TAK a hair o' the dog that bit you.
This is a familiar rendering of the great law of Homoeopathy, Similia similibus curantur; but is usually interpreted thus: Sober yourself by taking another glass.
Tak a piece; your teeth's langer than your beard.
Addressed to children who are diffident in accepting a "piece."
Tak a seat on Maggie Shaw's Crocky.
"Maggy Shaw's Crocky is a broad flat stone, near to the brink of a precipice, overhanging the sea-shore, about a mile to the north of Eyemouth. This stone was placed over the remains of an old woman who had hanged herself, and who is said to be frequently seen at night sitting upon it, in the shape of a white sea-mew-sitting lonely on the
'glitty stane,
Grwen wi' the dow o' the jauping main.'"
G. Henderson.
Tak a tune on your ain fiddle; ye'll dance till't afore it's dune.
"'I can hear no remonstrances,' he continued, turning away from the Bailie, whose mouth was open to address him ; 'the service I am on gives me no time for idle discussions.' 'Aweel, aweel, sir,' said the Bailie, 'you're welcome to a tune on your ain fiddle ; but see if I dinna gar ye dance till't afore a's dune.'"-- Rob Roy.
Tak care o' that man whom God has set his mark upon.
"I went once to a conventicle on a mountain side, in company of a very sage intelligent gentleman, who, seeing the preacher want two joints of each ring finger, having a nail upon the third, he immediately took horse and rode away. I asked him what ailed him? He said, 'God had set a mark upon that man, and he was sure it was not for nothing.' This man proved a guest plague to his country, was the death of a great many, and came to a violent end himself."-- Kelly.
Tak a man by his word and a cow by her horn.
Tak him up on his fine eggs, and ane o' them rotten.
Tak nae mair on your back than ye're able to bear.
Tak pairt o' the pelf when the pack's dealing.
Tak the bit and the buffet wi't.
"What tho' sometimes, in angry mood,
When she puts on her barlik hood,
Her dialect seems rough and rude,
Let's ne'er be fleet,
But tak our bit, when it us gude,
An' buffet wi't."-- Allan Ramsay.
Bear patiently taunts and ill usage, if advantages conic with them.
Tak the head for the washing.
Tak the readiest to serve the needfu'ist.
Tak the will for the deed.
Tak time ere time be tint.
"Tak tyme, in tyme, or tyme be tint,
For tyme will not remain."-- Cherrie and the Slae.
Tak your ain will and ye'll no dee o' the pet.
Tak your ain will o't, as the cat did o' the haggis--first ate it, and then creepit into the bag.
This and the preceding proverb. Kelly says, "are spoken to them who obstinately persist in an unreasonable design."
Tak your meal wi' ye an' your brose will be thicker.
Used sarcastically by those who take a good meal before they go to partake of one with a friend ; signifying that they do not expect to be too well treated.
Tak your thanks to feed your cat.
Tak your venture, as mony a gude ship has done.
Tak your will, you're wise enough.
Tak wit wi' your anger.
Tam-tell-truth's nae courtier.
Tappit hens like cock-crowing.
Tarry breeks pays nae freight.
Persons in the same trade are generally willing to oblige one another. "Pipers don't pay fiddlers."-- English. "One barber shaves another."-- French.
Tarry lang brings little hame.
Tell nae tales out o' schule.
Tell the truth and shame the deil.
Thank ye for cakes, I have scones in my pocket.
That bolt came ne'er out o' your bag.
That is, such a thing is better done or told than you could do it.
That'll be a sap out o' my bicker.
Or will injure me by reducing my income or prospects.
That's abune your thoom.
Spoken to a person who is about to attempt a thing of which he is considered incapable.
That's a piece a stepmother never gied.
A hearty expression accompanying a substantial "piece" or meal.
That's a sair hair in my neck.
"I canna but think I maun hae made a queer figure without my hat and my periwig, hanging by the middle like bawdrons, or a cloak flung ower a cloakpin. Bailie Grahame wad hae an undo hair in my neck an he got that tale by the end."-- Rob Roy.
That's as ill as the ewes in the yaird and nae dogs to hunt them.
The "yaird" being the safest place where the ewes could be, the proverb means that a thing is quite right.
That's a tale o' twa drinks.
That's a tee'd ba'.
That's but ae doctor's opinion.
That's equal aqual.
"Mr Novit, ye'll no forget to draw the annual rent that's due on the yerl's band--if I pay debt to other folk, I think they suld pay it to me--that equals aquals.--Jock, when ye hae naething else to do, ye may be aye sticking in a tree; it will be growing, Jock, when ye're sleeping. My father tauld me sae forty years sin', but I ne'er fand time to mind him."-- Heart of Midlothian.
That's felling twa dogs wi' ae stane.
That's for that, as butter's for fish.
Meaning that such a timing is exactly what is wanted.
That's for the faither, and no for the son.
"Spoken when a thing is done with slight materials, and, consequently, will not be lasting."- Kelly.
That's Halkerston's cow, a' the ither way.
