yourself
• B342 He that does BIDDING deserves no dinging¹
• B343 Weel BIDES weel betides
• B344 Two BIGS will not go in one bag
• B345 The BIGGER eats the bean
• B346 Be not too bold with your BIGGERS or betters
• B347 Strike (Cut) or give me the BILL
• B348 To keep BILL under wing
• B349 In and out, like BILLEDON, I wot
• B350 BILLINGSGATE LANGUAGE
• B351 BILLY has found a pin
• B352 Fast (Sure) BIND fast (sure) find
• B353 One is not BOUND to see more than he can
• B354 They that are BOUND must obey
• B355 Hall BINKS¹ are slidder²
• B356 He is as bare as the BIRCH on Yule even
• B357 As free as BIRD in air
• B358 As merry as a BIRD in May
• B359 As merry as BIRD on bough (brier)
• B360 Better a BIRD in hand than a vulture flying
• B361 Better to be a BIRD of the wood than of the cage
• B362 A BIRD cries too late when it is taken
• B363 A BIRD in the hand is better than (is worth) two in the bush (ten in the wood)
• B364 The BIRD is flown
• B365 A BIRD is known by its note and a man by his talk
• B365a A BIRD (egg) of the same nest
• B366 The BIRD that can sing and will not sing must be made to sing
• B367 Each BIRD loves to hear himself sing
• B368 The early BIRD catches the worm
• B369 Every BIRD is known by his feather
• B370 Every BIRD must hatch her own eggs
• B371 A fair BIRD has fair feathers
• B372 He has brought up a BIRD to pick out his own eyes
• B373 He that will take the BIRD must not scare it
• B374 I heard a BIRD sing (A little bird said so)
• B375 If every BIRD had (should take) his own feathers he should be as rich as a new-shorn sheep (you would be naked)
• B376 An ill (evil) BIRD (crow) lays an ill (evil) egg
• B377 It is a foul BIRD that defiles his own nest
• B378 It is an ill BIRD that picks out the dam's eyes
• B379 A little BIRD is content with a little nest
• B380 The more the BIRD caught in lime strives the faster he sticks
• B381 Such BIRD such nest (egg)
• B382 Thou art a bitter BIRD, said the raven to the starling
• B383 Thou singest like a BIRD called a swine
• B384 To be in for a BIRD
• B385 To every BIRD his own nest is best
• B386 To have a BIRD in one's breast
• B387 To hit the BIRD in the eye
• B388 To take the BIRD by its feet
• B389 Ye are my BIRD for as black as ye are
• B390 You may gape long enough ere a BIRD fall in your mouth
• B391 As bare as a BIRD's ass
• B392 Whist, whist, I smell a BIRD's nest
• B393 BIRDS of a feather will flock (fly) together
• B394 BIRDS once snared (limed) fear all bushes
• B395 March BIRDS are best
• B396 Old BIRDS are not caught with chaff
• B397 Small BIRDS must have meat
• B398 Then we shall catch BIRDS tomorrow
• B399 There are no BIRDS of this year in last year's nests
• B400 To kill two BIRDS with one stone
• B400a To love hollow BIRDS¹
• B401 You catch BIRDS by laying salt on their tails
• B402 BIRTH is much but breeding is more
• B403 To sell one's BIRTHRIGHT
• B404 As dry as a BISCUIT
• B405 The BISHOP has blessed it
• B406 The BISHOP has put his foot in it
• B407 The BISHOP makes things better than he finds them
• B408 No BISHOP no king
• B409 Once a BISHOP and ever a bishop
• B410 Well is him and woe is him that has a BISHOP of his kin
• B411 What, a BISHOP's wife? Eat and drink in your gloves?
