the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers
- the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers
1591 J. FLORIO Second Fruits 179 Of three things the Deuill makes his messe, Of Lawyers tongues, of Scriveners fingers, you the third may gesse [i.e. women].
1629 T. ADAMS Workes 1059 Corrupt and consciencelesse lawyers you will confesse to be sharp and wounding brambles... The Italians haue a shrewd prouerbe against them. The Deuill makes his Christmas-pyes of lawyers tongues, and clerkes fingers.
a 1697 J. AUBREY Brief Lives (1898) I. 422 Sir Robert Pye, attorney of the court of wardes,..happened to dye on Christmas day: the newes being brought to the serjeant, said he ‘The devill haz a Christmas pye.’
1952 ‘E. QUEEN’ Calendar of Crime 248 Well, well, it couldn’t have happened at a more appropriate season; there’s an old English proverb that says the Devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues.
1980 Times 24 Dec. 8 The Devil makes his Christmas-pies of television personalities’ tongues and journalists’ typing fingers: old English proverb, adapted.
Proverbs new dictionary.
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devil — see the devil can quote Scripture for his own ends the devil finds work for idle hands to do why should the devil have all the best tunes? the devil is in the details the devil is not so black as he is painted the devil lo … Proverbs new dictionary
Christmas — see the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers a dog is for life, not just for Christmas a green Yule makes a fat churchyard … Proverbs new 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
tongue — see the tongue always returns to the sore tooth the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers a still tongue makes a wise head with a sweet tongue and kindness, you can drag an elephant by a hair … Proverbs new dictionary
finger — see fingers were made before forks the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers … Proverbs new dictionary
lawyer — see a man who is his own lawyer has a fool for his client the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers … Proverbs new dictionary
clerk — see the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers … Proverbs new dictionary
pie — see the devil makes his Christmas pies of lawyers’ tongues and clerks’ fingers promises, like pie crust, are made to be broken … Proverbs new dictionary
