Don't Use Big Words

Found hand written in an old Bible | unknown | unknown

[Betty Jane]

I've been thinking about these all morning and will continue throughout the day. Hopefully, with all our heads together we can figure them all out.

I'll check in again later.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

I just can't get the third and fifth ones from the bottom.
I'll keep pluggin' though.

[Jeff Gordon]

no pain, no gain ==> nothing ventured, nothing gained?

I believe the word "aleatory" was typoed into "eleatory."

Aleatory leans much closer to ventures and luck than towards pain.

[Jeff Gordon]

Third from bottom: One should hypersthetically...

Look before you leap.

[Sloth]

What a plethora of pedantic polysyllabic pablum!

[WhiskeyPapa]

Shoud we not eschew obfuscation?

Walt

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"Look before you leap. "

Bingo.

[Betty Jane]

The cognomens of those bereft of efficiency of judgment are definitely similar of the portion of their anatomy that extends from the brow to the lower extremity of the lower jaw, in constantly being perceived on display in sites of prominence.

Did you get this one?

The fifth one from the bottom is tough also. I've thought of every phrase that has "dime" in it.

A dime a dozen, A dime a dance, paper roses, they only cost a dime. None works. My husband has come up with a shoeshine. But we don't know any saying about a shoeshine.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"The cognomens of those bereft of efficiency..."

No, I haven't been able to come up with this one yet. I know all the meanings of the words. I just don't think I'm familiar with any axiom about the nicknames of stupid people's faces "constantly being perceived on display in sites of prominence."!!!!
It's frustrating.
#42 (fifth from the bottom) is a toughie as well. Definitely something about a shoeshine and 10 cents.
(What the world needs is a good 10 cent shoeshine?) Nah.
I haven't given up yet.
Anyway...here's the list as I have it now. I've restructured it numbered order with spelling corrections and a couple of very minor adjustments:

OBFUSCATIONS OF CELEBRATED ORACULAR UTTERANCES

1. Pulchritude possesses solely cutaneous profundity.
2. Compounds of hydrogen and oxygen in the proportion of two to one that are without visible movement invariably tend to flow with profundity.
3. A body of persons abiding in a domicile of silica with metallic oxides should not carelessly project small geologic specimens.
4. Members of an avian species or identical plumage congregate.
5. It is fruitless to become lachrymose over precipitately departed lacteal fluid.
6. Where there is sufficient positive volition a successful conclusion may usually be anticipated.
7. Cast a stroke at the propitious moment when the silver-white metallic substance is of excessive temperature.
8. A tremendous disturbance of the atmosphere is generally preceded by a corresponding period of absolute tranquility.
9. The customary symbol of regal power does not necessarily indicate desirable mental tranquility.
10. A plethora of individuals with expertise in culinary techniques vitiate the potable concoction produced by steeping certain compatibles.
11. Neophyte's serendipity.
12. Each mass of vapory collection suspended in the firmament has an interior decoration of metallic hue.
13. Variations from the ordinary or common routine of experience are that which gives zest to man's cycle of existence.
14. Those who possess unusually little intellect often project themselves into situations where the winged, ethereal likenesses of men hesitate to perambulate.
15. Scintillate, scintillate, asteroid minific.
16. Freedom from incrustations of grime is contiguous to deification.
17. It is fruitless to attempt to indoctrinate a superannuated canine with innovative maneuvers.
18. He who locks himself into the arms of Morpheus promptly at eventide and starts the day before it is officially announced by the rising sun, excels in physical fitness, increases in economic assets, and cerebrates with remarkable efficiency.
19. Eschew the implement of correction and vitiate the scion.
20. The cognomens of those bereft of efficiency of judgment are definitely similar of the portion of their anatomy that extends from the brow to the lower extremity of the lower jaw, in constantly being perceived on display in sites of prominence.
21. A feathered biped in a gilded cage is equivalent to double that number at large.
22. Equine quadrupeds may indubitably be induced to approach that well-known standard of specific gravity, but not necessarily be induced to imbibe thereof.
23. All articles, which coruscate with resplendence, are not truly auriferous.
24. Calculus concretions in rotary transition glean negligible bryophitic accretion.
25. The incontinently stirring rascorial vertebrae apprehends the lytta-like verminicular invertebrate.
26. It hath been deemed unwise to calculate upon the quantity of junior poultry prior to the completion of proper incubation.
27. Where there are visible vapors having their provenience in ignited carbonaceous materials, there will be also observed conflagration.
28. Unwanted egotism prophesies the speedy effect of the force of gravity.
29. The placement of the termination as a precedent to the commencement should never be essayed.
30. A small, one-eyed steel instrument used at the crucial moment may rescue the square of three.
31. To depart from the path of rectitude is characteristic of the human species, but to be tolerant, loving and kind toward wrongdoers is Godlike.
32. Sorting on the part of mendicants must be interdicted.
33. Male cadavers are incapable of yielding testimony.
34. Exclusive dedication to necessitous chores without interludes of hedonistic diversion renders John a hebetudinous fellow.
35. Accelerated execution often produces faulty results.
36. History records numerous painful occurrences between the drinking vessel and the facial aperture which it wished to contact.
37. The person presenting the ultimate cachinnation possesses thereby the optimal cachinnation.
38. Abstention from any aleatory undertaking precludes a potential accumulation of a lucrative nature.
39. Missiles of ligneous or oterous consistency have the potential of fracturing my osceous structure, but appellations will eternally remain innocuous.
40. When the humidity attains the bursting point it does so profusely.
41. When the feline quadruped is conspicuous by its absence the lesser rodents avail themselves of the opportunity to participate in some unrestrained frivolity.
42. Pedal habiliments of variegated hue and design artistically lubricated and illuminated with ambidextrous facility for the infinitesimal remuneration of 10 cents per operation.
43. Permanently absented in simultaneous conjunction with severely agitated admixtures of nitrogen and oxygen.
44. One should hypersthetically exercise macrography on that situs which one should eventually tenant should one propel oneself into the troposphere.
45. Do not dissipate your competence by habitudenous prodigality lest you subsequently lament an exiguous inadequacy.
46. In promulgating your esoteric cogitations and articulating your superficial sentimentalities or amicable philosophical observations, beware of platitudinous ponderosities.

