The Proverbs of Scotland Part 7

A man may be kind, yet gie little o' his gear.

A man may haud his tongue in an ill time.

A man may keep silent at a time or under circ.u.mstances where it is an injury to himself.

A man may lose his ain for lack o' craving.

A man may see his friend in need, that wouldna see his pow bleed.

That is, a friend may be willing to do anything, even to fight for him, _except_, and as is too generally the case, to give him pecuniary a.s.sistance.

A man may speer the gate he kens fu' weel.

A man may spit in his neive and do but little.

He may make a great show of working, but still _do_ very little.

A man may woo where he will, but maun wed where his weird is.

A man o' mony trades may beg his bread on Sunday.

"Jack of all trades, master of none."--_English._

A man o' straw is worth a woman o' gold.

"It seems that the men contrived these proverbs, they run so much in their favours."--_Kelly._

A man o' words, and no o' deeds, is like a garden fu' o' weeds.

A man's aye crouse in his ain cause.

A man's hat in his hand ne'er did him ony harm.

A man's mind is a mirk mirror.

A man's weel or wae as he thinks himsel sae.

A man was ance hang'd for leaving his drink.

"It took its rise from the villain that a.s.sa.s.sinated the Prince of Orange. Spoken when men proffer to go away before their drink be out."--_Kelly._

A man wi' ae ee, can see mair than you wi' your twa.

A master's ee maks a fat horse.

"No eye like the master's eye."--_English._

A mear's shoe will fit a horse.

"Sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander."--_English._

A Merse mist alang the Tweed, in a harvest morning's gude indeed.

"Because it generally precedes a fine, warm, and breezy harvest-day--excellent for the winnowing and in-bringing of the precious grain."--_G. Henderson._

A midge is as big as a mountain, amaist.

The lat.i.tude afforded in the meaning of the word "almost," furnishes the point in this and several other proverbs.

A mind that's scrimpit ne'er wants care.

"But aiblins, neibour, ye hae not a heart, And downa eithly wi' your cunzie part.

If that be true, what signifies your gear?

A mind that's scrimpit never wants some care."--_Gentle Shepherd._

A misty morning may be a clear day.

A morning's sleep is worth a fauld o' sheep to a hudderin dudderin daw.

"A reflection upon lazy, sleepy drabs, who prefer nothing to soaking in their bed in the morning."--_Kelly._

A mouthfu' o' meat may be a tounfu' o' shame.

"That is, if it be stolen--intimating that a little thing picked will procure a great disgrace."--_Kelly._

A muckle mouth has aye gude luck for its meat.

A m.u.f.fled cat was ne'er a gude hunter.

An Aberdeen man ne'er stands to the word that hurts him.

A nag wi' a wame and a mare wi' nane are no a gude pair.

An air winter maks a sair winter.

A naked man maun rin.

A man that is dest.i.tute must exert himself.

An auld dog bites sicker.

An auld horse may dee ere the gra.s.s grow.

"While the gra.s.s is growing the steed is starving."--_German._

An auld knave's nae bairn.

"An old fox needs learn no new tricks."--_English._