The Proverbs of Scotland Part 50

Het love, hasty vengeance.

Het sup, het swallow.

He wad gang a mile to flit a sow.

"Spoken of sauntering persons, who would take any pretence to go from their proper business."--_Kelly._

He was miss'd by the water, but caught by the widdie.

He has escaped drowning only to be hanged, as "He that is to be hanged will never be drowned--unless the water goes over the gallows."--_Dutch._

He wasna the inventor o' gunpowder.

Meaning that a person is very timid or cowardly.

He was ne'er a gude aiver that flung at the brod.

"Spoken of them who spurn at reproof or correction, whom Solomon calls brutish."--_Kelly._

He was scant o' grey cloth that soled his hose wi' dockens.

"The return of a haughty maid to them that tell her of an unworthy suitor."--_Kelly._

He was scant o' news that tauld his faither was hang'd.

"They're scarce of news who speak ill of their mother."--_Irish._

He was the bee that made the honey.

He watsna whilk end o' him's upmost.

He does not know whether he stands on his head or his heels.

He wears Langton's coat o' mail.

"Once, in a skirmish with the English, the Laird of Langton, being unarmed, turned his coat inside out, to make his opponents believe he had on a coat of mail, and so rushed on to the fray. By 'Langton's coat of mail,' is meant a presumptuous but brave man."--_G. Henderson._

He wears twa faces aneath ae cowl.

He wha mair than his worth doth spend, aiblins a rape his life will end.

He wha marries a maiden marries a pockfu' o' pleasure; he wha marries a widow marries a pockfu' o' _pleas_-sure.

"These two are always joined together, and are a dissuasive from marrying a widow, because she is often involved in law suits."--_Kelly._

He wha marries for love without money, hath merry nights and sorry days.

He wha tells his wife a' is but newly married.

He winna send you away wi' a fair heart.

Or, he will not grant you the favour you are going to seek.

He woos for cake and pudding.

He would fain be forward if he wist how.

He would fain rip up auld sairs.

That is, gladly rake up old grievances, to enable him to pick a quarrel.

He would gar you trow that the mune's made o' green cheese.

Applied to simple, credulous people, who readily believe the most absurd statements.

He wouldna lend his gully,--no! to the deil to stick himsel.

In sarcastic allusion to those who decline to oblige borrowers, and who carry their principles so far that they "would not lend the devil a knife to cut his throat."--_Italian._

He would need to be twice sheeled and ance grund that deals wi' you.

He would rake h.e.l.l for a bodle.

He would skin a louse for the tallow o't.

In allusion to greedy, parsimonious people, who would rather be put to a great deal of trouble than incur a trifling expense.

He would tine his lugs if they were not tacked to him.

He is so careless and forgetful, that he would lose his ears were they not attached to his head.

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

That is, he is wilfully deaf on that subject.

Highest in the court, nearest the widdie.

Highlanders--shoulder to shoulder.

High trees show mair leaves than fruit.

In disparaging allusion to tall persons.

His absence is gude company.

His auld bra.s.s will buy her a new pan.

Spoken of young maidens who marry wealthy old men, meaning that when the husband dies his money will help her to a younger one.