Halkerston, a lawyer and landed proprietor, gave permission to one of his tenants to graze an ox. The tenant's ox was gored to death by a heifer belonging to the lawyer. The tenant went to Halkerston, and told the story the reverse of what had occurred. "Why, then," said the lawyer, "your ox must go for my heifer--the law provides that." "No," said the man, "your heifer killed my ox." "Oh," said Halkerston, "the case alters there," and forthwith reversed his tactics.
That's ill paid maut sillcr.
"Metaphorically, a benefit ill requited."-- Jamieson.
That's like seekin' for a needle in a windlin o' strae.
That's my gude that does me gude.
That's my tale, whaur's yours?
Spoken by a person who has forestalled another by telling the same news or story which the other was about to do.
That's no a heel to my shoe.
That's the ane the souter killed his wife wi'.
That's the best gown that gaes up and down the house.
That's the way to marry me, if ere you should hap to do it.
A sharp reply to those who presume to be too familiar.
That's waur and mair o't.
That which God will gie the deil canna reeve.
"Spoken when we have attained our end in spite of opposition."-- Kelly.
That will be when the deil's blind, and he's no bleer-ee'd yet.
That winna be a mote in your marriage.
The ass that's no used to the sunks bites his crupper.
"Sunks," a sort of saddle made of cloth, and stuffed with straw, on which two persons can sit at once."- Jamieson.
The back and the belly hauds ilka ane busy.
The ha' maun aye row some way.
The banes bear the beef hame.
The banes o' a great estate are worth the picking.
The best is aye the cheapest.
The best laid schemes o' mice and men gang aft agley.
The best o' wabs are rough at the roons.
The best that can happen to a poor man is that ae bairn dee and the rest follow.
Kelly is democratically angry at the questionable sentiment of this proverb,--"A cursed distrustful proverb!" he says. "God is able to maintain the poor man's child as well as the young master or young miss, and often in a more healthy and plump condition."
The better day the better deed
The jocular answer of a person who is blamed for doinq something on Sunday.
The biggest horse is no aye the best traveller.
The biggest rogue cries loudest out.
The bird maun flicher that has but ae wing.
The bird that can sing, an' winna sing, should be gar'd sing.
The black ox ne'er trod on his foot.
The blind horse is aye the hardiest.
The blind man's peck should be wed measured.
The blind mear's first in the mire.
The bonny moon is on her back, mend your shoon and sort your thack.
"When the new moon is in such a part of the ecliptic as to appear turned much over upon her back, wet weather is expected."- Robert Chambers.
The book o' may-be's is very braid.
The breath o' a fause friend's waur than the fuff o' a weasel.
The cart doesna lose its errand when it comesna hame toom-tail.
"To come back toom-tail is to go away with a load and come back empty."- Jamesion.
The proverb is applied to those who accomplish more than their errand.
The cat kens whase lips she licks.
The cat's oot o' the pock.
The cause is gude, and the word's "fa' tae."
A profane grace of hungry persons who sit down to a good meal.
The clartier the cosier.
Literally, the dirtier the more comfortable. Whether true or not we cannot say.
The cost owergangs the profit.
The cow may dee ere the grass grow.
"While the grass is growing the steed is starving."-- German.
The cow may want her tail yet.
"You may want my kindness hereafter, though you deny me yours just now."-- Kelly.
The cow that's first tip gets the first o' the dew.
Used as an incentive to diligence and industry.
"The early bird catches the worm."-- English.
The cure may be waur than the disease.
The day has een, the night has lugs.
Prudence and caution are necessary at all times.
The day you do weel there will be seven munes in the lift and ane on the midden.
The inference is, that the person addressed has a very remote chance indeed of ever doing well.
The death o' ae bairn winna skail a house.
The death o' his first wife made sic a hole in his heart that a' the lave slippit easily through.
"It is supposed that he who has lost the wife of his youth and love will easily bear the loss of a second or third, who are commonly married rather for convenience than lose."-- Kelly.
The deil and the dean begin wi' ae letter; when the deil gets the dean the kirk will be better.
The deil aye drives his hogs to an ill market.
The deil bides his time.
The deil doesna aye show his cloven cloots.
The deil gaes awa when he finds the door steekit against him.
The deil gaes ower Jock Wabster.
"The deil gaes ower Jock Wabster, hame grows hell;
And Pate misca's ye mair nor tongue can tell."
Gentle Shepherd.
The deil gae wi' ye and a sixpence, and ye'll neither want money nor company.
The deil made souters sailors that can neither steer nor row.
Applied to those who undertake work of which they are incapable.
The deil ne'er sent a wind out o' hell but he sail'd wi't.
The deil's a busy bishop in his ain diocese.
The deil's aye gude to his ain.
The deil's cow calves twice in ae year.
The deil's greedy, but ye're mislear'd.
The deil's greedy, sae are ye.
The deil's gude when he's pleased.
The deil's journeyman ne'er wants wark.
The deil's no sae black as he's ca'd.
"'Hout tout, neighbour, ye maunna tak the warld at its word,' said Saddletree; 'the very deil is no sae ill as he's ca'd; and I ken mair than ae advocate that may be said to hae some integrity as weel as their neighbours ; that is, after a sort o' fashion o' their ain.'"-- Heart of Midlothian.
Tue deil's ower grit wi' you.
"Ower grit," too familiar.
The deil's pet lambs lo'e Claverse's lads.
