Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases Part 3

124. BIRD. The bird that can sing and will not sing, must be made to sing.

125. BIRDS (SMALL). Even small birds must have meat.

126. BITE. If you cannot bite, never show your teeth.

127. BITES. He that bites on every weed must needs light on poison.

128. BIT. A bit in the morning is better than nothing all day.

129. BITTER BIRD. Thou art a bitter bird, said the raven to the starling.

130. BLACK PLUM. A black plum is as sweet as a white.

131. BLAST.

The sharper the blast, The shorter 'twill last.

132. BLIND. As blind as a bat.

133. BLIND. Who so blind as he that will not see?

134. BLIND MAN. A blind man would be glad to see it.

135. BLIND MAN. Like a treatise on light and colours by a blind man.

136. BLOOD. You cannot get blood out of a stone.

137. BLOT. 'Tis a blot on his escutcheon.

138. BLUs.h.i.+NG. Blus.h.i.+ng is virtue's colour.

139. Bl.u.s.tERS. He who bl.u.s.ters without reason has most reason to bl.u.s.ter.

140. BOAST. Great boast, small roast.

141. BOIL SNOW. Whether you boil snow or pound it, you will have but water from it.

142. BONE. Give a dog a bone in his mouth, and you may kick him and he can't bite.

143. BONE. I have a bone in my arm.

144. BONE. The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat.

145. BORN. He that is born to be hanged shall never be drowned.

146. BORROWED GARMENTS. Borrowed garments never fit well.

147. BOUGHT WIT. Bought wit is best.

148. BOUGHT WIT. Bought wit makes folk wise.

149. BOUND. They that are bound must obey.

150. BOW. A bow long bent at last waxeth weak.

151. BOWL. It is easy to bowl down hill.

152. BOYS. Boys will be boys.

153. BRAG. Brag's a good dog, but Holdfast is a better.

154. BRAG. Brag's a good dog, but that he hath lost his tail.

155. BRAG. Brag's a good dog if he be well set on; but he dare not bite.

156. BRAGGERS. Great braggers, little doers.

157. BRAIN. The brain that sows not corn, plants thistles.

158. BRAN. Much bran, little meal.

159. BREAD AND b.u.t.tER.

They that have no other meat, Bread and b.u.t.ter are glad to eat.

160. BREAKFAST. He who would have a hare for breakfast must hunt over night.

161. BREAKING. The best horse needs breaking, and the best child needs teaching.

162. BRED. That which is bred in the bone will never be out of the flesh.

163. BREVITY. Brevity is the soul of wit.

164. BREW. As you brew, so shall you bake.

165. BRIBE. A bribe will enter without knocking.

166. BRIMMER. There is no deceit in a brimmer.

167. BROKEN LEG. A broken leg is not healed by a silk stocking.

168. BURDEN. A burden which one chooses is not felt.

169. BURDEN. The back is made for the burden.

170. BURDEN. No one knows the weight of another's burden.

171. BURDENS. The greatest burdens are not the gainfullest.