even a worm will turn

even a worm will turn
Even the humblest will strike back if harassed or imposed upon too far.

1546 J. HEYWOOD Dialogue of Proverbs II. iv. G4v Treade a worme on the tayle, and it must turne agayne.

1592 R. GREENE Groatsworth of Wit XII. 143 Stop shallow water still running, it will rage. Tread on a worme and it will turne.

1854 ‘M. LANGDON’ Ida May xi. Even the worm turns when he is trodden upon.

1889 W. JAMES in Mind XIV. 107 Since even the worm will ‘turn’, the space-theorist can hardly be expected to remain motionless when his Editor stirs him up.

1962 A. CHRISTIE Mirror Crack’d xii. He’s a very meek type. Still, the worm will turn, or so they say.

1975 ‘M. INNES’ Appleby File 98 Signs were not wanting that she was putting stuffing into Charles Vandervell, of late so inclined to unwholesome meditation of headlong dying. It was almost as if a worm were going to turn.


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  • even a worm will turn — ► (even) a worm will turn proverb (even) a meek person will resist or retaliate if pushed too far. Main Entry: ↑worm …   English terms dictionary

  • even a worm will turn —    This expression means that even someone who never complains will react to an intolerable situation.     Don t treat him so severely. He never protests, but even a worm will turn! …   English Idioms & idiomatic expressions

  • a worm will turn — ► (even) a worm will turn proverb (even) a meek person will resist or retaliate if pushed too far. Main Entry: ↑worm …   English terms dictionary

  • a worm will turn — (even) a worm will turn proverb (even) a meek person will resist or retaliate if pushed too far …   Useful english dictionary

  • worm may turn — Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. * /Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • worm may turn — Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. * /Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn./ …   Dictionary of American idioms

  • worm\ may\ turn — Even the meek will ultimately rebel if always maltreated. Sam may think that he can continue to mistreat his wife, but, knowing her, I think that some day the worm may turn …   Словарь американских идиом

  • worm — ► NOUN 1) an earthworm or other creeping or burrowing invertebrate animal having a long slender soft body and no limbs. 2) (worms) intestinal or other internal parasites. 3) a maggot regarded as eating dead bodies buried in the ground. 4)… …   English terms dictionary

  • worm — n. & v. n. 1 any of various types of creeping or burrowing invertebrate animals with long slender bodies and no limbs, esp. segmented in rings or parasitic in the intestines or tissues. 2 the long slender larva of an insect, esp. in fruit or wood …   Useful english dictionary

  • worm — see even a worm will turn the early bird catches the worm …   Proverbs new dictionary

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