Where did "You know what thought did!" come from?

Question

"You know what thought did" is a catch-phrase addressed to someone who has just made a stupid mistake and attempted to excuse himself by saying "But I thought..."

Does anyone know the origin of this saying; in particular, does anyone know what thought actually did?

Simon · Accepted Answer

This was a common one in our house while I was growing up. The next line was "Followed a muck cart, and thought it was a wedding". I've no source, but a quick googling suggests we weren't the only ones.

Correct answer by Simon on June 28, 2021

Mehper C. Palavuzlar · Answer

The Dictionary of Catch Phrases states that the original form of "You know what thought did?" is:

What did thought do?

and was exemplified in Jonathan Swift's, 'Polite Conversation', 1738

LADY ANSWERALL:  I thought you did just now.
  LORD SPARKISH:   Pray, Madam, what did thought
  do?

It's also seen in Lincolnshire Traditional Sayings And Proverbial Expressions.

When a child says "I thought so and so" the adult may respond with, "You know what thought did? He only thought he did." A teenager, however, may reply, "Ah, but when he looked he had!"  — a riposte which has the effect of counteracting the adult's attempt to control behaviour.

Where did "You know what thought did!" come from?

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