• B412 Better a BIT than no bread
• B413 BIT about is good bartering
• B414 A BIT in the morning is better than nothing all day or than a thump on the back with a stone
• B415 The BIT that one eats no friend makes
• B416 He gives him the BIT and the buffet with it (a bit and a knock)
• B417 He loses many a good BIT that strives with his betters
• B418 He will have a BIT for his cat
• B419 One BIT draws down another
• B420 With a BIT and a bob, as they feed apes
• B421 You may see by a BIT what the bread is
• B422 He will make nineteen BITS of a bilberry
• B423 To make two BITS of a cherry
• B424 To take the BIT in the teeth
• B425 The hasty BITCH brings forth blind whelps
• B426 He will BITE near (A close biter)
• B427 To BITE and whine
• B428 Though I be BITTEN I am not all eaten
• B429 To bite the BITER
• B430 BITING and scarting¹ is Scotchmen's wooing
• B431 BITING and scratching gets the cat with kitling
• B432 Who has BITTER in his mouth spits not all sweet
• B433 BLAB (Labbe) it wist and out it must
• B434 He that is a BLAB is a scab
• B435 BLACK best sets forth white
• B436 BLACK will take no other hue
• B437 He that wears BLACK must hang (carry) a brush at his back
• B438 No more like than BLACK is to white
• B439 To have it in BLACK and white
• B440 To make BLACK white
• B441 To say that BLACK (white) is white (black)
• B442 As plentiful (cheap) as BLACKBERRIES
• B443 He can swim without BLADDERS
• B444 Do as you are bidden and you will never bear the BLAME
• B445 He that BLAMES would buy
• B446 He is BLANK
• B447 He spits on his own BLANKET
• B448 He that at every BLAST puts to the lee will never be good sailor
• B449 I hold BLENCH of him
• B450 BLESSING of your heart, you brew good ale
• B451 The BLIND eat many a fly
• B452 If the BLIND lead the blind they both fall into the ditch
• B452a BLINDMAN's HOLIDAY
• B453 As dull as a BLOCK
• B454 To lay (throw, cast) a BLOCK in another's way
• B455 As red as BLOOD
• B456 BLOOD is inherited but virtue is achieved
• B457 The BLOOD of the martyrs is the seed of the Church
• B458 BLOOD will have blood
• B459 Good BLOOD cannot lie
• B460 Good BLOOD makes poor pudding¹ without suet
• B461 He has good BLOOD if he had but groats to him
• B462 His Welsh BLOOD is up
• B463 It is easy to draw BLOOD out of a scabby head
• B464 It runs in a BLOOD
• B465 Like BLOOD, like good, and like age make the happiest marriage
• B466 There is no BLOOD to be got out of a turnip
• B467 You are come of a BLOOD and so is a pudding¹
• B468 Timely BLOSSOM timely fruit (ripe, bear)
• B469 BLOSSOMS ere May not good some say
• B470 A BLOT in his escutcheon
• B471 A BLOT is no blot unless it be hit
• B472 The first BLOW is as much as two
• B473 He has got a BLOW over the nose with a French cowlstaff
• B474 One sound BLOW will serve to undo us all
• B475 The second BLOW makes the fray
• B476 BLOW first and sip afterwards
• B477 He is BLOWN up
• B478 He was born at BLOXHAM
• B479 Better a BLUSH in the face than a spot in the heart
• B480 BLUSHING (Bashfulness) is virtue's color (is a sign of grace)
• B481 He cannot say BO to a goose
• B482 As brim¹ as a BOAR
• B483 He feeds like a BOAR in a frank¹
• B484 To foam like a BOAR
• B485 As stiff as a BOARD
• B486 At the BOARD be a maid but a clown in bed
• B487 Knock under the BOARD (table)
• B488 Great BOAST (and) small roast
• B489 The greatest BOASTERS (crackers) are not the greatest doers (the boldest men)
• B490 Ill goes the BOAT without the oar
• B491 To be in the same BOAT (ship)
• B492 You must trim the BOAT
• B493 Ye may get waur¹ BODES² ere Beltan³
• B494 To be BODKIN
• B495 A BODY is esteemed according as he values himself
• B496 The BODY is more (sooner, better) dressed than the soul
• B497 The BODY is the prison of the soul
• B498 The BODY is the socket of the soul
• B499 I am all yours except BODY and goods