A saying of the Covenantens, that the followers of Graham of Claverhouse were on affectionate terms with the favourites of the Evil One.
The deil was sick, the deil a monk wad be; the deil grew hale, syne deil a monk was he.
Meaning that promises of amendment mad eon a sick-bed are seldom kept.
"All criminals preadh under the gallows."- Italian.
The deil will tak little or he want a'.
The dorty dame may fa' in the dirt.
"Dorty," says Jamieson, "is applied to a female who is saucy with her suitors." That she may have to marry a more ineligible person than the one refused is here implied.
The drucken sot gets aye the drucken groat.
The e'ening brings a' hame.
The Englishman greets, the Irishman sleeps, but the Scotchman gangs till he gets it.
"A pretended account of the behaviour of these three nations when they want meat."-- Kelly.
The farther ben the welcomer.
The farther in the deeper.
The farthest way aboot is aft the nearest way hame.
The fat sow's tail's aye creeshed.
Those who have sufficient money or property already are always getting additions to their stones.
The feathers carried awa the flesh.
The feet are slow when the head wears snaw.
The first dish is aye best eaten.
The first fuff o' a fat haggis is aye the bauldest.
Or the first threat of a boaster or coward is always the worst.
The first gryce and the last whalp o' a litter are aye the best.
The fish that sooms in a dub will aye taste o' dirt.
The flesh is aye fairest that's farthest frae the bane.
However, although fairest, it is not the best, for another proverb of our own says, "Nearer the bane the sweeter."
The foot at the cradle and the hand at the reel, is a sign that a woman means to do weel.
The foremost hound grips the hare.
The fu'er my house, the toomer my purse.
The goat gies a gude milking, but she ca's ower the cog wi' her feet.
Spoken of useful people who are, however, as troublesome as they are useful.
The grace o' a grey bannock is in the bakin' o't.
The grace o' God is gear enough.
The grandsire buys, the faither bigs, the son sells, and the grandson thigs.
Alluding to the uncertainty of earthly things; meaning, literally, that the grandsire buys estates on which the father builds, the son sells the property, and forces the grandson again in turn to beg.
The gravest fish is an oyster; the gravest bird's an ool; the gravest beast's an ass; an' the gravest man's a fool.
The greatest burdens are no the maist gainfu'.
The greatest clerk's no aye the wisest man.
The greedy man and the cook are sure friends.
The greedy man and the gileynour are weel met.
The gude dog doesna aye get the best bane.
The gude man's mither is aye in the gait.
"The husband's mother is the wife's devil."-- Dutch.
The gude man's no aye the best man.
The gude or ill hap o' a gude or ill life, is the gude or ill choice o' a gude or ill wife.
"He who has a good wife can bear any evil; he who has a bad wife can expect no happiness that can be so called."-- Spanish.
The happy man canna be herried.
The haughty hawk winna stoop to carrion.
The height o' nonsense is supping soor milk wi' an elshin.
This is equalled by a saying of another country, which has "keeping the sea back with a pitchfork" as its type of nonsense.
The hen's egg gaes to the ha' to bring the goose's egg awa.
"Spoken when poor people give small gifts to be doubly repaid."-- Kelly.
The higher climb the greater fa'.
The higher the hill the laigher the grass.
The higher the tree the sweeter the plooms; the richer the souter the blacker his thooms.
The king lies doun, yet the warld rins round.
Applied to persons who have an exaggerated idea of their own importance.
The king may come in the cadger's gait.
This proverb, which is exclusively Scottish, means that a person who has been slighted, or whose services have been despised, may have an opportunity of retaliating at a future time.
The king may come to Kelly yet, and when he comes he'll ride.
"It signifies that the time may come that I may get my revenge upon such people, and then I will do it to purpose."-- Kelly.
The kirk's aye greedy.
The kirk's muckle, but ye may say mass i' the end o't.
"Spoken when people say something is too much, intimating that they need take no more than they have need for. "-- Kelly.
The laird may be laird, and still need the hind's help.
The laird's brither's an ill tenant.
The langer we live we see the main ferlies.
The langest day has an end.
The lass that has ower mony wooers aft wales the warst.
The lass that lightlies may lament.
To "lightlie" is to despise or treat with contempt.
The lazy lad maks a stark auld man.
The lean dog is a' fleas.
The leeful man is the beggar's brither.
The less debt the mair dainties.
"The less I lee."
This is merely a phrase, but a very expressive one. It implies emphatically that "the whole truth, and nothing but the truth," has been told.
The less wit a man has, the less he kens the want o't.
The loudest bummer's no the best bee.
The lucky pennyworth sells soonest.
The mair cost the mair honour.
The mair dirt the less hurt.
The mair mischief the better sport.
The mair the merrier; the fewer better cheer.
The mair ye steer the main ye'll sink.
The maister's brither's an ill servant.
The maister's ee maks the horse fat.
A fat man riding upon lean horse was asked how it came to pass that he was so fat while his horse was so lean? "Because," said he, "I feed myse1f, but my servant feeds the horse."
"The master's eye puts meat on the horse's ribs. "-- Irish.
The maister's foot's the best measure.
The man may eithly tine a stot that canna count his kine.
Or the man who does not know his business cannot look properly after it.
