May chickens come cheeping
- May chickens come cheeping
The proverb literally means that the weakness of chickens born in May is apparent from their continual feeble cries.
1868 A. HISLOP Proverbs of Scotland 223 May birds are aye cheeping. This refers to the popular superstition against marrying in..May, the children of which marriages are said to ‘die of decay’.
1895 S. O. ADDY Household Tales II. viii. Children born in the month of May require great care in bringing up, for ‘May chickens come cheeping.’
Proverbs new dictionary.
Look at other dictionaries:
May — see May chickens come cheeping April showers bring forth May flowers ne’er cast a clout till May be out marry in May, rue for aye so many mists in March, so many frosts in May sell in May and go away … Proverbs new dictionary
marry in May, rue for aye — Some earlier related proverbs are also illustrated below. There are a number of old beliefs about the malign influence of this month, e.g. May chickens come cheeping. Cf. OVID Fasti v. 489 si te proverbia tangunt, mense malum Maio nubere volgus… … 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
chicken — see don’t count your chickens before they are hatched curses, like chickens, come home to roost May chickens come cheeping … Proverbs new dictionary
cheep — see May chickens come cheeping … Proverbs new dictionary