• B500 It is a good BODY,¹ she wants but a new pair of sleeves
• B501 A little BODY does often harbor a great soul
• B502 Dieted BODIES are but bridges to physicians' minds
• B503 Great BODIES move slowly
• B504 As brisk (busy, brag) as a BODY LOUSE
• B505 Be BOLD with what is your own
• B506 More (Not so) BOLD than (as) welcome (wise)
• B507 BOLDNESS is blind
• B508 If you love the BOLL you cannot hate the branches
• B509 BOLSTER or pillow, be it whose will for me
• B510 Buy the BOLSTER (pillow) of one in debt and thou wilt sleep soundly
• B511 This BOLT (arrow) came never out of your bag
• B512 To have shot one's BOLT
• B513 Wide, quoth BOLTON when his bolt flew back-ward
• B514 As dry (hard) as a BONE
• B515 A broken BONE (leg) is the stronger when it is well set
• B516 Gnaw the BONE that is fallen to thy lot
• B517 He has a BONE in his mouth (throat)
• B518 He has cast a BONE between them
• B519 He that gives thee a BONE would not have thee die
• B520 The nearer the BONE the sweeter the flesh
• B521 To carry a BONE in the mouth
• B522 To give one a BONE to pick
• B523 To have a BONE in one's arm (leg)
• B524 To put (wish) a BONE in one's hood
• B525 Were it not for the BONE in the leg all the world would turn carpenters
• B526 BONES bring meat to town
• B527 He made no BONES of it
• B528 To lay one's BONES to work
• B529 I will never drite¹ in my BONNET and set it on my head
• B530 A great BOOK is a great mischief
• B531 He is quite beside the BOOK (cushion)
• B532 To speak without BOOK
• B533 Not worthy to carry his BOOKS after him
• B534 To be in (out of) one's BOOKS
• B535 A fortunate BOOR needs but be born
• B536 Be jogging while your BOOTS are green
• B537 To give one the BOOTS
• B538 They that are BOOTED are not always ready
• B539 To play BOOTY
• B540 To play BOPEEP
• B541 BOROUGH-MEN merry, more bread than drink
• B542 He that will BORROW must pay
• B543 Not so good to BORROW as to be able to lend
• B544 Who will BORROW when he has not, let him borrow when he has
• B545 He that goes a BORROWING goes a sorrowing
• B546 He will creep into your BOSOM
• B547 BOTCH (Patch) and sit, build and flit
• B548 To brew in a BOTTLE and bake in a bag
• B549 What are you good for? to stop BOTTLES?
• B550 He brought the BOTTOM of the bag clean out
• B551 It is too late to spare when the BOTTOM is bare
• B552 Who still takes out and puts not in will quickly find a BOTTOM
• B553 Wind up your BOTTOM
• B554 Cut not the BOUGH that thou standest upon
• B555 The BOUGHS that bear most hang lowest
• B556 Short BOUGHS long vintage
• B557 Who trusts to rotten BOUGHS may fall
• B558 To buy dear is not BOUNTY
• B559 Sooth BOURD is no bourd
• B560 That is a good BOURD that all men laugh at
• B561 A BOW long bent at last waxes weak
• B562 The BOW of Ulysses
• B563 He outshot him in his own BOW
• B564 I have a good BOW but it is in the castle
• B565 To bring to one's BOW
• B566 Better BOW than break
• B567 Wide at the BOW HAND
• B568 Sole¹ your BOWL well
• B569 He that will play at BOWLS must expect to meet with rubs
• B570 He is a long BOWMAN
• B571 Bourd¹ not with BOWTY² lest he bite you
• B572 BOWWOWS¹ is no wedding
• B573 A BOX on the ear
• B574 The chief BOX of health is time
• B575 Thou art in a wrong BOX
• B576 A BOY, has a purse and twopence in it
• B577 The least BOY always carries the greatest fiddle
• B578 A smiling BOY seldom proves a good servant
• B579 To be one's white BOY (son)
• B580 An unhappy (ill, shrewd) BOY (lad) may make a good man
• B581 To leave BOY's play and fall (go) to blowpoint
• B582 He that is manned with BOYS and horsed with colts shall have his meat eaten and his work undone
• B583 Jest with BOYS and leave the saints (holy things) alone
• B584 You seek a BRACK (gap) where the hedge is whole
• B585 BRACKLEY BREED, better to hang than feed
• B586 What have I to do with BRADSHAW's windmill?