The man wha sits on the silk goun-tail o' the wife wha's tocher bought it, never sits easy.
The maut's abune the meal.
"Donald Bean Lean, being aware that the bridegroom was in request, and wanting to cleik the cunzie (that is, hook the siller), he cannily carried off Gilliewhackit ae night when he was riding dovering hame (wi' the maut rather abune the meal), and with the help of his gillies he gat him into the hills with the speed of light, and the first place he wakened in was the Cove of Vaimh an Ri."-- Waverley.
"The meal cheap and shoon dear," quo' the souter's wife, "I'd like to hear."
The miller mouters best wi' his ain hand.
The morn's the morn.
"When northern blasts the ocean snurli,
And gars the heights and hows look gurl,
Then left about the bumper whirl,
And toom the horn;
Grip fast the hours which hasty hurl,
The morn's the morn."-- Allan Ramsay.
The moudiwart feedsna on midges.
Them that canna get a peck maun put up wi' a stimpart.
A "stimpart" is the fourth part of a peck. They who cannot obtain luxuries must content themselves with necessaries.
Them that canna ride maun shank it.
"'To shank,' to travel on foot."-- Jamieson.
Them that likesna water brose will scunner at cauld steerie.
"'Cauld steerie,' sourmilk and meal stirred together in a cold state."-- Jamieson.
Used as a taunt to those who complain of common food.
Them that winna work maun want.
Them that's ill fleyed are seldom sair hurt.
Them that's slack in gude are eydent in ill.
The muck midden is the mither o' the meal kist.
Them wha gae jumpin' awa aft come limpin' hame.
Them wha stand on a knowe's sure to be noticed.
Or they who elevate themselves to a public position are sure to be conspicuous.
Then's then, but noo's the noo.
"'Weel, Lindy man,' says Colin, 'that's a' true,
But then was then, my lad, an' noo is noo;
Bout then-a-days, we'd seldom met wi' cross,
Nor kent the ill o' conters or a loss.
But noo, the case is altered very sair.'"
Ross's Helenore.
The name o' an honest woman's muckle worth.
The nearer e'en the mair beggars.
A jocular salutation to those who drop in to visit a friend.
The next time ye dance, ken wha ye tak by the hand.
"Spoken to them who have imprudently engaged with some who have been too cunning or too hard for them."-- Kelly.
The peasweep aye cries farthest frae his ain nest.
The piper wants muckle that wants the nether chaft.
"Spoken when a thing is wanting which is actually necessary."-- Kelly.
The poor man is aye put to the warst.
The poor man pays for a'.
The poor man's shilling is but a penny.
The post o' honour is the post o' danger.
The proof o' the pudding's the preein' o't.
The proudest nettle grows on a midden.
And a very proud person may have sprung from a poor family.
The rain comes scouth when the wind's in the south.
To rain "scouth," is to rain abundantly or heavily.
There are great stots in Ireland, but they canna get here for horns.
There are mair foxes than there are holes for.
There are mair knaves in my kin than honest men in yours.
There are mair maidens than maukins.
Literally, there are more maidens than young hares. Figuratively, he has lost one sweetheart, but he'll soon get another.
There are mair married than gude house hauders.
Or more persons in the capacity of householders than are competent for the duties of the position.
There are main wark-days than life-days.
There are nane sae weel shod but may slip.
There belangs mair to a bed than four bare legs.
Spoken to persons about to marry, signifying that more expenses are incurred in housekeeping than they are aware of.
There belangs mair to a ploughman than whistling.
There grows nae grass at the market cross.
There ne'er came ill frae a gude advice.
There ne'er was a bad that couldna be waur.
There ne'er was a fair word in flyting.
There ne'er was a fire without some reek.
There ne'er was a poor man in his kin.
There ne'er was a slut but had a slit, or a daw but had twa.
There ne'er was a five pound note but there was a ten pound road for't.
Such was the reply of a respected lady friend of ours when asked what she did with all the money she got. It does not appear in any previous collection, but it is too good to be lost.
There's a day coming that'll show wha's blackest.
There's a difference between fen o'er and fair well.
"There is a great difference between their way of living who only get a little scrap to keep them alive, and theirs who get every day a full meal."-- Kelly.
There's a difference between the piper and his bitch.
There's a difference between "Will you sell ?" and "Will you buy ?"
There's a dub at every door, and before some doors there's twa.
A "dub" is a pool or puddle of water. Proverbially, there is a skeleton in every house.
There's ae day o' reckoning and anither day o payment.
There's a flee in my hose.
"That is, I have some trouble of mind or body about me that takes up my thought."-- Kelly.
There's a gude and a bad side to everything; a' the airt is to find it out.
There's a gude shape in the shears' mouth.
But it requires talent and skill to bring it forth.
There's a het hurry when there's a hen to roast.
"There's a mote in't," quo' the man when he swallowed the dishclout.
There's an act in the Laird o' Grant's court, that no abune eleven speak at ance.
A jocular remark when too many speak at once: that it is founded on fact is questionable.
"There's an unco splutter," quo' the sow i' the gutter.
There's a reason for ye, an' a rag about the foot o't.
The meaning of this is, that a very trifling or lame reason has been given for something having been done.
