English

Proverb

it is easy to find a stick to beat a dog

1. (rare or obsolete, proverb) If a person is determined to punish someone, they will find a way to do so.
   • 1596 — William Shakespeare, Henry VI, part Two, Act iii Scene 1 (First Folio edition)

     The ancient Prouerbe will be well effected,
     A Staffe is quickly found to beat a Dogge.

   • 1749 — Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Book III ch v

     For all this, however, poor Tom smarted in the flesh; for though Thwackum had been inhibited to exercise his arm on the foregoing account, yet, as the proverb says, It is easy to find a stick, &c. So was it easy to find a rod; and, indeed, the not being able to find one was the only thing which could have kept Thwackum any long time from chastising poor Jones.

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