TO HELP A LAME DOG OVER A STILE, verb. phr. (common).—To give a hand; to assist in a difficulty; to bunk up. Fr. sauver la mise à quelqu’un.

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  1546.  HEYWOOD, Proverbs. TO HELP A DOGGE OVER A STILE.

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  1605.  MARSTON, The Insatiate Countesse, ii. 2. Here’s A STILE so high as a man cannot HELP A DOG OVER IT.

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  1670.  RAY, Proverbs (1893), 168. HELP THE LAME DOG OVER THE STILE.

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  1710.  SWIFT, Polite Conversation, i. Madam, I know I shall always have your good word; you love to HELP A LAME DOG OVER THE STILE.

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  d. 1721.  PRIOR, The Viceroy.

        But for this horrid murder vile
  None did him prosecute;
His old friend HELP’D HIM O’ER THE STILE;
  With Satan who dispute!

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  1857.  C. KINGSLEY, Two Years Ago, xxv. I can show my money, pay my way, eat my dinner, kill my trout, hunt my hounds, HELP A LAME DOG OVER A STILE (which was Mark’s phrase for doing a generous thing), and thank God for all.

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  LET THE BEST DOG LEAP THE STILE FIRST, phr. (old).—‘Let the best take lead’ (RAY).

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