you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire

you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire

1803 C. DIBDIN Professional Life I. p. xi. It is a well-meant saying, that you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire; or, in other words, before you venture at too much familiarity.

1904 V. S. LEAN Collectanea IV. 204 You may poke a man’s fire after you’ve known him seven years, but not before.

1942 A. THIRKELL Marling Hall iii. ‘Let me get you another drink,’ said David, taking the glass. ‘I know one ought to know people seven years to poke their fires, but I believe it’s less for cocktails.’

1945 M. SARSFIELD Green December Fills Graveyard iv. 35 ‘I haven’t known you ten years, or whatever the period is, but I’m going to poke your fire.’


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  • year — see there are no birds in last year’s nest a cherry year, a merry year; a plum year, a dumb year keep a thing seven years and you’ll always find a use for it you should know a man seven years before you stir his fire one year’s seeding makes… …   Proverbs new dictionary

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  • Germany — /jerr meuh nee/, n. a republic in central Europe: after World War II divided into four zones, British, French, U.S., and Soviet, and in 1949 into East Germany and West Germany; East and West Germany were reunited in 1990. 84,068,216; 137,852 sq.… …   Universalium

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