• B587 BRAG is a good dog
• B588 BRAG is a good dog but Holdfast is a better
• B589 BRAG is a good dog but that he has lost his tail
• B590 BRAG is a good dog if he be well set on but he dare not bite
• B591 Great BRAGGERS little doers
• B592 He that fills his BRAIN with wine can put nothing else in it
• B593 An idle BRAIN idle counsel
• B594 An idle BRAIN is the devil's shop
• B595 If the BRAIN sows not corn it plants thistles
• B596 To bear a BRAIN
• B597 You will not believe he is bald (dead) till you see his BRAIN
• B598 He has no more BRAINS than a burbolt¹
• B599 His BRAINS are addle
• B600 His BRAINS crow
• B601 His BRAINS will work without barm¹
• B602 To beat (cudgel) one's BRAINS
• B603 BRAINTREE for the pure and Bocking for the poor, Coggeshell for the jeering town and Kelvedon for the whore
• B604 Much BRAN and little meal
• B605 BRANDY is Latin¹ for a goose
• B606 Fly, BRASS, thy father is a tinker
• B607 His old BRASS (cloak) will buy you a new pan (kirtle)
• B608 If BRAYTON BARGH and Hambleton bough and Burton bream were all in thy belly 'twould never be team¹
• B609 Another's BREAD costs dear
• B610 Be fair conditioned and eat BREAD with your pudding¹
• B611 BREAD and cheese is good to eat when men can get no other meat (are physic to such as are in health)
• B612 BREAD is a binder
• B613 BREAD is the staff of life
• B614 BREAD of one day, an egg of one hour, wine of one year, fish of ten, a woman of fifteen, and a friend of a hundred
• B615 BREAD with eyes, cheese without eyes, and wine that leaps up to the eyes
• B616 Buckinghamshire BREAD and beef
• B617 Crumb not your BREAD before you taste your porridge
• B618 Dry BREAD at home is better than roast meat abroad
• B619 Eat BREAD at pleasure, drink wine by measure
• B620 Eaten BREAD is forgotten
• B621 He that sets the BREAD in the oven naughtily draws out the loaves crushed awry
• B622 He would eat finer BREAD than is made of wheat
• B623 His BREAD is buttered on both sides
• B624 Lemster¹ BREAD and Weabley² ale
• B625 Plow deep, thou shalt have BREAD (corn) enough
• B626 Stolen BREAD is ever sweetest
• B627 There is no BREAD locked from true friends
• B628 To him who is hungry any BREAD is pleasant
• B629 To take the BREAD out of one's mouth
• B630 What BREAD men break is broken to them again
• B631 Where BREAD is wanting all is to be sold
• B632 Who has no more BREAD than needs must not keep a dog
• B633 You give me BREAD for cake
• B634 You show BREAD in one hand and a stone in the other
• B635 BREAD's house skaild¹ never
• B636 It will sooner BREAK than bow
• B637 The BREAKING OPEN of letters is the basest kind of burglary
• B638 He that has BREAMS in his pond is able to bid his friend welcome
• B639 A corrupt BREATH stains a clear glass
• B640 He can laugh and cry both with a BREATH
• B641 He runs himself out of BREATH
• B642 You but spend your BREATH (wind) in vain
• B643 Scratch my BREECH and I will claw your elbow
• B644 You seek (To beg) a BREECH of a bare-assed man
• B645 She wears the BREECHES
• B646 Beware of BREED
• B647 Not where one is BRED but where he is fed
• B648 It is BREEDING and not birth that makes a man
• B649 He sits full still that has a riven BREEK¹
• B650 It is ill to take BREEKS¹ off a bare ass
• B651 To have a BREEZE¹ in his breech
• B652 BREVITY is the soul of wit
• B653 This must be if we BREW (sell ale)
