Better be half hanged than ill wed.
Meaning: Marriage to the wrong person brings lasting torment worse than a swift, terrible death.
Origin: Recorded in A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases, an undated collection published in London by Whittaker & Co. around 1880 and credited to Thomas Preston. Its earlier history hasn't been traced.
More proverbs about Challenge
- There are many ways of killing a dog beside hanging him. — Multiple methods exist to achieve the same harmful outcome, so don't fixate on one partic…
- High winds blow on high hills. — Exposure and prominence invite greater adversity and scrutiny than sheltered, ordinary po…
- A hog in armour is still but a hog. — Fine clothing cannot transform base character; inner nature persists regardless of extern…
- Do not holloa till you are out of the wood. — Avoid celebrating success prematurely; dangers may persist until you've completely escape…
- The stillest humours are always the worst. — Quiet resentment festers dangerously; unexpressed anger poses greater threat than obvious…
- Hunger will break through stone walls. — Desperation drives people to overcome barriers they'd otherwise consider insurmountable.
From our false friends
- Oldtimer — Actually means 'vintage car' or 'classic aircraft'. A veteran person is ein Veteran.
- Camera — Actually means 'room'. A camera (device) is una macchina fotografica.
- Pretendere — Actually means 'to demand' or 'to expect'. Pretende troppo = He demands too much.