There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip
- There's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip
"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip"
"There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip" is an old English proverb. A Latin form is found in Erasmus's "Adagia," I.iv.1 ("Multa cadunt inter calicem supremaque labra") which appears to derive from an epigram by Palladas in "The Greek Anthology" (X, 32). It can mean that between the time we decide to do something and the time we do it, things often go wrong. It is something that you say in order to warn someone not to be too confident about the result of a plan, because many things can go wrong before it is completed. For example, "We still might finish in time for the deadline, but there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip". Another example could be,"On the side of the beer mug were these words: There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip".
'Twixt being the shortened form of betwixt which means between.This comes from a Greek legend, as follows: One of the Argonauts returned from his voyage, and went home to his winery. He called for the local soothsayer, who had predicted before his voyage that he would die before he tasted another drop of his wine, from his vinery. As he finished saying this, he raised a cup filled with wine to his lips, in toast to the soothsayer, who said something in reply. Just then, he was called away to hunt a wild boar that was approaching, and died in his attempt to kill it. The phrase that the soothsayer said is translated best as, There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip.
The first known publication of "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip" can be found in the fictional tale of "Unworthiness of Heirs - Widowers" by Charles Reade. It was first published in December 1883.
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there's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip — The success of a venture should not be assumed and the possibility of failure or disaster should be recognized • • • Main Entry: ↑cup … Useful english dictionary
there's many a slip twixt the cup and the lip — it is easy to spill what you are drinking; it is easy to make mistakes On the side of the beer mug were these words: There s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip … English idioms
there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip — ► there s many a slip twixt cup and lip proverb many things can go wrong between the start of a project and its completion. Main Entry: ↑slip … English terms dictionary
There's many a slip twixt cup and lip. — literary something that you say in order to warn someone not to be too confident about the result of a plan, because many things can go wrong before it is completed. We still might finish in time for the deadline, but there s many a slip twixt… … New idioms dictionary
there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip — proverb many things can go wrong between the start of a project and its completion; nothing is certain until it has happened * * * there s ˌmany a ˈslip twixt ˌcup and ˈlip idiom (saying) nothing is completely certain until it really happens… … Useful english dictionary
there’s many a slip between cup and lip — Cf. CATO THE ELDER in Aulus Gellius Noctes Atticae XIII. xviii. 1 (saepe audivi) inter os atque offam multa intervenire posse, (I have often heard) that many things can come between mouth and morsel; PALLADAS (attrib.) in Anthologia Palatina x.… … Proverbs new dictionary
Many a Slip — was a BBC Radio 4 panel game created by Ian Messiter that ran from 1964 to 1979. It was chaired by Roy Plomley, with a musical mistakes round supplied by musician Steve Race. The title of the show is a reference to the English proverb There s… … Wikipedia
slip — Ⅰ. slip [1] ► VERB (slipped, slipping) 1) lose one s balance or footing and slide unintentionally for a short distance. 2) accidentally slide or move out of position or from someone s grasp. 3) fail to grip or make proper contact with a surface.… … English terms dictionary
slip — 1. v. & n. v. (slipped, slipping) 1 intr. slide unintentionally esp. for a short distance; lose one s footing or balance or place by unintended sliding. 2 intr. go or move with a sliding motion (as the door closes the catch slips into place;… … Useful english dictionary
Löffel — 1. Besser Löffel schnitzen, als müssig bei Tische sitzen. 2. Besser ohne Löffel als ohne Brei. – Altmann VI, 391. 3. De Lepel ward êrst lappt, eh r dermit eten ward. – Bueren, 147; Eichwald, 1174; Frommann, III, 429, 252; Hauskalender, I.… … Deutsches Sprichwörter-Lexikon
