The Proverbs of Scotland Part 104

What puts that in your head that didna put the st.u.r.dy wi't?

"Spoken to them that speak foolishly, or tell a story that you thought they had not known."--_Kelly._

What's gotten ower the deil's back is spent below his belly.

What's gude for sick John's gude for hail Janet.

What's in your wame's no in your testament.

An injunction to a person to eat more: if they eat what is before them they will not leave it in their will.

What's like a dorty maiden when she's auld?

"'Dorty,' applied to a female who is saucy to her suitors."--_Jamieson._

What's my case the day may be yours the morn.

What's nane o' my profit shall be nane o' my peril.

That is, I must decline to run any risk if I do not share the profit.

"What's no i' the bag will be i' the broo," quo' the Hielandman when he dirked the haggis.

What's pleasure to you bodes ill to me.

An epitome of aesop's "Boys and the Frogs."

What's waur than ill luck?

What's your horse the day, may be his mare the morn.

What's yours is mine, what's mine's my ain.

A maxim occasionally adopted by a selfish husband to enable him to distinguish his own property from that of his wife.

What we first learn we best ken.

What will ye get frae an oily pat but stink?

What winna do by might do by slight.

What winna mak a pat may mak a pat lid.

What ye do when you're drunk ye may pay for when you're dry.

What ye gie s.h.i.+nes aye, what ye get smells ill next day.

What ye want up and doun you hae hither-and-yont.

"'Hither-and-yont,' topsy turvy; in a disjointed state."--_Jamieson._

If you have not the thing complete, you have everything necessary for making it so.

What ye win at that ye may lick aff a het girdle.

The inference is that his prospect of success is very poor.

What your ee sees your heart greens for.

When ae door steeks anither opens.

As one door shuts another opens: as one opportunity is lost another occurs.

When a ewie's drowned she's dead.

"Spoken when a thing is lost and past recovery."--_Kelly._

When a fool finds a horseshoe he thinks aye the like to do.

When a' fruits fail, welcome haws.

When a hundred sheep rin, how mony cloots clatter?

When a' men speak, nae man hears.

When ane winna, twa canna cast out.

When a's in, and the slap dit, rise herd and let the dog sit.

"'Slap dit,' gate shut. Jocosely spoken to herd boys after harvest, as if there was no further use for them."--_Kelly._

When death lifts the curtain it's time to be startin'.

When drink's in wit's out.

When folk's missed then they're moaned.

When friends meet hearts warm.

When gude cheer is lacking friends go a-packing.

When he dees of age ye may quake for fear.

When I did weel I heard it never; when I did ill I heard it ever.

"A reflection of servants upon hard and pa.s.sionate masters, who are liberal in their reproofs, but sparing in their commendations."--_Kelly._

When ilka ane gets his ain the thief will get the widdie.