proverb · Source-linked selection
When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast.
When the wind is in the east, 'Tis neither good for man nor beast.
Historical period not yet established
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
The saying judges an east wind unfavourable to both people and animals. Its sweeping verdict turns a direction into an all-purpose bad sign.
What the words are saying
Neither good for man nor beast extends the judgment across different needs and experiences. The explanation does not establish a universal health or environmental effect of an east wind. A careful reading identifies the broad claim and asks what actual condition and consequence are being discussed, rather than accepting direction alone as an assessment of wellbeing.
Everyday example
A group studying weather language distinguishes this general negative label from information about a particular day’s conditions.
When to use it
Use it to examine a broad directional judgment as folklore.
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What it does not mean
This is not health, livestock or weather-safety advice.
Agent-assisted editorial interpretation. This explains the words; it does not by itself verify their author or earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Historical period not yet established
No sufficiently supported historical placement has been established. Import and download dates are not treated as composition dates. - Recorded source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 1786 · Wind (east)
A collection's publication date can be later than the words it records.
- Culture
- English