Proverbs and Proverbial Lore

1
Proverbs and Proverbial Lore

• Terms and Examples

2
Key Terms

• Proverb-is a popular saying in a relatively fixed
  form. Proverbs are or have been in oral
  circulation.
• 1. A proverb must be a saying.
• 2. A proverb must exist in a standardized form.
• 3. Must have an oral vitality distiguishing it
  from clichés from other subjects.

3

• True Proverbs
• 1. Are always complete sentences (S/V).
• 2. May vary slightly in form.
• 3. Usually express a truth or wisdom.
• (Sometimes True Proverbs have implied verbs or
  subjects, yet they are still complete sentences.)
• Examples
• Let sleeping dogs lie.
• Mother knows best.
• El Camaron que se duerme se lo lleva la
  corriente.

4

• Proverbial Phrases
• 1. Are never complete sentences (S/V).
• 2. Vary in form.
• 3. Rarely express a truth or wisdom.
• 4. Almost always are metaphorical
• Examples
• Up SxxT creek.
• behind the eight ball.
• ducks in a row.

5

• Proverbial Comparisons
• 1. Are essentially a subset of proverbial
  phrases.
• 2. Are never complete sentences (S/V).
• 2. Vary in form.
• 3. Rarely express a truth or wisdom.
• 4. Are similes instead of metaphors (use like
  and as).
• Examples
• sweat like a pig.
• X short of a full Y.

6

• Wellerisms (Quotation Proverbs)-are sayings in
  the form of a quotation that are followed by a
  phrase that ascribes the quotation to someone who
  has done something funny or notable.
• 1. Frequently the speaker is an old woman, the
  Devil, a monkey, or a blind man.
• Examples
• I can see, said the blind man to the bat.
• Neat but not gaudy, said the Devil, as he
  painted his tail blue.

7
Miscellaneous Proverbial Sayings

• Insults, retorts, and wisecracks
• Sarcastic interrogatives
• Euphemisms
• National and ethnic slurs
• Authors and titles (imaginary)
• Confucius say
• She was only
• Tom Swifties (similar to Wellerims in development)