There's as gude fish in the sea as ever came out o't.
"I jalouse it's neither siller nor the Kirk o' Scotland that's fashing him. If I'm no mista'en, he's vexing himsel' a hantle mair about Miss Migummerie; but he needna be sic a fule--there's as gude fish in the sea as ever yet cam oot o't--that's a' that I'll say."-- The Disruption.
There's a sliddery stane before the ha' door.
"Signifying the uncertainty of court favour, and the promises of great men."-- Kelly.
There's as mony Johnstones as Jardines
Meaning that there are as many on the one side as there are on the other; that the chances are equal.
There's a storm in somebody's nose, licht where it like.
Spoken when we see a person angry, and about to break into a passion.
There's a time to gley and a time to look straught.
There's a tough sinew in an auld wife's heel.
There's a whaup i' the raip.
There is a knot in the rope-there it something wrong.
There's a word in my wame, but it's ower far down.
Spoken by a person who is at a loss for a particular word to express himself.
There's aye a glum look where there's cauld crowdy.
Glum looks when there is cold shoulder of mutton for dinner, in England, are proverbial.
There's aye a wimple in a lawyer's clew.
"'The judge didna tell us a' he could hae tell'd us, if he had liked, about the application for pardon, neighbours' said Saddletree ; 'there is aye a wimple in a lawyer's clew; but it's a wee bit o' a secret.'"-- Heart of Midlothian.
There's aye enough o' friends when folk hae ought.
"Daft Will Speirs was sitting on the roadside picking a large bone, when the Earl of Eglinton came along. 'Weel, Will,' said the Earl, 'what's this you've got noo?'
'Ay, ay,' said Will, 'anew o' friends when folk has ocht; ye gaed by me a wee sin', an' ne'er loot on ye saw me.'"-- The Scotch Haggis.
There's aye ill-will among cadgers.
Synonymous with "Two of a trade seldom agree."-- French.
There's aye life in a living man.
There's aye some water where the stirkie drowns.
There's aye sorrow at somebody's door.
"There's baith meat and music here," quo' the dog when he ate the piper's bag.
There's beild beneath an auld man's beard.
Beild, that is, shelter or protection.
There's brains enough ootside his head.
There's but ae gude wife in the warld, and ilka ane thinks he has her.
"This rule admits large exceptions, for some are fully apprised of the contrary."-- Kelly.
There's life in a mussel as lang as it cheeps.
There's little for the rake after the shool.
"There is little to be gotten of such a thing when covetous people have had their will of it."-- Kelly.
There's little wit in the pow that lichts the candle at the lowe.
"He has little wit who does a thing in a dangerous or extravagant manner. There is an addition to this saying common in the north, "And as little in the croon, that kindles't ower far doon."
There's little sap in a dry pea-shaup.
"There's little to reck," quo' the knave to his neck.
There's mair ado than a dish to lick.
There's mair knavery among kirkmen than honesty amang courtiers.
There's mair knavery on sea and land than all the warld beside.
"A facetious bull, upon mentioning of some knavish action."- Kelly.
There's mair room without than within.
A churlish remark of one who thinks his company is not wanted.
There's mair ways o' killing a dog than hanging him.
There's mair ways than ane o' keeping craws frae the stack.
There's mair ways to the wood than ane.
There's main whistling wi' you than gude red land.
Or more play than work.
"'Red land,' ground turned up with the plough."-- Jamieson.
There's measure in a' things, even in kail supping.
"There is reason in roasting of eggs."-- English.
There's mirth among the kin when the howdie cries "A son."
There's mony a true tale tauld in jest.
There's mony a tod hunted that's no killed.
"'Oh, I hae nae friend left in the warld !--O, that I were lying dead at my mother's side in Newbattle kirkyard !'-'Hout, lassie,' said Ratcliffe, willing to show the interest which he absolutely felt, 'dinnna be sae dooms doon-hearted as a' that; there's mony a tod hunted that's no killed. Advocate Langtale has brought folk through waur snappers than a' this, and there's no a cleverer agent than Nichil Novit e'er drew a bill o' suspension.'"-- Heart of Midlothian.
There's mony chances, baith o' gude and ill, befa' folk in this warld.
There's muckle ado when dominies ride.
When people engage in a thing to which they are unaccustomed the necessity must be urgent. A Peeblesshire couplet embodies the same meaning:-
There's muckle ado when muirland folk ride--
Boots and spurs, and a' to provide !"
There's muckle between the word and the deed.
There's muckle hid meat in a goose's ee.
There's muckle love in bands and bags.
"There's meikle good love in bands and bags,
And siller and gowd's a sweet complexion;
But beauty and wit, and virtue in rags,
Have tint the art of gaining affection."
Tea-Table Miscellany.
There's my thoom, I'll ne'er beguile thee.
This is the name of an old Scottish song, but is often used as a proverb.
There's nae breard like middling breard.
Applied to low-born people who suddenly come to wealth and honour; in allusion to the stalks of corn which spring up on a dunghill.
There's nae birds this year in last year's nest.
There's nae corn without cauf.
There's nae fey folk's meat in my pat.
There's nae friend like the penny.
There's nae friend to friend in mister.
There's nae fules like auld fules.
