The Proverbs of Scotland Part 45

"The rents and the lands are but a sair fash to me," re-echoed Ailie; "and I'm ower failed to tak a helpmate, though Wylie Mactrickit, the writer, was very pressing, and spak very civilly; but I'm ower auld a cat to draw that strae before me--he canna whilliwhaw me as he's done mony a ane."--_Old Mortality._

He's ower-shot wi' his ain bow.

Overreached with his own weapons.

He's ower soon up that's hanged ere noon.

He's soger bred but major minded.

He's ta'en a start and an owerloup.

"The usual expression for a slight encroachment on a neighbour's property."--_Sir Walter Scott._

He speaks like a prent book.

He speaks in his drink what he thinks in his drouth.

He spoke as if every word would lift a dish.

In allusion to a person who has addressed another in a very pompous or affected manner.

He's poor enough that's ill faur'd.

He's poor that canna promise.

He's rich that has nae debt.

He's sairest dung that's paid wi' his ain wand.

That is, he suffers most who injures himself by his own folly, or by means which may have been intended to injure another.

He's silly that spares for ilka speech.

He's sometimes i' the air, but ye're aye on the grund.

He's the bee that maks the honey.

He's the best spoke o' your wheel.

He's the slave o' a slaves wha ser's nane but himsel.

He's twice fain that sits on a stane.

"That is, glad to sit down, because he is weary, and glad to rise, because the stone is hard."--_Kelly._

He starts at straes, and lets windlins gae.

This saying is, we think, exclusively Scotch. It very briefly but pithily applies to those who, while anxiously correcting trifling errors, allow greater ones to pa.s.s unheeded: who strain at gnats, and swallow camels.

He streaks reem in my teeth.

"Spoken when we think one only flattering us, and not earnest or sincere in what they pretend."--_Kelly._

He struts like a craw in the gutter.

He stumbles at a strae and loups ower a linn.

He's unco fond o' farming that wad harrow wi' the cat.

He's unco fu' in his ain house that canna pick a bane in his neighbour's.

Satirically applied to those who are unwilling to partake of a meal in a friend's house.

He's waur to water than to corn.

Fonder of his meat than his drink.

He's weel boden there ben that will neither borrow nor lend.

Meaning that a person must be very well off indeed who can afford to dispense with all a.s.sistance.

He's weel eased that has o' his ain.

He's weel worthy o' sorrow that buys it wi' his ain siller.

He's wise that kens when he's weel enough.

"This is a pitch of wisdom to which few attain."--_Kelly._

He's wise that's timely wary.

He's worth gowd that can win it.

He's worth nae weel that can bide nae wae.

He that ance gets his fingers i' the dirt can hardly get them out again.

He that bides weel betides weel.

He that bids me to meat wishes me to live.

He that blaws best bears awa the horn.

He that blaws in the stoor fills his ain een.

He that borrows and bigs, maks feasts and thigs, drinks an's no dry,--nane o' these three are thrifty.

He that buys a house that's wrought has mony a pin and nail for nought.