The Proverbs of Scotland Part 43

He's auld and cauld, and ill to lie beside.

He's awfu' big ahint the door.

To be "big ahint the door," is to be very courageous when there is no occasion for it.

He's a wise man that can tak care o' himsel.

He's aye for out o' the cheese-fat he was moulded in.

"'Keep back, sir, as best sets ye,' said the bailie, as Andrew pressed forward to catch the answer to some question I had asked about Campbell; 'ye wad fain ride the forehorse an ye wist how. That chield's aye for being out o' the cheese-fat he was moulded in.'"--_Rob Roy._

He's aye wise ahint the hand.

"Ye noo hae hit the nail upo' the head, I better wi' less travel micht hae deen, Had I been tenty as I sud hae been; But fouks, they say, are wise ahint the han', Whilk to be true unto my cost I fan."--_Ross's Helenore._

He's as wise as Wudsie's calf, that kent milk frae water.

He's been at the kirk o' Crackabout, whaur the kail pat was the minister.

He's better fed than bred.

He's blind that eats marrow, but far blinder that lets him.

He's but Jock the laird's brither.

"The Scottish lairds concern and zeal for the standing and continuance of their families, makes the provision for their younger sons very small."--_Kelly._

He's cooling and supping.

"That is, he has nothing but from hand to mouth."--_Kelly._

He's cowpet the crans.

"It's a great misery to me that I hae nae books to let you look ower to see my losses; but what gude, when I think on't, would the sight o' losses do to you? It wouldna put a plack in your pouch--aiblins every twa or three pages ye wad see this ane or that ane cowpet the crans, and deep in my debt."--_Laird of Logan._

He seeks nae mair than a bit an' a brat.

Meaning that he is content with little.

He's either a' honey or a' dirt.

He is either exceedingly affectionate and kind, or _vice versa_.

He sell't his soul for a cracket saxpence.

He's failed wi' a fu' hand.

When a man "fails wi' a fu' hand," he defrauds his creditors with the a.s.sistance of the Bankruptcy Act.

He's frae the tap o' the wing, but ye're a grey-neck quill.

Meaning, we presume, that a man is not so good as he would like to be thought, or as some person he may have compared himself with.

He's free o' fruit that wants an orchard.

He's fond o' barter that niffers wi' Auld Nick.

He's gane aff at the nail.

Or "dest.i.tute of any regard to propriety of conduct; mad; wrongheaded; tipsy."--_Jamieson._

He's gane a' to pigs and whistles.

"Hech, sirs, what a kyteful o' pride's yon'er! and yet I would be nane surprised the morn to hear that the Nechabudnezzar was a' gane to pigs and whistles, and driven out wi' the divors bill to the barren pastures of bankruptcy."--_The Entail._

He's gane ower the buss taps.

"To behave extravagantly; to go over the tops of the bushes."--_Jamieson._

He's gane to seek his faither's sword.

He's gane to the dog-drave.

He's got his leg ower the harrows.

He's got his nose in a gude kail pat.

Meaning that a person has been well provided for. Generally applied to a poor man who has married a rich wife.

He's gude that never failed.

He's his faither's better, like the cooper o' Fogo.

"Fogo is a small decayed village near Dunse. It appears that each generation of its coopers improved upon the plans or workmans.h.i.+p of their ancestors, and the son became better than the father."--_G.

Henderson._

He's horn deaf on that side o' his head.

That is, he has already made up his mind upon that matter.

He should be seldom angry that has few to mease him.

He's idle that might be better employed.

He's ill-faur'd that dogs bark at.

"'I have had that wad sober me or ony ane,' said the matron. 'Aweel, Tib, a la.s.s like me wasna to lack wooers, for I wasna sae ill-favoured that the tikes wad bark after me.'"--_The Monastery._

He's in the wrang when praised that glunshes.