"Your auntie's no past the time o' day yet for jumping at a man if she just had the offer. There's no fules like auld fules; and tak ye my word for't, Maister James, neither your lass nor mines cares half as muckle aboui mautrimony as your aunty."- The Disruption.
There's nae hair sae sma' but has its shadow.
There's nae hawk flees sae high but he will fa' to some lure.
"There's nae ill in a merry mind," quo' the wife when she whistled through the kirk.
There's nae iron sae hard but rust will fret it; there's nae claith sae fine but moths will eat it.
There's nae lack in love.
There's nae reek but there's some heat.
There's nae remede for fear but cut aff the head.
There's nae sel sae dear as our ainsel.
There's nae sport where there's neither auld folk nor bairns.
There's naething for misdeeds but mends.
There's naething sae gude on this side o' time but it might hae been better.
There's naething ill said that's no ill ta'en.
There's naething sae like an honest man as an arrant knave.
There's nae woo sae coorse but it'll take some colour.
There's nane sae blind as them that winna see.
There's nane sae busy as him that has least to do.
There's nane sae deaf as them that winna hear.
There's ne'er a great feast but some fare ill.
There's ower mony nicks in your horn.
That is, you are too knowing or cunning for me.
There's plenty o' raible when drink's on the table.
To "raible" is to speak in a riotous, careless, or loose manner.
There's remede for a' but stark dead.
For ony malledy ze ken,
Except puir love, or than stark deid,
Help may be had frae hands of men,
Thorow medicines to mak remeid."-- The Evergreen.
There's skill in gruel making.
"There's sma sorrow at our pairting," as the auld mean said to the broken cart.
"'If ye dinna think me fit,' replied Andrew, in a huff, 'to speak like ither folk, gie me my wages, and my boardwages, and I'se gae back to Glasgow--there's sma sorrow at our pairting, as the auld mear said to the broken cart.'"
-- Rob Roy.
There's steel in the needle point, though little o't.
"Spoken when a thing, commendable for its kind, is found fault with for its quantity."-- Kelly.
There's the end o' an auld sang.
Or, all the information I can give you.
There's tricks in a' trades but honest horsecouping.
There's twa enoughs, and ye hae got ane o' them.
"That is, big enough and little enough; meaning that he has gotten little enough. An answer to them who, out of modesty, say they have enough."-- Kelly.
There's twa things in my mind, and that's the least o' them.
Spoken by a person who declines to give a reason for a thing which he does not wish to do.
There was anither gotten the night that you was born.
"If one won't another will."-- English.
There was mair lost at Sherramuir, where the Hielandman lost his faither and his mither, and a gude buff belt worth baith o' them.
Spoken jocularly when a person meets with a trifling loss. Sheriffmuir is the name of the field between Stirling and Dunblane, where a disastrous battle between the Scots and English was fought during the rebellion of 1715.
There was ne'er a gude toun but there was a dub at the end o't.
Or never a thing so perfect as to be faultless.
There was ne'er a height but had a howe at the bottom o't.
There ne'er was a silly Jocky but there was a silly Jenny.
There was ne'er a thrifty wife wi' a clout about her head.
There was ne'er enough when naething was left.
The scabbit head loesna the kame.
The scholar may waur the maister.
The shortest road's the nearest.
The shortest road's where the company's gude.
The silliest strake has aye the loudest "hech."
This means, literally, that the silliest stroke is accompanied by the loudest exclamation: those who pretend to do most perform least.
The slothfu' man maks a slim fortune.
The smith has aye a spark in his throat.
The smith's mear and the souter's wife are aye warst shod.
The snail is as sune at its rest as the swallow.
The souter gae the sow a kiss; "grumph," quo' she, "it's for a birse."
"Spoken of those whose service we suppose to be mercenary."-- Kelly.
The stoup that gaes often to the well comes hame broken at last.
"The pitcher that goes often to the well leaves either its handle or. its spout."-- Spanish.
The stoutest head bears langest oot.
"The broadsword's pursuer, or plaintiff, as you Englishers ca' it, and the target is defender ; the stoutest head bears langest out ;--and there's a Hieland plea for ye."-- Rob Roy.
The strongest side taks aye the strongest right.
The sun is nae waur for shining on the midden.
The thatcher said unto his man, "Let's raise this ladder if we can."--"But first let's drink, maister."
"Spoken when one proposes something to be done and another proposes to take a drink before we begin."-- Kelly.
The thiefer-like the better sodger.
The thing that liesna in your gait breaksna your shins.
The thing that's dune's no to do.
The thing that's fristed's no forgi'en.
The third time's lucky.
The thrift o' you and the woo o' a dog wad mak a braw wab.
A sarcastic manner of informing a person that he is lazy.
The thrift o' you will be the death o' your gude-wife.
The time ye're pu'in' runts ye're no setting kail.
The tod keeps aye his ain hole clean.
"'Hoot-tout, Dame Elspeth,' said Tibb, 'fear ye nae thing frae Christie ; tods keep their ain holes clean. You kirk-folk make sic a fasherie about men shifting a wee bit for their living !"'-- The Monastery.
The tod ne'er sped better than when he gaed his ain errand.
"Every man is most zealous for his own interest. Spoken to advise a man to go about such a business himself."- Kelly.
