I-VI -- Preface -- Chapter 1 Introduction -- Chapter 2 Proverbs in texts and interactions -- Chapter 3 Defining the proverb -- Chapter 4 Literal proverb meaning -- Chapter 5 Figurative proverb meaning -- Chapter 6 The proverb inventory -- Chapter 7 Conclusions and directions for research -- Appendix A: The Annotated F-Corpus (from ODEP 237 - 50) -- Appendix Β: Proverbs in four Shakespearian plays -- Bibliography -- General Index -- 215-216