
ProverbWisdom
English origin
The clock goes as it pleases the clerk.
Meaning: A servant's negligence or self-interest determines whether essential tasks proceed reliably or falter.
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.
Explore another collection: Compliments & Insults
Compliments and insults from around the world, from the sweet to the savage.
- Cabeça de alho chocho A forgetful scatterbrain whose thoughts won't stay put.
- Tu es mon rayon de soleil A warm way to tell someone they brighten your day.
- Joli comme un cœur Utterly charming or adorable.
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