June 4th, 2011

Shepherds/Sailors Take Warning

by Alex Hallatt

After sending in this cartoon

I got this message:

Panel 2 seems to be another Briticism, between “shepherds take warning” (UK) and “sailors take warning” (US). “Sailor” returns more Google hits, and I’d never heard the “shepherd” version before myself; but it seems to be an accepted variant of the rhyme even if it’s use is more limited. Do you think it would be confusing enough to readers to warrant a change?

I guess there weren’t as many shepherds in the US as in the UK, Australia and New Zealand when this phrase came into use.