The Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs (Penguin Reference Books) (Paperback)

~ (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Whether you are looking for a few wise words of advice, like "Least said soonest mended," some trenchant observation, such as "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make it drink," or a common belief such as "Red sky at night, shepard's delight; Red sky in the morning, shepard's warning," you will find them all in the newly revised and extended The Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs.

About the Author

Rosalind Fergusson is an editor, lexicographer, and writer.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Penguin (Non-Classics); 2nd edition (October 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0140514783
• ISBN-13: 978-0140514780
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #894,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The book of answers..., October 6, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Dictionary of Proverbs, The Penguin (Reference) (Paperback)

The book of answers. Answers are what this book gives. It's a collection of all the wise and unwise advice ever given. Easy to use, easy to read and easy to remember what it says. If you were stuck on an island, all you'd need is this gem of a book to get through the emotional turmoil. It's a book you'll never finish, but always enjoy!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Everybody knows some Proverbs...but 6,000 of them!, April 5, 2006

By	J. Guild (Toronto,Canada) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I've always enjoyed proverbs and their many cousins such as sayings,one-liners,dictums,aphorisms,maxims,epigrams or whatever else you want to call them. In my reveiws ,I don't generally try to write a summary of what is in a book,and this ne would certainly not be one I would like to get started on.
Yes, I actually read through all of them, and it took many sittings,if you get my drift. How many of these things are there,who knows? I would suggest that 6,ooo only scratches the surface. With their love and use of language ,I am sure you could find that many alone in Ireland,or might even I suggest one County in that fair land.Then there are the Jewish ones,I'd suggest 6,000 is just getting started. It isn't just centuries of a culture where we find the wonderful use of language and thinking;all we got to do is to look at the Deep South and the Redneck culture of America;and that's just from a couple of hundred years.
As you go through this book,you'll be wondering if it includes some of your favorites. Generally,I found most of those that I've heard many times. However; there were thousands that were new to me. Some ,you had to think over a bit ,especially where strange words from the past are involved. I did however,keep looking for one of my all-ime favorites,but didn't come across it; "If ifs and ands were pots and pans,there' be no need for Tinkers". Come to think of it,I didn't see any about tinkers
cobblers,jockeys,drunks,cowboys,hilbillys,the little people,cabbies,and on and on.I first thought perhaps this edition may have suffered from an overdose of Political Correctness,(come to think of it, there were none about that either); but then if you think of all those ones included about wives,women ,mistresses ,and particularly in Section 184 Women; you just gotta give Rosa Fergusson credit for not letting PC agendas get in the way of common sense. With a name like Fergusson ,you can bet nobody's gonna tell her what to do. Atta
Girl!!
One of my big interests is Birding,and just for fun ,I counted
at least 77 that involved birds.Then how about my interest in Proverbs and combining it with Birds? What do you know..how's this!
"A proverb is shorter than a bird's beak."
I was surprised that there was no section devoted to Books or
Reading;but there are many scattered throughout . The Index is a help for finding ones on books,but probably not all inclusive.However; there is no reference to any on Reading in the Index.
On the subject of writing,there is Section 188,with 18 Proverbs. As book lovers know,this just scratches the surface.
My favorite one here is;
"You cannot open a book without learning something."
Chinese Proverb

An excellent reference ,but also very enjoyable to just sit back and read. However;I would suggest that if you find some that you may want to find again,you may want to jot the number down in the back of the book.
The numbering system used is excellent for this purpoce. This book is a real 'keeper'.