Who said “O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.”?

Verified

John Gay. A published source records them saying or writing it.

SourceThe Beggar's Opera (1728), Act I, sc. viii, air 9

Evidence: Wikiquote · How we check

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“O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.”
VerifiedThe Beggar's Opera (1728), Act I, sc. viii, air 9 · evidenceFlirting

Cite this quote

For academic work, cite the original where you can: The Beggar's Opera (1728), Act I, sc. viii, air 9.

APA

Gay, J. (n.d.). O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on. [Quotation]. Famous Quotations Network. Retrieved October 24, 2026, from https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18047-o-polly-you-might-have-toyed-and-kissed/

MLA

Gay, John. “O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.” Famous Quotations Network, https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18047-o-polly-you-might-have-toyed-and-kissed/. Accessed 24 Oct. 2026.

Chicago

Gay, John. “O Polly, you might have toyed and kissed, by keeping men off, you keep them on.” Famous Quotations Network. Accessed October 24, 2026. https://www.famous-quotations.com/quotes/18047-o-polly-you-might-have-toyed-and-kissed/.