better late than never

better late than never
Cf. DIONYSIUS OF HALICARNASSUS Roman Antiquities ix. 9 κρϵȋττoν γάρ ἐστιν ὀψὲ ἄρξασθαι τὰ δέoντα πράττϵιν ἢ μηδέποτε, it is better to start doing what one has to late than not at all; LIVY Hist. IV. ii. potius sero quam nunquam.

c 1330 in C. Keller Die Mittelenglische Gregoriuslegende (1941) 146 A. Better is lat than neuer blinne [cease] Our soules to maken fre.

c 1450 LYDGATE Assembly of Gods (EETS) 1.1204 Vyce to forsake ys bettyr late then neuer.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs i. x. C4 Things done, can not be vndoone,..But better late then neuer to repent this.

1708 S. OCKLEY Conquest of Syria I. 276 Whilst he was murdering the unhappy Aleppians, Caled (better late than never) came to their Relief.

1954 A. HUXLEY Letter 16 Sept. (1969) 711 I am sorry your holiday will have to be postponed so long; but better late than never.

2002 Washington Post 17 Feb. SC4 (Sally Forth comic strip) ‘Consider these a “late Valentine’s Day” bouquet.’ ‘It was three days ago.’ ‘I know, but better late than never, I always say.’ ‘Better never late, I always say.’


Proverbs new dictionary.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • better late than never — phrase used for telling someone you are happy that they did something, but you wish they had done it earlier Thesaurus: late or too latesynonym Main entry: late * * * ˌbetter ˌlate than ˈnever idiom ( …   Useful english dictionary

  • Better Late Than Never — can mean either:* Better Late Than Never (album), a 1996 album by The Slackers * Better Late Than Never (film), a 1982 film …   Wikipedia

  • better late than never — This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all …   The small dictionary of idiomes

  • better late than never — It is better to come or do something late than never. * /The firemen didn t arrive at the house until it was half burned, but it was better late than never./ * /Grandfather is learning to drive a car. Better late than never, he says./ Compare:… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • better late than never — It is better to come or do something late than never. * /The firemen didn t arrive at the house until it was half burned, but it was better late than never./ * /Grandfather is learning to drive a car. Better late than never, he says./ Compare:… …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • better\ late\ than\ never — It is better to come or do something late than never. The firemen didn t arrive at the house until it was half burned, but it was better late than never. Grandfather is learning to drive a car. Better late than never, he says. Compare: half a… …   Словарь американских идиом

  • better late than never —    This idiom suggests that doing something late is better than not doing it at all.   (Dorking School Dictionary)    ***    When someone does something late, this remark means that it is better to do it late than not do it at all.     Do you… …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • better late than never — adverb Its better to do something late, than to never do it at all. Their insolence and recklessness must be opposed, and better late than never …   Wiktionary

  • Better late than never. — something that you say which means it is better for someone or something to be late than never to arrive or to happen. Karen s card arrived 2 weeks after my birthday. Oh well, better late than never …   New idioms dictionary

  • better late than never — it is better to arrive late than not to arrive    You re an hour late, he said. Better late than never, I replied …   English idioms

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”