Absurd. Christy, Robert, comp. 1887. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages

Robert Christy, comp. Proverbs, Maxims and Phrases of All Ages. 1887.

Absurd


He calls for a shoeing horn to help on his gloves.	1
He catches the wind with a net.	2
He chastises the dead.	3
He cleaves the clouds.	4
He draws water with a sieve. Modern Greek.	5
He gives grass to the lion—meat to the horse. Turkish.	6
He gives straw to his dog—and bones to his ass.	7
He hides the sun with a sieve. Modern Greek.	8
He is building a bridge over the sea.	9
He is making clothes for fishes.	10
He is making ropes of sand.	11
He numbers the waves.	12
He ploughs the air.	13
He pounds water in a mortar.	14
He seeks water in the sea.	15
He seeks wool on an ass.	16
He sees a glow-worm and thinks it a conflagration. Turkish.	17
He takes a spear to kill a fly.	18
He takes oil to extinguish the fire.	19
He tries to support an egg upon his nose. Modern Greek.	20
To commit as many absurdities as a clown in eating an egg.	21
To dig a well to put out a house on fire. Tamil.	22
To dig a well with a needle. Turkish.	23
To drink from a colander. Latin.	24
To swim a river with a bridge close by.	25
To the dog straw and to the ass bones. Modern Greek.	26
To throw oil on the fire. Dutch.	27
To throw pearls before swine.	28
To twist a rope of sand.	29
You ask an elm tree for pears.	30
You dance in a net and think nobody sees you.	31
You go to a goat to buy wool.	32
You look for hot water under the ice.	33
You use a lantern at noon day. Latin.	34