I have a bone in my arm.

Meaning: Claiming disability to avoid work reveals one's character through convenient excuses.

Origin: From 'A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases' (1870). Public domain.

More proverbs about Wisdom

• The nearer the bone the sweeter the meat. — Proximity to difficulty yields greatest reward; best results come from reaching hardest d…
• They that are bound must obey. — Captive people have no choice but to submit to their captor's will and commands.
• A bow long bent at last waxeth weak. — Continuous strain without rest eventually exhausts even the strongest resources or people.
• The brain that sows not corn, plants thistles. — Idleness breeds destructive habits; a mind unused for constructive purpose defaults to ha…
• He who would have a hare for breakfast must hunt over night. — Success requires preparation and effort before the moment of need arrives.
• Brevity is the soul of wit. — Sharp minds compress meaning into few words; excess dulls the blade of cleverness.

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