August dry and warm, Harvest doth no harm.
August dry and warm, Harvest doth no harm.
Meaning in plain English
The saying regards a dry, warm August as favourable to harvest. Its reassuring wording expresses a seasonal expectation rather than a complete assessment of crop conditions.
Example
A reader notes what the rhyme hopes for at harvest time while checking separate evidence for any practical decision.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
No harm is promised to the harvest when the named month has the described weather. The rhyme can show a concern with conditions during a particular stage of provision. It does not establish that dryness and warmth always benefit every crop or that other conditions cease to matter. A careful reading explains the claim without adopting it as farming instruction.
When to use it
Use it to discuss the specific expectation expressed by seasonal lore.
Keep in mind
This is not agricultural advice or a guarantee about an August harvest.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-04. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 47 · August
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