The Proverbs of Scotland Part 114

Ye're ower het and ower fu', sib to some o' the laird's tenants.

Ye're queer folk no to be Falkland folk.

Falkland, in Fife, was formerly a Royal residence; and the court manners, contrasted with those of the surrounding country, gave rise to the saying.

Ye ride sae near the rump, ye'll let nane loup on ahint you.

Ye rin for the spurtle when the pat's boiling ower.

That is, take precautions when it is too late.

Ye're sae keen o' clockin', ye'll dee on the eggs.

"Spoken to those who are fond of any new place, condition, business, or employment."--_Kelly._

Ye're sair fashed hauding naething thegither.

Ye're sair stressed wi' stringing the milsey.

"A proverb addressed to those who make much ado about nothing, or complain of the weight of that work which deserves not to be mentioned. It refers to the cloth through which the milk is strained, being taken off the wooden frame, wrung out, and tied on again."--_Jamieson._

Ye're seeking the thing that's no tint.

Ye're sick, but no sair handled.

Ye're the weight o' Jock's cog, brose and a'.

Ye're there yet, and your belt hale.

"Spoken when people say, 'They will go to such a place, and there do thrive and prosper,' &c., which we think unlikely."--_Kelly._

Ye're thrifty and thro' thriving, when your head gangs doun your bottom's rising.

Ye're unco gude, and ye'll grow fair.

Ye're up in the buckle, like John Barr's cat.

Ye're very foresighted, like Forsyth's cat.

Ye're weel awa if ye bide, an' we're weel quat.

Ye're welcome, but ye'll no win ben.

Ye rin awa wi' the harrows.

"To run on with a great flow of language, a.s.suming what ought to be proved, or totally disregarding what has been said on the opposite side."--_Jamieson._

Ye seek grace wi' a graceless face.

Ye ser'd me as the wife did the cat--coost me into the kirn, and syne harl'd me out again.

That is, you have placed me in a good position merely to take me from it again.

Ye'se get your brose out o' the lee side o' the pot.

A promise of the best that the pot contains.

Ye shanna be niffered but for a better.

Ye shanna want as lang as I hae, but look weel to your ain.

Ye shape shune by your ain shauchled feet.

You judge of others by yourself.

Ye s.h.i.+ne like a white gir about a shairney cog.

Ye s.h.i.+ne like the sunny side o' a shairney wecht.

"A ridicule upon people when they appear fine."--_Kelly._

Ye sit like craws in the mist.

That is, in the dark.

Ye sleep like a dog in a mill.

That is, with one eye open.

Ye sleep like a dog when the wife's baking.

Ye soon weary o' doin' weel.

Ye tak a bite out o' your ain b.u.t.tock.

Ye tak but a foal's share o' the harrow.

Ye tak the first word o' flyting.

"'Wheelie, I'll be as plain as I'm pleasant--mind you're no to expect me to dance with you.' 'It's verra weel o' you, Miss Mary,'

replied Andrew pawkily, 'to tak the first word o' flyting; but ye should first ken whether ye're come up to my mark or no.'"--_Sir Andrew Wylie._

Ye tak mair in your gab than your cheeks can haud.

Ye wad be a gude Borrowstone sow--ye smell weel.

"Spoken when people pretend to find the smell of something that we would conceal."--_Kelly._

Ye wad be a gude piper's b.i.t.c.h--ye smell out the weddings.