Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.
Hanging
A hangman’s is a good trade; he does his work by daylight.
All are not hanged who are condemned.
As good be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.
Away with you; be a pedler, a knave, says the hangman to his man.German.
Before a man learns to hang, he is half dead.Danish.
Better “there he goes,” than “there he hangs.”
Either rich or hanged.Spanish.
Go steal a horse and you’ll die without being sick.
Hang a dog on a crab tree and he’ll never love verjuice.
Hang him that hath no shift and him that hath too many.
Hang not all your bells on one horse.
Hang the young thief and the old one will not steal.Danish.
Hanging is the worst use a man can be put to.Wotton.
He came time enough who was hanged by candle light.Spanish.
He rises o’er early, that is hanged ere noon.
He escaped hemp but deserved a wooden halter.
He stands like Mump Hazard who was hanged for saying nothing.
He that has an hour’s start will not be hanged.Spanish.
He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned.Italian, German, Dutch.
He that is born to be hanged will never be drowned unless the water come over the gallows.Danish.
He that is hanged for stealing a horse to-day has no reason to buy oats for him to-morrow.Fielding.
He that is to die by the gallows may dance on the river.Italian.
He was hanged that left his drink behind. (A certain malefactor was suspected because he fled from the inn upon hearing the hue and cry, leaving his drink unfinished.)
He who does not wish to become old may hang himself when young.German.
He who would hang himself is sure to find a rope.Danish.
If you steal for others you shall be hanged yourself.
If you would not live to be old you must be hanged when you are young.
If your luck go on at this rate you may very well hope to be hanged.
Millers, tailors, and weavers are not hanged or the trade would soon be extinct.German.
No haste to hang true men.
See how he has risen from a mayor to a hangman.Spanish.
Take courage; younger than thou have been hanged.
That char is charr’d, as the good wife said when she had hanged her husband.
There never was a worse use made of a man than hanging him.Curran.
We hang little thieves and let great ones escape.Dutch.
We hang little thieves and take off our hats to great ones.German.
Who hangs himself in the chimney should not complain of smoke.German.
You must not hang a man by his looks.
You’ll dance at the end of a rope without teaching.
You’ll go up the ladder to bed; i.e., be hung.