The tod ne'er fares better than when he's bann'd.
"Spoken when we are told that such people curse us, which we think is the effect of envy, the companion of felicity. The fox is cursed when he takes our poultry."-- Kelly.
The tad's whalps are ill to tame.
The tree doesna aye fa' at the first strake.
The warld is bound to nae man.
The warst may be tholed when it's kenn'd.
The warst warld that ever was some man won.
The water will ne'er waur the widdie.
The water will never cheat the gallows ; of similar meaning to "He that's born to be hanged," q. v.
"A neighbour of mine was so fully persuaded of the truth of this proverb, that being in a great storm, and dreadfully afraid, espies in the ship a graceless rake whom he supposed destined to another sort of death, cries out, O Samuel, are you here? why then, we are all safe, and so laid aside his concern."-- Kelly.
The waur luck now the better anither time.
The weakest gangs to the wa'.
The wife's aye welcome that comes wi' a crooked oxter.
That person is always welcome who brings presents. The "oxter" is crooked because the arm is engaged carrying them.
The wife's ae dochter and the man's ae cow, the taen's ne'er weel and the tither's ne'er fu.'
The willing horse is aye worked to death.
The wolf may lose his teeth, but ne'er his nature.
The word o' an honest man's enough.
The worth o' a thing is best kenned by the want o't.
The worth o' a thing is what it will bring.
The wyte o' war is at kings' doors.
"You and me, Gilhaize, that are but servants, needna fash our heads wi' sic things; the wyte o' wars lie at the doors of kings, and the soldiers are free o' the sin o' them."-- Galt's Ringan Gilhaize.
They are eith hindered that are no fundersome.
They who are unwilling to do a thing are easily hindered
They are sad rents that come in wi' tears.
They buy gudes cheap that bring hame naething.
They craw crouse that craw last.
Because they who "craw" last exult that a matter is definitely known to be in their own favour.
They hae need o' a canny cook that hae but ae egg to their dinner.
They draw the cat harrow.
"That is, they thwart one another."-- Kelly.
They'll flit in the Merse for a hen's gerse.
"They will flit for a matter of very small importance. Formerly in Berwickshire every hind was allowed to keep a few hens ; and some of them actually removed for the sake of the hen's keep. Hence the saying."-- G. Henderson.
They gang far aboot that never meet.
They'll gree better when they gang in by ither kirk doors.
Spoken of two persons who have quarrelled, meaning that they should avoid each other.
They maun be sune up that cheat the tad.
They maun hunger in frost that winna work in fresh.
They may dunsh that gie the lunch.
"Dunsh" is a word for which there is no perfect equivalent in English. It means to jog or thrust in a violent manner ; but those who know its proper application will see how feeble these meanings are. Jamieson approaches it when he says it is to "push as a mad bull." The proverb here means that they upon whom we depend can do with us as they please.
They may ken by your beard what ye had on your board.
They need muckle that will be content wi' naething.
They ne'er baked a gude cake but may bake an ill ane.
They ne'er gie wi' the spit but they gat wi' the ladle.
Or they never confer a small favour, or give a trifling gift, but they expect a greater in return.
They ne'er saw great dainties that thought a haggis a feast.
They're a' ae sow's pick.
Or all one kind--all bad alike.
"They're a bonny pair," as the craw said o' his feet.
"They're a bonny pair," as the deil said o' his cloots.
They're a' gude that gies.
They're a' gude that's far awa.
They're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick.
"'For my part,' said Macwheeble, 'I never wish to see a kilt in the country again, nor a red coat, nor a gun, for that matter, unless it were to shoot a paitrick. They're a' tarr'd wi' ae stick.'"-- Waverley.
They're aye gude will'd o' their horse that hae nane.
"He's free of his fruit that wants an orchard."- English.
They're as thick as three in a bed.
"They're curly and crookit," as the deil said o' his horns.
They're fremit friends that canna be fash'd.
That is, they are strange or false friends who will not allow themselves to be troubled in the least about their relations.
They're keen o' company that taks the dog on their back.
They're lightly harried that hae a' their ain.
They're like the grices, if ye kittle their wame they fa' on their backs.
Synonymous with "Give him an inch and he'll take an ell."-- English.
They're no a' saints that get the name o't.
They're no to be named in the same day.
Or they are so different that there is no room for comparison.
They're queer folk that hae nae failings.
They're scant o' horseflesh that ride on the dog.
They're weel guided that God guides.
They rin fast that deils and lasses drive.
They should kiss the gudewife that wad win the gudeman.
They speak o' my drinking, but ne'er think o' my drouth.
"They censure my doing such a thing who neither consider my occasions of doing it, or what provocations I have had."-- Kelly.
They that bourd wi' cats may count upon scarts.
They that burn you for a witch will lose their coals.
Applied to stupid people who pretend to be very clever. "Nobody will take you for a conjuror."
They that come wi' a gift dinna need to stand lang at the door.
They that deal wi' the deil get a dear penny-worth
They that drink langest live langest.
They that get the word o' sune rising may lie a' day.
They that hae maist need o' credit seldom get muckle.
They that herd swine think aye they hear them grumphin'.
They that hide ken where to seek.
