if you want something done, ask a busy person
- if you want something done, ask a busy person
The rationale behind this apparent paradox is indicated in quot. 1997.
1984 Christian Science Monitor 26 Oct. 38 It means. specifically, that you must banish all idleness; and it also means, in a general way, that if you want something done, you should ask a busy person—like me—to do it.
1997 Life Association News Aug. 60 It’s the old story: If you want something done, ask a busy person. They know how to manage their time.
1998 Times 9 Jan. 33 They do say that if you want something done you should ask a busy person, but there must be limits.
Proverbs new dictionary.
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want — noun see for want of a nail the shoe was lost; for want of a shoe the horse was lost; and for want of a horse the man was lost wilful waste makes woeful want verb see if you want a thing done well, do it yourself if you want something done, ask a … Proverbs new dictionary
ask — see ask a silly question and you get a silly answer ask no questions and hear no lies if you want something done, ask a busy person … Proverbs new dictionary
busy — see if you want something done, ask a busy person the busiest men have the most leisure … Proverbs new dictionary
want — want1 [ want ] verb transitive *** 1. ) to feel that you would like to have, keep, or do something: Do you still want these old letters? want something for something: What do you want for your birthday? want to do something: Liz wants to see the… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
want — I UK [wɒnt] / US [wɑnt] verb [transitive] Word forms want : present tense I/you/we/they want he/she/it wants present participle wanting past tense wanted past participle wanted *** Metaphor: Wanting something is like being hungry or thirsty, and… … English 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
do — see do as I say, not as I do do as you would be done by do right and fear no man do unto others as you would they should do unto you never do evil that good may come of it the king can do no wrong … Proverbs new dictionary
the busiest men have the most leisure — Complementary to idle people have the least leisure and the rationale behind if you want something done, ask a busy person. Cf. 1866 S. SMILES Self Help (new ed.) i. Those who have most to do..will find the most time. 1884 J. PAYN Canon’s Ward II … Proverbs new dictionary
get — [ get ] (past tense got [ gat ] ; past participle gotten [ gatn ] ) verb *** ▸ 1 obtain/receive ▸ 2 become/start to be ▸ 3 do something/have something done ▸ 4 move to/from ▸ 5 progress in activity ▸ 6 fit/put something in a place ▸ 7 understand… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
Robert F. Kennedy — Infobox US Cabinet official name= Robert Francis Kennedy caption=Robert F. Kennedy at the White House, 1964 order = United States Senator from New York title= alongside = Jacob K. Javits term start = January 3, 1965 term end = June 6, 1968… … Wikipedia
