Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs

Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs features 2,000 proverbs and sayings from around the world, grouped under 250 subject headings that range from "Cats" and "Dogs" to "Achievement" and "Extravagance."
Drawing on Oxford's ongoing dictionary research and language monitoring program, this fascinating book unearths sayings from Asian, African, Middle Eastern, and other cultures, which are used in the English-speaking world, together with proverbs more traditionally used in the English language. This broadness of scope emphasizes the way the same idea may be expressed in different expressions around the world. Looking for a proverb about "caution"? Go from "Let sleeping dogs lie" (English, late 14th century) to "Let's be careful out there" (the catchphrase from Hill Street Blues), from "Poke a bush, a snake comes out" (Japanese proverb) to "Caution is the parent of safety" (American, early 18th century), from "Delhi is far away" (an Indian proverb from the 14th century) to "Once bitten by a snake, a man will be afraid of a piece of rope for three years" (China, 20th century). Each theme has a short introduction giving an overview of key elements in the proverbial treatment of the topic. Each entry has relevant further information about date, source, and meaning. A comprehensive keyword index also makes the volume easy to navigate.
Concise, convenient, authoritative, and affordable, the Little Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs lets readers keep a traveling database of wise sayings and sage advice right in their pocket or purse. It's as handy as it is indispensable--the perfect gift for lovers of language and history.