feed a cold, starve a fever
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English
[edit]Etymology
[edit]An old wives' tale that dates back to 1574 from the original "Fasting is a great remedie of fever."[1]
Proverb
[edit]- Expressing the common belief that eating more will cure the common cold, and eating less will cure a fever.[2]
- 1887, J. H. Whelan, “The Treatment of Colds,”, in The Practitioner, volume 38, page 180:
- "Feed a cold, starve a fever." There is a deal of wisdom in the first part of this advice. A person with a catarrh should take an abundance of light nutritious food, and some light wine, but avoid spirits, and above all tobacco.
- 1968, Katinka Loeser, The Archers at Home, New York: Atheneum, page 60:
- I have a cold. 'Feed a cold, starve a fever.' You certainly know that.
Translations
[edit]proverb expressing the belief that eating more cures a cold while eating less cures a fever
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