Answers:

1. Beauty is only skin deep
2. Still water runs deep
3. People who live in glass houses should not throw stones
4. Birds of feather flock together
5. Don't cry over spilt milk.
6. Where there is a will, there is a way.
7. Strike while the iron is hot.
8. The calm before the storm.
9. Troubled is the head that wears the crown
10. Too many cooks spoiled the broth
11. Beginner's luck
12. Every cloud has a silver lining
13. Variety is the spice of life
14. Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.
15. Twinkle, twinkle little star
16. Cleanlines is next to Godliness
17. You can not teach an old dog new tricks
18. Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
19. Spare the rod and spoil the child.
20. ????
21. A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
22. You can lead a horse to water but you can not make it drink
23. All that glitters is not gold
24. Don't beat around the bush.
25. The early bird gets the worm.
26. Don't count your chickens before they're hatched.
27. Where there is smoke, there is fire.
28. Pride goeth before a fall.
29. Putting the cart before the horse.
30. A stitch in time saves nine.
31. To err is human, to forgive divine.
32. Beggars cannot be choosers.
33. Dead men tell no tales.
34. All work and no play makes jack a dull boy.
35. Haste makes waste.
36. There is many a slip between the cup and the lip.
37. He who laughs last laughs best.
38. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.
39. Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.
40. When it rains it pours.
41. When the cat's away, the mice will play.
42. ????
43. Gone with the Wind.
44. Look before you leap.
45. Waste not want not
46. Don't use a dollar and fifty cent word when you've got a good 10 cent one handy

[Jeff Gordon]

The cognomens of those bereft of efficiency...

Nosey?

[Betty Jane]

Jeff,

I was thinking along those lines too. But I can't get anything to quite fit.

Sticking your nose in other people's business.

Putting one's nose in the air.

Cut off your nose to spite your face.

Maybe, it's a plain as the nose on your face. I think that may be it.

Sam,

I think number 29 is 'don't jump to conclusions' I originally thought the cart before the horse, but it doesn't really work. 'Don't jump to conclusions' sort of puts the end at the beginning.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Yep. Got me again on #29. Good catch.

I have this for #20:

Main Entry: cog·no·men
Pronunciation: käg-'nO-m&n, 'käg-n&-
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural cognomens or cog·no·mi·na /käg-'nä-m&-n&, -'nO-/
Etymology: Latin, irregular from co- + nomen name
Date: 1809
1 : SURNAME; especially : the third of usually three names borne by a male citizen of ancient Rome
2 : NAME; especially : a distinguishing nickname or epithet
- cog·nom·i·nal /käg-'nä-m&-n^&l/ adjective

"...the portion of their anatomy that extends from the brow to the lower extremity of the lower jaw" I believe refers to the face, since the nose generally doesn't extend to the lower extremity of the jaw.

"...in constantly being perceived on display in sites of prominence" seems to say 'more important than he/she really is'.

What really bites is that I have to get some work done today. These suckers really screwed up my day yesterday!
Not that I'm obsessing or anything...cognomens...cognomens...cognomens...

[Betty Jane]

I got it. I solved number 20. No wonder we couldn't get it. I never heard of it. I found it in Bartlett's Quotations. Here it comes:

Fools' names, like fools' faces,

Are often seen in public places.

It is under that most prolific author, anonymous.

[Jeff Gordon]

I believe refers to the face, since the nose generally doesn't extend to the lower extremity of the jaw.

I noticed that there seem to be some heterodoxy and obfuscation in the original list.

I suspect that APs typing fingers and mind sometimes run different subprograms. One example of this was when he typed "confunction" for "conjunction." In this case the confusion was between the right and the left hand. It is not too much of a stretch to assume that the same type of subprogram error produced "lower" in place of "upper."

[Jeff Gordon]

I solved number 20

Congratulations! That was a tough one.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

"I solved number 20. "

You da bomb!
It really is hard cracking these things if you've never heard the original colloquialism before. I've never heard of that one either. Congrats.
Now, what about that shoeshine in # 42? =;^)