• B654 As one BREWS so let him bake (drink)
• B655 He smiles like a BREWER's horse
• B656 One whom the BREWER's horse has bit
• B657 It is a sairy¹ BREWING that is not good in the newing²
• B658 A BRIBE enters everywhere without knocking
• B659 BRIBES blind the wise man's sight
• B660 To make BRICKS without straw
• B661 The BRIDE goes to her marriage bed but knows not what shall happen to her
• B662 A fair BRIDE is soon busked¹ and a short horse soon whisked²
• B663 Happy is the BRIDE the sun shines on and the corpse the rain rains on
• B664 She simpers like a BRIDE on her wedding day
• B665 Make a BRIDGE of gold (silver) for a flying enemy
• B666 On BRIDGE, on plank, and in river the boy (servant) before and master after
• B667 To make a BRIDGE of one's nose
• B668 BRIDGES were made for wise men to walk over and fools to ride over
• B669 Shake a BRIDLE over a Yorkshire tike's grave and he will rise again
• B670 To bite upon the BRIDLE
• B671 To give one the BRIDLE (reins)
• B672 To be out of the BRIERS
• B673 To leave one (To be) in the BRIERS
• B674 Better spare at the BRIM than at the bottom
• B675 It is ill to BRING¹ but that is no there ben²
• B676 He has sold BRISTOL and bought Bedminster
• B677 It is as BROAD as it is long
• B678 To burst at the BROADSIDE
• B679 To stink like a BROCK¹
• B680 It is hard to fling at the BROD¹ or kick at the prick
• B681 Little BROOKS make great rivers
• B682 A new BROOM (besom) sweeps clean
• B683 Though new BROOMS sweep clean yet old friends still retain
• B684 Many esteem more of the BROTH than of the meat sod therein
• B685 The BROTHER had rather see his sister rich than make her so
• B686 He has made a younger BROTHER of him
• B687 The younger BROTHER has the more wit
• B688 The younger BROTHER is the better (ancienter) gentleman
• B689 Between BROTHERS put not thou thy hand, for who severs them has ever the worst
• B690 Much BRUIT little fruit
• B691 To buy a BRUSH
• B692 As wild as a BUCK
• B693 He is like a BUCK of the first head
• B694 Where goes the BUCKET there goes the rope
• B695 Like two BUCKETS of a well, if one go up the other must go down
• B696 He will bring (hold) BUCKLE and thong together
• B697 Hold him to it BUCKLE and thong
• B698 If you be angry you may turn the BUCKLE of your girdle behind you
• B699 To agree as BUCKLE and thong
• B700 Let them BUCKLE for it
• B701 Bounce BUCKRAM, velvet's dear, Christmas comes but once a year, and when it comes it brings good cheer, but when it's gone it's never the near¹
• B702 To nip in the BUD (blossom)
• B703 BUGBEARS (Bugs) to scare babes
• B704 BUILDING and marrying of children are great wasters
• B705 BUILDING is a sweet impoverishing
• B706 BUILDING is a thief
• B707 BUILDING is chargeable
• B708 A high BUILDING a low foundation
• B709 He bellows like a BULL but is as weak as a bul-rush
• B710 He looks like a BULL that has beshit the fair
• B711 He may bear (carry) a BULL that hath borne (carried) a calf
• B712 Let him take the BULL that stole away the calf
• B713 To be as strong as (To sweat like) a BULL
• B714 To milk a BULL (he-goat)
• B715 To roar like a BULL
• B716 The town BULL is as much a bachelor as he
• B717 He wears the BULL's feather
• B718 That is a BULL, sir
• B719 He looks as big as if he had eaten BULL BEEF
• B720 Every BULLET has a lighting place
• B721 As mad as the baiting BULL OF STAMFORD
