Oysters are not good in the month that hath not an R in it.
Meaning: Eating oysters in summer months lacking the letter R risks spoilage and illness from warm-water bacterial growth.
Origin: The rule rules out May through August. Henry Buttes's food guide Dyets Dry Dinner (1599) already calls oysters unseasonable and unwholesome in all months without an R. Summer is when oysters spawn and grow thin and watery, and before refrigeration it was also when shellfish spoiled fastest.
More proverbs about Morality
- A penny in your pocket is a good companion. — Small, reliable resources at hand matter more than grand promises or distant wealth.
- Pepper is black, yet it hath a good smack. — Humble or unassuming appearance need not diminish value; worth transcends visual appeal.
- Praise a fair day at night. — Wait until hardship passes before celebrating good fortune, as circumstances remain uncer…
- Birds of prey do not sing. — Predators focused on survival through action lack leisure for beautiful expression or soc…
- Pry not into other people's affairs. — Meddling in others' business breeds conflict and wastes energy better spent on your own c…
- Many without punishment, none without sin. — Without accountability, wrongdoing flourishes; perfection remains impossible for all mort…
From our compliments & insults
- Sei un salame — You're a clumsy, dopey softie — said with a smile.
- Eres más corto que las mangas de un chaleco — You're not the sharpest — a bit slow on the uptake.
- Du bist nicht die hellste Kerze auf der Torte — You're a little dim — not the smartest in the room.