2007-02-04 00:31:23 · 7 answers · asked by kevski1977 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
It is impossible to stop people from using this wrong form of the proverb.
It literally says "Many a big thing makes a lot", which is true but meaningless.
The original proverb said "Many a pickle makes a mickle", which usefully says that a lot of little things can add up to a big thing. It is anybody's guess who first distorted it, and why it caught on.
2007-02-04 03:01:25 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mickle and Muckle are old Norse terms brought here by the Vikings. York has a Micklegate, meaning Big Street.
2007-02-04 08:40:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The forms mickle and muckle are merely variants of the same (now dialect) word meaning ‘a large amount’. However, the alternative form of the proverb (originally a misquotation) has led to a misunderstanding that mickle means ‘a small amount’.
2007-02-04 08:34:53 · answer #3 · answered by Patrick M 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It just means that small things make larger items when put together.
So mickle would be an insignificant small thing
and muckle would be like a chunk that's bigger in size and combination of little mickles
2007-02-04 08:56:48 · answer #4 · answered by Andy L 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's actually Scots, not English. Mickle is little and muckle is big...so a lot of "littles" add up to a big thing.
My father's doctor used to say (when my father cheated on his diet), "One brick doesn't make a wall, but if you get enough bricks together you'll have the Great Wall of China."
2007-02-04 09:09:39 · answer #5 · answered by anna 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It means lots of little things make a big thing. And excuse me Alan guy thats uncalled for!
2007-02-04 08:36:15 · answer #6 · answered by The High Inquisitor 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Actually, I think it's Scottish - and who can understand them?
2007-02-04 08:34:24 · answer #7 · answered by ALAN Q 4 · 0⤊ 5⤋