|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries: |
Research categories | Follow us on Twitter |
Research categories
View all topics in the newsView all reference sources at Encyclopedia.com |
|||
fools
fools All Fools' Day a humorous term for 1 April as a day for testing the credulity of others; recorded from the early 18th century, and probably modelled on All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day.
fools and bairns should never see half-done work the unwise and the inexperienced may judge the quality of a finished article from its rough unfinished state; saying recorded from the early 18th century. fools ask questions that wise men cannot answer a foolish person may put a question to which there is no simple or easily given answer. The saying is recorded from the mid 17th century. fools build houses and wise men live in them a shrewd person chooses to save themselves trouble, and benefit from the effort expended by another. The saying is recorded from the late 17th century. fools for luck a foolish person is traditionally fortunate (the same idea is expressed in Fortune favours fools). The saying is recorded from the mid 19th century. fools rush in where angels fear to tread a foolish person will often take a step where someone wiser will be more cautious; the saying comes from Pope's An Essay on Criticism (1711). see also children and fools tell the truth, fool, fortune favours fools, ship of fools, young folks think old folks to be fools. |
|
|
Cite this article
ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fools." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fools." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-fools.html ELIZABETH KNOWLES. "fools." The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 2006. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O214-fools.html |
|
April Fool's Day
April Fool's Day or All Fool's Day, holiday of uncertain origin, known for practical joking and celebrated on the first of April. Prior to the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1564, the date was observed as New Year's Day by cultures as varied as the Roman and the Hindu. The holiday is considered to be related to the festival of the vernal equinox, which occurs on Mar. 21. The English gave April Fool's Day its first widespread celebration during the 18th cent. |
|
|
Cite this article
"April Fool's Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "April Fool's Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-AprilFoo.html "April Fool's Day." The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed.. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-AprilFoo.html |
|
April Fool's Day
A·pril Fool's Day (also A·pril Fools' Day) • n. April 1, in many Western countries traditionally an occasion for playing tricks. Also called All Fools' Day. |
|
|
Cite this article
"April Fool's Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. 12 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>. "April Fool's Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Encyclopedia.com. (February 12, 2012). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-aprilfoolsday.html "April Fool's Day." The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English. 2009. Retrieved February 12, 2012 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O999-aprilfoolsday.html |
|
Search over 100 encyclopedias and dictionaries:
HighBeam™ Research, Inc. © Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.
The Encyclopedia.com advertising network includes:
