ProverbCommunicationEnglish origin

Words spoken in an evening the wind carrieth away.

Meaning: Careless evening talk dissolves into irrelevance like dispersed wind, so thoughtless words lack lasting consequence.

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.

  • Espèce de patate You dim bulb — a potato being the very picture of inert, unthinking stodginess.
  • Quel râleur / quelle râleuse You never stop moaning — everything is a complaint, nothing is ever good enough.
  • Peau de vache A mean, difficult, and unpleasant person — tough and unyielding like tanned hide.

Browse all compliments & insults →

Keep exploring

Explore all proverbs →