The Proverbs of Scotland Part 44

He sits fu' close that has riven breeks.

"This elegant speech was made by the Earl of Douglas, called Tineman, after being wounded and made prisoner at the battle of Shrewsbury, where

"'His well-labouring sword Had three times slain the semblance of the king.'"

--_Fortunes of Nigel._

He sits wi' little ease wha sits on his neighbour's coat tail.

He's John Tamson's man.

"'Atweel, Cuddie, ye are gaun nae sic gate,' said Jenny, coolly and resolutely. 'The deil's in the wife!' said Cuddie, 'd'ye think I am to be John Tamson's man, and maistered by women a' the days o' my life?' 'And whase man wad ye be? And wha wad ye hae to maister ye but me, Cuddie, lad?'"--_Old Mortality._

He's laid down the barrow.

That is, "he's cowpet the crans," _q. v._

He sleeps as dogs do when wives sift meal.

Meaning that a person is very sharp, and that he, figuratively, sleeps with one eye open.

He's lifeless that's faultless.

Implying that no one is without fault.

He's like a bagpipe, ne'er heard till his wame's fu'.

He's like a chip amang parritch--little gude, little ill.

He's like a cow in a fremit loaning.

That is, strange, or out of place. "Fremit loaning," strange lane.

He's like a flea in a blanket.

He's like a singet cat--better than he's bonny.

He's like the craws, he eats himsel' out o' ply.

He's like the smith's dog--so weel used to the sparks that he'll no burn.

Spoken of people who are so much accustomed to tipple, that they never seem any the worse of it.

He's like the wife's bawty--kens naething about it.

He slippet awa like a knotless thread.

He's loose in the heft.

He's mair buirdly i' the back than i' the brain.

He's mair fleyed than hurt.

He's mair worth hanging than hauding.

He's nae gude weaver that leaves lang thrums.

No good workman who wastes material, or leaves work in a slovenly state.

He's nae sma' drink.

He's ne'er at ease that's angry.

He snites his nose in his neighbour's dish to get the brose himsel.

This rude but expressive saying is used when a person has done another an injury in order to benefit himself.

He's no a man to ride the water wi'.

"A phrase applied to one who, it is believed, cannot be depended on."--_Jamieson._

He's no a stirk o' the right stock.

"I was a friendless lad, and ye took me by the hand,--and could I sit still and see scathe befa' my benefactor, I wouldna be a stirk o' the right stock, that's bred on the land o' Scotland."--_Sir Andrew Wylie._

He's no gude to creel eggs wi'.

"Not safe or easy to deal with."--_Jamieson._

He's no nice but needfu'.

He's no sae daft as he lets on.

He's no steel to the bane.

He's no the best wright that casts maist spails.

He's no the fool that the fool is, but he that wi' the fool deals.

He's no the happiest wha has maist gear.

He's no worth kissing caps wi'.

To "kiss caps wi'," is to keep company with, to a.s.sociate together in drinking.

He's out and in, like a dog at a fair.

He's ower auld a cat to draw a strae before.