|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65
journeyman
|
OP
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65 |
Do you know the other half of this proverb : An iron anvil should have _________? I was surprised that I didn't know this proverb at all, but I have the answer so I'll wait for a few posts before I let the cat out of the bag! 
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
An iron anvil should have a velvet glove.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65
journeyman
|
|
OP
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65 |
..... the blank contains 4 words, not 4 letters like the other people thought. (i.e. An iron anvil should have iron! Well, duh! hahahaha)
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
An iron anvil should have a pretty velvet glove?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 2,636 |
An iron anvil should have asbestos lined velvet glove?
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65
journeyman
|
|
OP
journeyman
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 65 |
hahaha..... You guys crack me up.
Get this, the answer is : An iron anvil should have a hammer of feathers
Now THAT's a proverb I've never heard of!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
An iron anvil should have a hammer of feathers
That's it?
Harrumphİ! I liked mine better
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,400 |
I have heard a steel fist in a velvet glove-- good old maggie (thatcher) was called that early on in her career, but it was old when used to describe her.
was it english? or is it from some other language, in which case, the idiom might not make as much sense.. but it does capture the idea, that if you have the strenght, (steel fist) you don't have to get rough-- you can cover the fist in velvet, but it remains just as hard, and unyeilding..
a anvil is no less hard if you hit it with a hammer made of feathers.. -- the comment sounds strange to me.. it almost makes sense... but not quite.. but i expect it could...
(an other culture might look at a steel fist and say, whoa! who has a steel fist? )
EDIT: steel fist and velvet glove might give fewer hits, but one of the oldest is a PDF file about Maggie.
No doubt, iron fist is also used, but steel and iron are not only different metal, but invoke for me different images..
iron seems heavier, coarser and cruder
steel, is sleek, shinier, flexible, lighter but stronger than iron-- in a battle of iron and steel, i'd want steel on my side..
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 13,803 |
it almost makes sense... but not quite..
Didn't we have a thread time back way back about maxims that sounded like they should mean something but you could never quite figure out what? I think I'll add this one to my list. Thanks, JessCC.
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605
Carpal Tunnel
|
|
Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 2,605 |
Helen, I believe the phrase (and a nice one it is indeed) is an iron fist in a velvet glove.
bartleby: iron fist: Rigorous or despotic control: ruled the nation with an iron fist.
You'll get over 3,000 hits if you google "iron fist" "velvet glove".
|
|
|
|
Forums16
Topics13,913
Posts229,344
Members9,182
| |
Most Online3,341
Dec 9th, 2011
|
|
|
0 members (),
782
guests, and
2
robots. |
|
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
|
