Sieve and Shears
Preserved but no longer current.
The oracle of sieve and shears. This method of divination is mentioned by Theocritus. The modus operandi was as follows : — The points of the shears were stuck in the rim of a sieve, and two persons sup- ported them with their finger-tips. Then a verse of the Bible was read aloud, and St.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Sieve and Shears” mean?
The oracle of sieve and shears. This method of divination is mentioned by Theocritus. The modus operandi was as follows : — The points of the shears were stuck in the rim of a sieve, and two persons sup- ported them with their finger-tips. Then a verse of the Bible was read aloud, and St.
Is “Sieve and Shears” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.