Chapter Nemesis to New Christians of N by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Nettles It is ill work plucking nettles with bare hands, or belling the cat. It is ill work to interfere in matters which cannot but prove disagreeable or even worse. In French, “Attacher le grelot.”

Nettoyer (French). “Nettoyer une personne, c'est à díre luy gagner tout son argent.” (Oudin: Curiositez Françoises.)
   Our English phrase, “I cleaned him out,” is precisely tantamount to it.

Never There are numerous locutions to express this idea; as-
   At the coming of the Coqueligrues (Rabelais: Pantagruel).
   At the Latter Lammas. (See Lammas.)
   On the Greek Calends (q.v.)
   In the reign of Queen Dick. (See Dick.)
   On St. Tib's Eve. (See Tibs Eve.)
   In a month of five Sundays.
   (In) la semaine des trois jeudis.
   When two Fridays come together
   When three Sundays come together
   When Dover and Calais meet. (See Dover.)
   When Dudman and Ramehead meet. (See Dunman.)
   When the world grows honest.
   When the Yellow River runs clear.

Never Say Die Never despair; never give up.

Nevers Il Conte di Nevers, the husband of Valentina. Being asked by the Governor of the Louvre to join in the massacre of the Protestants, he replied that his family contained a long list of warriors, but not one assassin. He was one of the Catholics who fell in the dreadful slaughter (Meyerbeer: Gli Ugonotti, an opera.)

New Brooms sweep Clean New servants work hard; new masters keep a sharp look out. (In French, "Il n'est rien tel que balai neuf”)

New Christians Certain Jews of Portugal, who yielded to compulsion and suffered themselves to be baptised, but in secret observed the Mosaic ceremonies. (Fifteenth century.)