• B722 To take a BUNTING for a lark
• B723 They cleave (stick, hold) together like BURS
• B724 To stick like BURS
• B725 Everyone shall bear his own BURDEN
• B726 It is a sad BURDEN to carry a dead man's child
• B727 Light BURDEN far heavy
• B728 To lay one's BURDEN upon another's back
• B729 The greatest BURDENS are not the gainfullest
• B730 To take a BURFORD BAIT¹
• B731 Ye may drink of the BURN¹ but not bite of the brae²
• B732 He that BURNS most shines most
• B733 A BURR¹ around the moon bodes wind and rain
• B734 BURROUGH's end of sheep, some one
• B735 A bad BUSH is better than the open field
• B736 BUSH natural, more hair than wit
• B737 He that is afraid of every BUSH will never prove good huntsman
• B738 He thinks every BUSH a bugbear (bear)
• B739 Here if you beat a BUSH it's odds you'll start a thief
• B740 One beats the BUSH and another catches the bird
• B741 One BUSH (grove) cannot harbor two robin red-breasts
• B742 To beat (go) about the BUSH
• B743 A BUSHEL of March dust is worth a king's ransom
• B744 In a BUSHEL of winning is not a handful of cunning
• B745 Between the BUSINESS of life and the day of death a space ought to be interposed
• B746 Everybody's BUSINESS is nobody's business
• B747 He has more BUSINESS than English ovens at Christmas
• B748 He that does a serious BUSINESS in haste rides post upon an ass
• B749 He that stays does the BUSINESS
• B750 If you would have your BUSINESS done, go; if not, send
• B751 In little BUSINESS stands great rest
• B752 Mind your own BUSINESS
• B753 One BUSINESS breeds another
• B754 To go through-stitch with a BUSINESS
• B755 Who does his own BUSINESS fouls not his hands
• B756 Without BUSINESS debauchery
• B757 Great BUSINESSES (engines) turn on a little pin
• B758 A BUSKIN that will serve both legs
• B759 BUSY will have bonds (bands)
• B760 As bawdy as a BUTCHER
• B761 The BUTCHER looked for his knife when he had it in his mouth
• B762 The BUTCHER looked for the candle and 'twas in's hat
• B763 He would have made a good BUTCHER but for the by-blow
• B764 As surly as a BUTCHER's dog
• B765 I think this is a BUTCHER's horse, he carries a calf so well
• B766 Like a BUTLER's box at Christmas
• B767 As fat as BUTTER
• B768 As soft as BUTTER
• B769 As sure as if it were sealed with BUTTER
• B770 BUTTER is gold in the morning, silver at noon, and lead at night
• B771 BUTTER is good for anything but to stop an oven or seal a letter
• B772 BUTTER is mad twice a year
• B773 BUTTER is once a year in the cow's horn
• B774 He looks as if BUTTER would not melt in his mouth
• B775 It is not all BUTTER that comes from the cow
• B776 It melts like BUTTER in a sow's tail
• B777 Like BUTTER in a dog's throat
• B778 No BUTTER will stick on his bread
• B779 That which will not be BUTTER must be made into cheese
• B780 To melt like BUTTER before the sun
• B781 To scold like BUTTERWIVES (butterwhores)
• B782 Not worth a BUTTON
• B783 Better to BUY than to borrow (beg, beg or borrow)
• B784 BUY when I bid you
• B785 He that BUYS dear must sell dear
• B786 Who always BUYS and sells feels not what he spends
• B787 To be BOUGHT and sold
• B788 Let the BUYER beware
• B789 BUYING and selling is but winning and losing
• B790 It is ill BUYING of oats from a goose
• B791 This BUYING of bread undoes us
• B792 He is a blind BUZZARD
• B793 Let BYGONES be bygones