old wives' tale Quotes

A little superstition is a good thing to keep in one's bag of precautions.

When gossip gets old it becomes a myth.

Never look at other people's bad fortune,' my mother said. 'If you do, it will come back to find you instead of its rightful owner.

I have a superstition that if I talk about plot, it's like letting sand out of a hole in the bottom of a bag.

So, what do you think, my dear, will it be a girl or a boy?” “It will be a soul-stealer, apparently.” “What!” The earl reared away from his wife and looked down at her suspiciously.

...I feel as though I made a face and the wind changed, and now I have to go through life grimacing in this horrible way.

My right eye itches, some good luck is near.

The screech-owl, with ill-boding cry, Portends strange things, old women say; Stops every fool that passes by, And frights the school-boy from his play.

My mother warned me to avoid things colored red.

I never had a piece of toast particularly long and wide, But fell upon the sanded floor, And always on the buttered side.

For your popular rumour, unlike the rolling stone of the proverb, is one which gathers a deal of moss in its wanderings up and down.

Step on a crack , you'll break your mama's back. Step on a stone, you'll end up all alone. Step on a stick, you're bound to get the Sick. Watch where you tread, you'll bring out all the dead. - A common children's playground chant, usually accompanied by jumping rope or clapping.

As soon as you talk about something that hasn't happened yet, it's bad luck.

I was told once by some country people that a magician should never tell his dreams because the telling will make them come true. But I say that is great nonsense.

The Cat on your hearthstone to this day presages, By solemnly sneezing, the coming of rain!

Nanny Ogg looked under her bed in case there was a man there. Well, you never knew your luck.

If any of you wish to know how to have your bread fall butter side up, butter it on both sides, and then it will fall butter side up.