least said, soonest mended
- least said, soonest mended
c 1460 in W. C. Hazlitt Remains of Early Popular Poetry (1864) III. 169 Who sayth lytell he is wyse..And fewe wordes are soone amend.
1555 J. HEYWOOD Two Hundred Epigrams no. 169 Lyttle sayde, soone amended.
a 1641 D. FERGUSSON Scottish Proverbs (STS) no. 946 Littl said is soon mended.
1776 T. COGAN John Buncle, Junior I. vi. Mum’s the word; least said is soonest mended.
1818 SCOTT Heart of Midlothian I. vi. A fine preaching has he been at the night..but maybe least said is sunest mended.
1960 MISS READ Fresh from Country xii. A quiet word..should..stop any further talebearing, and I really think it’s a case of ‘least said, soonest mended.’
1992 A. LAMBERT Rather English Marriage (1993) xvii. 289 He was tempted to go down and confront her,..but he knew he was in the wrong. Least said, soonest mended: no good creating a fuss now.
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least said, soonest mended — ► least said, soonest mended proverb a difficult situation will be resolved more quickly if there is no more discussion of it. Main Entry: ↑least … English terms dictionary
least said soonest mended — ˌleast ˈsaid ˌsoonest ˈmended idiom (BrE, saying) a bad situation will pass or be forgotten most quickly if nothing more is said about it Main entry: ↑sayidiom … Useful english dictionary
Least said, soonest mended. — British & Australian, old fashioned something that you say which means a bad event or situation can be forgotten more easily if you do not talk about it. I ve always thought it best not to dwell on grievances too long. Least said, soonest mended … New idioms dictionary
least said soonest mended — silence is golden, keeping quiet prevents problems, not saying anything prevents one from making a hurtful remark … English contemporary dictionary
least said, soonest mended — proverb a difficult situation will be resolved more quickly if there is no more discussion of it … Useful english dictionary
least — ► DETERMINER & PRONOUN (usu. the least) ▪ smallest in amount, extent, or significance. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ used in names of very small animals and plants: least shrew. ► ADVERB ▪ to the smallest extent or degree. ● at least Cf. ↑ … English terms dictionary
least — see least said, soonest mended idle people have the least leisure who knows most, speaks least … Proverbs new dictionary
the least said the soonest mended — it is often wise to remain silent and avoid disputes … English contemporary dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
mend — I. verb Etymology: Middle English, short for amenden more at amend Date: 13th century transitive verb 1. to free from faults or defects: as a. to improve in manners or morals ; reform b. to set right ; correct … New Collegiate Dictionary