They that laugh in the morning will greet ere night.
They that lie dawn far love should rise up for hunger.
They that like the midden see nae motes in't.
They that live langest fetch wood farthest.
They that lose seek, they that find keep.
They that marry in green, their sorrow is sune seen.
"It is rather strange that green, the most natural and agreeable of all colours, should have been connected by superstition with calamity and sorrow. . . . . To this day, in the north of Scotland, no young woman would wear such attire on her wedding day."-- Robert Chambers.
They that love maist speak least.
They that never filled a cradle shouldna sit in ane.
"Because such will not consider whether there may be a child in it; whereas they who have had children will be more cautious."-- Kelly.
They that rise wi' the sun hae their wark weel begun.
They that see but your head dinna see a' your height.
"Spoken to men of low stature and high spirits."-- Kelly.
They that see you through the day winna break the house for you at night.
This ungallant proverb signifies that the person addressed is not very good looking.
They that sin the sin maun bear the shame.
They that stay in the howe will ne'er mount the height.
They walk fair that naebody finds faut wi'.
They were never fain that fidged, nor fu' that lickit dishes.
Spoken when people shrug their shoulders, as if it was a sign that they were not content."-- Kelly.
They were never first at the wark wha bade God speed the wark.
They were scant o' bairns that brought you up.
They wha are early up, and hae nae business, hae either an ill wife, an ill bed, or an ill conscience.
They wist as weel that didna speir.
There are those who are more Concerned for my welfare than you are, but do not make so many outward protestations of it.
They wyte you an' you're no wyteless.
Things maun aye be someway, even if they're crookit.
Thirteen o' you may gang to the dizzen.
This and better may do, but this and waur will never do.
This world's a widdle as weel as a riddle.
"'A widdle,' a wriggling motion ; metaphorically a struggle or bustle."-- Jamieson.
Thole weel is gude for burning.
"Patience and posset-drink cure all maladies."- English.
Though auld and wise still tak advice.
Thoughts are free, and if 1 daurna say I may think.
Thoughts beguile maidens,
Though ye tether time and tide, love and light ye canna hide.
Three can keep a secret when twa are awa.
Three failures and a fire make a Scotsman's fortune.
Thrift's gude revenue.
Time and thinking tame the strongest grief.
Time and tide for nae man bide.
Time tint is never found.
Time tries a', as winter tries the kail.
Time tries whinstanes.
Tine heart, tine a.
"'I couldna maybe hae made muckle o' a bargain wi' yon lang callant,' said David, when thus complimented on his valour; 'but when ye deal wi' thae folk, it's tine heart, tine a'.'"-- Heart of Midlothian.
Tine needle, tine darg.
If you lose your needle you lose your day's work. Spoken to shiftless persons who complain loudly on the least trifle going wrong with them.
Tine thimble, tine thrift.
Tit for tat's fair play.
To hain is to hae.
Toom barrels mak maist din.
Toom be your meal pock, and mine ne'er hang on your pin.
Toom stalls mak biting horses.
Touch a gaw'd horse on the back an he'll fling.
"Spoken when you have said something to a man that intrenches upon his reputation, and so have put him in a passion."-- Kelly.
To work for naething maks folk dead-sweer.
"'Dead-sweer,' extremely averse to exertion."-- Jamieson.
Traitors' words ne'er yet hurt honest cause.
Tramp on a snail, and she'll shoot oot her horns.
Tramp on a worm and she'll turn her head.
Tramping straw makes trottin' owsen.
Travell'd men are sindle trow'd.
Trot faither, trot mither; how can the foal amble?
"It is hard for those who have had a bad parentage, and, consequently, an ill education, to be good."-- Kelly.
True blue will never stain, but dirty red will dye again.
True love is aye blate.
True love kythes in time o' need.
"Kythes," that is, shows itself.
True love's the waft o' life, but it whiles comes through a sorrowfu' shuttle.
Truth and honesty keep the crown o' the causey.
Truth and oil come aye uppermost.
Truth hauds lang the gate.
Try before you trust.
Try your friend ere you need him.
Twa blacks winna mak ae white.
Twa cats and ae mouse, twa mice in ae house, twa dogs and ae bane, ne'er will agree in ane.
Twa fools in ae house are a pair ower mony.
Twa gudes seldom meet--what's gude for the plant is ill for the peat.
Twa hands may do in ae dish, but ne'er in ae purse.
"Twa heads are better than ane," as the wife said when she and her dog gaed to the market.
Twa heads are better than ane, though they're but sheep's anes,
Spoken when a person offers a suggestion to another who is considering how he will do a thing.
Twa heads may lie upon ae cod, and nane ken whaur the luck lies.
"Spoken when either husband or wife is dead, and the sorrowing party goes back in the world after."-- Kelly.
Twa hungry meltiths makes the third a glutton.
Twa things ne'er be angry wi'-- what ye can help and what ye canna.
Twa words maun gang to that bargain.
Addressed to a person who is in too great a hurry to conclude a bargain, indirectly implying that the speaker is not quite satisfied with the article or terms.
Twine tow, your mother was a gude spinner.
"Spoken to those who curse you or rail upon you, as if you would say, take what you say to yourself."-- Kelly.

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