throw dirt enough, and some will stick
English
Etymology
This proverb dates from c1650, and was popularised by Voltaire [François-Marie Arouet] in the 18th century.
Proverb
throw dirt enough, and some will stick
- If enough allegations are made about someone or something, then even if they are all untrue, people's opinion of the person or thing will be diminished.
- 1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at on 14 Oct 06.
- I hope...that you are ignorant of the whole affair, and are so bold only because you are blind...And blind enough; so that you blunder on through thick and thin, bespattering all that come in your way, according to the old, laudable maxim, 'Throw dirt enough, and some will stick.'
- 1857, Thomas Hughes, Tom Brown's Schooldays, read at fullbooks.com on 14 Oct 06,
- But whatever harm a spiteful tongue could do them, he took care should be done. Only throw dirt enough, and some will stick.
- 1864, John Henry Newman, Apologia Pro Vita Sua, Penguin Classics (1994), p. 10,
- Archbishop Whately used to say ‘Throw dirt enough, and some will stick;' well, will stick, but not, will stain. I think he used to mean ‘stain,' and I do not agree with him.
- 1759, John Wesley, letter to John Downes, Rector of St. Michael's, Wood Street, read at Wesley Center Online at on 14 Oct 06.
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