even Homer nods

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WOTD – 31 March 2010    

Contents

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

Etymology[edit]

even + Homer + nods (“be momentarily inattentive or inaccurate”), alluding to line 359 of Horace’s Ars Poetica[1]

Proverb[edit]

even Homer nods

  1. Not even the most vigilant and expert are immune from erring.

Translations[edit]

not even the most vigilant and expert are immune from erring

References[edit]

  1. ^ Quintus Horatius Flaccus, Ars Poetica (c. 18 BC), ll. 354–360
    Vt scriptor si peccat idem librarius usque,
    quamuis est monitus, uenia caret, et Citharoedus
    ridetur, chorda qui semper oberrat eadem,
    sic mihi, qui multum cessat, fit Choerilus ille,
    quem bis terque bonum cum risu miror; et idem
    indignor quandoque bonus dormitat Homerus;
    uerum operi longo fas est obrepere somnum.
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