Quotable quotes

Some thoughts from the OED and its files on...

...St John's place of abode...
a1400 Cursor Mundi 12706 Ion the wangelist..he liued in maiden-hede.

...unfulfilled social ambitions...
1658 SIR T. BROWNE Hydriotaphia 48 In vain we hope to be known by open and visible conservatories.

...hordes of unruly licensed victuallers...
a1656 J. USSHER Ann. World vi. (1658) 542 Thus Asia, which before was plagued with the Publicans..begins to pirck up again.

...keeping a stiff upper lip...
1877 Knight's Dict. Mechanics s.v. Guillotine, There is an air of ferocity about..punishment by beheading...Shooting is martial, and has one merit: it enables a man to stand up and face the executioner.

1900 Daily News 26 Feb. 5/2 (heading) Bullying and its advantages.

...a woman's place...
1907 Daily Chron. 9 Sept. 5/7 May I point out that...the woman who laces tightly shows a careful regard for her appearance...If more girls laced tightly there would be fewer doing the daily jaunts to the City, as many men of my acquaintance would gladly marry but want a graceful, neat-figured girl.

...unusual occupations...
1964 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 21 Dec., The policeman asked Godfrey Booth: 'Your occupation, sir?' Mr. Booth..replied 'Cag handed straw wimbler.'

1926 Chambers's Jrnl. Sept. 600/2 Maggot-farming is not yet, I believe, an overcrowded profession.

...and the dangers of swimming on holiday.
a1995 Holiday Brochure (heading), Many villas have a pool with a car thrown in.