a word to the wise is enough
- a word to the wise is enough
Now often abbreviated to a word to the wise. Cf. L. verbum sat sapienti, a word is sufficient to a wise man; also verb. sap.
a 1513 DUNBAR Poems (1979) 206 Few wordis may serve the wyis.
1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. vii. 14v Fewe woords to the wise suffice to be spoken.
a 1605 W. HAUGHTON Englishmen for my Money (1616) D3 They say, a word to the Wise is enough: so by this little French that he speakes, I see he is the very man I seeke for.
1768 STERNE Sentimental Journey III. 164 A word, Mons. Yorick, to the wise..is enough.
1841 DICKENS Old Curiosity Shop ii. ‘Fred!’ cried Mr. Swiveller, tapping his nose, ‘a word to the wise is sufficient for them—we may be good and happy without riches, Fred.’
2002 Washington Times 25 Apr. C10 (heading) The Man With the Proverbial Word to the Wise.
Proverbs new dictionary.
Look at other dictionaries:
word to the wise — {n. phr.} A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. A proverb. * /I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough./ … Dictionary of American idioms
word to the wise — {n. phr.} A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. A proverb. * /I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough./ … Dictionary of American idioms
word\ to\ the\ wise — n. phr. proverb A word of warning or advice which the intelligent person is expected to follow. I had once spoken to him about being late all the time, and thought that a word to the wise was enough … Словарь американских идиом
A word to the wise is enough. — См. Умный слышит в полслова … Большой толково-фразеологический словарь Михельсона (оригинальная орфография)
a word for the wise is enough — if someone is intelligent he only needs to be told once … English contemporary dictionary
a word to the wise is enough — if someone is intelligent he only needs to be told once … English contemporary dictionary
word — O.E. word speech, talk, utterance, word, from P.Gmc. *wurdan (Cf. O.S., O.Fris. word, Du. woord, O.H.G., Ger. wort, O.N. orð, Goth. waurd), from PIE *were speak, say (see VERB (Cf. verb)). The meaning promise was in O.E., as … Etymology dictionary
wise — see it is easy to be wise after the event it is a wise child that knows its own father early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy, and wise a fool may give a wise man counsel fools ask questions that wise men cannot answer … Proverbs new dictionary
enough — see enough is as good as a feast enough is enough throw dirt enough, and some will stick give a man rope enough and he will hang himself a word to the wise is enough … Proverbs new dictionary
word — see a word to the wise is enough actions speak louder than words an Englishman’s word is his bond fine words butter no parsnips hard words break no bones one picture is worth ten thousand words … Proverbs new dictionary
