Jill: I'm worried that my grandmother may not live much longer. She's been sick for so many years. Jane: Well, if it's any comfort, I've heard that a creaking door hangs longest.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
a creaking door hangs longest — Usually said consolingly about, by, or to the infirm, though sometimes implying that a weak or faulty thing continues to be a nuisance the longest. Gate sometimes replaces door. 1776 T. COGAN John Buncle, Junior I. vi. They say a creaking gate… … Proverbs new dictionary
door — see a door must either be shut or open a creaking door hangs longest a golden key can open any door when one door shuts, another opens opportunity never knocks twice at any man’s door a postern door makes a thief … Proverbs new dictionary
Oxford Dictionary of Proverbs, Thematic Index — absence absence makes the heart grow fonder he who is absent is always in the wrong the best of friends must part blue are the hills that are far away distance lends enchantment to the view out of sight, out of mind … Proverbs new dictionary
long — adjective see long and lazy, little and loud; fat and fulsome, pretty and proud it is a long lane that has no turning art is long and life is short be the day weary or be the day long, at last it ringeth to evensong kings have long arms … Proverbs new dictionary
creak — see a creaking door hangs longest … Proverbs new dictionary
gate — see a creaking door hangs longest one man may steal a horse, while another may not look over a hedge … Proverbs new dictionary
hang — see hang a thief when he’s young, and he’ll no’ steal when he’s old a creaking door hangs longest give a dog a bad name and hang him every herring must hang by its own gill give a man rope enough and he will hang himself … Proverbs new dictionary
literature — /lit euhr euh cheuhr, choor , li treuh /, n. 1. writings in which expression and form, in connection with ideas of permanent and universal interest, are characteristic or essential features, as poetry, novels, history, biography, and essays. 2.… … Universalium
