"Old" adage: "Engage brain..."

[Jonathan Lighter]

Catherine Crier on her Court TV show today: "Whatever happened to the old adage, 'Engage brain before speaking' ?"

  About 2000 RG's. At least as many for "Be sure brain is engaged before putting mouth in gear," which is how I heard it maybe twenty years ago.

  Google Books claims 1956, 1958, and 1961 exx. of the long form, but there's no way to verify these dates online.

  A search for "engage brain before" and "put mind in gear" reveals further variants.

  JL


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