straws tell which way the wind blows
- straws tell which way the wind blows
The phrase ‘a straw in the wind’, a sign of the prevailing opinion, action, etc., is also found.
a 1654 J. SELDEN Table-Talk (1689) 31 Take a straw and throw it up into the Air, you shall see by that which way the Wind is... More solid things do not shew the Complexion of the times so well, as Ballads and Libels.
1799 COBBETT Porcupine’s Works (1801) X. 161 ‘Straws’ (to make use of Callender’s old hackneyed proverb) ‘..served to show which way the wind blows.’
1927 A. ADAMS Ranch on Beaver vii. As straws tell which way the wind blows..this day’s work gives us a clean line on these company cattle.
1968 R. H. R. SMITHIES Shoplifter vii. You must remember that I was present at the contretemps which occurred at your house two days ago. Straws show which way the wind blows, Mrs. Pride!
Proverbs new dictionary.
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wind — see when the wind is in the east, ’tis neither good for man nor beast April showers bring forth May flowers God tempers the wind to the shorn lamb it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good north wind doth blow, we shall have snow … Proverbs new dictionary
tell — see tell the truth and shame the devil blood will tell you can’t tell a book by its cover children and fools tell the truth dead men tell no tales every picture tells a story … Proverbs new dictionary
way — see the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach there is more than one way to skin a cat the longest way round is the shortest way home love will find a way other times, other manners straws tell which way the wind blow … 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
blow — see it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good north wind doth blow, we shall have snow September blow soft, till the fruit’s in the loft straws tell which way the wind blows … Proverbs new dictionary
straw — see you cannot make bricks without straw a drowning man will clutch at a straw it is the last straw that breaks the camel’s back straws tell which way the wind blows … Proverbs new dictionary
